Passages 12

Web Links

Unit 4 Media and Popular Culture: Behind the Scenes

Twenty Thousand Ears how-to article by Rachel Wyatt

• How-to Write a Radio Play
  This BBC Web site provides an online seminar on how to write a radio play. It includes information on structure, theme, characters, etc. as well as links to other sources. Ask students to read one section and share what they learn in small groups using a jigsaw strategy. Groups can then work together to write a short radio play.
• Radio Sound Effects
  This Web page explains how sound effects were made decades ago. Ask students to skim the article and choose one sound effect to recreate. Others can guess what sound they are trying to produce. At the bottom of this page students can link back to the contents page or history page for a Web site about "old time radio."
• Vintage Radio Script Library
  This Web site provides students with access to several examples of radio dramas, including ones from The Abbot and Costello Show, The Green Hornet, The War of the Worlds. Ask groups of students to choose one script and perform it. They can use a cassette recorder to tape their performance.

Nancy Chew Enters the Dragon radio play excerpt by Betty Quan

• Betty Quan
  This Web page gives students a brief biography of the writer as well as a photo. The site provides a list of other works and information about those works.
• The History of Nancy Drew
  On this Web page, students can read an article that follows the history of this popular teen sleuth. An excellent timeline is also provided. Discuss the history of the character and how many students have read Nancy Drew books. Ask: How would you describe the character? How would you describe the character in "Nancy Chew Enters the Dragon"?
• Parodies
  Parodies of various Shakespeare works are provided on this personal Web site by scriptwriter Richard Nathan. Students could read and perform parts of his works. Students may want to link to parodies of other works than Shakespeare's.

The Role of Words in the Digital Era interview with Peter Desbarats by Kathe Lieber
Gutenberg Can Rest in Peace editorial by Pierre Renaud

• The Written Word Is Alive and Well
  On this Web page is a magazine article originally printed in USA Today that supports the view that the written word is alive and well in the 21st century. Because this article appears on a commercial site with banner ads, print it out for students to read. After reading the article, students can discuss whether or not they believe the Internet is improving the way people write.
• Gutenberg
  Students can visit this Web site to find out more about the invention of the printing press. The site also provides information on Gutenberg's Bible and the time and place in which Gutenberg lived. After students have researched Gutenberg, ask them to role play a conversation between Gutenberg and a modern computer user. Suggest a scenario—such as the computer user explaining e-mail, or Gutenberg explaining the process used before the printing press was invented.
• Printing: History and Development
  On this Web site, students can trace the history of the written word from the invention of paper in China through to the Internet. Ask groups of students to investigate the history of print and present highlights of this history to the rest of the class. Encourage them to present the information in an innovative and creative way; for example, using movement, dance, song, visuals, or graphics.

Bus Shelter public service announcement by Donna McCarthy, produced for Covenant House

• Covenant House
  Students can explore the Covenant House Web site. Discuss the role the organization plays in helping homeless and runaway youths across Canada. A picture tour of the house in Toronto is provided, as well as ways to help these youths.
  • Ask students to compare the information as it is presented on this site with its presentation on the Streetwise site following.
• Streetwise
  This Web site provides links to organizations in Toronto that help youths, those who are homeless, as well as others. Encourage students to scroll down the list of organizations to find the link to Covenant House, and then find out more about the organization. Discuss the purpose and usefulness of this Web site. Note that some content on these links is mature.
  • Ask students to look for a similar site for their community. Ask: Would they recommend such a site for their community? Why or why not?
• Public Service Announcements—Samples
  On this Web site, students can view various public service announcements made by a production company. Students could view and compare two or three examples.
• Teen Homelessness
  On this Web page students can read an article from the Youth Action Network about teen homelessness in Toronto. The page also provides contacts for youth shelters in the city. Discuss the issues and bias of the article. Note that mature subjects are discussed in the article.
  • Ask students to explore the Youth Action Network Web site in small groups. They can discuss the issues the network raises and the site's agenda.

An Artist At Work photos by Annie Griffiths Belt, tinting by Jill Enfield

• Annie Griffiths Belt
  This site gives a detailed biography of photographer Annie Griffiths Belt.
• Jill Enfield
  Students can visit Enfield's personal Web site to view other work by this artist. Read the biography together and discuss her career and what skills and expertise it requires.
• Painted Photos
  This Web site allows students to explore another photographer's hand-painted images. Other techniques are explored as well. Ask students to compare the various techniques. Note that some photos include mature subject matter.
• Digital Truth
  Ask students to visit the American Photography Web site and read the article, which raises and answers questions about the digital manipulation of photos. The article also provides examples of digitally enhanced photos.
  • Students can create their own altered photos by clicking on Image Lab at the top of the page, then clicking on Digital Manipulation.
  • Have students choose one other article on this Web site to read (the numbers at the side of the first page provide access to other articles, or click on Features) and discuss. Before directing students to other articles or areas of the site, review the content to ensure it is suitable for your students.

The Wizard of Id cartoon by Brant Parker and Johnny Hart

• The Wizard of Id
  Students can read other Wizard of Id comic strips by Parker and Hart at this site. Ask them to choose one strip that they think highlights an important media issue and discuss it in small groups. Note that this is a commercial site and is trying to sell products connected with the comic strips. Discuss the purpose and audience of this site with students, why it was created, and who profits from it.
  • Students might like to explore this Web site to find other comic strips that highlight issues. Discuss how comic strips can be used to convey a point of view on an issue.
• Cartoons
  On this commercial Web site, students can browse through various comic strips. Challenge students to choose one comic strip, read a month's worth of strips, and report on it to the class. What topics does it tend to deal with? What type of humour does it use? Is it worth reading? Why or why not?
• Raffi Talks Back: Children and Sponsorhips
  Students can read a commentary by renowned singer Raffi, explaining his stance on corporate sponsorship at a Vancouver children's festival. The article appears in Adbusters.
  • Ask students to compose an e-mail reply that expresses how they feel about the issue and Raffi's article. After editing and proofreading the letter, they can send it to the magazine.
• Advertiser Influence
  As a class, read the article "Advertiser Influence" on this Web page and discuss the points it raises. Ask students to create a diagram to explain the relationships between media producers, audiences, and advertisers.
  • Students can explore this Web site's many links about the impact of corporate sponsorship throughout North America. Discuss the bias of the Web site.
• Corporations
  This article taken from Adbusters magazine, takes a negative look at the formation of corporations and the enormous power they hold. Discuss the article, particularly what it mentions about corporate sponsorship at schools. Note that some mature content is included in the article; review it before giving it to students to read.

Citytv: Now Available in Assorted Cultures newspaper article by Kim Honey and Timothy Pratt

• Citytv
  Students can explore Citytv's Web site, which will illustrate the TV station's unique format. The site provides information on individual TV shows and various TV personalities. Note that this is a commercial Web site for a TV station with mature programming.
• Career Page: All About Broadcasting
  This Web site provides basic job descriptions for TV and radio careers. The site also gives advice for those seeking employment within the broadcast industry. Interested students can investigate these careers.
• Campus Access: Journalism
  This Web site is an informative and useful site for students interested in journalism. It provides students with application guidelines for Canadian universities offering journalism. Links are also provided that will supply students with additional information including various steps they can take to facilitate their entry into a journalism program. Note that this site is sponsored by corporations and includes pop-up ads.

Identity Crisis poem by Monica Holliday

• Media and Body Image
  Ask students to read the article on this Web page about the influence of advertising on body image. It cites various studies about how body image has been distorted by advertising and what the effect of the advertising is on teens.
  • Students can explore the rest of this site, reading other articles about media issues. Small groups can discuss several issues.
• Body Image Statistics
  This Web page provides numerous statistics on body image and eating disorders, including how many people will die as a result of eating disorders and the influence of body image on children. Discuss the statistics as a class. Note this is a commercially sponsored site.
• The National Eating Disorder Information Centre
  Students can visit this Web site for the National Eating Disorder Information Centre to learn more about eating disorders. The site provides a glossary, a wealth of links, a guide for family and friends, a list of recommended readings, and questions and answers regarding weight loss.

Video Ga Ga newspaper article by Vinay Menon

• MTV
  On this Web site, students can investigate MTV, the pioneer of music videos. The site provides links to musicians and bands and information on TV shows. Note that this is a commercial Web site for a TV station with mature programming.
• MuchMusic
  On this Web site, students can find out about Canada's first all-music station. The site provides links to various bands and information on concerts. Students can compare the MTV site and the MuchMusic site.
• Impact of Music Videos
  This Web page, run by the National Institute on Media and the Family, provides some interesting statistics on the impact of MTV on this generation. Small groups can discuss the points raised on this page and then report the conclusions of their discussion to the class.

Disaster as Popular Culture persuasive essay by Derek Boles

• Boles Articles
  Other articles by Boles can be found at the Rotten Tomato movie Web site. Ask students to read and discuss several movie reviews, particularly disaster movie reviews.

The Titanic Sinking on 15th April 1912 oil on canvas by Harley Crossley

• Harley Crossley
  On this Web site students can find out about the artist of the painting on page 189 of the Student Anthology, as well as viewing other works.