Women and Media Spring 2013: Project Proposal

Friday, April 12, 2013

Project Proposal

What do you think?

As an aspiring reporter, it is important to me that I deliver the news in the most objective way possible and that I cater to the widest audience spanning different age groups, cultural backgrounds, and economic classes.

In the amount of time that people spend watching the news every day, whether it be ten minutes or a few hours, I want people to learn something new.

I do not necessarily want to take over the news reporting world with my style (maybe in a few years), but I do want to bring change to the way people view the media today. With social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter, people are literally witnessing events as they are happening. It has become much harder to determine which news outlet is going to provide the most accurate information and much easier to simply accept what is fed to us.

I want people to take my news reports and think more creatively and critically, especially about topics that affect our everyday lives.

After much thinking, I have decided to create my very first news show and I will be publishing it on YouTube by the end of the semester. My goal is to publish at least two episodes, each under ten minutes. It is challenging because it is such a short amount of time, but it is also what I believe to be the most effective way to communicate the news today when everyone is preoccupied with a million other things in their day.

I have not yet decided on the topics for my episodes, but my idea is to essentially combine the style of popular YouTube channels like Feminist Frequency and Joe Santagato with the hard-hitting facts of my news reports.

What I would like feedback on is any topics of interest you feel I should address. It can be anything from increased subway fare to animal cruelty at local zoos. Anything! The hardest part for me is literally brainstorming ideas. I would also like feedback on what you feel may be the best way to layout my news show in order to cater to wide audiences (i.e. should it be flashy, no effects, guest stars, etc.)

Because this reaches millions of viewers…

And I want to combine it with this…

To create… this.

1 comment:

UnknownApril 12, 2013 at 8:09 PM
First off: GIFs are the BEST and I hope you do create a dedicated, jonahhillfreakingout-esque following. In reading your proposal, I think of The Daily Show & Colbert Report - you might really have to hone your ability to OBJECTIVELY offer news stories if this is the type of media you're getting at. It seems like you're going for an accessible news source vs a regurgitation of headlines; your on air PERSONALITY I think will play a big role in this, so go ahead and focus on your style - it'll make it unique and will gain you a dedicated following.
As for topics, gun control and rape culture would be interesting to cover, as well as economy - particularly the issue of post-graduation careers, which affects nearly all of our peers now.
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FINAL PROJECTS

5/4 and 5/11

Please be prepared to present your projects to the class in approximately 5-7 minute presentations. Visuals are a must. Feel free to bring physical props and handouts if appropriate.

**You must create a POST for your final project - a link to your project, a summary, images and or videos. You will present using/from your post - this will be much easier.

Projects are due on the blog and resource lists and sumaries handed in to me. Print projects, papers, zines etc must be physically handed in to me on 5/4 and 5/11.

Checklist:

-summary on the blog along with images and any videos

-link to your project (including pdf projects)

-presentations (5-7 minutes) will be from your blog post or linked directly from the post PLEASE TEST THIS BEFORE ARRIVING IN CLASS

-projects must be handed in to me with resource list/bibliography in addition to preparing the above for the presentations.

ADDITIONAL (optional) READINGS:

Veiled Threat by Arwa Aburawa Bitch Magazine

http://bitchmagazine.org/article/veiled-threat

The Feminist Evolution ArtNews December 2009

http://www.artnews.com/2009/12/01/the-feminist-evolution/

Where the Great Women Artists are Now

Interview with Linda Nochlin Art News February 2007

http://www.artnews.com/2007/02/01/where-the-great-women-artists-are-now/

Interview with Cat Mazza

We-Make-Money-Not-Art

http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/2008/01/how-and-when-did-you.php

Why are 70% of the most popular podcasts hosted by men?http://bitchmagazine.org/post/why-are-70-percent-of-the-most-popular-podcasts-hosted-by-men

____________________

Due 4/27

Post5 due

Choose and research a female artist or film director/screenwriter and a single work or several works. Describe their approach to art and/or film making and explain their role as author or auteur. Using references to the readings and references to your own research (be sure to cite) explain the work, especially as it relates to auteur theory (film) and author. How does the artist or filmmaker explain their work and their process? How are the works and artist or filmmaker received? How are they critiqued?

Every post must have a short bibliography/works sited. You must include at least 2 additional sources outside of resources from class in your post. If possible include links to the readings or sources, if not list them properly in your works cited. Last post! Make it awesome.

_________________

**SCREENING on 4/20

Screening of MissRepresentation after class at 5pm. Please stay for this special movie and discussion after class. Invite friends and colleagues to join us at 5pm.

DUE 4/20

NO READINGS

WORK ON YOUR SEMESTER PROJECTS!!

Project update and Draft Bibliography/Sources list for final project due. List of sources as well as a brief UPDATE on the project must be printed and handed in to me 4/20

__________________

*MIDTERM MEETINGS 4/8 and 4/10

If you have not already done so- share your project proposal on the class blog.
1-2 paragraphs, images and links to resources. From this post the class can give you feedback in the comments. **Post by Wednesday 4/10**

Check out student project examples at the top of the video screenings page for inspiration, ideas on what might work (or not) in your own projects. WORK ON YOUR PROJECTS

Due 4/13

READINGS on Blackboard:

Introduction "Making Movie Magic" from Reel to Real by bell hooks

"Author/Autor: Feminist Literary Theory and Feminist Film" by Maggie Humm

"Debra Zimmerman and Women Make Movies" by Judith Redding and Victoria A. Brownworth

Please look at the Women Make Movies website http://www.wmm.com/

POST 4 Due 4/13

Using references to the readings due for class, convey an understanding of women and minorities in the media industry. Research and discuss an alternative media organization or media source that is outside the mainstream message we have critiqued. Concentrate on messages by or for women specifically. The example can be local, national or international. Look to independent media in developing nations (newspapers for example) for interesting and inspiring examples. You can also choose to concentrate on a specific person. Be sure to explain the publication, film, project or online source in depth, explain it's origins and WHY it is successful or necessary as an alternative (to mainstream) media source. What is the role of gender in this story?

You can choose to concentrate on news media, independent film or a number of new media examples. Be original, dig. Find something inspiring that we need to know about - if we don't already.

5+ paragraphs. Images and links. Please do extensive research beyond what we have read in class and cite your findings appropriately.

2 tweets

2 comments on 2 student project proposals by 4/13

Group 7 presents

_____________________

Due 4/6

No readings due

Group 6 presents

No Class 3/30 - Spring Break

WORK ON YOUR SEMESTER PROJECT!!!

Share your projet proposal on the class blog. 1-2 paragraphs, images and links to resources. From this the class can give you feedback in the comments.

_______________________

Due 3/23

READINGS DUE all online:

The Rise of the Female Anchor

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/weekinreview/06stanley.html

Rachael Papers

http://issuu.com/bitchmagazine/docs/the_rachel_papers/3?mode=embed&documentId=090225195412-a61ca4d3a7b34c879210801d39c49c40&layout=white

Broadcast News: When Women Become Two out of Three

http://www.womensmediacenter.com/blog/entry/broadcast-news-when-women-become-two-out-of-three

Katie Curic leaves CBS

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/21/opinion/21collins.html

Women in Media fact sheet

http://www.now.org/issues/media/women_in_media_facts.html

NY Times - the Female Factor

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/world/series/the_female_factor/index.html

FreePress Media Ownership Policy

http://conference.freepress.net/ownership/chart

Media Ownership Fact Sheet - NOW

http://www.now.org/issues/media/women_in_media_facts.html

Diversity in Media Ownership & Employment

http://www.civilrights.org/media/ownership/

WATCH:

Reel Girls Media Consolidation

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=reelgrrls#play/uploads/27/VZ01mj0IdTQ

two teets

Group 5 presents

_______________

Due 3/16

READINGS DUE: Susan Bordo -- "Hunger as Ideology" from Unbearable Weight and Maggie Wykes/Barrie Gunter --"Conclusion" from The Media and Body Image

Post 3

Using all of your readings, class discussions and additional research develop a short essay addressing advertising images and the sexism, racism and power hierarchies found in so many of these. What is the purpose of these images? What unintended effects might these pervasive images have or reflect? Is popular culture found in these? Learned? Critiqued? In addition to this analysis find or construct an alternative to these mainstream images and explain why it is different. Carefully draw out advertising strategies and goals and provide alternative paths for the industry or alternative anti-advertising messages.

5-6 paragraphs. Include citations of the readings in your post, images and links to relevant resources.

1 page Project Proposal (drafted)*

for final projects for discussion in class. Explain/describe the content of your project and the medium you will use to create it. Use visuals if necessary: sketches, still images etc. Also include possible resources (this will be due *printed and handed in to me on 3/23)

two tweets

Group 4 presents

__________________

Due 3/9

READINGS DUE (on Blackboard):

Advertising, Magazines and Women

4 short essays from Gender Race and Class in Media

-Sex Lies and Advertising - Gloria Steinem Ms. Magazine

-Beauty and the Beast of Advertising - Jean Kilbourne

-Reading Images Critically - Douglas Kellner

-Commodity Lesbianism - Danae Clark

-Anthony Cortese, Constructed Bodies, Deconstructing Ads Sexism in Advertising

-Naomi Wolf , Culture from The Beauty Myth

Two tweets this week

Semester project topic due printed and handed-in

2 paragraphs explaining your semester project idea as well as any research and resources you expect you use.

(Full semester project proposal and resources will be due 3/23)

Group 3 presents

__________________

Due 3/2

READINGS:

bell hooks - The Will to Change - two chapters: Feminist Manhood and Popular Culture: Media Masculinity and Michael Kimmel, Introduction to Misframing Men

Two tweets this week

*Think about and research final project topic ideas (topics due 3/9)

Group 2 presents

_________________

Due 2/23

POST 2 - On ways of seeing/viewing

Please answer the following questions based on your readings and class discussion. Use your own experiences and realizations to help illustrate your understanding of the material - cite from the readings.

What is the male gaze and why is it a pervasive form of vision in popular culture? Give illustrative examples in a variety of media. What is the oppositional gaze and why (as described by bell hooks) has it developed? Give examples. How have you come to understand these structures and in what ways has this understanding changed your views about various media examples and of your own identity and role in these structures?

5-6 paragraphs. Include citations of the readings (Berger, hooks, Mulvey) in your post. Please include at least one image and one link.

videos (on the screenings page - scroll down to "ways of seeing")

READINGS: on Blackboard

-Introduction to Where the Girls Are - Susan Douglas

-Patriarchy - bell hooks

-"The More You Subtract The More You Add: Cutting Girls Down to Size" by Jean Kilbourne

Two tweets this week

Group 1 presents

NO CLASS 2/16

____________________

Due 2/9

Post 1 on the class blog: Who do you think you are?
Please create a blog post answering this question. Be sure to include your role in media consumption, critique and/or media making. You must include at least one link and one image. 2 pararaphs

READINGS: available on the Blackboard site - let me know immediately if you have trouble accessing them.
John Berger - Ways of Seeing
Laura Mulvey - Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema
bell hooks - The Oppositional Gaze

______________________

Link to syllabus

link to class hashtags: #womenmedia #bechdeltest

Link to screenings online

***Readings are on the class Blackboard site.***
Please be sure you have access to the Blackboard site and can see the "Class Sessions" folder.

Discussion guidelines

The course material and discussions can often be provocative and challenging. We must therefore be careful to be respectful of each other and all of our viewpoints. No student shall ever be made to feel uncomfortable because of race, gender, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.

We must come to class prepared and ready to discuss the readings!! Please keep discussions focused on the readings and class materials and keep examples relevant and appropriate. If you have not done the readings you are not to participate in the discussion.

Please see this great list of classroom discussion guidelines for more guidance. It is also helpful that everyone in the course reviews several key terms that are crucial to the course material. Please review this important list of terms.