Eng275:

Course Description: Over the past half-century, the rise and spread of pop culture has been nothing short of a revolution, and the overwhelming profusion of cultural products (movies, music, books, TV shows, podcasts, reels, and more) baffles the mind. In an age of glut, how (if at all) do we exercise taste and judgement? How do we decide which products are of value and which aren’t? Through readings, workshops, and fieldwork, this course will explore the history and future of (pop) cultural criticism. Students will sharpen their interpretative skills, develop their insights, and publish their own writing.

Background: Pop Culture Writing, and its associated magazine Touch Grass, grew out of conversations with F&M students during the 2024-2025 school year. Students were thinking about what was missing from the curriculum, and how those gaps might be filled. They wanted, among other things, to write about movies and tv shows and music and manga and video games and TikTok. Not in an academic way, but for a popular audience. It sounded like a lot of fun. It also offered an opportunity to polish some practical skills, from editing to web design to marketing. And yes, the students chose the title of the magazine. 

This project is supported by the Faculty Center at Franklin & Marshall College.