Pop Culture in the Language Arts Classroom Susan Buckert

Pop Culture in theLanguage Arts Classroom

Susan Buckert

Why pop culture? 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 According to NCTE, critical thinking

must extend beyond print Viewing now considered the “fifth

language art” Use film …

To introduce a literary work As a basis for comparison As a work of literature

Creating Intertextual Links: The Natural

and Huckleberry Finn: Both are about characters learning how to relate to society

and A Separate Peace: Both are about coming of age, letting go of old goals, reevaluating friendships

and Walden Pond: both value individual worth and nature; both illustrate the healing power of nature

Music in the Classroom

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”

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