Abstract

This study examines the effect that popular culture has on youth sub-culture and how it relates to or plays a role in the school environment. This exploratory study is based on unstructured interviews with high school students from one all female private school, one all male private school, and one public school. This was done so that I would have an equal representation of male to female students as found in the public school. The focus is on student involvement in three particular popular cultural forms: film, television, and music. The data collected indicates that the extent of student participation in various popular cultural forms merits serious consideration to address this phenomenon in the school curriculum, educational practice, and classroom activities. Suggestions as to how this can occur and further research are discussed.