Fractured Culture
Call it "disintermediation" or "cultural fragmentation" — but American culture is sliced up in so many ways that what's popular with one group can go virtually unnoticed by another. NPR explores how we came to live in "a culture of many cultures."
Nathan Kress (Freddie), Miranda Cosgrove (Carly) and Jennette McCurdy (Sam) of Nickelodeon's iCarly.
'iCarly': How Playing To Girls And Boys (But Not Adults) Helped Build A Hit
()Elizabeth Blair reports on a popular Nickelodeon show that you might never even hear about unless you have kids to watch it with. And we ask an open question about kids' entertainment that works on both boys and girls.
Anti-Social Networks? We're Just As Cliquey Online()
February 3, 2011 Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter are helping people keep in touch with a wide network of friends and family. But just how social are those networks? As part of NPR's Fractured Culture series, Laura Sydell investigates whether social networks are simply moving real world cliques online.
The Record
Human Videos: Reenacting Christian Pop Songs For Jesus()
January 31, 2011 Teenagers belonging to the Assemblies of God proselytize — and socialize — by acting out pop songs.
The Selective Subculture Of 'Fantasy' Gamers()
January 31, 2011 The complexity of the role-playing game Final Fantasy acts as a gatekeeper, keeping out all but the most persistent. And hard-core fans say that's just the way they like it.
The Record
Fractured Industry: Companies That Serve Musicians Without Deals()
January 27, 2011 There are more musicians trying to make a living without a major label deal than ever before.
The Record
BET's '106 And Park' Won't Ever Grow Old()
January 27, 2011 The hip-hop-oriented video show makes eighth-graders feel like they're at a party just for them.
In A Small Corner Of YouTube, A Web Star Is Born()
January 26, 2011 As the entertainment world fragments across a growing number of platforms, some of the biggest winners have been rogue, online video personalities and producers. But even with 3 million followers on YouTube, Ryan Higa isn't exactly a household name.
Monkey See
Steve Harvey: A Comedy King Looks To Speak Across A Cultural Divide()
January 26, 2011 Steve Harvey is a sitcom star, an accomplished comedian and a best-selling author. But that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of people who have never heard of him.
Alt.Latino
Alt.Latino: Addressing The Cultural Divide Through Music()
January 24, 2011 All Things Considered introduces a series on how Americans experience culture. In the first installment, Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Jasmine Garsd discuss the cultural divide and describe how music fits into the picture.
Cultural Common Ground Gets Harder To Come By()
January 24, 2011 In an age of ever-increasing media options, water-cooler conversation doesn't come so easily. When The Cosby Show was at its peak in the late 1980s, the show's audience was nearly 30 million. Today, Two and a Half Men is the nation's top-rated show, with 15 million viewers.
