| May 2004 Missouri Regional Newsletter p3 |
| Literature:
What characteristics distinguish literature like James Joyce's Ulysses from popular works like Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary? Can a book be popular culture without being a bestseller? Television: How does television define popular culture in our society? What makes television such a pervasive arbiter of popular culture? Performing and Visual Arts: In what ways has the definition of theater as popular culture changed over time? How can we determine whether a painting or sculpture is popular culture or high art? Fashion: Who determines what fashion trends become part of popular culture in our society? How do other expressions of popular culture define our fashion tastes? Sports: Which American sports can be defined as popular culture? Which world sports can be defined as popular culture? Why do sociologists consider the Super Bowl one of the three events that define American popular culture? Time Lines: 1903-1960 1903- First flight takes place in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina 1906- First World Series played in baseball 1906- First radio program broadcast in U.S. 1908- Hollywood's first movie studio opens 1912- "Titanic" sinks on maiden voyage 1913- Ford Motor Company's assembly line allows for mass production 1913- First coast-to-coast paved highway opens 1914- World War I breaks out in Europe 1917- Bolshevik Revolution in Russia leads to development of Communism 1920- U.S. adopts Prohibition of alcohol, but repeals it 13 years later 1920- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) founded |