Imagine that you are a philosopher and you are to predict the future of an issue on the basis of popular culture. Your main post should be in the thread that corresponds to the issue you have chosen for your final project. Posting in that thread will allow you to continue testing ideas you may want to include in your Final Project. However, you should feel free to respond to colleagues in any thread that interests you.

Earlier you looked at social issues as expressed by popular culture artifacts in a historical context. This week you do the same thing, but by looking at current issues that are being addressed by popular culture. Then you hypothesize about whether the conversations about this issue will provoke or resist change, and how and why this might happen.

Reading about how others approach their issues and popular culture can inspire new ways to think about your own issue and popular culture elements. For this Discussion, your Instructor will either assign groups to threads or direct you to choose one thread from the choices listed this week.

If you are to choose a thread on your own, follow these instructions:

Each thread is limited to a maximum number of students based on class size.

A thread will close if you reach the limit.

If a thread is not open to new posters, select from the open threads.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Review a sampling of modern popular culture artifacts.

The artifacts should not be more than 5 years old.

Consider how your chosen issue is conveyed in the sampling you have chosen.

Select at least two artifacts.

Review the discussion around how your issue of choice today in the news media.

Do this by visiting credible news sites via the Walden Library or on your own.

Post a 250-word response in which you compare and contrast two elements in relation to your chosen issue by answering the following:

Evaluate whether your sample of popular culture artifacts is provoking or resisting change.

Analyze how society’s acceptance or rejection of these popular culture artifacts might affect definitions of normal in 5 to 10 years.

Include references to your popular culture artifacts AND your chosen issue-focused news story.