Media and Pop Culture Week 1 Class 2

Multiple Choice

What are the three cultural categories mentioned in the lesson?

• High Culture

• Popular Culture

• Folk Culture

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

Which type of culture best describes TikTok dance trends that spread widely through social media?

• High culture

• Folk culture

• Popular culture

Multiple Choice

Which type of culture best describes reality TV shows that are produced for mass audiences and widely consumed?

• High culture

• Folk culture

• Popular culture

Multiple Choice

Which type of culture best describes the Met Gala, an elite fashion event associated with art institutions and exclusivity?

• High culture

• Folk culture

• Popular culture

Multiple Choice

Which type of culture best describes traditional holiday foods that are passed down through families or communities over time?

• High culture

• Folk culture

• Popular culture

Multiple Choice

Which type of culture best describes streetwear brands that become widely popular and influence mainstream fashion?

• High culture

• Folk culture

• Popular culture

Multiple Choice

What are some key elements that reflect the evolution of popular culture over time?

• Technological advancements

• Social movements

• Blockbuster films

• All of the above

Poll

What do you think most strongly drives changes in popular culture over time?

• New technology and media platforms

• Changes in social values and beliefs

• Major historical or political events

• Celebrity influence

Poll

How would you describe the pace of change in popular culture today?

• Much faster

• Somewhat faster

• About the same

• Slower

Poll

Who do you think has the greatest influence on shaping popular culture today?

• Audiences and online communities

• Social media platforms and algorithms

• Media companies and brands

• Celebrities and influencers

Multiple Choice

What does media convergence represent in the context of cultural production?

• The separation of traditional and digital media

• The technological and cultural merger of traditional and digital platforms

• The decline of mass media organizations

• The rise of individual content creators

Poll

“The Medium Is the Message”

A breakup text vs a breakup phone call

• A breakup text

• A breakup phone call

Poll

“The Medium Is the Message”

An apology sent by email vs said in person

• An apology sent by email

• An apology said in person

Poll

“The Medium Is the Message”

A political message on TikTok vs on a news website

• A political message on TikTok

• A political message on a news website

The Medium is the Message

• The medium shapes how a message is understood

• The same words can feel different depending on how they are delivered

• Platforms influence tone, emotion, credibility, and meaning

• In popular culture, how something is shared matters as much as what is shared

Multiple Choice

What are the key differences between the traditional model of media access and the new digital platforms?

• Traditional media controlled access

• Digital platforms empower creators

• Limited voices in traditional media

• Direct creator-to-audience relationships

Multiple Choice

What are the key differences between traditional gatekeepers and modern influencers in cultural access?

• Traditional gatekeepers control content

• Modern influencers use digital platforms

• Both limit public access

• Cultural access is the same now and then

Multiple Choice

Tastemakers vs. Gatekeepers — KATSEYE × Gap

In the KATSEYE Gap commercial, who acted as the primary gatekeeper?

• Fans on social media

• KATSEYE

• Gap as a brand

• Fashion influencers

Multiple Choice

Tastemakers vs. Gatekeepers — KATSEYE × Gap

Who functioned as the tastemakers that helped shape how the commercial was received?

• Television networks

• Gap executives

• KATSEYE and their fanbase

• Fashion critics

Multiple Choice

Tastemakers vs. Gatekeepers — KATSEYE × Gap

Why did the KATSEYE Gap commercial gain positive traction online?

• It relied only on celebrity status

• It aligned with existing fan culture and aesthetics

• It avoided social media entirely

• It followed traditional advertising rules

Multiple Choice

Tastemakers vs. Gatekeepers — KATSEYE × Gap

This campaign best demonstrates which shift in popular culture?

• Gatekeepers completely control meaning

• Audiences no longer matter

• Tastemakers and audiences help determine cultural impact

• Advertising has stopped influencing culture

Multiple Choice

Tastemakers vs. Gatekeepers — KATSEYE × Gap

Compared to controversial ads that receive backlash, what does the KATSEYE example show?

• All celebrity ads succeed

• Brands always predict audience reactions

• Cultural meaning is negotiated after release

• Gatekeepers prevent criticism

Multiple Choice

Tastemakers vs. Gatekeepers — Sydney Sweeney Jeans Commercial

In the Sydney Sweeney jeans commercial, who acted as the primary gatekeeper?

• Social media users

• Sydney Sweeney

• The brand and its creative team

• Fashion influencers

Multiple Choice

Tastemakers vs. Gatekeepers — Sydney Sweeney Jeans Commercial

What role did Sydney Sweeney play in the campaign’s strategy?

• Audience gatekeeper

• Tastemaker chosen to attract attention

• Platform algorithm

• Cultural critic

Multiple Choice

Tastemakers vs. Gatekeepers — Sydney Sweeney Jeans Commercial

Why did this commercial receive backlash from audiences?

• It lacked celebrity recognition

• It conflicted with audience values and interpretations

• It was not widely distributed

• It avoided social media

Multiple Choice

Tastemakers vs. Gatekeepers — Sydney Sweeney Jeans Commercial

After the commercial was released, who most strongly reshaped its meaning?

• The brand’s PR team

• Traditional media critics

• Online audiences and social media discourse

• Fashion magazines

Multiple Choice

Tastemakers vs. Gatekeepers — Sydney Sweeney Jeans Commercial

Compared to the KATSEYE × Gap campaign, this example best shows that:

• Celebrity ads always fail

• Gatekeepers fully control cultural meaning

• Audiences can reject messages even when brands use star power

• Tastemakers no longer matter

Poll

You, Pop Culture, and Influence

When you discover a new trend (music, fashion, slang, show), where does it usually come from?

• Friends or peers

• Social media (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube)

• Celebrities or influencers

• Brands or ads

Poll

How likely are you to engage with a brand after seeing it connected to a pop culture figure you already follow?

• Very likely

• Somewhat likely

• Not very likely

• Not likely at all

Poll

Have you ever shared, reposted, or talked about a brand or trend in a way that changed how others viewed it?

• Yes, often

• Yes, once or twice

• Not intentionally

• No

Poll

When a pop culture campaign gets backlash online, what do you think causes it most?

• The brand misreads the audience

• The celebrity choice doesn’t fit the culture

• The message clashes with social values

• The message clashes with social values

Poll

Which statement best reflects your role in popular culture?

• I mostly consume what’s already popular

• I help spread trends through sharing and reacting

• I influence my friends’ tastes

• I actively shape conversations online

Popular Culture and Identity

What’s interesting here is that these reactions aren’t just about the ads themselves.
They’re about who people see themselves reflected in, what feels authentic, and what feels off.
Popular culture works when people recognize their values, identities, or experiences in it — and it breaks down when they don’t.

Multiple Select

What are the five key aspects of popular culture and identity as represented in the image?

• Representation

• Self-Concept

• Gender

• Class

• Sexuality

Multiple Choice

What is the global sales figure for the merchandise market related to popular culture?

• $10B

• $15B

• $20B

• $25B

Multiple Choice

How many industry jobs are directly related to the entertainment and media sectors worldwide?

• 1.5M

• 2.0M

• 2.6M+

• 3.0M

Multiple Choice

What is the estimated global annual box office revenue of the cinema industry?

• $20B

• $30B

• $40B+

• $50B

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a true statement about the role of the media in providing citizens with information?

• There has been an increase in social media and Internet news consumption by the public, causing the top five media conglomerates to have greater control over public opinion.

• Demand for instantaneous news reporting has led to the growth of 24-hour news operations and a shift to online media consumption.

• Investigative reporting dominates the news because it is less expensive than political commentary.

• The media is increasingly controlled by the major political parties, who determine which stories are covered by the press.

Multiple Choice

What are the positive impacts of popular culture as mentioned in the image?

• Diversity & Inclusion

• Creative Inspiration

• Social Awareness

• Global Connection

• All of the above

Fill in the Blank

Fill in the blank: Repeated exposure to media violence and extreme content may numb emotional responses and normalize ___ behaviors.

Multiple Choice

What are the main challenges and critiques of popular culture as outlined in the image?

• Stereotyping & Consumerism

• Desensitization

• Privacy Erosion

• Materialism & Risk

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

What role do streaming platforms like Netflix play in the globalization of pop culture?

• They limit cultural exchange

• They facilitate cross-cultural content consumption

• They promote only local content

• They have no impact on global culture

Poll

What makes K-Popped feel global rather than local?

• Artists from different countries

• Mixing musical styles and languages

• Streaming platform distribution

• All of the above

Poll

Without streaming platforms, how likely is it that a show like this would reach a global audience?

• Very likely

• Somewhat likely

• Not very likely

• Not at all

Poll

Who benefits most from globalization through streaming in this example?

• Artists

• Platforms

• Audiences

• All of the above

Global Pop Culture & Screaming

Streaming platforms make pop culture global by default, allowing different cultures to circulate, mix, and gain visibility at the same time.

Do you currently follow any pop culture that comes from outside the United States? If yes, can you remember where you first encountered it?

Global Pop Culture

What’s important here is that none of this culture reaches you on its own.
It travels because audiences choose it, share it, talk about it, and build communities around it.
That’s where audience agency and fandom come in.

Multiple Select

What are the four aspects of audience agency and fandom as illustrated in the image?

• Active Interpretation

• Production Influence

• Creative Remixing

• Community Formation

Multiple Choice

What are the essential skills for navigating popular culture in the digital age?

• Critical Analysis

• Source Evaluation

• Recognizing Bias

• Empowered Participation

• All of the above

Multiple Select

What are the three main reasons why media and popular culture matter?

• Shape Identities

• Connect Societies

• Empower Participation

• None of the above