Assignment : Analyze a TV Show or Movie
For this assignment, choose a movie or tv show that deals with class, gender or race issues. Write 1-2 pages about this movie or tv show. It can be a movie or tv show that focuses on a particular class, gender or racial group, or a tv show or movie that you think would be interesting to analyze for its portrayal of class, gender or race. You may also focus on a combination of class, gender, and/or race. See the back of this sheet for examples of movies and tv shows, or pick one yourself. If it is a tv show, you only need to analyze one episode, but you can analyze up to 3 episodes if you would prefer. Use the lectures and readings on stratification, gender, race and poverty to guide you. First, briefly summarize the tv episode or movie. Then, tell me why you think it is a good show/movie to analyze for portrayals of class, race and/or gender. Next, answer at least 2 of the following questions (from one or more categories), using at least two terms or concepts from the readings or lecture:
Class:
1. Does this movie/episode use any stereotypes of class groups? How might this be harmful?
2. Do you see examples of any of the four types of capital we discussed in class (economic, human, social and cultural)? Do the characters have high or low levels of this type of capital? Will this benefit or hurt them?
3. If there is more than one class group, what are their interactions like? Does one group have power over the other?
4. Do any of the characters experience social mobility (upwards or downwards)? Why do you think they experience this mobility?
Gender:
1. Does this movie/episode use any gender stereotypes? How might this be harmful?
2. Does this movie/episode challenge gender stereotypes or gender norms? How? Do you think they are successful at challenging these?
3. Are any of the characters trans*, intersex or gender-queer/non-binary? How are they portrayed? What struggles do they face?
4. Do the characters face any prejudice or discrimination due to their gender? How does this affect them and how do they deal with it?
Race:
1. Does this movie use stereotypes of any racial or ethnic groups? How might this be harmful?
2. Do the characters in this show face any prejudice or discrimination due to their race or ethnicity? How does this affect them, and how do they react?
3. Does this movie or episode demonstrate the social construction of race? How?
4. Does this movie or episode demonstrate anything about the relationship between race and wealth?
Intersectionality:
1. Does this movie or episode demonstrate anything about intersectionality? How?
TV/Movie Examples
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Class:
Clueless
The Devil Wears Prada
2 Broke Girls
Bloodline
Arrested Development
Married with Children
The Simpsons
Foxcatcher
The Wolf of Wall Street
Good Will Hunting
Gender:
Jessica Jones
Transparent
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Sex and the City
Sons of Anarchy
Mad Men
Trainwreck
Tangerine
Boys Don't Cry
Race:
Fresh Off the Boat
Black-ish
Everybody Hates Chris
Smoke Signals
West Side Story
Master of None
Chapelle's Show
Dear White People
American History X
Do the Right Thing
The Bernie Mac Show
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Race/Class:
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire
Empire
The Wire
Straight Outta Compton
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Treme
Crash
Trading Places
Bread and Roses
Bulworth
Race/Gender:
The Mindy Project
The Office
Community
Class/Gender:
Girls
Roseanne
Winter's Bone
Shameless
Pretty Woman
Race/Class/Gender:
Orange is the New Black
South Park
Law and Order
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
House of Cards
Parks and Recreation
Precious
Detachment
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