SP 452/552, WS 452: Race and Gender in the Media
Mondays and Wednesdays 11:45-2:05
NH 298

Instructor: Jil M. Freeman
Phone: (503) 725-5358
Office: NH 45
e-mail:jilfreeman@earthlink.net
Office Hours: by appointment
Fax: (503) 725-5385

REQUIRED TEXT:

Gender, Race and Class in Media: A Text-Reader, 2nd Edition. Eds. Gail Dines and Jean M. Humez. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2002.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course will use both critical theory and cultural studies to examine race, gender, class and sexual representations in both mainstream and alternative US media. We will examine the role of media in creating and maintaining social institutions as well as personal and social values, beliefs and stereotypes. Special attention will be paid to message deconstruction and examining the larger social implications of media messages and representations. Students should leave this class with a better understanding of how their own cultural identities affect their interactions with media and the social world.

RULES OF THE GAME:

This course will be run as a seminar which requires you to be an active and attentive member of the class. Class attendance is crucial in achieving this goal! Please make sure that you come to class prepared to engage in discussion with all readings done and summary sheets and comments prepared.

Because of the subject matter of this course, respect and courtesy are expected at all times. We will be discussing and reading literature about gender, class, race, age, sexuality, and explicit sexual imagery. Therefore you are expected to contribute to the safe and open environment that this type of discussion mandates. Dissent is always encouraged, rudeness is not.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:

Academic dishonesty is taken very seriously and can result in very serious consequences. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to plagiarism, buying and selling of course assignments and research papers, performing academic assignments by other persons, unauthorized disclosure and receipt of academic information, and such other practices commonly understood to be academically dishonest. If you have any questions about academic dishonesty please come see me. Academic dishonesty of any kind will result in a failing grade for the course.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Daily Reading Summaries: For every reading you should complete (yes, they need to be written down to hand in) a brief summary form. These forms will be handed out during the first week of class and will require you to read and critically analyze the various articles in your text. (25%)

Discussion, Attendance and Participation: You are expected to contribute to our collective understanding of the issues we are covering. Participation takes on many forms including, but not limited to, attentiveness, small group discussion, in-class comments, thoughtful observations, and participation in class assessments. Because of the truncated nature of summer school, you are only allowed to miss one class session during the term. Every absence after that will lower your grade by one full mark. (25%)

Show and Tell: You will be asked to bring in two different media artifacts during the term to share with the class. You should pick artifacts that directly relate to the readings for the course, however the idea is not to replicate the readings, but apply them. You are welcome to bring in media artifacts from both mainstream and alternative media sources. You will have 2-3 minutes (this will be timed) to explain your artifact. You will sign-up for your two show and tell times during the first week of class. If you are absent on the day of your show and tell, you will not be able to make it up. (20%)

Analysis Presentations: One of the main goals of this class is to make you a critical consumer of media. This requires two distinct things: 1) consumption of media, and 2) an advanced understanding of the literature of this course. You will demonstrate these skills by analyzing an outside media artifact according to the literature and class discussion and presenting your findings to the class during the last week of the term. Presentations can be done in groups or individually. Details will follow. (20%)

Video Review: During the term we will be watching several educational films. You will analyze two of these films in two separate review papers. Papers should be critical reflection pieces, not simply opinion-based papers. Your analysis should be grounded in the readings and discussion from class. Papers should be no more than 3 pages long, double-spaced. Papers will be graded on both content and style. I will not read papers with more than 5 grammar/spelling mistakes! Your first paper must be turned in by July 14th and your second is due August 4th. (10% each)

Graduate Student Requirements:

You will be writing one 10-15 page paper focusing on one or more of the issues presented in class. Topics are negotiable with instructor approval. Additionally, you will be asked to lead the class in discussion of one of the articles out of the text. We will negotiate a schedule for discussion leading during the first week of class. We will discuss both of these assignments in more depth during the first week of class.

CLASS SCHEDULE

** All readings should be done for the date on which they are assigned**

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE CLASS/ RACE AND CLASS IN THE MEDIA

June 21-23

Reading: Preface and Introduction in Dines and Humez
Chapters 1 -6 in Dines and Humez

CULTURE FOR SALE
June 28-30
Chapters 7-15
Chapters 16-24
Film: Advertising and the End of the World

RACE, GENDER AND SEXUAL IDENTITY AND ADVERITISING
July 5-7
Chapters 25-32 in Dines and Humez
Film: Tough Guise

VIOLENCE
July 12-14
Chapters 33-43 in Dines and Humez
Film: TBA
First Film Review Due

DAYTIME TV
July 19-21
Chapters 44-53 in Dines and Humez
Film: TBA

PRIMETIME TV
July 26-28
Chapters 54-64 in Dines and Humez
Film: TBA

PRESENTATIONS
August 2-4
Second Film Review Due

Traditionally, class discussions/lectures will take place on Mondays. Please have all readings done by Monday of the week listed. Wednesdays will be reserved for films and show and tell sessions.