Philosophy in pop culture

• Maatschappijleer
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Religion in pop culture

Philosophy in pop culture

Over the coming weeks, you will work on the  Pop Project. This project involves analyzing a cultural expression (music video, song lyrics, or video game) from a life view perspective. You can decide what you want to analyze, but it must be approved by your teacher (as not everything is equally suitable for analysis).

In short, you will answer the following questions: WHAT do I see/hear? WHY do I see/hear this? and WHAT is the creator's intention with it? Your teacher will provide examples to help you understand what to focus on.

You can choose to do the analysis alone or in pairs. What you need to do exactly will depend on your choices.

Pop project

The video game, song lyrics, and music video analyses must be presented to the class.  

In this presentation, you will show or play what you analyzed and then explain your analysis. A music video, song lyrics, or video game analysis should last a minimum of 5 minutes and a maximum of 10 minutes (including the time spent showing or playing the song).  

Note: If you choose to analyze a song in pairs, you must discuss both the lyrics and the music video. In that case, aim for a presentation time of around 10 minutes.

Presentation

The evaluation will focus on the content and delivery of the presentation.

The next few slides will describe how to make the project step-by-step. In the last slide you will find the rubric for both the content and presentation!

Finally, a small tip:

- Always choose something you personally enjoy. You'll spend a lot of time on this assignment, and if you find it fun, the results will be much better.

- In LessonUp will you find an example of a presentation.

Graded on:

1. Explain why you chose this topic.

• Does it have a special meaning for you? Why?
• Does it bring back certain memories?
• Or does the theme/subject resonate with you because you can relate to it?

2. Clearly explain who created it.

• Was it made by one person or a team?
• Provide a brief biography and an overview of their career(s).
• Explain how this work fits into the creator’s other projects.

• (When was it made? Is there anything special about this period?)
• Consider the artist’s/writer’s/director’s life, current events, or societal issues the creator aimed to highlight.

The Assignment: Analyzing a Song Lyric, Music Video, or Video Game

3. Give a clear summary of the story.

• Discuss the characters and/or key moments.
• What challenges do they face?
• What goals, emotions, or motivations do the characters have throughout the story?
• Do they experience growth or change? If so, how?
• Do you empathize with them? Why or why not?

4. Identify the life questions and/or themes.

• Are the questions left open for you to reflect on, or does the work provide answers?
• Are specific values (e.g., freedom, love, loyalty, solidarity) central? Which ones, and how are they portrayed?
• Are there norms or ideas about how things should be? Where can you see that?

The Assignment: Analyzing a Song Lyric, Music Video, or Video Game

5. Explore hidden meanings and symbols.

• For texts, focus on specific words/phrases/imagery.
• For games or music videos, identify symbols visible on screen. Use screenshots to support your explanations.

6. Discuss the emotions it evokes.

• What emotions does it elicit? Explain what causes those feelings.
• Is it the story, the music, the color use, or something else?
• If you are analyzing a song lyric or music video, comment on the connection between the text, music, and visuals.

7. Give your opinion about the work.

• Discuss the form: how does it look/sound?
• Discuss the content: what do you think of the underlying message?

Has your perspective on the work changed after uncovering its meanings?

The Assignment: Analyzing a Song Lyric, Music Video, or Video Game

5. Explore hidden meanings and symbols.

• For texts, focus on specific words/phrases/imagery.
• For games or music videos, identify symbols visible on screen. Use screenshots to support your explanations.

6. Discuss the emotions it evokes.

• What emotions does it elicit? Explain what causes those feelings.
• Is it the story, the music, the color use, or something else?
• If you are analyzing a song lyric or music video, comment on the connection between the text, music, and visuals.

7. Give your opinion about the work.

• Discuss the form: how does it look/sound?
• Discuss the content: what do you think of the underlying message?

Has your perspective on the work changed after uncovering its meanings?

The Assignment: Analyzing a Song Lyric, Music Video, or Video Game

• Use a PowerPoint Presentation (PPT): Structure your analysis with the help of a clear and engaging slideshow.  
• Include Audio or Video Files: Play the song for the class during your presentation.  
• Provide the Lyrics: Share the lyrics both in the original language and in Dutch, if applicable.  
• Follow the Analysis Order: Ensure your presentation follows the analysis steps outlined earlier.  
• Use Visual Aids: Include screenshots from the music video or game to clarify your points.  
• Engage the Class with Questions: End your presentation with a few questions for the class. You can present these at the start of your presentation so the class can watch and listen with those questions in mind.  

Important Points for the Presentation