1. Cultural Criticism

2. Often difficult to separate
strands of culture

3. So we have to look at patterns

4. And meanings…metaphors
Wearing PJs in
public could be
a metaphor for
laziness, for
lack of
sincerity, for a
breakdown in
our cultural
understanding
of propriety…

6. We see a lot of issues repeated

7. Sexism, hyper-masculinity,
violence…
Sexy? A “Real” Man?

8. Deconstruct

9. How are these ideas formed and
shaped?

10. Examination and analysis
Why, she isn’t
reading at all!
She’s people-
watching!

11. Rebut prevailing “truths”
This rapper is not This is not a normal,
in a gang. healthy body weight.

12. Compare and contrast ideas,
contexts, situations, cultures…

13. Student Example: Comparison
of “Free Press” in Romania and
“Free Press” in the US

14. Barbara Ehrenreich
Bright-Sided
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R4Bsbklc
hU
What layers of meaning are present in this cultural criticism of
positive thinking?

15. Successful criticism relies on
you…

16. And your ability to criticize

17. …and to evaluate

18. …and your moral reasoning
skills

19. …and to look for larger
implications of actions

20. …to look at applications of
behaviors in popular culture
and society

21. To see patterns of meaning

22. How do you support?
Personal experience
Historical context
Contemporary cultural context
Research