Solve for Y Discovering and Plotting our collective
identity.
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What makes Us U.S.? O Nation: O A people who share common
customs, origins, history, and frequently language. Nations run
deeper than the boundaries that may encompass its people. We often
misuse the term and mistake it for country or State.
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We are Unique (just like everybody else ;) O We have a cultural
narrative in the United States. Because weve come from different
parts of the world, our expressions, history, and myths define us.
O And it can be FUN to explore our cultural DNA.
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Why is cultural DNA important? O It showcases: O Our goals and
dreams O Our faults O Our lessons O Our humor O Our myths O And
more that I cant think of. Tapping into Cultural DNA leads
to...
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Cultural Literacy!
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We activate and look for 3 things: O Memory: When we see
something new we try to see a connection or corollary to something
weve seen before. O Symbols: Is this a metaphor, an analogy, what
does the thing over there signify? O Patterns: Similarities of
events and narratives. O All of these things bring richness to our
study and are great for infusing other elements into our
classroom.
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Just a quick visual example O What does this picture say to
you? Now what about someone from Japan?
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What about these two pictures?
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Are these things always permanent? O NO O Some are fleeting and
fads. Some go away and return later. O But ALL add a richness to
our classrooms.
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Those Were the Days O ("Those Were the Days" by Charles Stouse
and Lee Adams) - All in the Family Lyrics ("Those Were the Days" by
Charles Stouse and Lee Adams) - All in the Family Lyrics O Boy the
way Glen Miller played Songs that made the hit parade. Guys like us
we had it made, Those were the days. And you knew who you were
then, Girls were girls and men were men, Mister we could use a man
Like Herbert Hoover again. Didn't need no welfare state, Everybody
pulled his weight. Gee our old LaSalle ran great. Those were the
days The memories of a better era the late 1960s early 1970s
remember the 20s and 30s fondly!
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What did we look to back in the late 70s and early 80s?
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And a transition between the 70s / 80s and referencing the 30s,
40s and 50s O Kim Carnes and Bette Davis Eyes: O Written in 1974
when the eyes were looking back to the 30s and 40s, became popular
in 1981 when eyes were shifting to the 50s. Bette Davis and her
compatriots are figures that transcend those eras. John Wayne
anyone?
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Recently, weve begun looking back to the 70s O How could Lynyrd
Skynrd co-opt the Confederate Flag and promote it as a symbol of
youthful rebellion? O They took the political angle out of the
debate even with the political reference casting corruption as a
nationwide problem. Kid Rock has sampled the song and the flag in
an interesting way What is he trying to co-opt? The notion of
youthful rebellion? Is that why he is popular?
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Any symbols that return?
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But Seriously what can I DO with that? O Linking Music,
literature and art with history and politics is what makes your
classroom come alive and engage more students! O www.shmoop.com
www.shmoop.com O A GREAT starting point particularly if you are
looking for links between music, literature and history! O It also
has a little section called Why Should I care?
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Truth to the "every 20 or so year rule"?
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I want my MTV! Do people know the cultural reference in the MTV
logo? With the advent of the internet, our cultural DNA is a few
keystrokes away! Never before has it been SO easy to access our
history! (but we need to be responsible)
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So HOW do I do this in my classroom? Y = MX + B A simple
formula that guides us through the process. And its a formula they
learn anyway slope intercept or something like that. Y The formula
justifies Why something is a part of our cultural DNA (all of the
subsequent parts establish its place in our canon)
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M O Meaning: O What is the original (factual) meaning of the
reference? O What is the figurative meaning of the reference?
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X Finding 3 additional examples of its use Explanation of
original use. (Maybe use ARTIST, SPECS) Example 1 (ARTIST/ SPECS)
Example 2 (ARTIST/ SPECS) Example 3 (ARTIST/ SPECS)
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I Have a Dream Explanation of original use.
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What types of examples should we find? Books, Movies, Music,
Articles, Pictures, Cartoons. (look for them to span time) YES!
Sometimes our cultural DNA can be referenced in something as simple
as a picture! Tapping into this enriches our students and allows
them to access a greater understanding of things happening around
them (even if it is just a Simpsons episode).
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See...
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B O Bring it Home O Has the meaning remained the same? O
Examine Midas Touch. hhmmmm O Why does this resonate with us and
continue to be used? Plotting its proximity to the original meaning
and its relevance in todays lexicon.
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But what if I hate that silly formula? O How about 3 Ws? O What
does it mean? O Where else is it used? O Why does it continue to
stay with us?
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Lets try some from the early republic!
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I cannot tell a lie The original myth (story) Without knowing
the myth, this is just a toy.
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How about this?
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BENEDICT ARNOLD Finding 3 additional examples of its use In an
act that has made his name synonymous with treason in American
history, General Benedict Arnold conspired to turn his command of
West Point over to the British. In return, he was to receive money
and become a general in the British army. His treason was
discovered when Major Andre, his British contact, was captured.
Kerry's 'Benedict Arnold Democrats' By Roger Bybee "You can't
prosper if you're the Democratic Party with what could be called
Goldman-Sachs economics. You've got to have 'average-person
economics.'" -- former Republican strategist and author Kevin
Phillips. John Kerry has been loudly denouncing "Benedict Arnold
CEOs" for their policy of outsourcing US jobs overseas. Is John
Walker Lindh (American Taliban) a modern day version of Benedict
Arnold? Why or Why not?
Slide 32
Let them Eat Cake Finding 3 additional examples of its use The
origin of many phrases in English are unknown. Nevertheless, many
people would say that they know the source of this one. It is
widely attributed to Marie-Antoinette (1755-93), the Queen consort
of Louis XVI. She is supposed to have said this when she was told
that the French populace had no bread to eat. In today's front-page
report on City of Pensacola employee benefits, two things come to
mind: 1. The city's motto should be changed from "City of Five
Flags" to "Let them eat cake." 2. The City of Pensacola is too
expensive for the city of Pensacola. (March 15,2009) Let Them Eat
Cake Inc. is an award-winning, family-owned and operated Cake
Boutique. We have been designing and decorating customized wedding
and all-occasion cakes since 1977. T-shirt design
Slide 33
Some phrases, characters, events are timeless.
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Shakespeare is a GREAT place to look! Out Damned Spot. To Be or
Not To Be... That is the question. Double Double Toil and Trouble.
Romeo, Romeo where for art thou Romeo. Et tu, Brute? A horse; a
horse... By the pricking of my thumbs; something wicked this way
comes.
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Music Video Lyrics and Visual representation. If youre real
good you may catch the OTHER literary reference.
Slide 38
Greek and Roman Myths/ History O Achilles Heel O Trojan Horse O
Flying too close to the sun O Midas Touch! O Struck by Cupids Arrow
O The weight of the world on his shoulders O Pushing boulders up a
hill.
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Anyone know of a book with: O Garden O Serpent O Plagues O
Flood O Parting of waters O Loaves O Fishes O Forty days O Betrayal
O Slavery and escape O Fatted calves O Milk and honey?
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The Bible O Forbidden Fruit O Judas O 30 pieces of silver O
Golden Calf O Turn into a pillar of salt O Cross to bear
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Literature (non-Shakespeare) O White Whale O Albatross Around
My Neck O Chasing windmills O White Rabbit O Off With her Head O
Emperor's New Clothes O The Sky is Falling O Turn into a Pumpkin O
The shoe that fits O Peter Pan syndrome O Cheshire cat grin O
Scarlett Letter O breadcrumbs
Slide 42
How about History. O We the People O 40 acres and a mule O
Waterloo O Stonewalling O Pearl Harbored O I Have a Dream O Life,
Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness O Napoleon complex O We have
nothing to fear but fear itself O When in the course of human
events
Slide 43
Sports O Hail Mary O 7 th Inning Stretch O Were in the home
stretch. O Fast out of the gate, slow to finish O Three strikes and
youre out O Cinderella is going to the big dance.
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What about Popular Culture?
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Movies, TV, and Broadway Fun Fun! O I dont think were in Kansas
anymore. O Camelot O Frankly Scarlett, I dont give a damn. O Play
it again Sam. O Like sands through the hourglass...
Slide 46
And what was regarded as cutting edge! And Then There's Maude
by Dave Grusin and Andrew Bergman - Maude Lyrics Lady Godiva was a
freedom rider She didnt' care if the whole world looked. Joan of
Arc with the Lord to guide her She was a sister who really cooked.
Isadora was the first bra burner And you're glad she showed up. (Oh
yeah) And when the country was falling apart Betsy Ross got it all
sewed up. And then there's Maude. And then there's Maude. And then
there's Maude. And then there's Maude. And then there's Maude. And
then there's Maude. And then there's That old compromisin',
enterprisin', anything but tranquilizing, Right on Maude.
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It extends to today (with a few additions... clever,
clever)
Slide 48
Just some fun extras O The cat that ate the canary O Cutting
off youre nose to spite your face O Dropped a dime Any that we can
think of? Well, now that Ive led you down a primrose path...
Slide 49
A Swan Song.
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Remember SPECs? O Social O Political O Economic O Cultural O
Most of these phrases; symbols, books, images all get hooked into
this model BEAUTIFULLY.
Slide 51
Dont believe me? O Mary Shelleys Frankenstein: O Victor
Frankenstein builds his masterpiece not only from graveyard parts
but also from a historical condition or ENVIRONMENT! O The
beginning of the Industrial Revolution where reckless abandon
threatens everything we knew during the Enlightenment. O New
Science including anatomical research caused religious and
philosophical chaos in English society in the early 1800s.
Slide 52
SO O Every time we move into a Brave New World some writer,
artist or other lets us know that we are about to meet the monster
of our advancements. (Frankenstein so to speak) O Memory, Symbol,
Pattern????
Slide 53
What is the practicality? O Ever have your kids write newspaper
articles? O What about asking them to draw their own political
cartoons? O Construct a timeline of its use. (or a virtual
timeline) O What about a straight up writing assignment: O With
which phrase does person or event most closely match and why?
Slide 54
Everything leads perfectly to ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS O Unlike
other methods of analysis, Solve for Y forces kids to ask and
answer essential question of why these things matter and resonate
in our consciousness. O Why did the Family Guy use Maude? O Why did
Maude reference Cleopatra? Historians do this by virtue of their
training but everyone can, and it doesnt need to be rocket
science!
Slide 55
Its like having Socrates in your pocket... Or Mindy.
Slide 56
Practically Speaking O Why do I have the students do the
Y=MX+B? O Without that quick exercise, they may try to use cultural
links that arent relevant. O Then: I have them draw the cartoon or
write the newspaper article based on the idioms that theyve
validated. O Once they get the point I drop the formula since they
know the expectations of the assignment.
Slide 57
And lastly... O Spiral historical content. O Allow them to
activate prior knowledge. O Link it to other strategies, Notebook/
SPECS, ARTIST/ Whats My Return Address/ On the Money. O Unlock
subtle meaning. O Give them a road map and allow them to be curious
and creative. O (imagine if some of our English teachers had done
this BEFORE we read the book) Make this as brief or extensive as
youd like With those signature strategies!
Slide 58
The Test! O Your blog post will be a description of a political
cartoon based on culturally significant archetypes (or newspaper
headlines)
