Finding God in The Hangover

1. Tara Rupp Jason Downer Fairfield University Finding God in The Hangover

2. Outline • Introduction • Why we find this topic important • Benefits of using pop culture • Making the connection between Jesuit values, pop-culture, and topics facing our students

3. Finding God in All Things • “Ignatian spirituality considers everything an important element of your life. That includes religious services, sacred Scriptures, prayer, and charitable works, to be sure, but it also includes friends, family, work, relationships, sex, suffering, and joy, as well as nature, music, and pop culture”- Jim Martin S.J. The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

4. Influence of Pop Culture on Society "If you're going to understand America at the turn of the new century, you've got to understand its presidents and its wars and all the rest of its history but you had better also understand its cheeseburgers and its taxicabs and its interstate highway system…And it's funny that when it comes time to taking that kind of stuff seriously, there aren't a lot of people out there who want to talk about it.” Robert Thompson, Director Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University Video: Why pop culture is so important

5. Influence of Pop Culture on Society • We are not in control of our environment • We are constantly being bombarded by messages from movies, television, the internet, ads, magazines, etc • Ignoring or being immune to pop culture is impossible • The key is to be aware of what’s happening and use that awareness in conversations with students

6. Going Deeper with Students • Big Questions, Worthy Dreams- Sharon Parks • How do we involve students in these conversations • How do we challenge them to explore areas of their lives they might not be comfortable exploring

7. Benefits • Popular culture has always been a target of criticism by “elites” • Arguments include: shameless excesses of urban life, seduces/corrupts children, takes away from “serious” pursuits • Often reflects a fear about a change in the status quo • While there can be negative effects, there are also many positive things that can be taken from pop culture

8. Making the connection What topics to explore? How to use pop culture effectively? How to make it accessible to students?

9. Program Ideas: Diversity – Media Stereotypes Discussion/Program – Media Stereotypes around cultures and diversity “Diversity Day” http://www.tbs.com/video/index.jsp?oid=124282

10. Program Ideas: Diversity – Media Stereotypes • Have blank sheets of paper with different races, genders, ethnicities, and sexuality types written at the top • Italian, Gay, Indian, Black, Hispanic, Asian, Women, Rich, Poor, Urban, White • Ask participants to write down or name characters from TV shows and movies they associate with these characterizations • Discuss trends of each category. Ask students to talk about how they are similar/different from these categorizations

11. Program Ideas: Diversity – Media Stereotypes • After debrief show clip: Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBzv6JSm-No&feature=related • Stereotypes in Cartoons • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS3e-n8Mj7I • Video showing how children see black and white • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKYw0tKw6D4&feature=related

12. Program Ideas: “That’s So Gay” • Real Housewives of New Jersey • http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-new-jersey/ideos/addressing-the-gay-comment • Discuss: Why do you think people sometimes use the phrase “that’s so gay”? • That’s So Gay PSA http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com/psa.asp?play=tvspots&video=TV_Pizza_30 • Ultimate Message: How would you feel if someone used a word that described you as something dumb or stupid?

13. Sexuality • How does Pop-Culture influence students’ ideas of sexuality and dating? • What are some ways to begin those conversations? • How do we make the conversation about sexuality and dating on our Jesuit campuses more then just about condoms.

14. Dating through the years • Modern Family • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_CmBsi17_0&feature=PlayList&p=9C9D9D017E041A2F&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=73 • Saved by the Bell • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=602yQEP0Tgg • Andy Griffith Show • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJU9nqOsk0Y

15. Finding God in The Hangover • How do you “ruin” hit movies? • The Hangover • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op-4iqRCDV4&feature=related • What themes are the underlying themes in “The Hangover” • Friendship • Reflection • Magis

16. Discussion • How do you use pop culture with your students? • Have you found specific programs or topics that resonate with students and could lead to deeper conversations? • How have you incorporated pop culture into programs at your university?

17. Resources • Sex and The Soul • Donna Friedman • The Jesuit Guide to (almost) Everything • James Martin, S.J. • Popular Culture in the Classroom: Teaching and Researching Critical Media Literacy (IRA's Literacy Studies Series) • Donna E. Alvermann • A Matrix of Meanings: finding God in pop culture (Engaging Culture) • Craig Detweiler • “Good Morning Boys and Girls” – Tolerance.org • Rebecca Bidler • “Culture Jock” – University of Chicago Magazine • Amy M. Braverman • “The Worldwide Web of Popular Culture” • Jim Cullen