SGCMr. Kozuch

Culture Assignment SheetMay 3rd - May 21st

Due Monday, May 3:

Nothing due – Iceberg Presentation.

Due Tuesday, May 4th:

Read “A Time to Serve” by Richard Stengel from and answer the following questions:

  1. What does Stengel see as the connection between service and governance?
  2. What do you think of Stengel’s 10 point plan? What ideas intrigue you the most? The least? Address at least 5 of the ideas.
  3. You should also check out “National Service? Puh-lease” by Michael Kinsley (also in this section.)
  4. Should there be a national service plan or at minimum, should Newton South require service to graduate?
  5. Check out “The Activists” section. Which of these activists inspire you the most? Why?

Due Thursday, May 6th: Culture Review

Read pages 74-78 in It’s All Connected: A Comprehensive Guide to Global Issues and Sustainable Solutions by Wheeler, Wheeler and Church and define the following terms and answer the questions: commodity, conglomerate.

  1. What is worldview and how is it different than culture?
  2. How has mass media and the internet connected people throughout the world?
  3. What is the technology gap and what is its impact?
  4. What is the concern of increased consolidation of media outlets by a few corporations?
  5. Track the amount of time you spend in a day listening, reading and watching various forms of media. How many hours did you spend? What companies or organizations controlled this media? Use the following web site to help you identify the “parent” company of what you are consuming

Due Friday, May 7th: Culture Review& Iceberg Presentation

  • Nothing due/Molly Iceberg

Due Monday, May 10th:

In class: We will read “How to Write About Africa” by Binyavanga Wainaina

Due Tuesday, May 11th:Culture and Rap

  • Read the article “You’re your Own Tune” by Ricardo “Kool Aid” Chavez available at and answer the following questions:
  1. How does Chavez feel about rap music today versus its origins?
  2. What is Chavez’s “message” and how does he take it across the U.S.?

Due Thursday, May 13th: Japanese Rap & Iceberg Presentation

Iceberg: Chris Erspamer – nuclear disarmament

Go to the web site: . Read the text and listen to the selections on the web site. Then answer the following questions:

  1. How did rap develop in Japan and how was it supported?
  1. How does Japan Kohei use rap to express a belief of what is Japanese?

What similarities and differences do you see between Japanese hip hop and the U.S. hip hop that you are familiar with? Address style, form, clothing and meaning. You are encouraged to create a Venn diagram.

Due Friday, May 14th: Nothing due

Due Monday, May 17th: NO CLASS - MCAS

Due Tuesday, May 18th: Assessment - presentations

  • Develop a CD cover that you draw or put together from images found on the internet that represent hybridization of music in another culture. The CD cover should not JUST be words in another language. It should be images that represent at least two cultures. It is best to use a real singer/artist or at least be based on reality if you are being creative. See rubric for more information. In addition, you will present this CD cover to the class or write a one page summary that responds to the following questions:
  1. What two cultures does this CD cover represent? How does this cover represent these two cultures? What images or words help to convey this?
  1. What does this cover show about the issue of transnational youth culture and its transmission?
  1. How could the cover (and the artist represented by this cover) be a force for cultural preservation?

Due Thursday, May 20th: Assessment - presentations

Due Friday, May 21st: Iceberg Presentation- Michael Rosenberg