Also Pick One Additional Media And Culture

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Also Pick One Additional Media And Culture

1. Provide an example of some form of misrepresentation in media over the years (includes: staging news, re-creations, selective editing and fictional methods). Give some background for context and answer; why, in your opinion is this an example of misrepresentation and why is it egregious? Provide the link to the example. Additionally for the Week 8 discussion, consider media bias. Both conservative and liberal sides claim that there is media bias (to the other side of their beliefs) yet, it is evident that there is bias on both sides. It is no secret that the traditional views of the following 3 media outlets are as follows: Fox News–Conservative/Right, MSNBC–Liberal/Left, CNN–Moderate.

A) Track a relatively current news story and report to the class the way the 3 media outlets presented the story. Were there surprises to you in your findings?

B) Also pick one additional media outlet of your choice (perhaps NPR, or BBC) and look at their perspective of the same story.

2. After studying the assigned reading, Sociology: The Social Construction of Gender, considering the concept of “gender as socially constructed,” answer the following questions and prompts.

A) How does media create meanings about gender?

B) Provide examples of how this is manifested in our everyday lives.

C) Provide a link to a commercial/ad that stereotypes gender. Even though it is natural to find humor in some of these portrayals, in what ways is this problematic.

Also, consider that sex is a system of classification based on biology and physiology, while gender reflects the cultural meaning that is ascribed to a person’s sex, thus resulting in labels of “masculinity and femininity.” Furthermore, our biology is not distinctively male or female and a significant number of people are born “intersex” with variations in chromosomes or sexual organs. Most biological researchers agree on the estimation that intersex people are about as common as encountering someone with green eyes. It is important to understand that masculinity and femininity are not oppositional, although it seems to be portrayed so in media. In Western society (such as in the U.S. and Western Europe) we typically adhere to certain ideas and values that define masculinity and femininity as we perform the roles. What if the list was different? All of us, in honesty, could reveal that we interchange among the qualities. Take a look at the list and answer the following questions:

Masculinity

Femininity
  • strength
  • dominance
  • aggression
  • independence
  • empowerment
  • active
  • rational thought
  • production
  • breadwinner
  • subject
  • outdoors
  • technology
  • weakness
  • submission
  • compliance/vulnerability
  • dependence
  • disempowerment
  • passive
  • emotion
  • consumption
  • nurturer
  • object
  • indoors
  • nature

Provide answers to the following questions or prompts in your assignment submission.

D) How is the list being currently challenged?

E) What traits do you have that are typically considered “on the list” of the other sex?

F) What examples do you see in your daily life of people challenging the historic list?

G) What about examples in media of characters or people challenging the list?

H) Finally, do you agree or disagree that gender is socially constructed? Provide evidence that backs your opinion.

The response should be in 12pt type, at least 3-4 pages in length, double-spaced. I suggest that you make sure that you have information on the second page to be safe and avoid loss of points.

Support your responses with research from the Learning Resources. Use APA in-text citations where necessary, and cite any outside sources that you use. Class reading resources should be a primary source, but you are welcome to use outside resources too. Create an APA Bibliography/ Reference Sheet at the end of your document.

3. Synthesize what you have learned about media and society in this course through the writing of this final paper about music and its influences. Music is a medium that has shaped the ages. As noted throughout your texts, social movements have existed and evolved through many methods and vehicles. Music is one of those vehicles and music represents more than entertainment. It has spoken for generations, and exemplified belief systems.

For your final paper assignment, you are to write a 5-7 page research essay (excluding APA title page, appendix, and bibliography) that addresses the following questions and contexts. In this paper, explore the relationship of music to each decade from the 1960s through 2000-2010. Your paper should discuss high profile events or movements that happened in each decade and for each decade pick a song that personifies or represents the primary “mood” of the decade. In the essay:

  1. cite examples of how activism and social justice are exemplified through music
  2. show how technology and social media influenced the listener’s reactions

The summary portion of the essay should draw connections between the decades and synthesize your findings. For instance, discuss what are commonalities of movements and people who are represented throughout the decades? Are these songs anthems for each decade or do the stand the test of time with other generations? Are there common threads that connect some decades with others?

Grading Guidelines

  • identify events in each decade
  • explain how events are connected to what the song represents
  • show how lyrics are used in the messaging (if full lyrics are used in the paper, they must be attached as an appendix and do not count in the 5-7 total pages)
  • help justify your opinions with 5-6 credible sources with proper source citation throughout the paper and in the bibliography
  • utilize terminology from the course readings when applicable
  • show how technology and social media or other media outlets influenced the listener’s reactions
  • appropriate grammar and structure; college level writing
  • the summary is appropriate length and draws connections between the decades and synthesizes the findings, such as what are the commonalities of the movements and people represented and addresses the question, “are these songs only anthems for each individual decade or do they also provide representation for and transfer to, other generations and decades?

4. After studying both of the assigned readings, Chapter 55: Media Portrayals and Representations and 21st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook: Chapter 57: Agenda Setting and Framing, answer the following questions and prompts regarding your favorite program or other chosen media content.

1. What device do you most often use for your favorite program watching or other chosen media? Do you agree that you favor the device that gives you access to the information and programming that most meets your needs? (add support from the class readings/outside resources)

2. How does the program meet your specific needs and goals? Who else do you know that also seeks out this programming (movie, tv, radio show, game) and do they do so for the same reasons as you? Why are their uses of this programming similar or different from your own? (add support from the class readings/outside resources)

3. What does this program or other media tell you about your place in the world in relationship to how much access you have to things you want in the “real” world? When you are stressed out, do you turn to this programming more or less? Why? (add support from the class readings/outside resources)

4. What does this programming tell you about people who are different from you in terms of race, age, sexual orientation, political beliefs, socio-economic status, gender, religion or nationality? Are they portrayed in a positive or negative light? What kinds of power do they have? (add support from the class readings/outside resources) 4 pages