Hal Niedzviecki

Readings

Generally, my talks revolve around encouraging young people to better understand what pop culture is and how it works. We discuss how pop culture functions and explore a bit of the history of mass media. Together we learn about what I call ‘the Lie of Fame’, the pop culture message that everyone and anyone can be famous if he or she wants it bad enough. Where does this message come from and how does it help sell TV shows and celebrities, not to mention hamburgers and soap? We also discuss the difference between corporate (top-down) pop culture and the independent pop culture young people can make themselves. Along the way we touch on blogs, YouTube, social networking sites, reality TV and more. I ask the question: why would you want to make your own pop culture? ? by way of encouraging young people to think of themselves as cultural producers, not consumers.

My presentations are frank, energetic and peppered with examples from my research such as my day spent in the line-up of Canadian Idol or my discussion with a 70 year old grandmother discovering zines for the first time at an underground culture fair. I am comfortable tailoring my presentation to focus on particular aspects of media, pop culture, marketing/advertising culture, independent/underground culture, and online cultural activity to fit in to a particular curriculum or program.

Special Equipment:

n/a

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Workshops

I offer hands-on zine making workshops for Grades 8 and up. This includes discussions of the theories and ideas behind independent/do-it-yourself creativity and then the actual making of pages of a zine. I can also do creative writing workshops and writing-about-the-arts journalism workshops.
I also offer...

Special Equipment:

Depending on the size of the room or the particular presentation I may require nothing more than a large pad and a black marker. Other times I may request a projector to hook up to a laptop so I can use power point. Zine making workshops will require scissors, glue, markers, old magazines for collage etc.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Biography

Hal Niedzviecki is an acclaimed pop culture commentator and social critic. His books include the recently published The Big Book of DIY Pop Culture: A How-To Guide For Young Artists and Hello, I’m Special: How Individuality Became the New Conformity. He is also founder and publisher of Broken Pencil: The Magazine of Zine Culture and the Independent Arts.

OTHER PRESENTATIONS:
Keynote addresses and professional development for teachers and librarians on the subject of teaching pop culture in the age of specialness.