Monday, September 12, 2011

What is American Pop Culture?

According to a site sponsored by the English Department at the USC at Berkley, "Popular culture has been defined as everything from "common culture," to "folk culture," to "mass culture." While it has been all of these things at various points in history, in Post-War America, popular culture is undeniably associated with commercial culture and all its trappings: movies, television, radio, cyberspace, advertising, toys, nearly any commodity available for purchase, many forms of art, photography, games, and even group "experiences" like collective comet-watching or rave dancing on ecstasy.

Following are several links to sites dedicated to popular culture in America.

www.americanpopularculture.com

english.berkeley.edu

culturalpolitics.net/popular_culture

Monday, July 25, 2011

American Pop Culture Mini Series

Group Assessment:

Group 1: Linda, Megan, Ann, Joy

Group 2: Alice, Christina, Eleanor, Yolanda, Ted

Group 3: Vianne, Audrey, Wandy, Edith

Mission Impossible: Prepare a short video/show to be viewed as part of a CNN Special Broadcast on American Pop Culture.

Mission Impossible: Each group will prepare an “American Pop Culture Mini Series” with video clips/photos/interviews (or any other media format) of their recent visit to Atlanta. Each person should discuss how their experiences relate to American Pop Culture and what they have learned about American Pop Culture.

Rules:

1. Each group should use original photos and/or video clips for most of show

2. Formats may be: interviews, commercials, narration, re-enactments

3. Each group must provide a script for their “ Mini-series segment

Each group must have a sponsor for their "Mini-series". The sponsor must have an advertisement.

Assessment #2 - American Baseball and Pop Culture

This assessment is based on Lesson 2 – Understanding American Baseball and the Role of Advertising. You may use your computer and the course blog to answer the questions.

Part I (50 pts.) – On my Blog
1. Answer the following questions as replies to this post.
a. What are some of the elements American advertisers use to “persuade” consumers to buy their products. (ex: colors, messages, characters, etc.)
2. At the Braves Stadium how many type of advertisements did we see.
3. With your group prepare a commercial for a Braves baseball game

Part II (50 pts.) – On your Blog

1. Which part of our tour to Turner Field did you like the most? Write a blog post explaining why.
2. Upload one of your photographs from the tour. If you did not take photographs, then ask one of your classmates to let you use a picture.
3. What other places have you visited in Atlanta since our last class?

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

New Meeting Time for Turner Field is 2:45 pm

Students,

We need to meet at Turner Field between 2:30 and 2:45pm in order to begin the tour by 3:00. We have confirmed reservations for 3:00 pm. If you arrive later, you will miss the tour.

Plan on your trip from Tech to Turner field taking approximately 30-45 minutes.Therefore, you should leave from the North Avenue MARTA at 2:05 pm.

Important!!!! No tours begin after 3:00 pm.

See you tomorrow!!!!!
Dr. Harris

Monday, July 18, 2011

Field Trip to Turner Field - Wednesday, July 20

We have a guided tour of Atlanta Braves' Turner Field on Wednesday. I will verify the time and meeting spot this afternoon and post an update.

Since you now know how to purchase tickets and use MARTA, everyone is responsible for their own transportation and we will meet at Turner Field.

Directions
Take MARTA from North Ave Station to Five Points Station
Exit to Peachtree St. turn right on Peachtree walking South
Turn Left onto Mitchell Street walking to the State Capitol
Go past the State Capitol and turn Right onto Capitol Avenue.
Walk on Capitol about 10 minutes to Turner Field.
I will meet you at the main gate unless the LI gives me another gate.
My cell phone is: 404 840-8588


Link to Transportation Map

View Larger Map

Monday, July 11, 2011

Field Trip to World of Coke

We will meet Wednesday at 2:00 pm in the North Avenue MARTA station. From there we will take the train going South to the Georgia Dome.

I will pick up the tickets from the Language Institute and give them to you when we meet.

Post Your Pop Culture Blogs

Please post the URL for your blog here. You may do so by replying to this post

Ex: your name http://--------blogspot.com

Rhetorical Triangle

Rhetoric is the language we use to persuade other people (to do something, believe something, buy something, use something.

The rhetorical triangle is a concept created by Aristotle to explain the three basic audience appeals used to persuade people.

Pathos = the emotional appeal
Logos = the logical appeal
Ethos = the credibility of the speaker

Advertising uses rhetoric to persuade people to buy products, so it combines the three audience appeals in both language and visual images and sound.

Here are some useful links:
http://www.public.asu.edu/~jvanasu/rhet-triangle.htm

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Welcome to Atlanta

This is your first day of "American Pop Culture".

During the next three weeks we will have several field trips around Atlanta and I am sure you will have many questions about Atlanta and its people and places. This blog is a great space to post your questions, comments, and any other material you would like to share with the class.