JRLC 5400: Race, Gender and Media

Fall 2005: 54:873

Class Meets: MWF, 9:05-9:55 A. M.
153 Student Learning Center
Dr. Dwight E. Brooks Office Hours:
Office: 101-J Journalism Tuesday: 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 Noon
Telephone: (706) 542-5951 Wednesday 2:00 – 3:00 P.M.
E-Mail: [email protected] Also by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course examines some of the relationships between the media in the U. S. an
d the social constructions of race and gender. Four related concerns are at the
heart of many of these relationships: 1) media representations of race and gende
r, 2) audience interpretations of media portrayals, 3) critical analyses of medi
a culture and media content, and 4) what to do about these concerns: media liter
acy, activism, and advocacy.
Course topics include (but are not limited to):
• Race and gender as social constructions • Whiteness
• Media stereotypes in television and film • Advertising & Beauty
• Representations of masculinity and femininity • Cultural Studies
• Sexual Orientation in the Media • Hip-Hop Culture
• Media and Female Athletes • Feminist Media Studies
• Music Videos • Media Culture & Youth
• Media Literacy • The Internet and Hate
• Video Games • Popular Music
COURSE OBJECTIVES
After taking this course, it is expected that each student will:
1. Develop an awareness of, and sensitivity towards the various ways race and ge
nder impact both media content and audience interpretations of media content.
2. Possess a greater understanding of our media culture through examination of v
arious
production, construction and meaning-making processes.
3. Acquire a fundamental knowledge of some of the ways to participate in various
“dialogues” over media relationships to race and gender, and of how these dialo
gues are shaped by power—structural political and economic inequities.
4. Become familiar with some of the approaches used to study media, gender, and
race.
5. Enhance oral and written communication skills; develop analytical thinking an
d critical reading proficiencies.
6. Develop a greater appreciation of the media's cultural influence and ultimate
ly, become more media literate and a more informed consumer and enlightened part
icipant in our media culture.
REQUIRED READING MATERIAL
Text: Lind, R. A. (Ed.). Race/Gender/Media: Considering diversity across audienc
es, content, and producers. Boston: Pearson, 2004.
Readings Packet: Available from Athens Blue Print & Copy Shop, 269 W. Dougherty,
Athens.
COMPUTING AND ELECTRONIC MAIL
Students are required to maintain an active computer account for electronic mail
and other computing services. Some course material will be available via the In
ternet. In addition, a class discussion list (listserv) will be used to dissemin
ate and discuss course material. This information will be important for success
in the course. Students also are encouraged to use the class listserv for “elect
ronic class discussions.” The address for the class listserv is: racegendermedia
@listserv.uga.edu
Most course materials (handouts, syllabus, student grades) can be accessed via W
EB-CT.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS
This course requires that you:
1. Attend class on a consistent basis: Attendance will be taken every class meet
ing.
2. Participate in class discussions: Although this class is comprised of a fairl
y large number of students, it will include open class discussions and small gro
up discussions. Thus, you are expected to attend and participate in these discus
sions.
3. Complete the assigned readings for the day they are assigned (listed) on the
syllabus. Do not get behind in the readings as the pace and structure of the cou
rse make it difficult to "catch up." You will be expected to offer your views on
readings in class discussions, and written essays. Further, many of the lecture
-discussions will supplement (not repeat) the assigned readings and thus presume
that you already have read the material. In short, you must read for this class
!
4. Complete in-class writing assignments (announced and unannounced): These shor
t assignments are designed both to encourage you to keep up with the assigned re
adings and to provide an opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of course m
aterial. These in-class assignments cannot be made up!
5. Write a short introductory essay on an assigned topic.
6. Write an essay that assesses media literacy via an analysis of a relevant med
ia text.
7. Complete an essay that develops an analysis of any video (of your choice) sho
wn in class.
8. There is no final exam in this class, but attendance during the final period
is required.
Each assignment, tentative due date, and percentage value is listed below*:
Assignment Assignment Due Date % of Final Grade
Multicultural Essay Monday September 26 5%
Discussion Groups As Assigned (5) 15%
Media Literacy Essay: Bamboozled Wednesday October 26 20%
Video Analysis Friday December 2 25%
In-Class Writing Activities Throughout the Semester (5) 25%
Attendance/Participation Throughout the Semester 10%
*The instructor reserves the right to add to/alter the assignment requirements,
due dates, and/or percentage values.
In the calculation of final grades, a “standard” curve (100-90%=A, 89-90%=B, etc
.) will be used. You are encouraged to discuss your course performance with the
instructor at mutually convenient times.
Each student is expected to work hard for this course (or any other course for t
hat matter). The instructor evaluates student work rigorous, but fair and consis
tent across all students in the class. The course material is not extremely diff
icult to grasp, but a successful course performance does require both a serious
engagement with the course themes and involvement in classroom activities. The i
nstructor wants every student to succeed in this course and he is willing to ass
ist each student in achieving success.
Course Policies
Assignment Submissions:
1. All assignments (essays) must be typed and conform to a style manual for acad
emic writing. Submit all essays with a cover page that includes the student ID n
umber instead of a name.
Use 11 or 12 pt. font with 1 inch margins and page numbers
Please refer to handout on writing essays for other suggestions and guidelines.
2. When submitting essays, always make a photocopy and submit the original. Your
instructor is not responsible for "lost" papers.
3. Unless you are given permission, all assignments are to be submitted on the a
nnounced due date. Late submissions are penalized. Unexpected legitimate circums
tances that contribute to late submissions must be discussed with the instructor
prior to the due date in order to negotiate alternatives that are devoid of pen
alty.
4. Unless given permission, no assignments are to be submitted via e-mail or fax
.
5. Plagiarism and/or any type of academic dishonesty or misconduct are not toler
ated. All academic work must meet the standards contained in “A Culture of Hones
t.” Students are responsible for informing themselves about those standards befo
re performing any academic work.
Attendance and Participation:
6. Attendance is taken every class meeting and each student is expected to atten
d class regularly. Student attendance in class is verified by each student’s sig
nature on the attendance sheet that circulates class every meeting. It is your r
esponsibility to sign the attendance sheet. There is no such thing as an excused
“absence” except in cases where illness and unanticipated emergencies occur and
the instructor is notified in a timely fashion.
7. Throughout the semester, we will engage in a number of class discussions—some
will deal with sensitive and controversial topics. Everyone’s opinions and view
s are to be respected at all times. There is absolutely no place in this course
for rudeness, discourtesy, and intolerance. Everyone will not agree with everyth
ing that is said or written in this course--that’s okay, as long as we create an
d maintain a learning environment that encourages open and honest exchanges of i
deas and opinions at all times!Any student who needs special accommodations for
learning or who has special instructional needs should share these concerns with
the instructor as soon as possible.
Other Policies:
8. In-class writing activities cannot be made up.
9. Take whatever measures necessary to insure that cell phones, pagers, or any o
ther electronic device do not disrupt class activities. Turn them off upon enter
ing the classroom!
The next section contains a tentative schedule for this semester. Your instructo
r will announce any schedule changes.
Reading assignments are in bold print: “RP” denotes readings from packet. Unless
specified otherwise, readings are from the Lind text-reader.
Be sure that you have read all assigned readings for the day/class (or prior to)
listed on the syllabus.
Titles of full length video tapes (shown in class) are in italics.
Date of Class: Class Topic, Reading Assignment, Video Tape
Fri. Aug. 19: Course Introduction
Mon. Aug. 22: The Study of Race, Gender & the Media
Wed. Aug. 24: Introductions and Photographs
Fri. Aug. 26: Race, Gender & Media Literacy
Read: Lind, “Laying a Foundation for Studying Race, Gender & Media”
Mon. Aug. 29: The Social Construction of Reality
Media and the Cultivation of Values
Read: Stern, “All I Really Needed to Know (About Beauty) I learned by …”
Video: The Electronic Storyteller: Television and the Cultivation of Values
Wed. Aug. 31: The Social Construction of Race
Read: RP: Orbe & Harris, “History of Race”
Fri. Sept. 2: Whiteness and Media
Read: RP: Dyer, “The Matter of Whiteness”
RP: Shome, “Outing Whiteness”
Wed. Sept. 7: The Language of Race/Talking About Race
Read: RP: Woods, “The Language of Race”
Peck, “Talking About Racism on the Oprah Winfrey Show”
Video: The Family Secret
Fri. Sept. 9: Racial Stereotypes and Essentialism
Read: RP: Brooks, “Space Traders Media Criticism and …”
Video: Space Traders
Mon. Sept. 12: Discussion Groups #1: Racial Referendum
Wed. Sept. 14: Racial Stereotypes: Historical Perspectives
Read: RP: Rhodes, “The Visibility of Race and Media History”
Video: Ethnic Notions
Fri. Sept. 16: Video: Ethnic Notions
Mon. Sept. 19: Racial Stereotypes: Contemporary Issues
Read: Donald, “Savages, Swine, and Buffoons: Hollywood…”
Rockler, “Race, Hierarchy, and Hyenaphobia in The Lion King”
King, “Arguing Over Images: Native American Mascots and Race”
Wed. Sept. 21: Open Discussion: Racism, Racial Insensitivity, or Political Corre
ctness?
Fri. Sept. 23: Racial Diversity and Prime-Time Television
Read: Conners, “Color TV? Diversity in Prime-Time TV”
Lotz, “Barricaded Intersections: Any Day Now and the …”
Video: Color Adjustment, Pt. 1
Date of Class: Class Topic, Reading Assignment, Video Tape
Mon. Sept. 26: Video: Color Adjustment, Pt. 2
Wed. Sept. 28: Discussion Groups #2: Prime-Time Television
Fri. Sept. 30: Media Literate or Bamboozled?: Television in the New Millennium
Read: Brooks and Daniels, “Bamboozled? Audience Reactions to…”
*Video: Bamboozled [Independent Screening: TBA]
Mon. Oct. 3: Old Hate, New Media: The Internet and Hate
Read: Cooper, “Cyber-Hate and the Disinhibiting Effects…”
Roy, “’Music to Riot By: Calls to Racial Violence in …”
Video: Hate.Com: Extremists on the Internet
Wed. Oct. 5: Open Discussion: Hate and the Internet
Media Culture: Influences on Gender, Youth and Racial Identity
Read: Tracey, “Why Don’t You Act Your Color?: Preteen Girls… Joseph, “’Who is th
e Market for this Film?’ The Politics…”
Video: The Merchants of Cool
Fri. Oct. 7: Video: The Merchants of Cool
Media Literacy: Circle of Empowerment
Read: RP: Lewis & Jhally, “The Struggle Over Media Literacy”
Mon. Oct. 10: Cultural Studies and Cultural Criticism
Read: RP: Kellner, “Cultural Studies, Multiculturalism...”
Video: Cultural Criticism and Transformation, Pt. 1, On Cultural Criticism
Wed. Oct. 12: Video: Cultural Criticism and Transformation, Pt. 2, Doing Cultura
l Criticism
Fri. Oct. 14: Intersections of Race and Gender: Asian Women and the Media
Read: RP: Sun, Ling Woo in Historical Context…”
RP: Hagedorn, “Asian Women in Film: No Joy, No Luck”
Video: Slaying the Dragon
Mon. Oct. 17: Asians and the Media
Read: Chen, “’Outwhiting the Whites’: An Examination of the ….”
Video: Slaying the Dragon
Wed. Oct. 19: Gender, Sex, and the Media
Read: RP: Holtzman: “Gender: In Pink and Blue and Vivid Color”
Bartnett, “Destructive and Constructive Characterizations of …”
Video: Sexual Stereotypes
Fri. Oct. 21: Feminist Media Studies
Read: Lind & Salo, “Framing Feminism”
Date of Class: Class Topic, Reading Assignment, Video Tape
Mon. Oct. 24: Masculinity and Popular Culture
Read: RP: La France, “What is Masculinity?”
Video: Tough Guise: Media … Crisis in Masculinity, Pt. 1
Wed. Oct. 26: Masculinity and Popular Culture
Read: MacDonald, “Masculinity and Race in Media: The Case of …”
Martin & Yep, “Eminem in Mainstream Public Discourse:…”
Video: Tough Guise: Media … Crisis in Masculinity, Pt. 2
Fall Break
Mon. Oct. 31: Discussion Groups # 3: Masculinity
Wed. Nov. 2: Media and (Homo)Sexuality
Read: Moriarty, “Fears of Difference and Miscegenation: Pro-…”
RP: Hubert, “What’s Wrong With this Picture?...”
Video: Off the Straight and Narrow: Lesbians, Gays & Bisexuals & TV
Fri. Nov. 4: LGBT Issues in Media
Video: Off the Straight & Narrow: Lesbians, Gays & Bisexuals & TV
Mon. Nov. 7: Gender, Sports & Media
Read: RP: Schell, “(Dis)Empowering Images? Media …”
Video: Playing UnFair: The Media Image of the Female Athlete
Wed. Nov. 9: Media and Female Athletes
Read: Eastman, “Favoritism and Identity in the Mediation of Sports”
Hardin, et. al., “Gender and Sport Media: Sexual Difference in…”
Fri. Nov. 11: Gender and Advertising
Read: RP: Steinem, “Sex, Lies and Advertising”
Video: Killing Us Softly 3
Mon. Nov. 14: Gender & Advertising: Body Image
Read: Kilbourne, “The More You Subtract, the More You Add”…
Wolf, et. al., “Body Image, Mass Media, Self-Concept”
Video: Slim Hopes: Advertising and the Obsession with Thinness
Wed. Nov. 16: Discussion Groups #4: Advertising and Gender
Fri. Nov. 18: Music Videos & Female Sexuality
Read: RP: Jhally, “Intersections of Discourse: . . .”
RP: Jane,“Look Ma! I’m a Video Ho” Video: Dreamworlds 2:Sex/Desire/Power in Musi
c Video
Mon. Nov. 21: Open Discussion: Music Videos & Female Sexuality
Video: Dreamworlds 2
Date of Class: Class Topic, Reading Assignment, Video Tape
Mon. Nov. 28: Popular Music
Read: Delgado & Calafell, “From “Rico Suave” to Livin’ “La Vida…”
Wed. Nov. 30: Hip-Hope Culture
Read: Grinner, “Hip-Hop Sees No Color: An Exploration of …”
Video: Hip Hop: A Culture of Influence
Fri. Dec. 2: Discussion Groups #5: Hip-Hop Culture
Mon. Dec. 5: Video Games
Read: Huntemann, “Pixel Pinups: Images of Women in Video Games”
Video: Game Over: Gender, Race & Violence in Video Games
Tues. Dec. 6: Retrospective: Critical Race Theory: Race, Gender, and Intersectio
nality
Wed. Dec. 7: Course Wrap-Up and Evaluations
Wednesday December 14, 8:00-11:00 A.M.: Honors Option Presentations
Course Readings Packet
JRLC 5400: Race, Gender and Media:
Fall 2005
Dr. Brooks
Orbe, M. & Harris, T.M. (2001). The history of race. In M. Orbe & T. M. Harris,
Interracial communication: Theory into practice (pp. 25-44). Belmont, CA: Wadswo
rth.
Dyer, R. (1988). The matter of whiteness. In White (pp.1-14). London: Routledge.
Shome, R. (2000). Outing whiteness. Critical Studies in Media Communication, 17(
3), 366-371.
Woods, K. (1999) The Language of Race, Poynter Institute. www.poynter.org/conten
t/content.
Brooks, D. E. (1998). Space traders, media criticism and the interpositional str
ategy. In J. Martin, T. K. Nakayama, and L.A. Flores (Eds.), Readings in cultura
l contexts (pp. 275-284). Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company.
Rhodes, J. (1993). The visibility of race and media history. Critical Studies in
Mass Communication. 184-190.
Lewis, J. & Jhally, S. (2000). The struggle over media literacy. Journal of Comm
unication 48(1), 109-120.
Kellner, D. (2003). Cultural studies, multiculturalism and media culture. In G.
Dines and J. M. Humez (Eds.), Gender, race and class in media: A text-reader (pp
. 9-20), Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Sun, C. F. (2003). Ling Woo in historical context: The new face of Asian America
n stereotypes in on television. In G. Dines and J. M. Humez (Eds.), Gender, race
and class in media: A text-reader (pp. 656-664). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Hagedorn, J. (1997). Asian women in film: No joy, no luck. In S. Biagi & M. Kern
-Foxworth Facing difference: Race, gender, and mass media (pp. 32-37). Thousand
Oaks: Pine Forge Press.
Holtzman, L. (2000). Gender: In pink and blue and vivid color. In Media Messages
: What television, film and music tell us about race, gender and sexual orientat
ion (pp. 51-97), Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.
LaFrance, E. (1995). What is masculinity? In Men, media and masculinity (pp. 1-1
7), Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt.
Hubert, S. J. (2003). What’s wrong with this picture? The politics of Ellen’s co
ming out party. In G. Dines and J. M. Humez (Eds.), Gender, race and class in me
dia: A text-reader (pp. 608-612), Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Schell, L. A. (2001). (Dis)Empowering images? Media representations of women in
sport. www.womensportsfoundation.org.
Steinem, G. (2003). Sex, lies and advertising. In G. Dines and J. M. Humez (Eds.
), Gender, race and class in media: A text-reader (pp. 223-229). Thousand Oaks:
Sage.
Jhally, S. (1994). Intersections of discourse: MTV, sexual politics, and Dreamwo
rlds. In J. Cruz & J. Lewis, (Eds.), Viewing, reading, listening: Audiences and
cultural reception (pp.151-168), Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Look Ma, I’m A Video Ho. (2002, November) Jane, pp. 128-131.