“Other” … that is an entirely different conversation right there when it comes to Literature. Other is its entirely own theme and the research on it probably could fill my house.
But, here, it is just the good old melting pot, but it also makes it hard despite how easy it is to just throw stuff in here, to classify it. Honestly, this is the section where I just want to talk about things I love that aren’t necessary tied in a neat little bow. And that is ok.
In the end, we should remember that everything works together. Everything mixes when ti comes to Popular Culture. Certain parts of Loki will migrate and make its way here. Fairy Tales are a part of everything especially Shakespeare and other literature. Doctor Who and video games bits and pieces of all sorts of other literature/
THIS IS WHAT POPULAR CULTURE IS! It is taking the past and working it to us, to our culture, and making something new out of the old. Popular Culture is literally a melting pot of all other literature. Everything we love to see on T.V., theater screen, or written on a page is a mishmash of things that have come before it because that is what our culture is. Our literature is reflective of our culture, and culture is influenced by, well, everything.
So, let’s slow cook in this melting pot of pop culture and see what we get, yeah?
THE FOLLOWING ARE RESOURCES YOU MIGHT FIND USEFUL FOR “OTHER” Lit.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Primary Sources: Subject of choice>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Once, again, remember in this digital age of ours that choosing our primary subject is a bit more complicated than before because it can include film and other things not just books. This can include books, T.V. shows, movies, plays, even Youtube shows.
<<<<<<<<<<< Secondary Resources: Analysis and Critical Approaches>>>>>>>>>>>
Like with any popular culture research, finding critical resources about your primary is a task. It is easier to find theory about the original story (if your primary is an adaptation). But something always exists. There are many different avenues for you to take. This is the fun of getting into Popular Culture!
Remember, use your library! They have sources you might not have thought of, and your local library can give you access to the scholarly world as well through Galileo. Not just students of college/universities can use those databases because they are useful places to search though your best bet is between databases for individual articles and edited collections like the ones above.
Sometimes you even after to go after individual journals as they may have published individual articles that haven’t found their way into a book yet. Or groups that have conferences where scholars present their work (like I have done with the second mention. I’ve written all kinds of papers and presented at conferences–not just the PCACA but with the a specific Honor Society and with my specific state’s honor society of colleges/universities).
- Joss Whendon Studies
- Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association
- Taylor & Francis (publisher)
- Wayne State University Press (huge publisher)
- Palgrave & Macmillian (publisher)
Since Popular Culture is such a culture centered genre, we researchers and lovers must be aware of the people who make the culture: us. WordPress has writers and scholars like myself who analyze and breath new life into the discussion of literature. But it isn’t the only website: there are also magazines and newspapers. Interviews are good because if they are from actors and directors, they can give insight into the primary subject/characters.
Just remember that everything is valuable in some way. Sometime always inspires someone. Honestly, you could be at Walmart and see something, and it could inspire the best selling thing of all time.
I challenge you to branch out and look at things a different way. Try a type of book you would never read. I have done that. I found a love in The Hunger Games series because I said, wait, this isn’t my usual song and dance, but I want to try it.
These are just a few examples of what you could use. There are so many resources out, but the problem is trying to find all of them. It is difficult trying to piece together what and where. It is why, in the future, I hope to create a database for this genre: for popular culture. So people don’t have to look at Google, databases, and every which way else. Yes, it will probably require you to visit a library, but what I want is to have a database that is RECORD of the resources as well as copies. Sometimes it won’t have anything but a record, but that’s ok. I want to have guides on my database that says: if the full text isn’t here, look here. But that is going to be years down the road. First, basic things like this.
Catalyst of the Story 