Movies and television shows

    Topic 1. Movies and television shows teach us about other countries and cultures. But sometimes the lessons we learn from media need to be examined in detail. When you watch movies and television shows, what kinds of lessons are you actually learning? In your paper, pick a few specific television shows or movies, and discuss the ways that they represent one of the following groups: • North American First Nations OR • Latinos (Latin or South American) Pick ONE of these two. How is this culture represented in these films/shows, and why do you think representation matters? Are these media texts racist? Do they rely on stereotypes? What do you think we learn from these representations of race? How might people from these cultures react when they see themselves presented this way? You must discuss specific examples of films and/or television shows. Choose examples that you are familiar with, and do research to find what scholars have written about representations of culture in media. Topic 2. Men and women are often represented very differently in the media. The stereotypes we learn about ‘how to be a man’ and ‘how to be a woman’ are often false, but we see them over and over again in our lives. Looking at very specific examples from the media can illustrate how important this is. In your paper, discuss the ways in which men and women are represented differently in one of the following media forms: • Contemporary Horror Movies (ex. The Nun, Purge, A Quiet Place) OR • Young Adult Novels (ex. Harry Potter, the Hunger Games, Maze Runner.) Pick ONE of these two. How are the men and women represented differently: what kinds of jobs do they have, are they married or single, how do they dress, who are their friends, etc. What do we learn about masculinity and femininity from these examples, and why is this important? You must discuss specific examples of contemporary Horror Movies, or Young Adult Novels. Choose examples that you are familiar with, and do research to find what scholars have written about representations of gender in media. Topic 3. The influence of media remains a contentious issue; and the impact of media and technology use/regulation is constantly being debated. For example, every time a particularly high-profile crime is committed, there are those who blame the effects on media. The Internet and computers now join the familiar culprits of movies, TV, and video games, as the cause and effect of major societal changes. We think of these as the ‘media effects’ debates, and they can be better understood using the tools and frameworks of media, communications, and cultural studies. In your paper, you will pick one of the common debate questions listed below, and argue in favour of one side of the debate. You need to clearly assert the position you are taking, defend it using research and evidence, and address at least two counterarguments to your position. Your position and claims must be supported by evidence and research. If you choose this topic, do your research; anecdotal evidence is not enough. Pick ONE of the following debates: • Can social media drive political change? (ex: activism versus slacktivism) • Is ‘fake news’ harmful to society? (You may want to consider the difference between ‘satire’ and ‘Fake News’) • Should cellphones be banned from University classrooms? Topic 4. In Week 3, we look at the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, which states that ‘Different Languages have Different Worlds’. This means that each language on earth constructs its own way of perceiving and understanding the world around you. In a research paper, use your own experience of two different languages to discuss and compare the ways that language and culture are related. Consider can things like class, tone, and formality; are there different greetings in each language to denote authority? Does one language focus more on age and social status, than the other? If so, how, and what does this tell us about a country or culture and the language spoken? Think about very specific examples, and then try to find bigger patterns. (In English, you would greet your Professor formally with “Hello”, but your friends with “hey”… if you speak another language, are these greetings different? Why, or why not?) To do well on this topic you need to research the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis and the idea of language. Do not rely only on lecture material and notes. Provide specific examples from your own experience, but use academic research to support your arguments about language and culture. Topic 5. Throughout the 20th Century, radio was used by a variety of political and social organizations to broadcast messages and get people to work toward a common goal. Radio is easy to use, and doesn’t cost a lot of money. It is also much harder to censor than other forms of media – unauthorized, ‘pirate’ radio stations can reach a mass audience much more freely than books, films, or newspapers. In a research paper, look at one or two examples of how radio has been effectively used for social change. This could be a political campaign, an armed struggle, a protest movement, International Development etc. There are lots of examples from around the world: pick one or two that interest you, and research the uses of radio in these situations. You may want to research the use of ‘pirate radio stations’ to help you better understand this topic. (You may include some discussion/comparison with other media forms, such as pamphlets, books, films, etc. But your main focus needs to be radio.) Why is radio such an important medium in the case(s) you’ve chosen? What have scholars said about the use of radio as a communications medium? How can the theories we discuss in class help you understand the historical significance of radio? Topic 6. Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime have become a serious alternative to more traditional ways of viewing television. We now have the opportunity to watch TV anywhere, anytime, on numerous devices. This has led to a phenomenon called “bingewatching” where we watch multiple episodes of the same program in a single sitting; or an entire season in a day or two. Binge-watching is such a normal way to watch TV that we don’t even think about the short and long term impacts of this viewing behaviour. In a research paper, explore the idea of ‘binge-watching’ and the reasons why we do this. If you pick this topic, you should consider what technological, personal and market changes that come from this type of TV consumption. Don’t just tell me why you love to binge-watch TV, be thoughtful and critical. You may want to consider three questions: 1. What has happened to traditional forms of television viewing? (for example: is ‘traditional’ TV dying? Why do we prefer this type of content delivery?) 2. How has binge-watching impacted us as viewers? (for example: fear of missing out (FoMo)) 3. How are stories now being constructed and told? If content creators know we’re going to watch everything in one sitting, have they changed the way they tell these stories? Remember this is an academic paper not an opinion piece. You need to do your research, and make an argument that you will defend with academic evidence. Consider the technology, the viewers, and the stories being told.