Chapter 1: Spoiling Survivor: The Anatomy of a Knowledge Community

• Keely Siciliano
• Victoria Frenzer
• Marcus Robinson

Chapter 2: Buying into “American Idol”: How We are Being Sold on Reality TV

• James Davidsmeyer
• Megan Murray
• Lorraine Meirhofer
• Jovana Mrvaljevic

Chapter 3: Searching for the Origami Unicorn: “The Matrix” and Transmedia Storytelling

• Robert Wodek
• Chris Doheny
• Ed Zegers

Chapter 5: Why Heather Can Write: Media Literacy and the “Harry Potter” Wars

• Christina Frigo
• Katie Doyle
• Kevin Gavillet

Chapter 6: Photoshop for Democracy: The New Relationship between Politics and Popular Culture

• Krista Fanning
• Sam Paggao
• Saoirse O’Malley

Posted: February 13th, 2008 under notice, reading response.
Comments: none

What point is the cartoonist making about his memories of hating the band Journey?

How does the cartoon suggest that individual dislikes shape identity? Can they be more powerful than likes? What do individual and shared tastes have to do with identity and social relationships?

The cartoon’s main character recounts a fond memory of bucking a popular fad or trend (in this case, a popular band). Do you find this attitude appealing? Why or why not? Is this a particularly American attitude?

One underlying message of this cartoon is that our likes and dislikes say something about who we are and directly affect our social relationships. In the cartoon, the main character’s friendship is grounded in making fun of people who like something he hates. Based on this cartoon, what observations can you make about what keeps friends together?

Posted: February 3rd, 2008 under in-class activity, reading response.
Comments: none