OpenStax
Open Stax: Growing Pains of Urbanization: Relief From the Chaos of Urban Life
Learn how different economic classes in urban centers spent their leisure time in the late 19th century. Includes a good discussion of machine politics and the role it played in the lives of the lower classes, as well as its negative...
OpenStax
Open Stax: The Jazz Age: Redefining the Nation 1919 1929: A New Generation
Looks at the new morality that emerged in the 1920s. It changed the role of women and the perception of African Americans, the latter facilitated by the Harlem Renaissance and its impact on the music and dance of the Jazz Age. Also...
OpenStax
Open Stax: The Great Depression 1929 1932: The Depths of the Great Depression
Examines the challenges faced by the average American, by African Americans, and by farmers on the Great Plains during the Great Depression, and the government's response or lack thereof.
Other
Babe Ruth
The official web site of Babe Ruth provides excellent resources about his baseball career and his personal life.
Library of Congress
Loc: Performing Arts Encyclopedia: Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Did you know that the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is over one hundred years old? Find out why this song has enjoyed lasting popularity. Includes an image of the artwork for the sheet music of this song.
Other
Aloha hawaii.com: Celebrating the Birth of Hula
An interesting description of the history of hula in Hawaii. Use this site to learn the origins of this ancient folk dance and how it evolved to become the most popular symbol of the state of Hawaii.
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Japan Web: Kyo Sensu (Folding Fans)
This page gives a description of how Japanese Kyo-Sensu (folding fans) were once very popular.
University of Maryland
Romantic Circles Praxis Series: Immortals, Vampires, Ghosts: Byronic Heroes
Essay considers modern-day examples of Byron's heroic ideal found in the popular culture of movies, music, popular novels, and television.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 36: Cross Genre Comparisons in Hip Hop
From being viewed as a fad, hip-hop's commercial success has allowed it to permeate virtually all aspects of popular culture. By critically analyzing hip-hop music and comparing it with established music forms, the cultural relevance,...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Pop Art in the Uk
While American artists were primarily inspired by what they saw and experienced within their own culture, early Pop art in Britain was fueled by American popular culture viewed from a distance. Learn more about Pop art in the UK here.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Great Gatsby: Primary Sources From the Roaring Twenties
In order to appreciate historical fiction, students need to understand the factual context and recognize how popular culture reflects the values, mores, and events of the time period. Since a newspaper records significant events and...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Understanding Different Views on Death
Examine how people come to understand and deal with death in their own ways, and examine the importance of expressing emotions and values surrounding the issue. Analyze how death is portrayed in the media and popular culture.
PBS
Pbs: The Sixties: The Years That Shaped a Generation
Online companion to a PBS documentary that tells the story of America during the 1960s includes a timeline of newsworthy events from the decade and a series of thematic vignettes that addresses the war in Vietnam, sixties pop culture,...
Other
The Sam Shepard Website
Shepard website put together by Bucknell University professor. Provides valuable links to Shepard & pop culture, music, biographies, films & published works.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Flower Power
An interesting look at the counterculture of the 1960s and 1970s and what influence it had on popular culture.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: You Decide: The Roaring Twenties?
Read about prohibition, prosperity, the role of the automobile and popular culture to decide if the 1920s were a roar or a big yawn. How would you describe the 1920s?