Some of our favorite web resources for critical thinking on pop culture::::::::::::::::::::
Theory.org.uk: "Social Theory for Fans of Pop Culture. Popular Culture for Fans of Social Theory." A treasure trove. Can't say enough good things about it. Home of Theory Trading Cards and Action Figures.
Keywords for American Cultural Studies: A collection of 64 keywords essays by a range of contemporary scholars. This is the book's companion website.
Pop Feminist "What is Pop Feminism? Where gender is a celebration of possibility. Where said possibilities are acted out in pop culture. Where, thus, feminism has a dance party."
Pop Matters: "PopMatters is an international magazine of cultural criticism. Our scope is broadly cast on all things pop culture, and our content is
updated daily, Monday through Friday."
FlowTV : "FlowTV is a critical forum on television and media culture published by the Department of Radio, Television, and Film at the University of Texas at Austin. Flow’s mission is to provide a space where the public can discuss the changing landscape of contemporary media."
Bitch Magazine: "Feminist Response to Pop Culture"
Afrofuturism.net: an overview of and resources for the study of Afrofuturism [week 1]
Theory Resources
Marxists Internet Archive: A site filled with an encyclopedia and full text writings by and on a wide range of Marxist thinkers, including a bunch of Marx to read.
For Beginners book series: Graphically illustrated books on a range of theorists, schools of thought, and academic subjects (yes, kids, these are COMIC BOOKS!)
Semiotics and Media: "This is the home page of the semiotics, advertising, and media web
site, a hypertext essay and tutorial on using semiotic techniques to
analyze advertising, media, and contemporary culture. It is still under
construction. It was created by Tom Streeter, for his
students in Survey of Mass Media at the University of Vermont." [Explains and expands upon the ideas of Roland Barthes, among others]
Some choice blog posts, articles, essays, etc.
The Electronic Journal of Communication, Vol. 18, Nos. 2, 3 & 4: Issue theme is "Irony and Politics." Read the Editor's Introduction, by Megan Boler and Ted Gournelos.
[The rest of the articles in this issue aren't available publicly online. Request them through ILLiad.]
"Old Percolations on Affect and Fandom" by Alexis Lothian (on queerness, fandom, and affect/emotion in popular culture)
"Why I'm Embarrassed to Be a Bachelor Fan" by Jane Feuer (at FlowTV)
But I'm Serious. Blog written by Spencer Easton, Evergreen '08, consummate pop culture scholar
Overcommittment to the Marginal. Another of Spencer Easton's blogs. Now on hold, but full of excellent pop culture-related critical thinking full of love.
Bibliographies