Topic: MEDIA AND POPULAR CULTURES IN GLOBAL CONTEXT MEDIA RESPONSE
Description:
Instructions:
In “ Cultural Studies, Multiculturalism, and Media Culture,” Douglas Kellner argues: “we are immersed from cradle to grave in a media and consumer society and thus it is important to learn how to understand, interpret, and criticize its meanings and messages” (2006, 1). Kellner claims that a critical cultural studies approach allows us to dissect the meanings, messages, and effects of dominant cultural forms and therefore resist media manipulation. Put another way, Kellner suggests that if we critically analyze the “politics of representation” of media and popular cultures, we engage in a struggle for alternative cultures and political change.
For your media response assignment, choose ONE example of mass media or popular culture (e.g., a TV program, Hollywood film, video game, Internet site, magazine ad, billboard, newspaper article, YouTub e clip, music video, etc.) and write a 500-750 word critical analysis of that cultural text. Your media response must be written in standard essay format, which means you will be evaluated on the quality of your thesis statement and organization of ideas. Your essay must make reference to at least TWO (2) key concepts from the course (see KEY CONCEPTS in your syllabus).
To clarify how to perform a critical analysis, review the readings by Douglas Kellner (2003) (assigned Sep 8), Stuart Hirschberg and Terry Hirschberg (2002) ( assigned Sep 29) and Andrea Noack (2012) (assigned Oct 15 ).
In your essay, consider including one or more elements of a multiperspectival analysis:
1. Discuss the conditions of production or the political economy of your text
2. Perform a textual analysis
3. Analyze the reception and use of your cultural text
You may use the word “I” in your written work. Avoid errors of spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Remember to proofread your assignments. You can lose a full letter grade or even more by forgetting to proofread and make final revisions.
[Additional instructions on reverse of this page]
Remember to:
• Include a title page with an original title, your name, student number, course title, and date submitted
• Type (no less than 11-point font) and double-space your essay
• Use 1” margins
• Number your pages
• NOT exceed the word limit. Any writing beyond 75 0 words will not be graded
• Keep a back -up copy of all written work until you have the final mark for the class
To conserve paper, double-sided assignments are encouraged.
All written assignments must be properly referenced in APA, Chicago, Turabian, or MLA format, and must include a bibliography. When citing work, all direct quotes must be referenced as well as ideas drawn from course materials, lectures, and readings. In the case of Internet sources, identify the full URL of the source and the date you accessed it. Citation Style Guides can be accessed on the University of British Columbia Okanagan library website at:
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