1800-2400 words cultural Psyc essay

The purpose of this assignment is to discuss and expand on your understanding of a contemporary topic that is relevant to cultural psychology. You are asked to do the following:

1. Watch documentary “DISCLOSURE”.

2. Provide a brief (up to 300 words) summary of the documentary. Identify the main topics of the documentary, the position/perspective of the film, and describe the “take home message” for viewers.

3. Find and discuss scholarly research that is applicable to the information presented in the documentary. These can be studies that are directly referenced in the documentary or studies that support the information presented in the documentary. Can you find scholarly research that is in conflict with the messages presented? Present any conflicting research and the conclusions it has made. NOTE: You may not use the same references that any group member is using for Individual Assignment #2.

4. Reflect on the messages within the documentary. What information did your group already know? What information was new for your group? Discuss what meaning the documentary had for you as a group, and what, if any, changes to your perspectives that your group encountered. Include any actions that members feel swayed to make.

GUIDELINES FOR ESSAYS Your essay should be between 1800-2400 words in length (not counting references). You must include information from a minimum of three scholarly sources (i.e., from scholarly journals), with at least two of these references being research papers (e.g., a study with data). You may use the textbook and nonscholarly sources to assist with definitions of terms and provide examples, but your main discussion of the documentary must come from scholarly sources. Assignments will only be accepted in .PDF format through the Assignments function on CourseSpaces.

Rough outline

Introduction:

– We are social creatures that seek for others like ourselves

– Film and tv is one place that encourages a certain worldview/ starts (or mirrors) social responses (culture… specifically in the west)

– Specifically, gender, trans bodies

– Thesis 

– Xyz of what ideas we are talking about

Define terms: Defining gender/ sex – sociallized and how they are different

– Keywords: trans (something) in the last decade

Main Idea #1: The idea of disclosing oneself to someone else might imply there is something to be offended about

– Because it determines discourse (the interviews, ect)

– Instead of a regular, normal conversation that actually considers ppls feelings, they usually use the body itself to tell some other story (some misrepresentation)

Main Idea #2:  minorities that are represented in this way (as a joke, the gagging, ect. Keywords: trans something/ stereotype / embodiment/ stuff like that).. Why tho

– Psychopaths

– Sex workers

– “A woman still a man”

Main Idea #3: Trans people internalize (the repercussions on mental health) the idea that the message that they will not be loved if they are trans

– Refers to the fact that we want to fit in socially

Introduction & summary

Documentary Summary draft

“Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen” is a documentary that examines transgender representation in television and film. Through interviewing trans people involved in the industry, the documentary shows both the laboratory possibility of the medium when their opinions are considered and the effects of portraying marginalized communities without their active involvement. The main topic of this documentary is the entire history of transgender in Hollywood. With multiple clips, Disclosure presents an extensive history of images for individuals who are marginalized up to the contemporary film industry. It has since faced transphobic media following its cutting and detailed analysis. It is a clear wake-up call against platitudes i.e., psychos, murdered characters, sex workers as well as images that have communicated the wrong idea to the audience. It comes with a complete circle and a clear passion of reaching the audience by focusing on a talking head documentary approach. Disclosure is presented with the goal of lobbying for equal representation and opportunities to everyone in the film industry. It factors in various stories such as Marquise’s with a strong balance between the first-person and the audience. The documentary includes interviews with several trans men and women. By exploring Hollywood’s portrayal of transgender character in the television and film history, it adds to the consequences that such kinds of representation have on both the culture and lives of transgender. The documentary leaves a take way lesson to its audience in regards to the transgender character, from existing like victims that are continuously subject to abuse, to being a dangerous threat, to acting as a source of humor, it is clear how they have constantly been described as dangerous stereotypes. This problem has skewed how trans men and women have perceived themselves.

Intro Paragraph… Context (keywords: class, film, disclosure). We will say a) a summary of Disclosure: Trans Lives On Screen, b) explain our reaction and method for literature about transbodies/disclosure in psychology research, c, d, e)… The research suggests this… Reiterate said thesis.

“Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen” is a documentary that examines transgender representation in television and film and it’s effects in Western culture. Film is a means to communicate a series of ideas and has the opportunity to teach the public about specific human experiences. Unfortunately, depictions of transgendered individiauls have not been accurate and have historiclaly suggested that trans people are not to be taken seriously. The film interviewed a series of transgendered individuals who have been invovled in the indiusy in some way. Many recalled experiences of turning to film during their childhood only to discover that trans people are not generally accepted in society. There were several clips in the documentary that demonstrate how trans people were portrayed as abhorrent, monsters, or pretending to be someone they are not.

There were several examples in film that showed actors laughing or belching upon the idea that someone would deviate from their assigned gender. One trans woman who was involved in the film industry for at least 40 years and did not disclose her trans identity in fear of damaging her reputation as an actress. Another trans woman recalled when she was hired as an actress to play a female role but then discovered that the editors had lowered her voice to sound more masculine. Overall, the film attempts to express how representations like these are detrimental to the well-being and safety of trans people. Further, this film demonstrates that when harmful depictions of trans people are presented, it will encourage a culture where trans people do not feel safe to express this aspect of their identity.

The premise of the film demonstrates how many representations of gender can exist alongside the impact the interpretation of that audience has on the lives the media referred to. Our group was interested in the film’s idea that disclosure implied information that may be offensive. We decided to examine studies that explore the psychological process of disclosure and how it relates to cultural psychology. The textbook for this course (Heine, 2020) did not include the keywords “trans” nor “transgender” in the index. Further, under the heading “Gender and Culture” (Heine, 2020, pp. 219), the textbook is mainly concerned with binary gender differences with no mention of transgender experiences or studies. We primarily refer to articles found through the keyword search of “transgender” in PSYCInfo