We discovered that no satisfactory text existed, and therefore we began putting together assignments and reading materials to meet our needs. From this compilation Common Culture emerged. The more we've taught writing courses based on popular culture, the more convinced we've become that such courses are especially appealing for students and effective in improving their critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. Students come into the writing classroom already immersed in the culture of Beavis and Butthead, Benetton, Beastie Boys, and Barry Bonds. Obviously, a course that panders to the lowest common denominator of students' taste would be a mindless, unproductive enterprise for all concerned.
Popular culture is a rich field of study, drawing in researchers from a variety of disciplines.
Because it is also a very inviting field of study for students, a textbook that addresses this subject in a comprehensive and challenging way will be especially appealing both to them and to their writing teachers. Common Culture approaches the field of popular culture by dividing it into its constituent parts. The book contains chapters on advertising, television, music, cyberculture, sports, movies, and leisure. For example, in the chapter on advertising, the essays in the first group discuss theories and strategies of advertising, while later essays explore images of women and men in ads. Similarly, the suggested discussion and writing topics move from relatively basic concerns to tasks that require a greater degree of critical skill.