Media Analysis Paper

Description

The work you do collecting samples from your media consumption will provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their own assumed meanings as constructed through media images. The paper will explore how the co-constitution of mediated images shapes our personal (mis)interpretations of cultural identities and cultural meanings. It will challenge you to consider how cultural communities are represented, as well as, how power functions through the media when addressing these identities. This paper asks you to use reflexivity to understand the responsibilities of consuming mediated messages and performing the mediated self. Requirements Must meet the minimum page requirement. Must have a works cited page properly formatted in MLA or APA style. All of this must be stapled together. Your name and class information must be left aligned and single spaced. The rest of your paper must be in Times New Roman 12 pt. font and be double spaced.  It must be typed and submitted through Canvas. You will use a minimum of  four sources and your sources must include the television show, song, etc. and additional credible sources (academic journal, magazine, newspaper). You must use in-text citations in MLA or APA format throughout your paper. (Please contact me if you need assistance or a referral to the writing center) **This final paper is worth a total of 150 points. I do encourage everyone to utilize the writing center if you need assistance.  The Journal Portion of the Assignment Throughout the remainder of the semester I would like for you to pay attention to the media which you consume. You should have twenty entries in total, which is about 1 every two and a half days. Your entries do not need to be extremely long but should clearly communicate what you took away from the experience. I understand that sometimes it can be difficult to capture all the characteristics of media consumption and to that end I have provided a basic template for what to include in your entries. These entries should be drawn from the sources which had the greatest impact on you (when you reflect on it) or the sources you spend the most time consuming. The template is below: Date: April 6, 2018 Source: Facebook Media Subject: Ball In The Family Episode 3 Why I was viewing/listening/etc: This was an episode with Lonzo in it and I am super hyped about the Lakers season this year. How does it reflect me/my community: The Ball family is out in Eastern Europe in a place where there are language barriers and my life is all about overcoming language and communication barriers. Corresponding “Probing Questions” What “communities” do you associate with these programs and the identities represented in them?  Describe the ways media outlets “create knowledge” through their discussions of marginalized people and communities? (Think of stereotypes and loaded language , example – “thugs”) How it is used to describe cultural groups and identities? How do you/we as a society resist and reinforce these (mis)representations? What forms of media have positively impacted the advocacy and agency of different cultural groups? How have they assisted these communities? (Note: You may choose to focus on only one or all these questions for the thesis of your paper) Corresponding course objectives To understand communication skills in a variety of public and cultural context Enhance communication skills by providing systematic practice of clear, critical, and ethical oral communication To develop critical skills appropriate for responsibly delivering and receiving messages Foster and maintain an interactive, open, and supportive classroom environment that promotes insight into self and others, critical thinking, intellectual growth, and communicative competence Assignment Details Select one program, movie, etc. which you watched or listened to during the month you were recording your media usage and consider how that program or media artifact is marketed and designed for you and your cultural identity. Write a five page double spaced paper which provides information about how culture is mediated using several of the key points below: Name of Program   Type of program (cartoon, comedy, drama, sit-com, documentary, etc.)  Brief summary of storyline  How are the images of culture or population portrayed?  How are similarities/differences between and among groups portrayed?  Are value judgments made? Give examples.  Give examples of objective or subjective factual information.  Give examples of broad or narrow views of the population/culture portrayed.  Is there balance or are there distortions and stereotypes presented? Give examples  Is the historical perspective accurate? Give examples  How are gender roles portrayed? Give examples.  Are issues presented equitably? Give examples.  Describe the dialogue, give examples of messages or “mixed messages”. Is there continuity between the dialogue and the visual images? Give examples.  How is the music or sound used to influence how characters or storylines are portrayed? How do you think this program impacts your audience’s cultural identity, view of others, and educational aspirations? What is it about this program that appeals to your audience?   What insights have you gained in relation to bias and stereotypes/portrayals of culture and ethnicity in the media? What “communities” do you associate with these programs and the identities represented in them?  What forms of media have positively impacted the advocacy and agency of different cultural groups? How have the assisted these communities? In addition consider the following: Describe the ways media outlets “create knowledge” through their discussions of marginalized people and communities? (Think of stereotypes and loaded language , example – “thugs”) How it is used to describe cultural groups and identities? How do you/we as a society resist and reinforce these (mis)representations? What forms of media have positively impacted the advocacy and agency of different cultural groups? How have they assisted these communities? Briefly analyze and identify the different stereotypes, social status (economics, geography, occupations), attributions (intelligence, abilities, language, values, attitudes, behaviors, humor), social issues (conflicts pressures, roles), group identification (inclusive or exclusive, homophobic, etc.), or theme and point of view (content of program focuses on _____, illustrates _____, and portrays individuals as ______ ). Rubric: This assignment will be scored as follows 10% – Proper use of citation in the text of the paper 10% – Works cited page with at least the three separate academic citations  10% – Paper length is at least 1200 words NOT INCLUDING WORKS CITED PAGE OR COVER PAGE 40% – Analysis. Are your claims supported by examples you reference from the media artifact or your cited article(s)? Do you take the time to explain how things are/are not connected? 20% – Structure of paper. Do you follow the introduction, body section, conclusion structure? Is your formatting uniform throughout the paper? 10% – Grammar and language uniform throughout the paper