Starter 8.27: Complete this sentence as many ways as you can think of. Be literal and/or figurative, positive and/or negative.
- America is....
PROJECT LAUNCH! (Let me know if you want me to print you a hard copy of this description. Otherwise, it can be found under the “PROJECTS” link on my DP for your reference)
So let’s deconstruct a little piece of Americana….
Listen once without video and answer prompt questions
1. Do you think that John Cougar Mellencamp’s tone is more patriotic or cynical? Explain why you think so, using evidence.
2. Make an interpretive claim about this song using evidence. What is he saying? What is the message? What do you think this song is trying to express about America?
3. Group share/interpretation: What meaning do we find? What do the people in the song believe about America?
WATCH THE VIDEO
4. Discuss: Does the video change your interpretation? How and why?
5. How might ideology impact how we are seeing the song? How we view the American experience?
IN OUR OWN WORDS (Pair Share) What is ideology?