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Welcome to the second week! Somehow you survived!  This week we will are heavy with readings...give in total. The first is the "The More Factor" by Laurence Shames (pgs 90-96).   

The responses may be informal but they need to be complete answers that sincerely address the reading and all elements of the questions. Although I hesitate to give a length minimum, in general, responses that are 75% of a page single-spaced,hand-written notebook page tend to be more complete. (That’s 75% per question. 


All blog responses must be posted before the next class session. After which, the comments section will be locked. 


  • Use limited quotes to discuss the meaning behind how Shames connects the concept of the American frontier with notions of American identity.Discuss whether the “more” mindset is still occurring now, in the early 21st century. In general,do you think this desire for “more” is overall a good or bad quality in Americans?

 

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Hi all!  Welcome to the first  (graded) blog response assignment of the semester.  It is for the "Introduction" (1 - 22) ofSigns of Life.   

The responses may be informal but they need to be complete answers that sincerely address the reading and all elements of the questions. Although I hesitate to give a length minimum, in general, responses that are 75% of a page single-spaced,hand-written notebook page tend to be more complete. (That’s 75% per question. 



All blog responses must be posted before the next class session. After which, the comments section will be locked. 


• How do the authors define “sign” and “signifier” and how do these concepts relate to a study of popular culture?
• What are “folk” culture and “mass culture” and how do they relate to “popular culture?”
• How can the “semiotic method” be used to analyze popular culture? What advantages does it have over simply discussing the individual pop culture expressions as unique or discrete items?
• Why are vampires so “hot” in our popular culture? How can semiotics help us understand the
phenomenon?



(ABOVE:  Woody Guthrie;  BELOW: Contemporary American Folk Band playing traditional folk instruments
(ABOVE): Lou Diamond Phillips pretending to perform Los Lobos covering Ritchie Valen's "La Bamba" (a version that itself is version of a traditional Mexican folk song)  


(BELOW): Traditional Mexican Folk Musicians Los Cojolites performing "La Bamba" in the traditional style (note the length!) 
 
Hi All!  Welcome the Blog Response project for English 101.  I wanted to provide you with an example of what kinds of entries would receive full credit in the course. Your actual assignment will begin with BR #1.  

The responses may be informal but they need to be complete answers that sincerely address the reading and all elements of the questions.Although I hesitate to give a length minimum, in general, responses that are 75% of a page single-spaced,typed page in MS Word tend to be more complete. (That’s 75% per question. )

The following question is for demonstration purposes only. You not need to include a blog entry for it. 

Why is popular culture a worthwhile topic of scholarly study? 

    Prof. David Fulton

    I received my MA in English from CSU, Northridge and his .MFA in Creative Writing from CSU, Long Beach. I have  been teaching College English since 2004.. I am a published poet and was recently a Pushcart Prize finalist for my poem "Hubris" In addition to teaching,, I enjoy cooking, figuring out how to garden, going to the gym, researching Shakespeare, and watching MMA. 

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