Cultural Attractions/Cultural Distractions: Critical Literacy in Contemporary Contexts

This Popular Culture and Mass Media reader provides a range of readings and images from contemporary periodicals and more scholarly pieces about the role of mass media and technology in society. This text encourages readers to examine varying perspectives about attractions and distractions of today's popular culture, technology, and mass-mediated messages in their personal and social lives and come to their own conclusions. Readings and activities organized around classroom, media, and community. Allows readers to see more than an “expert opinion”, prompting them to form their own views. Readings and images revolve around mass media, popular arts, and technology. Sparks and holds readers' interest, and allows for reader “expertise” in discussions and assignments. Chapter on virtual community revolves around the newest technology of writing and literacy. Helps readers develop computer literacy skills in both the production and consumption of on-line materials. Offers readers opportunities to practice their cultural literacy within their own communities. Offers readers online, web, and Internet writing assignments. Varied topics, writers, and issues represent a cross-section of current cultural readings. Appropriate for readers interested in the humanities, American cultural studies, and journalism.