Bowling Green State University Department of Popular Culture is the first

Popular Culture Popular culture (also called mass culture or pop culture) is generally recognized by members of a society as a set of practices, beliefs, artistic output (also known as, popular art or mass art) and objects that are dominant or prevalent in a ...

department in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The department was founded by Professor Ray Browne in 1973. The Popular Culture department is unique as it is the only one in the US to offer both

Bachelor's degrees A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ye ...

and

Master's degrees A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

in Popular Culture.

History

Popular Culture House

On July 21, 2012,

Bowling Green State University Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is a public research university in Bowling Green, Ohio. The main academic and residential campus is south of Toledo, Ohio. The university has nationally recognized programs and research facilities in the ...

announced their plans to demolish the Popular Culture building that housed the department. The Popular Culture building was home to four former presidents of the university before the Popular Culture department moved in. The building was purchased by the university in 1932, and was formerly called Virgil House. Over 2000 supporters

protest A protest (also called a demonstration, remonstration or remonstrance) is a public expression of objection, disapproval or dissent towards an idea or action, typically a political one. Protests can be thought of as acts of coopera ...

ed the demolition plans of the Popular Culture building. However the protests were unsuccessful and the university continued with plans to demolish the building. The building was demolished on August 10, 2012, one week ahead of time. The demolished Popular Culture house was replaced by a student health center. The Popular Culture department moved into Shatzel Hall, alongside the

Asian Studies Asian studies is the term used usually in North America and Australia for what in Europe is known as Oriental studies. The field is concerned with the Asian people, their cultures, languages, history and politics. Within the Asian sphere, Asian ...

department.

Faculty and staff

For the 2018/19 school year, the faculty and staff are * Jeffrey Brown, Professor * Charles Coletta, Lecturer * Becca Cragin, Associate professor * Matthew Donahue, Lecturer * Montana Miller, Associate professor * Angela Nelson, Associate professor *

Kristen Rudisill Kristen Rudisill (born September 17, 1975) is a tenured Associate Professor of Popular Culture at Bowling Green State University, Research Associate in the South Asia Institute at the School of Oriental and African Studies. and a Fulbright Fello ...

, Associate professor *

Jack Santino Jack (John Francis) Santino, Ph.D. is an academic folklorist. His work He is a Professor of Popular culture studies, Popular Culture at Bowling Green State University and is Director of the Bowling Green Center for Culture Studies. His work has ...

, Professor * Jeremy Wallach, Professor Retired or emeritus faculty include: *

Ray B. Browne Ray Broadus Browne (; January 15, 1922 – October 22, 2009), was an American educator, author, and founder of the academic study of popular culture in the United States. He was Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Bowling Green State University ( ...

(1922–2009) * Christopher D. Geist * Michael T. Marsden * Marilyn Motz * John G. Nachbar Other Former Faculty * Carl B. Holmberg * Jon Michael Spencer

References

External links

Bowling Green State University, Popular Culture Department
{{Authority control Bowling Green State University Popular culture studies University departments in the United States 1973 establishments in Ohio