Essay #2: Pop Culture and Identity – Eng 101 Spring 2015
Context: In this section of the class, we will read several essays about how identity can be constructed and
influenced by popular culture. In some of these cases, pop culture has a productive or positive influence, in
some cases, pop culture has a destructive or negative influence on identity, and in some cases, it's a little of
both.
The Writing Task: We will be dividing into groups based on areas of interest. Each group will be
focusing on the same broad topic, but each group member will have his or her own narrowed topic. This
means that you will be able to share sources and ideas with one another.
Groups will include (there will be more than one group for each topic):
 Pop Culture Gender, and Identity
 Pop Culture, Technology/The Internet, and Identity
 Pop Culture, Brands/Consumer Culture, and Identity
 Pop Culture, Music, and Identity
 Pop Culture, Film/Television, and Identity
Choose a pop culture trend that fits under your broader topic AND may influence the creation of identity in
the people who participate in or are exposed to that trend, and make a complex claim about that influence
using examples that you find as you research as well as relevant examples from your own experience. Find
articles that address your concerns, and answer the following questions: How exactly does the trend you chose
influence the way people construct their identities? How does this influence work? Whose identities,
specifically, are being influenced? Is this influence productive, destructive, or a little of both? What are
some of the consequences, either good or bad, of pop culture influencing the construction of identity in
this way?
Example from a course reading: “What’s Wrong With Cinderella?” is exploring these issues. The “trend” she
explores is the intensive marketing of “princess” products at very young girls, and Orenstein is questioning how
that trend might affect those girls’ identities and senses of themselves as girls/women.
Sample topics: (You are not limited to these topics. These are simply examples of topics that would fit this
question.)
 A specific type of advertisement and the creation of feminine/masculine identity (gender option)
 The influence of a specific musical genre on the development of identity in teenagers (music option)
Your essay should do these things:
 First, it should have a thesis statement that makes a claim about a pop culture trend and its effect on the
identity of a specific group.
 Second, it should show an awareness of the conversation that is already going on about the issues. This
means that it should fully describe the specific connection between pop culture and identity that you will
discuss and summarize some of the ideas that you have found in your research that have already been put
forward about this connection.
 Third, it should build a clear, coherent argument in response to the prompt and the sources that you
choose.
Sources: You must cite (quote or summarize/paraphrase) at least three different reputable sources in this
essay.
Length: 4-5 pages (1300 word minimum, including Works Cited). This means that your essay must be at
least to the bottom of the fourth page when it is formatted correctly. (See your syllabus for my formatting
requirements.) You must also include a works cited page in MLA format for any sources you quote in the body
of your paper, including your text book. (This means that everyone will have a works cited page.)
Once you have done your brainstorming/freewriting and decided on a topic, you might want to use an outline to
structure your essay.
Due Dates:
Rough Draft for peer review due Friday,
4/10 at 11:59 PM (upload to turnitin)
Comments on peer drafts due on turnitin by Tuesday, 4/14 at the start of class
Optional Rough Draft for instructor comments on turnitin due at 11:59 PM Friday, 4/17
Final Draft due Friday, 4/24 at 11:59 PM (upload to turnitin)