Pop Goes the Canon: Teaching the Classics Through Pop Culture

High school teachers are often required to teach the literary canon, yet limited budgets can make it difficult to diversify text selections. This session explores how popular culture—films, television, music, and even memes—can supplement classic works to foster student engagement and deepen understanding. Participants will leave with adaptable strategies, sample pairings (e.g., Macbeth with The Big Door Prize, and "Boys and Girls" with Taylor Swift's "The Man"), and classroom activities that bridge canonical texts with the media students already know and love.