Joseph Boenzi – Storytelling, Pop-Culture and re-launching the Gospel Message with Don Bosco among a new generation of post-modern young people

There would be so much to say on the themes of pop culture, storytelling, the education of the young in a changed and changing world. Each of these vast themes are being addressed in these years by sociologists, psychologists, political scientists, educators and philosophers.

And here I am, a Salesian who teaches theology after beginning as an educator of middle-school youth with learning and behavioral disabilities. I say this to help my readers to understand that I am no authority but a student of these themes for the interest and the needs of those among whom I have worked.

Ci sarebbe tanto da dire sui temi della cultura pop, dello storytelling, dell’educazione dei giovani in un mondo mutato e mutevole. Ciascuno di questi vasti temi viene affrontato in questi anni da sociologi, psicologi, politologi, educatori e filosofi.

Ed eccomi qui, un salesiano che insegna teologia dopo aver iniziato come educatore di giovani delle scuole medie con disabilità di apprendimento e comportamentali. Dico questo per aiutare i miei lettori a capire che non sono un’autorità ma uno studioso di questi temi per l’interesse e le esigenze di coloro tra i quali ho lavorato.

Contents:

• I. What is pop culture?
• II. Broadcast media, music and pop culture
• III. The Harry Potter phenomenon
• IV. Young people are reading again
• V. Storytelling and youthful heroes
• VI. The hero’s journey
• VII. John Bosco and youthful heroes
• VIII. The young John Bosco as a model for young people
• IX. Striking similarities

Reference time period: 1920 – 2007