Bowling Green State University Department of Popular Culture

Department of Popular Culture
Founder Ray Browne
Type Education
Location
  • Bowling Green, Ohio
Region served
Bowling Green, Ohio
Interim Department Chair
 Jeremy Wallach
Parent organization
 Bowling Green State University
Staff
12
Website Popular Culture Website

Bowling Green State University Department of Popular Culture is the first Popular Culture department in the United States.[1] The department was founded by Professor Ray Browne in 1973.[1] The Popular Culture department is unique as it is the only one in the US to offer both Bachelor's degrees and Master's degrees in Popular Culture.[1][2][3]

History

The Department of Popular Culture at Bowling Green State University has been a leader in the scholarly movement to investigate popular culture since its inception in 1973. Dr. Ray Browne's early efforts in the Department of English led in 1973 to the establishment of the Department of Popular Culture as an M.A. program, followed with the establishment of the undergraduate major a year later. Previously, in 1967, Dr. Browne had founded the Journal of Popular Culture; and in 1969 he founded the scholarly association for the study of popular culture, the Popular Culture Association, which is now headquartered at Michigan State University. Through these innovative curricular and programmatic developments and the research and other professional activities of the faculty, the department has established an international reputation as the leader in the study of popular culture.[4]

On July 21, 2012, Bowling Green State University announced their plans to demolish the Popular Culture building that housed the department.[5][6] The Popular Culture building was home to four former presidents of the university before the Popular Culture department moved in.[6] The building was purchased by the university in 1932,[7] and was formerly called Virgil House.[8] Over 2000 supporters protested the demolition plans of the Popular Culture building.[6][9] However the protests were unsuccessful and the university continued with plans to demolish the building.[10] The building was demolished on August 10, 2012, one week ahead of time.[6] The demolished Popular Culture house was replaced by a student health center.[11] The Popular Culture department moved into Shatzel Hall, alongside the Asian Studies department.[11]

Faculty and staff

For the 2016/17 school year,[12] the faculty and staff are

  • Jeffrey Brown, Professor
  • Esther Clinton, Visiting assistant professor
  • Charles Coletta, Lecturer
  • Becca Cragin, Associate professor
  • Matthew Donahue, Lecturer
  • Rebecca Kinney, Assistant professor
  • Montana Miller, Associate professor
  • Angela Nelson, Associate professor
  • Kristen Rudisill, Associate professor (on leave, Fall 2016)
  • Jack Santino, Professor
  • Jeremy Wallach, Professor

Retired or emeritus faculty include:

  • Ray B. Browne (1922–2009)
  • Christopher D. Geist
  • Michael T. Marsden
  • Marilyn Motz
  • John G. Nachbar

Other Former Faculty

  • Carl B. Holmberg
  • Jon Michael Spencer

References

  1. 1 2 3 Fox, Margalit (October 27, 2009). "Ray Browne, 87, Founder of Pop-Culture Studies, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  2. ↑ Lieszkovszky, Ida (March 22, 2012). "Some Students Opt for Odd Majors, Others Worry About Their Job Prospects". State Impact. NPR. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  3. ↑ Pomeroy, Kelsey (January 7, 2014). "7 Cool Majors You Didn't Know Existed". The Huffington Post. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  4. ↑ Department of Popular Culture. "About". Bowling Green State University. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  5. ↑ Brown, Harold (July 21, 2012). "Former Home of BGSU Presidents to Be Demolished". Sentinel-Tribune. Bowling Green, OH. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Brown, Harold (August 10, 2012). "Demolition of Pop Culture House Begins". Sentinel-Tribune. Bowling Green, OH. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  7. ↑ Wening, Tim (August 10, 2012). "BGSU Pop Culture Building Is Torn Down". Toledo, OH: WNWO-TV. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  8. ↑ Homes, Sears (August 13, 2012). "In Memoriam: BGSU Popular Culture House". Sears Modern Homes. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Supporters of popular culture building gather". The BG News. Bowling Green State University. July 31, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Bowling Green State University pop culture building razed". The Blade. Toledo, OH. August 10, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  11. 1 2 Miller, Tim (August 7, 2012). "BGSU to demolish popular culture center". Cincinnati: WXIX-TV. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  12. ↑ Department of Popular Culture. "Faculty & Staff". Bowling Green State University. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
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