Gender, Race and Class in the Media
Instructor: Dr. Priya Kapoor
Office: NH 31
503-725-3543


Course Description

This course will examine primarily the representations of gender and race, including age, class, and sexual orientation in various media (mainstream and alternative), and will examine approaches which may be used to interpret these representations. In addition, we will also consider the potential impact that media institutions have on people's lives and social relations. The overall aim will be for students to understand how their own cultural identities affect their media consumption and social positioning.

Required reading

Available in In Other Words bookstore on Hawthorne Blvd.

Gender, Race and Class in Media: A Text-Reader. Eds. Gail Dines and Jean M. Humez. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1995.

Race, Class and Gender in the United States: An Integrated Study. Paula S. Rothenberg. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000.

Grading Criteria

Two think papers (essays) (30% of the grade)
One mid-term essay exam on course materials (25%)
Final oral presentation and written project (30%)
Class attendance/participation/group work (includes in-class & other writing assignments) (15%)

This is a writing intensive class and therefore you will receive extensive feedback from the writing instructor when you submit the two think papers and the draft of the final paper. You are free to discuss with us the comments on your paper. You will be given the chance to rewrite the think papers in three weeks after they are handed back to you. The Writing Center, located in Cramer 188, (phone: 725-3570) is another good resource to get peer and expert response on your papers.

Graduate students will facilitate class discussion that draw upon readings for the day. Please sign up after the first week of class.

- Oral presentations/projects will require you to propose and present an oral project to be shared with the class during the final two class sessions and the assignment may be presented in whatever format you choose, with my approval. You should be able to explain the relationship of the project to the stated course objectives (which includes focusing on the intersection of two or more of the issues or "isms" we discuss). Like any research project or paper, your presentation or project should have a thesis and examples that support your thesis.

You may consider a number of formats: a collage which critiques the representation of gender in children's advertising, an oral critique of several clips from films and/or TV shows, a video that satirizes dominant representations, a reflective account of your journey through this course, and so on. The format of this presentation should be shared with the class in 5-7 minutes. Please rehearse before you present.

You need to have your topic approved by third week of class. Meet me during office hours to discuss the direction of your project. This project will be graded on its creativity, organization, response to course objectives and overall effectiveness. It is required that you submit a draft prior to the final paper (on). You may sign up with the writing instructor to receive feedback on your draft, before, after or during the writing process.

Show and tell: One way to contribute to class discussion is by bringing in media examples relevant to the class. These examples should be short presentations (radio, video clips of 2-3 minutes, or other media) and will be scheduled at the beginning of the class period.

Given the importance of attendance and participation, points will be deducted for any more than one unexcused absence. Each absence after that will lower the grade by 1/3.

Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism: All work submitted as class work is to be original and completed by the person submitting it. Anyone who copies another person's work will receive no credit. In addition, they may be referred to University Judiciaries.

Reading list

Begin reading as you purchase books. You will be responsible for the readings assigned for each day as you participate in group discussion, or in-class writing assignments.

Week one September 26, 28
Introduction to the course and elaboration of syllabus
Preliminary issues: Sexism, Racism, Classism: Part one from Rothenberg

Week two October 3, 5
Cultural Studies and media: Preface and Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of Dines & Humez

Week three October 10, 12; first assignment due on October 10
Role of class and economics in race and gender
Part four from Rothenberg and Chapter 6, 7, 46 of D&H

Week four October 17, 19
Violence and Romance in the media
Part two and three of Rothenberg, ch.8, 21-26 from D&H

Week five October 24, 26(Mid-Term exam on October 26)
Issues of gender -- Soap opera and talk shows
Chs. 37-45 of D&H

Week six October 31, November 2
Advertising, Chapters 10-17

Week seven November 7, 9
Advertising contd.; Hierarchies and Stereotypes, second think paper due on November 7
Chapters 18-20 & Part seven and two of Rothenberg

Week eight November 14, 16

Symbolic annihilation, Turn in draft of project report on November 14
Chapters 9, 19, 48, 49, 50, 53, 54

Week nine November 21, 23 (Thanksgiving)
"Difference" in Popular culture
Chapters 55-61 and afterword from D&H
Part eight of Rothenberg

Week ten November 28, 30
Presentations begin. Presentations according to alphabetical order of last name, A-Z.
(Submission of written project reports, November 30, 2000)

Week eleven EXAM WEEK, FINAL Day: December 5, 2000, Tuesday, 8:00-9:50am.
Remaining presentations. Attendance on this day is mandatory to pass the class.


The syllabus may change based on workflow, class discussion and response to reading assignments.