Commonwealth Speakers:Popular Culture


Props like this vintage Bill Tracy-produced "Mad Scientist," created an effective scare before being replaced with more modern-day technologies. Photo courtesy Timothy Hufnagle as part of Cheap 3-Minute Thrills.

From music, to videogames, to theme parks, people absorb cultural products to such an extreme that they become part of their everyday existences. These discussions address what we do for amusement, information and consumption, why we do it, and what it says about us.

Cheap 3-Minute Thrills: Darkrides and Funhouses as Genre L
Often eclipsed by roller coasters and carousels, the darkride and funhouse serve as an example of the amusement park's ability to tap into America's obsession with, and fear of, the macabre. The presentation takes a historical look at how these attractions developed from their 19th-century roots and showcases social attitudes toward leisure and technology. Included is a multi-media presentation of original behind-the-scenes photographs of the props and mechanical gags that enable these attractions to effectively surprise patrons. Examples of how the darkride and funhouse have become integrated into other forms of modern popular culture (e.g., theme parks, Halloween celebrations, film and Internet) also are provided through interactive discussion, images and a short motion picture clip.

Equipment: Chair, display table, laptop computer (PC with PowerPoint® installed), LCD projector, screen, TV with DVD player hooked up. If possible, CD player.

Timothy Hufnagle, Sellersville
Former Popular Culture Instructor, Bowling Green State University

The End: Authorship, Nostalgia and the Beatles L
Through an audio- and video-oriented discussion, Beatles scholar Kenneth Womack brings the story of the Beatles vividly to life. Womack traces the group's creative arc from their salad days in Liverpool, to the mean streets of Hamburg, through Abbey Road, to the twilight of their career. In an effort to communicate the power of the Beatles' remarkable achievement, audiences investigate the origins of the group's compositions, as well as the songwriting and recording practices that brought them to fruition. Through a carefully choreographed multimedia presentation, Womack reveals the ways in which the Beatles gave life to a musical synthesis that would change the world.

Equipment: If possible, chair, LCD projector, screen and TV/VCR.

Kenneth Womack, Altoona
Author. English Professor, Penn State University-Altoona

The Messenger's Motives: How Media Work F L
By the time a child turns 18, he or she will have spent thousands more hours interacting with TV, musical recordings, videogames and movies than in school. Media messages are the most widely-consumed product in the American economy. Like Toto in The Wizard of Oz, this multimedia presentation pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of the media: Who owns the media and what are their aims and motives? What psychological and psychosocial tactics and strategies do the creators of media use and why do they work? What effect do media have on our attitudes, opinions and actions? How can citizens better equip themselves to use media wisely, to separate the fact from the fancy?

Equipment: Chair, DVD player, LCD projector, screen or TV monitor.

Michael Dillon, Pittsburgh
Communications Associate Professor, Duquesne University

Key to Presentations
F Family/Younger Audiences
H Hands-on/Active Participation
L Lectures
P Performances
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