Crazes start through media exposure, influential individuals, social trends, and marketing strategies. Those who can make money from them include creators/manufacturers, retailers, marketers/advertisers, influencers/endorsers, and resellers.
Crazes start through media exposure, influential individuals, social trends, and marketing strategies. Those who can make money from them include creators/manufacturers, retailers, marketers/advertisers, influencers/endorsers, and resellers.
VOCABULARY PLUS - Use a dictionary to check the meaning of the words in blue in the text.
CRAZY CRAZES
An interview with Miley Jones, an expert on the history of crazes.
HOW DO CRAZES START?
Well, crazes generally start in the playground when we're young. We see someone doing something fun and obviously we want to join them.
WHAT WAS THE STRANGEST CRAZE?
Pole-sitting, probably. In 1924, Alvin Kelly sat on a pole for thirteen hours. Amazingly, it became popular, and people used to watch the best pole-sitters. The record was twenty-one days.
HOW DO CURRENT CRAZES DIFFER FROM PAST CRAZES?
Things like toys and card-collecting used to be popular. Now crazes often start online, when people see and copy funny ideas for photos or videos on social media.
IS THAT HOW CRAZES BECOME SO POPULAR QUICKLY?
Absolutely! Things can quickly become a craze. Before, people didn't use to have smartphones, but now we can post online games scores or photos immediately.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE CRAZE?
Pet rocks. In the 1970s, Gary Dahl started selling a pet rock in a special box with instructions.
DID PEOPLE REALLY USE TO BUY PET ROCKS?
Yes, they did. Apparently, he sold millions of them. No one really knows what the next craze will be.
Read the interview with an expert on crazes. What is the purpose of the article?
a. to give information
b. to sell digital products
c. to help people start a new craze
CRAZY CRAZES
An interview with Miley Jones, an expert on the history of crazes.
HOW DO CRAZES START?
Well, crazes generally start in the playground when we're young. We see someone doing something fun and obviously we want to join them.
WHAT WAS THE STRANGEST CRAZE?
Pole-sitting, probably. In 1924, Alvin Kelly sat on a pole for thirteen hours. Amazingly, it became popular, and people used to watch the best pole-sitters. The record was twenty-one days.
HOW DO CURRENT CRAZES DIFFER FROM PAST CRAZES?
Things like toys and card-collecting used to be popular. Now crazes often start online, when people see and copy funny ideas for photos or videos on social media.
IS THAT HOW CRAZES BECOME SO POPULAR QUICKLY?
Absolutely! Things can quickly become a craze. Before, people didn't use to have smartphones, but now we can post online games scores or photos immediately.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE CRAZE?
Pet rocks. In the 1970s, Gary Dahl started selling a pet rock in a special box with instructions.
DID PEOPLE REALLY USE TO BUY PET ROCKS?
Yes, they did. Apparently, he sold millions of them. No one really knows what the next craze will be.
USE IT! Work in groups. Say what you think of the crazes in the interview. Take a vote on which is the silliest, the strangest and the most fun.
Read and listen to the interview again. Write questions for answers 1-5.
1. In 1924. (When____________?)
2. For thirteen hours. (For how long____________?)
3. On social media. (Where_______________?)
4. He sold pet rocks. (What____________?)
5. Millions. (How many________________?)