Evaluation Title: What is Pop Culture?

One way to identify changes in popular culture is to examine new terms and concepts that arise and quickly become prevalent in society.  For example, you may be familiar with the new phrases that arose with the use of smartphones (LOL! OMG! YOLO!) and the new meanings for already familiar words such as text, data, refresh, application, etc.  We use ïogle!s a verb today, ðam5sed to be a canned meat product, and mazon.o longer first brings to mind a river in South America.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary takes on the challenge of the ever-changing English language by providing definitions for newly adopted and used words in the English language and even selects a ïrd of the Year a word that takes on a certain significant meaning in the context of current events and culture.  In 2015, it was notable that the ïrd/f the year wasn even a word at all, but instead an emoji!  No one 10 years ago could have predicted this, and it clearly demonstrates the role communication via technology has in todayàculture. 

For this assignment, you will create a PowerPoint presentation about popular culture and this yearàWord of the Year.  Look up Merriam-Websteràmost recent Word of the Year (https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/word-of-the-yea Links to an external site.) and consider the cultural influences and events that drove this selection.  What events are related to this word, and what are their significance?  How does this word present itself in your own thoughts, experiences, and beliefs?  What is the connection between the ïrd of the Year!nd the concept of Popular Culture?

Provide speaker notes on the PowerPoint to accompany each slide.