Is Pop Culture Inclusive?

Let’s talk pop culture.
There’s been a lot of conversation lately about the importance of representation in media—across film, television, music, sports, video games, and books. Whether we're talking about race, gender, disability, socioeconomic background, or sexual orientation, many believe pop culture still falls short of fully reflecting the diversity of our world.

While there have been notable strides toward inclusivity fueled by growing demand for authentic and varied portrayals, true representation remains a work in progress. Some groups, like Latinos, Indigenous peoples, and individuals with disabilities, continue to be underrepresented. The ongoing conversation around diversity in pop culture highlights the need for continued progress to ensure that all communities are seen, heard, and valued.

In this lesson, students will explore representation in pop culture through portrait-style interviews.

If you plan on having a classroom discussion before assigning this challenge, use this Classroom Conversations Guide to help students feel prepared and supported.

Students will be able to:

• Critically evaluate different forms of pop culture media, identifying where diverse representation is present, lacking, or misrepresented.
• Recognize stereotypes and biases in media, and understand how representation influences societal attitudes and beliefs.
• Explain the importance of inclusive representation in shaping a more equitable culture.
• Develop and express ideas for improving inclusivity in pop culture, advocating for more authentic and diverse storytelling in media.
  

1. For the record, what is your full name, school, grade?
2. Representation in pop culture continues to be a major conversation. Are there any books, movies, songs, video games, or TV shows where you truly see yourself reflected? Tell us about one that stands out.
3. What’s an example of entertainment that you feel misrepresents you or another group of people?
4. Do you think the entertainment industry is doing enough to reflect the diversity of the real world? Why or why not?
5. Consuming media like books and movies help us form our own identities. Why do you think it’s powerful to see yourself represented in media and pop culture?
6. How do you think the way people and communities are portrayed in books, movies, music, or TV shows affects how we see others in real life?

Here is a list of alternative wordings of the questions, which could be helpful with your interview.

Interview subjects should look straight to camera and answer the questions in complete sentences or include the question in their answers so that viewers understand the context.

EXAMPLE OF DESIRED COMPOSITION:

ON CAMERA IDENTIFICATION: Interviewers should ask subjects the following - For the record, please say and spell your full name (first and last) on camera. Also please describe how you want to be identified in this video. For example, “I’m an 11th grade student at Canyon High School in Santa Clarita, California”

• BONUS: Film or collect your b-roll about what the subject is talking about to help tell your story. (Advice on gathering b-roll with your phone with cameras)

• Transcribe your interview and highlight the best soundbites. (Otter.ai transcription guide)
• Script your story (SRL Script Template) and build your story with a beginning, middle and end.
• Edit your piece into a 1-3 minute video story

Warm Up:
Begin with a class discussion about what pop culture is and how it influences society. Invite students to share examples they engage with regularly—such as favorite movies, TV shows, music, games, or influencers. Introduce the concept of inclusive representation in pop culture and why it matters for individuals and communities.

Historical Context:
Provide a brief overview of how representation in pop culture has evolved over time. Highlight key milestones and influential figures who have advanced diversity and inclusion. Acknowledge the progress made, while also addressing ongoing gaps and challenges.

Media Analysis Activity:

1. Divide students into small groups. Assign each group a different pop culture artifact (e.g., a movie clip, TV show episode, music video, video game trailer, or advertisement).
   
2. Have each group analyze their assigned media using the following guiding questions:

• How are different races, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities represented?
• Are any stereotypes or biases present?
• Does the media promote inclusivity, challenge norms, or reinforce harmful tropes?
  

1. Each group presents a summary of their findings to the class.
   
   

Class Discussion:
Facilitate a whole-class conversation based on the group presentations. Encourage students to reflect on how media representation shapes perceptions and impacts societal attitudes. Explore the importance of pushing for continued progress toward inclusive and equitable portrayals.

Conclusion:
Recap the key themes from the lesson, emphasizing the power of media representation and the role of audiences in shaping pop culture. Encourage students to become more conscious consumers and advocates for diverse and authentic storytelling.

Reflection Assignment (Optional):
Ask students to write a short essay analyzing a piece of pop culture they feel is either inclusive or lacking in representation. They should explain their perspective and suggest thoughtful ways to improve or strengthen inclusivity.

Global Perspective (Optional Extension):
Introduce a global lens by discussing how inclusivity in pop culture varies across different countries and cultures. Acknowledge that while there have been global strides toward representation, disparities persist, especially for Indigenous communities, people with disabilities, and others often excluded from mainstream narratives.

This resource is part of the Global Education Toolkit and was made possible with support from the Longview Foundation.