Transcript Pop Culture in the Language Arts Classroom

Pop Culture in the
Language Arts Classroom
Susan Buckert
Why pop culture?
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Helps bridge the gap between what
students know and what teachers want
them to know
Engages students in meaningful classroom
discussion
Encourages students to develop intertextual
links
Increases students’ critical thinking and
literacy skills
Film in the Classroom
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According to NCTE, critical thinking
must extend beyond print
Viewing now considered the “fifth
language art”
Use film …
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To introduce a literary work
As a basis for comparison
As a work of literature
Creating Intertextual Links: The Natural
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and Huckleberry Finn: Both are about
characters learning how to relate to society
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and A Separate Peace: Both are about coming
of age, letting go of old goals, reevaluating
friendships
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and Walden Pond: both value individual
worth and nature; both illustrate the healing
power of nature
Music in the Classroom
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Use music to teach literary elements
Requires that students “listen”
Students can share songs that relate
to the lesson
Helps students make connections
between music and literature (to
move from song to text)
Creating Intertextual Links: Don Henley
Themes in American literature &
“The End of the Innocence”
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Freedom
Initiation into Reality
American dream/nightmare
The journey
Moral struggle
http://www.donhenley.com/sound/innocence.wma
http://www.donhenley.com/sound/innocence.rm
Other forms of Pop Culture
Comics
 Television shows/clips
 Contemporary essays
 Magazine articles
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