SOCIOLOGY 101 FALL 2013 WRITING ASSIGNMENT #6: MEDIA ASSIGNMENT Purpos : To conduct a sociological analysis of the construction

n and portrayal of race/ethnicity, sex/gender, social class, and/or sexual orientation for at least two hours on one of the following media genres: music videos, video games, television, film, literature, magazines, the Internet, or news. In addressing the following items you must provide rich detail. You should be describing but also analyzing. The completed assignment should be 3 ! pages in length. "apers should use sociological terms where appropriate #e.g., socialization, labeling, ethnic groups, stereotypes, discrimination, gender roles/expectations, masculinity/femininity, hegemony, privilege, dominant/subordinate ideologies, social construction, etc.$ STEP ONE DESCRI!E YO"R PRO#ECT 1. %elect the form of media you wish to analyze and if needed, the specific items you will be analyzing. &or example, if you are analyzing video games, specify '(I)( games you will be studying.

2. *ecord the pertinent information about your selection. That is, if it is an (+, series detail what it is, when it aired, who produced it, etc. If it is a video game, when was it released, what is its rating, etc. +oo-s should include all publishing information. .tc. 3. /escribe the piece of media in detail. &or example, if it is a movie, what is the setting and plot, who are the characters, etc. If it is a music video, give information about the song and details about the video.

4. 0ive information about the age, race, sex, class, sexual orientation if possible, and other pertinent details about the characters.

5. You may choose to focus primarily on one area1 sex/gender, race/ethnicity, social class, or sexual orientation. (owever, you should also touch on other forms to the degree that they are relevant. That is, be aware of the intersections of race, class, gender, and sexual orientation. STEP TWO COND"CT YO"R ANALYSIS (ere are some examples of how you might go about doing this research1 E$AMPLE #1: T% D p&'(&o) o* M+, -F .+, R ,+(&o)s &) Mus&' /&0 os "erform a content analysis of 2T3, 3(4, )2T, etc. 'atch one hour each of two different channels. )ompare and contrast the main ideas/themes of music videos. (ow are males and females dressed5 (ow are minority group members treated/represented5 'hat activities are they engaged in5 (ow do they act5 'hat ideologies are being reflected5 *esisted5 *eproduced5 (ow5 6lways use specific examples to support your arguments. %ome guiding 7uestions1 #/on8t forget to concentrate on the differences in the depiction of racial/ethnic minorities and various social classes$

 6re women depicted in a constant state of arousal5 /oes this vary by racial/ethnic
bac-ground5

6re women usually in competition with each other for men5 /oes this vary by
racial/ethnic bac-ground5

6re women depicted as if they en9oy/desire being on display and ripping their clothes off
for men5 /oes this vary by racial/ethnic bac-ground5 racial/ethnic bac-ground5 racial/ethnic bac-ground5 bac-ground5

/o the women portrayed say :no: when they really mean :yes:5 /oes this vary by /o women seem incapable of saying :no: to sexual advances5 /oes this vary by 'hat activities are males and females engaged in5 /oes this vary by racial/ethnic 'hat is the social role of the main characters #male vs. female$5 'hat messages are
being sent5 /oes this vary by racial/ethnic bac-ground5

(ow does socialization play a role5 'hat privileges can you recognize5 'hat ideologies can you recognize5 6re they being reflected or resisted5

E$AMPLE #2: T% D p&'(&o) o* R+' -E(%)&'&(12 C,+ss2 3 G )0 r o) T/ or *&,.s 'atch two different shows/films of the same genre #e.g. sitcom, animated comedy, drama, action, etc.$ for at least one hour each. The two shows can be either1 #4$ from the same time period #e.g., :%tand and /eliver; and :6merican (istory <;$ or #=$ from different time periods #e.g., :)hico and the 2an: and :>ash +ridges; i.e., an historical comparison.) /iscuss and analyze the differences and similarities in the interaction between the characters on the shows you choose. /on?t forget to include social and historical context in your analysis, i.e., what was happening socially and historically when these shows were produced5 %ome guiding 7uestions1

In what ways do ma9ority and minority characters reflect or resist traditional stereotypes5 (ow do the characters meet #or not meet$ these standards perceived by the other
characters on the show5

(ow does socialization play a role5 'hat privileges can you recognize5 'hat ideologies/messages can you identify5 6re they being reflected or resisted5

E$AMPLE #3: T% D p&'(&o) o* R+' 2 C,+ss2 3 G )0 r &) /&0 o G+. s /iscuss and analyze the differences and similarities in the interaction between the characters on the video games you choose. &ocus on the race, class, and gender of the characters in the game. %pecifically describe what roles the characters are playing. %ome guiding 7uestions1

'ho is the hero and/or heroine of the game5 'hat is the ob9ective of the game5 'ho are the main characters5 'ho are the minor characters5 6re there victims in the game5 If so, what race, class, gender are they5 'hat types of things are the characters doing in the game5 #+e sure to brea- this down by
race, class and gender.$

(ow does socialization play a role5 'hat privileges can you recognize5 'hat ideologies can you recognize5 6re they being reflected or resisted5
STEP T4REE DRAW CONCL"SIONS

4.

/escribe what this exercise has taught you about the role of media in constructing and maintaining cultural ideologies regarding race, class, gender, and sexual orientation.

=.

'hat do you believe to be the role of individuals in affecting these media portrayals. That is, while we focus on the effects of media on individuals, what is the effect of individuals and groups on media5

3.

/o you believe the effects of media on cultural ideologies and individuals have changed over time with the increase in technology and if so, how. "rovide details.