Friday, September 30, 2011

MIT OPENCOURSEWARE 2011: Gender and Media Studies: Women and the Media



Gender and Media Studies: Women and the Media

As taught in: Fall 2008

Four advertisements featuring women.
A photo taken in Times Square features examples of how women are often used in advertising. Image by Dom Dada on Flickr.

Instructors:

Prof. Kim Surkan

MIT Course Number:

SP.414 / WGS.414

Level:

Undergraduate

Course Description

This course examines representations of race, class, gender, and sexual identity in the media. We will be considering issues of authorship, spectatorship, (audience) and the ways in which various media content (film, television, print journalism, advertising) enables, facilitates, and challenges these social constructions in society. In addition, we will examine how gender and race affects the production of media, and discuss the impact of new media and digital media and how it has transformed access and participation, moving contemporary media users from a traditional position of "readers" to "writers" and/or commentators. Students will analyze gendered and racialized language and embodiment as it is produced online in blogs and vlogs, avatars, and in the construction of cyberidentities. The course provides an introduction to feminist approaches to media studies by drawing from work in feminist film theory, journalism, cultural studies, gender and politics, and cyberfeminism.

Syllabus

Course Meeting Times

Lectures: 1 session / week, 3 hours / session

Course Description

This course examines representations of race, class, gender, and sexual identity in the media. We will be considering issues of authorship, spectatorship, (audience) and the ways in which various media content (film, television, print journalism, advertising) enables, facilitates, and challenges these social constructions in society. In addition, we will examine how gender and race affects the production of media, and discuss the impact of new media and digital media and how it has transformed access and participation, moving contemporary media users from a traditional position of "readers" to "writers" and/or commentators. Students will analyze gendered and racialized language and embodiment as it is produced online in blogs and vlogs, avatars, and in the construction of cyberidentities. The course provides an introduction to feminist approaches to media studies by drawing from work in feminist film theory, journalism, cultural studies, gender and politics, and cyberfeminism.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to do the following:
  • Recognize diversity across audiences, content and producers of media
  • Identify stereotypes of gender, race, class, and sexual identity in media portrayals
  • Locate examples of framing, intersectionality, and symbolic annihilation in media
  • Analyze texts in context of cultural and social identities, considering how reality is socially and discursively constructed by media
  • Discuss media literacy in contemporary terms, in light of 21st century developments in online cultural production and new media

Required Texts

Amazon logo Falk, Erika. Women for President: Media Bias in Eight Campaigns. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2007. ISBN: 9780252075117.
Amazon logo Dines, Gail, and Jean McMahon Humez. Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2002. ISBN: 9780761922612.
Other resources include YouTube, online news and video outlets, and livecasting/podcasting sites (such as Justin.tv)

Course Requirements

ACTIVITIESPERCENTAGES
Attendance and participation10%
Blog with weekly posts on assigned readings and relevant current event topics20%
Critical response papers30%
Final paper/project40%

Attendance and Participation

These are critical to your success in this course. Each class session will focus on one or more topics and be accompanied by appropriate readings. Please be sure to read all assignments in advance, come to class on time and be prepared to discuss your reactions and ideas. Failure to attend will adversely affect your grade. Missing more than two weeks of class will cause you to fail the course. Active participation in discussion in class is necessary to receive full credit.

Blog

Each student will keep a blog in response to class topics and readings. You are encouraged to update it frequently, but at least a minimum of one post a week, including images and links when relevant. Your blog may be a place where you choose to explore and develop ideas for the final project. We will be reading and responding to each other's blogs, so please keep the content germane to the class.

Critical Response Papers

Two short critical response papers (2-4 pages each) will be due during the semester. These essays are opportunities for you to reflect on a key concept through a close critical reading of one text, or a comparison of two. You may wish to pursue a theoretical question raised in our Stellar discussions or in class in more detail in your critical response papers.

Final Paper/Project

The final research paper or project represents the cumulative effort of your work this semester. It should be 12-15 pages in length. The final will demonstrate your proficiency in applying concepts relevant to race, class, sexual identity and gender analysis of media studies to a specific cultural production of your choice. This assignment may also be created as a Web presentation for publication in conjunction with OpenCourseWare.

Additional Requirements

Please be sure that all assignments are word-processed, double-spaced documents in 12 point type of a conventional font. Make sure to include page numbers when quoting from source texts. SP.414 assumes abilities in spelling, sentence construction, punctuation and other basic writing mechanics. For additional practice with these writing skills please visit the Writing Center in the Stata Center Building. If English is your second (or third, fourth) language and you need or would like additional help with English composition, please speak to me right away.

Grading Policies

In order to receive a passing grade for this course, all assignments must be completed. Please talk to me in advance if you know you will have to miss class and/or need an extension on an assignment. It is preferable to negotiate an extension rather than be absent on a day a paper is due, as I will not accept late papers without prior notice.
 

Readings

Required Texts

Amazon logo Falk, Erika. Women for President: Media Bias in Eight Campaigns. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2007. ISBN: 9780252075117.
Amazon logo [GRCM] Dines, Gail, and Jean McMahon Humez. Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2002. ISBN: 9780761922612.
WEEK #TOPICSREADINGS
1Introduction to courseDiscussion of media coverage of the 2008 Presidential election, and how gender and race have been (and continue to be) factors in influencing voters
2Gender and race in 2008 Presidential election politicsAmazon logo Falk, Erika. Women for President: Media Bias in Eight Campaigns. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2007. ISBN: 9780252075117.
Amazon logo Gillmor, Dan. We the Media: Grassroots Journalism By the People, For the People. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly Media, 2006, chapters 3 and 4. ISBN: 9780596102272.
Olsen, Chuck. Blogumentary. 2007.
3Media effects; considering audienceAmazon logo Lind, Rebecca Ann. "Laying a Foundation for Studying Race, Gender, and the Media." Chapter 1 in Race/Gender/Media: Considering Diversity Across Audience, Content, and Producers. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 2009. ISBN: 9780205537358.
Kellner, Douglas. "Cultural Studies, Multiculturalism, and Media Culture." pp. 9-20 in [GRCM].
Lull, James. "Hegemony." pp. 61-66 in [GRCM].
Radway, Janice A. "Women Read the Romance: The Interaction of Text and Context." pp. 67-78 in [GRCM].
4Race, gender, and class in media contentOuellette, Laurie. "Inventing the Cosmo Girl." pp. 116-128 in [GRCM].
Hall, Stuart. "The Whites of Their Eyes: Racist Ideologies and Media." pp. 89-93 in [GRCM].
Kilbourne, Jean. "'The More You Subtract, The More You Add': Cutting Girls Down to Size." pp. 258-267 in [GRCM].
———. Killing Us Softly 3. 2006.
5Advertising and consumerismSchor, Juliet. "The New Politics of Consumption: Why Americans Want So Much More Than They Need." pp. 183-195 in [GRCM].
Stabile, Carol A. "Nike, Social Responsibility, and the Hidden Abode of Production." pp. 196-203 in [GRCM].
Griffin, Sean. "'You've Never Had a Friend Like Me': Target Marketing Disney to a Gay Community." pp. 204-211 in [GRCM].
Steinem, Gloria. "Sex, Lies, and Advertising." pp. 223-229 in [GRCM].
Kirkham, Pat, and Alex Weller. "Cosmetics: A Clinique Case Study." pp. 268-273 in [GRCM].
Wilson, Clint C., and Felix Gutierrez. "Advertising and People of Color." pp. 283-292 in [GRCM].
Haller, Beth A., and Sue Ralph. "Current Perspectives on Advertising Images of Disability." pp. 293-301 in [GRCM].
6Sex, violence, and the portrayal of women in sports and fashionLipsitz, George. "The Greatest Story Ever Sold: Marketing and the O. J. Simpson Trial." pp. 176-182 in [GRCM].
Crane, Diana. "Gender and Hegemony in Fashion Magazines: Women's Interpretations of Fashion Photographs." pp. 314-332 in [GRCM].
Gerbner, George. "Television Violence: At a Time of Turmoil and Terror." pp. 339-348 in [GRCM].
Katz, Jackson. "Advertising and the Construction of Violent White Masculinity: From Eminem to Clinique for Men." pp. 349-358 in [GRCM].
Jenkins, Henry. "Lessons from Littleton: What Congress Doesn't Want to Hear About Youth and Media." pp. 385-395 in [GRCM].
7Race, gender, sexuality, and ethnicity in musicJhally, Sut. Dreamworlds 3: Desire, Sex, and Power in Music Video.
Perry, Imani. "Who(se) Am I? The Identity and Image of Women in Hip-Hop." pp. 136-148 in [GRCM].
Rose, Tricia. "Hidden Politics: Discursive and Institutional Policing of Rap Music." pp. 396-405 in [GRCM].
Fountains of Wayne, "Stacy's Mom."
Amy Winehouse, "Rehab."
Amy Winehouse, "You Know I'm No Good."
Tackertone. "Lady Marmalade - Labelle." January 25, 2009. Accessed May 18, 2009. (Video hosted by YouTube)
Christina Aguilera, Mya, Lil Kim, Pink. "Lady Marmalade."
Lily Allen, "Smile."
Lily Allen, "Littlest Things ."
Lily Allen, "LDN."
Eminem, "My Name Is."
Eminem, "The Real Slim Shady."
Destiny's Child, "Independent Women Part I."
8Race, gender, ethnicity in televisionFiske, John. "Gendered Television: Femininity." pp. 469-475 in [GRCM].
Peck, Janice. "The Mediated Talking Cure: Therapeutic Framing of Autobiography in TV Talk Shows." pp. 534-547 in [GRCM].
Butsch, Richard. "Ralph, Fred, Archie, and Homer: Why Television Keeps Re-Creating the White Male Working-Class Buffoon." pp. 575-586 in [GRCM].
Hubert, Susan J. "What's Wrong With This Picture? The Politics of Ellen's Coming Out Party." pp. 608-612 in [GRCM].
9Race, gender, ethnicity in film"Gilda." Columbia Pictures, 1946. (in-class film)
Amazon logo Mulvey, Laura. "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema." Movies and Methods. Edited by Nichols, Bill. Vol. II. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1985. ISBN: 9780520054097.
10New media representations, cyberactivismNakamura, Lisa. "'Where Do You Want to Go Today?' Cybernetic Tourism, the Internet, and Transnationality." pp. 684-687 in [GRCM].
Clark, Lynn Schofield. "Dating on the Net: Teens and the Rise of 'Pure' Relationships." pp. 696-707 in [GRCM].

Tricia Walsh Smith

Official Web site
Walshsmith1. "Tricia Walsh Smith - The Video That Started it All!" April 10, 2008. Accessed May 18, 2009. (Video hosted by YouTube)
Walshsmith1. "Tricia Walsh-Smith YouTube Superstar - Video #2." April 26, 2008. Accessed May 18, 2009. (Video hosted by YouTube)
Walshsmith1. "Tricia Walsh-Smith Warrior #3." May 15, 2008. Accessed May 18, 2009. (Video hosted by YouTube)

Leno and Homophobic Remarks

My Gayest Look
11Celebrity news, fandom, and online personalitiesBaym, Nancy K. "'I Think of Them as Friends': Interpersonal Relationships in the Online Community." pp. 488-496 in [GRCM].
Cumberland, Sharon. "Private Uses of Cyberspace: Women, Desire, and Fan Culture. " Cambridge, MA: MIT Communications Forum, January 25, 2000.
Amazon logo Jenkins, Henry. "Why Heather Can Write: Media Literacy and the Harry Potter Wars." Chapter 5 in Convergence Culture. New York, NY: New York University Press, 2008. ISBN: 9780814742952.

Chris Crocker

Chris Crocker
Itschriscrocker. "Leave Britney Alone!" September 10, 2007. Accessed May 18, 2009. (Video hosted by YouTube)
BigBoseMan. "Chris Crocker on Jimmy Kimmel - The Interview." September 13, 2007. Accessed May 18, 2009. (Video hosted by YouTube)
ChrisCrockersDeleted. "Chris Crocker - Obsessed with Fame?" March 19, 2009. Accessed May 18, 2009. (Video hosted by YouTube)

Harry Potter Wars

The Daily Prophet
Mugglenet Fan Site
12Library research meetingObserve livecasting at http://www.justin.tv/
Parrack, Dave. "Man Commits Suicide on Justin.tv | When Lifecasting Becomes Deathcasting." WebTVWire, November 21, 2008.
Gannes, Liz. "19-year-old Commits Suicide on Justin.tv." NewTeeVee, November 20, 2008.
Stelter, Brian. "Web Suicide Viewed Live and Reaction Spur a Debate." New York Times, November 24, 2008.
13Independent preparation of final projects 
14-15Presentation of final projects 
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