DOCUMINT 2250112 'SD 152 616 SO 010-579 AUTHOR Hellman, Nary TITLE Popular Culture: Mirror of American Life. Source 5 = Book. Courses by Newspaper. INSTITUTION California Univ., San Diego. Univ. Extension. MIS AGENCY National Endowment for the Humanities (NFAH), WasKington*D.C. PUB DATE 77 NOTE 59p.; For related documents, see SO 010 577-580 AVAILABLE FROM Publisher's Inc., 243 12th Street, Drawer P, Del Mar, California 92014 ($2.50 paperbound) EDRS PRICE MF-$0:83 Plus Postage. HC Not Available fro' BUS. DESCRIPTORS Adult Education; Broadcast Industry; Community Programs; Cultural lieges; Culture; *Enrichment Programs; Females; Films; Futures. (of Society); Group Discussion; Husan Living; *Instructional Materials ;.' *Life Style; *Hass Media; Minority Groups; Music; News MedialNewspapers; 4Populat Culture; Resouie Guides; Secondary Education; Stereotypes; Television IDENTIFIERS United States ABSTRACT The sourcebook is one of several supplementary materials for a 15-week newspaper course about popular culture in the __United States. Program ideas and related resources compiled in the sourcebook' are designed to help civic and group leaders and educators plan educational community programs based on the coursetopics. Section one describes ways in which the program can be used in community and - academic programs. Section two,'Suggestions andAids for Educational Community Programs,'suggests backgroundreading in specific periodicals and books, discussion guestionso'and. group research activities for each,of the 15 course topics.Section three describes in detail the activities and publications of 48 national a.0 private organizations concerned with rar4ous\facets ofpopular cuature, including the Agency for Instructional Television, American Film Institute, Federal Communicatipns Commission,,National Association of Broadcasters, and Twentieth Century Fund. Also listed are names of contact persons of statehumanities committees. Section fo sins an annotated- bibliography, of over 100 films categorized according to each of the 15 course topics. (AV) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that'can be made * * from the original docusent. * *********************************************************************** U S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION &WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO. DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN. ATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE- SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL IN MICROFICHE ONLY HFIEEN GRANTED BY . era/ ares TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER ,(ERIC) AND USERS OF THE tRiC SYSTEM." i . , 4 t4 .._/ Mary Hellman A Project of Courses by Newspaper,University Extension University of California, San Diego Funded by the National Endowment for theHumanities Publisher's Inc.e Del Mar, California 'a 2 I C, .., Copyright © 1977 by 0-, Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved 3 IIIIIIM11111111111 CONTENTS 1 ed. SECTION 1 TOPICS How to Use Courses by Newspaper Topics, 1 SECTION II PROGRAMS Suggestions and Aids for Educational Community Programs i SECTION III RESOURCES Organizations to Contact for Speakers andhiformation 22 SECTION IV FILMS An Annotated List of Films Compiled by theEducational Film Library Association 36 4. 4 INTRODUCTION ThisSource Bookwas developed by Courses by Newspaper in an effort to broaden the impact of its Spring, 1977 program "Popular Culture: Mirror of American Life." Specifically, the program ideas and resources contained in this publication are designed tahelp civic and group leaders and educators plan timely community programs based on the course topics. This project was generously fuiided and supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities and directed by Courses by Newspaper's project director George A. , Coburn and editorial director Jane L. Scheiber. The filmography was researched under the direction of Nadine Covert of the Educational Film Library Association. N 1 y>" 5 SECTION I TOPICS How to Use Courses by Newspaper Topics The lines for Star Wtirs. Broadway Joe's salary. "All in the Family." Jimmy Carter's campaign. Living together. Millions viewing the King Tut exhibit. Farrah .Fawcett-Majors. The Big Mac Attack. Ms Magazine. Walter Cronkite. What's the connection? All are facets of modern, America's popular cultutle. And this popula lture, that both reflects and shapes contemporary society, 's an ideal topic for lively, informative community programs. Inthe following pages is an outline of topics and program ideas designed to provide an understanding of popular culture in all its variety-. This topic outline and other materials I developed by Courses by Newspaper, a national educational program, make the planning of timely programs for civic, religious,educational and communityJ.N. groups easy and inexpensive. ,,-. "WO 6 What-are some possible topics for community educational programs on popular culture? Based on Courses by Newspaper's Spring 1977 program, "Popular Culture: Mirror of American Life," the follow- ing is a list of topics that can be used for 'weekly or monthly meetings. 1. Popular Culture: What Manner of Mirror? 8. Popular Music: Sounds of the People How is American life reflected in and shaped by What is the basis for the current popularity oT "rock" popular culture? music? 2. Story-Tellers and Story-Sellers: The Makers of 9. Sports: The Pleasure of the Flesh' Popular Culture What explains the American passion for sports? Who decides what we hear, see, and read? 10. Sports. instant Legends and Super Heroes 3. Popular Culture: Whci Pays? What is the American attitude toward today's sports What is the economic impact of such popular culture stars? industries as magazines, television, records, and movies? 11. Politics and Popular Culture How do the mass media affect the nation's political 4. A,meriCa's Popular Culture: Growth and Expansion processes? What are the dominant themes that link today's popular culture with the past? 12. Popular Culture: Minorities and the Media What is the impact of the mass media on the struggle S. Hollywood: The Dream Factory for equality? What is the impact of Hollywood's "dream factory" on American society? 13. Popular Culture: Mirror of Women Moving What has been the impact of the mass media on the 6. Television: The Pervasive Medium changing role of women? What characteristics of television have contributed to its rise as the dominant mass medium? 14. Popular Culture and American Life-Styles What is impact of the 1960s' counterculture on 7. Popular Culture and Popular Musk: Changing today 5 life-styles? Dreams What American ideals and dreams are expressed in 15. The Death of the Mass Media our music? What trends indicate a declin in the influence of the mass media? How can I use the topics for "Popular Culture in whose members represent differing viewpoints. Another planning programs for my organization? could feature a film, followed by a speaker who would comment on issues raised in the film. Stimulating weekly or monthly programs for all types of To assist you in planning these meetings, a variety of organizations can be planned around these topiLs. Or- program ideas for each of the course topics, as well as ganizations that meet every week can examine each of the suggested discussion questions and books to review, are fifteen topics. Those meeting monthly can focus on a found in Section II of this book. selection of the topics that reflect the group's inte.ests In Section III is a list of organizations that will provide and concerns. resources such as speakers, films, or handouts to enrich Because each of the topics is rich with ideas and points your meetings. of View, meeting formats can be vaned to achieve maxi And Section IV contains a filmography researched by mum interest and participation. For example, one meet- the Educational Film Library Association that stiggests ing might include a group dist.ussion of the tupic led by an several provocative and informative films for each weekly instructor from a local community college, college, or topic. Most of these films are available from community university Another could feature discussion by a panel or educational film libraries for modest rental fees. 7 Are materials available tostimulate group interest Are any resources for these "PopularCulturP in the "Popular Cu Hutt" topics? programs available local y? , Articles on the fifteen "Popular Culture" topics will begin The series of fifteen newspaper articles on the "Popular appearing in newspapers throughout the country in Culture" topics is the basis-of a course offered by par- January 1978, These concise weekly articles provide his- ticipating colleges and universities throughout the na- torical perspectives, explore current thought and opin- tion. If a local educational institution is offering "Popular ions, and raise questions about assumptions, traditions, Culture" for credit, it can provide a wealth of resources interpretations, ..nd proposals for the future. This series that will be useful in planning your group's programs As part of their educational program, manycolleges and . Was written for Courses by Newspaper by scholars and observers'of the contemporary scene who share insights universities sponsor films and/or lecture series on the sessions of into modern "mass-mediated" society. course topics, and some are offering special If a local