[ELTWeekly Volume 7, Issue 15 | July 27, 2015 | ISSN 0975-3036]
Viral videos, snarky memes, and a cat that is so grumpy it puts all other crabby felines to shame, these are but a few of the pop culture elements that make millions drop what they’re doing to check out the latest craze. Why are these things so addictive? What makes them so irresistible?
What is Pop Culture?
Pop Culture is defined as the set of elements and phenomena that represent the mainstream of any given culture – “pop” is short for “popular”. Within this category, we have images, memes, videos, games and attitudes. It is often opposed to what may be called “high culture”, things like literature and classical music. Pop culture is often seen as superficial and consumerist. These days, it is the main reason people waste countless hours surfing the Internet and watching videos.
Why Use Pop Culture in the ESL Classroom?
News flash! If you teach using songs, you’re already using pop culture in your ESL classroom. And chances are you’re already using some of the other elements. But if you’re not… why should you? Aren’t your students already spending way too much time on the Internet?