It would cover many facets of popular culture (post 1960) especially focusing (though not limited to) on music, film, the internet, video games, TV and Literature. Teachers would choose key texts representing influential aspects of popular culture and have students interact, discuss, analyze and focus upon them whilst also being aware of their historical and sociological implications. The overreaching aim would be to stimulate student interest in western culture and implicitly English whilst also developing critical thinking skills. By having such a wide variety of texts it is hoped that students would be exposed to something that piques their interest and they would then independently continue their exploration of popular culture outside of the classroom.
Some possible units could include:
1. The Simpsons and it's portrayal of the American family and social values.
2. Comics, genres and fandom
3. George Orwell's 1984 and its current bearing on the world in the wake of the Cambridge Analytical revelations.
4. The Weinstein allegations and the #metoo movement.
5. Censorship and popular music.
6. Violence and video games.
7. Instagram and the ability to be famous for nothing
8. The snowflake generation
9. The Seattle music scene
10. Superheroes and Hollywood saturation
11. Fake News
12. Black Lives Matter
13. The allure of gangsters in popular culture
14. Sexism and Misogyny in hip-hop music.