* I’ve added my topic proposal already so you can see what I’m trying to talk about in my paper. I also already have two source I just need two more.
Annotated Bibliography, Proposal and Essay Guidelines
Reading Popular Culture
For this paper, you will research and analyze a cultural product (for example: a movie, TV show, comic
book, video game, performance, fashion show, stand-up routine, YouTube or TikTok channel) of your
choosing.
The essay has several components: the annotated bibliography, the proposal, and the essay itself. This
document outlines the following:
1) How to choose your topic
2) Guidelines for the annotated bibliography, proposal & final paper
We will also be reviewing this in class. See the PowerPoint presentation for more information and examples of
Chicago style.
1) How to choose your topic
In this paper, you will analyze a cultural product of your choosing such as a TV show, movie, performer,
sports culture, performer, stand-up routine, video game, TikTok channel or other popular culture subject,
using one of the approaches below.
You must choose one of the following “topics” A, B, or C as your approach to analyzing the “sign” (i.e. pop
culture subject) you have chosen.
Topic A: Cultural Appropriation
Explore an example of cultural appropriation in 20th or 21st century pop culture (such as: a musician
appropriating another culture in a video/album/or performance, a sports team appropriating another
culture as part of their iconography/name/fan culture, or a TV show/movie/novel/etc.). Conduct a
semiotic reading of the pop culture representation. Consider any or all of the following:
• What are the historical/cultural conditions that produced the thing you are analyzing?
• What sign from another culture been appropriated? For what purpose?
• What meaning does this sign have in its original context? And in the context in which it is being
appropriated? Are there stereotypes being produced or reproduced?
• What power relationship is at work?
• What do academics say (are there various interpretations)?
• What is your interpretation and response to the use of this sign?
Tips:
• Be specific, for example, “non-Indigenous uses of war bonnets” in pop culture would be too broad.
Consider focusing on a specific example (such as a specific team’s fan culture) for your analysis.
That way, you’ll be able to analyze actual examples from the video in your paper to illustrate
broader concerns.
Be sure to include a definition of cultural appropriation in the final paper. Find an academic
reference for the definition.
Topic B: Moral Panic
Explore a 20th or 21st century moral panic surrounding a pop culture phenomenon (such as:
horror/crime comic books, pinball machines, rock n roll, hip hop, role-playing games/video games, movies,
violent TV show or movie, etc.). Conduct a semiotic reading of the pop culture phenomenon at the centre of
the panic. Consider any or all of the following:
• What are the historical/cultural conditions that produced the thing you are analyzing and the
corresponding panic? In other words, what do the concerns that are being expressed about this
popular culture example tell us about what values or norms are in dispute?
• What would a preferred reading of the sign be? What do the makers of the sign say about it?
• How do those who initiated the panic read this sign?
• How has the panic been expressed in the press? What does this tell us about how the sign is being
interpreted?
• What do academics say (are there various interpretations)?
• What is your interpretation and response to the panic?
Tips:
• Be specific, for example, examining the moral panic around all video games would be too broad.
Consider focusing on a specific example of a moral panic (such as criticism of Doom following the
Columbine shooting). That way, you’ll be able to analyze actual examples from the game in your
paper to illustrate broader concerns.
• Be sure to include a definition or moral panic in the final paper. Find an academic reference for the
definition.
Topic C: Reading Pop Culture
Conduct a semiotic analysis of a film, TV series, comic book, musical artist, or popular novel or other
popular culture phenomenon). Explore its various possible meanings. Consider any or all of the
following:
• What would a preferred reading of the sign be?
• What other interpretations (oppositional, negotiated, etc.) are possible?
• What are the historical/cultural conditions that produced the thing you are analyzing?
• Consider how gender, race, sexuality and/or class are represented.
• How has it been received in the press (or by reviewers or fans)?
• What do academics say (are there various interpretations)?
• What is your interpretation and response to the various meanings that are possible?
Tips:
• Be specific, for example, examining all Marvel comics would be too broad. Consider focusing on a
single character (e.g., Black Widow) for your analysis. That way, you’ll be able to analyze actual
examples from the character’s story in your paper to illustrate broader ideas.
Be sure to include a definition of cultural appropriation in the final paper. Find an academic
reference for the definition.
Topic B: Moral Panic
Explore a 20th or 21st century moral panic surrounding a pop culture phenomenon (such as:
horror/crime comic books, pinball machines, rock n roll, hip hop, role-playing games/video games, movies,
violent TV show or movie, etc.). Conduct a semiotic reading of the pop culture phenomenon at the centre of
the panic. Consider any or all of the following:
• What are the historical/cultural conditions that produced the thing you are analyzing and the
corresponding panic? In other words, what do the concerns that are being expressed about this
popular culture example tell us about what values or norms are in dispute?
• What would a preferred reading of the sign be? What do the makers of the sign say about it?
• How do those who initiated the panic read this sign?
• How has the panic been expressed in the press? What does this tell us about how the sign is being
interpreted?
• What do academics say (are there various interpretations)?
• What is your interpretation and response to the panic?
Tips:
• Be specific, for example, examining the moral panic around all video games would be too broad.
Consider focusing on a specific example of a moral panic (such as criticism of Doom following the
Columbine shooting). That way, you’ll be able to analyze actual examples from the game in your
paper to illustrate broader concerns.
• Be sure to include a definition or moral panic in the final paper. Find an academic reference for the
definition.
Topic C: Reading Pop Culture
Conduct a semiotic analysis of a film, TV series, comic book, musical artist, or popular novel or other
popular culture phenomenon). Explore its various possible meanings. Consider any or all of the
following:
• What would a preferred reading of the sign be?
• What other interpretations (oppositional, negotiated, etc.) are possible?
• What are the historical/cultural conditions that produced the thing you are analyzing?
• Consider how gender, race, sexuality and/or class are represented.
• How has it been received in the press (or by reviewers or fans)?
• What do academics say (are there various interpretations)?
• What is your interpretation and response to the various meanings that are possible?
Tips:
• Be specific, for example, examining all Marvel comics would be too broad. Consider focusing on a
single character (e.g., Black Widow) for your analysis. That way, you’ll be able to analyze actual
examples from the character’s story in your paper to illustrate broader ideas.
