cfp.english.upenn.edu

CFP: Popular Culture and the Classroom
SWTX PCA/ACA February 2010
Papers (panelists) needed to examine role of popular culture in today’s classrooms (which includes secondary classrooms or college classrooms) at the Southwest and Texas Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association Annual Conference, Feb. 10-13, 2010 in Albuquerque, NM (Hyatt Regency Hotel, Albuquerque).

Here’s a quick test for today’s educators:
Facebook, “American Idol.” “Lady Gaga, “Jon and Kate Plus Eight,” “Lost.” Ipods. Celebrity Weddings and Break-ups. “Twilight,” Twitter, Instant Messaging, Reality Television. Superhero Films. Comic Books and Graphic Novels. X-Box. “LOL and IM Speak” Cell phones. Text messaging. Advertising and Stereotypes.

The list may cause some teachers and professors to scratch their heads, but to our students, these entries would be part of the daily vocabulary of being a student today.
From instant messages discussing homework to the Ipod Revolution, high school and college students are often the experts when it comes to technological advances and cultural awareness. As educators, it’s increasingly important we embrace popular culture whenever possible to create meaningful lessons that help students link the curriculum we teach with the world they live in and understand.

Whether a single lesson idea, a scholarly paper, or a theme for a course, the “Popular Culture and the Classroom” section of this conference seeks teachers with new ideas of how to use popular culture effectively in the classroom. We have had presentations in English, Communications, Journalism/Media Studies, Social Studies/History, Math, ESL, Deaf/Sign Language Classrooms in middle schools, high schools, and college classrooms, and it’s always amazing to see popular culture used in so many exciting ways throughout the country.
Any presentations involving, television, literature, history, music, graphic novels and comic books, Instant Messaging Language, Video Games, or a variety of other popular culture references/ texts/ or sources are welcome!

Send inquiries, a brief abstract or entire paper (your choice) by December 1 to area chair, Erik Walker. (Email preferred)

For more information on the Conference, check out the conference web site at: http://swtxpca.org/

Erik Walker
Dept. of English & Journalism
Plymouth South High School
490 Long Pond Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
(508) 224-7512
Fax (508) 224-6765
Email: ErikMWalker@aol.com