Popular culture is defined here as anything produced by and/or dissembled by the mass media or mass production or transportation, either directly or indirectly, and that reaches the majority of the people. This sampler from mass magazines, intended for use in the study of popular culture, includes fiction from "Playboy"; articles on cars, Johnny Cash, Vietnam, best-sellers, Mia Farrow; poetry by students, Leroi Jones, Leonard Cohen; rock lyrics by Paul Simon; letters to the editor; personal testimony articles, advice columns, and a variety of ads. An essay on the rationale for studying popular culture suggests that the subject matter of the articles is less important than the media in which they occur. (JK)