POPULAR CULTURE AND

CONSUMERISM

• LITERATURE

• LEISURE AND RECREATION

Claudia Sanchez & Renee Bennett

LITERATURE

WHAT TO READ

CHAPBOOKS

ENTERTAIMENT

ALMANACS

THOMAS PAINE

WHAT TO READ

LITERACY RATES:

1600- 1/6 MALES WERE BARELY LITERATE IN FRANCE AND SCOTLAND. ¼ IN ENGLAND

1800- 9/10 SCOTISH, 2/3 FRENCH, MORE THAN 50% ENGLISH

BIBLE IN PROTESTANT COUNTRIES

SHORT PAMPHLETS – “CHAPBOOKS”

CHAPBOOKS

PRINTED ON SHEET PAPER

FEATURED BIBLE STORIES, PRAYERS, DEVOTIONS, LIVES OF SAINTS AND EXEMPLARY CHRISTIANS

ENTERTAINMENT

FAIRY TALES

MEDIEVAL ROMANCES

TRUE CRIME STORIES

FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

ALMANACS

CALENDARS THAT LISTED RELIGIOUS AND ASTROLOGICAL EVENTS MIXED WITH AGRICULTURAL SCHEDULES, ARCANE FACTS AND JOKES.

THOMAS PAINE

AUTHOR OF MANY INFLUENTIAL TEXTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

1776 – COMMON SENSE PAMPHLET

SOLD 120,000 COPIES

LEISURE AND RECREATION

BLOOD SPORTS

CARNIVALS

LEISURE

BLOOD SPORTS

BULL-BAITING

COCKFIGHTING

CARNIVAL

TIME OF REVELING AND EXCESS IN CATHOLIC EUROPE ESPECIALLY IN MEDITERRENIAN COUNTRIES

PEASANTS DRESSED AS NOBLES, MEN AS WOMEN, AND RICH MASTERS WAITED ON THEIR SEVANTS

PEOPLE RELEASED THEIR FRUSTATIONS BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE