Friday, January 25, 2008

Possible readings for Rhetoric and Pop Culture

1) Chuck Klostermann “Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs”
2) Jake Halpern’s “Fame Junkies”
3) Maureen Orth’s “The Importance of Being Famous”
4) Ilene Rosenzweig and Cynthia Rowley’s “Swell: A Girl’s Guide to the Good Life”

I'm looking for non-textbook books to get the students thinking about the shape and size of pop culture--how it makes us see ourselves (as consumers, as girls and boys, as members of a collective or as individuals against the grain)... and how it makes us see others in similar (or not-so-similar) ways. We're probably gonna read a little JB, too. Because he's awesome.

Any suggestions?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Eh... Frankfurt School? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Anonymous said...

"Culture Code" by Rapaille (sp?)
pretty snazzy. pissed, yet thoughtful author

"Citizen Marketers" by McConnel/Huba
less snazzy, but interesting and i like that they focus on people instead of stuff.

And less about pop culture, but interesting because it deals with issues realted to pop culture is "The Rise of the Creative Class." A bit boring, but thought provoking in some chapters.

james said...

I agree, anonymous, we will definitely talk about Adorno and maybe Marcuse--and maybe Fromm...

Actually, along those lines, it might also be fun to read some Vonnegut. Thanks for the suggestions!