Choose a popular culture event or artifact that interests you enough to drive a careful analysis. You should select a topic that can be narrowed down to a clear thesis. Once you have your topic, research it and draw conclusions from the trends you see over time. Here are some sample topics; however, do not feel you are limited to these examples: Examine Barbie advertisements from the 1970s to the present to show how the doll has moved from a fashion archetype to a more practical, career-oriented toy that encourages young girls. The Simpsons TV show has gone through many changes, but the most successful episodes are the ones that tackle current political events. However, is there a political bias present when one compares and contrasts a politically driven episode from the Bush era with one from the Obama or Trump eras? Reality TV is everywhere, but where did it come from? Some argue the first reality show was MTV`s The Real World from the 1990s; however, few remember that reality TV first captivated audiences in 1973 when PBS featured its show The American Family. Contrast the rhetoric of that landmark show with a reading of a modern family show in order to draw inferences about the changes to the genre. Present the results of your research in a 4-6-page double-spaced paper. Your paper should include the following: MLA formatting. A minimum of three external sources. A clear thesis/focus. Well-organized paragraphs. Minimal errors in spelling, grammar and mechanics.
