Introduction to Media Studies: Gender, Sexuality, and the Cis/Heteronormative Gaze
Monday, 14:15-15:45
Organization and Requirements
Course description: This course aims to familiarize students with various approaches to the study of North American visual culture with a focus on movies and TV shows in their cultural and historical context. Particular emphasis will be placed on the ways in which these media narratives construct meaning, evoke specific responses, and guide, invite, or obstruct the audience's gaze. Additionally, we will look at how these narratives reflect and potentially reinforce societal power relations and disparities. As the course title indicates, we will pay special attention to the analysis of the representation of gender and sexuality in the narratives under consideration. However, by exploring these categories through an intersectional lens we will also reflect on how the representations of gender and sexuality are always already influenced and impacted by other axes of power like race, class, (dis)ability, etc. In the process, students will be introduced to a diverse range of theoretical perspectives from media and cultural studies. Using these tools, they will conduct their own case studies of particular media narratives.
Students are required to have read or watched all assigned texts and videos prior to every class. Credits will be awarded on the basis of a case study (group work) that students have to develop throughout the semester and present in class at the end of the semester.
Assessment:Regular attendance; active in-class participation(15%); semester case studies in groups(85%)—including: preliminary research goals & bibliography (10%); development of research question and thesis (15%); development and clarification of theoretical approach based on research (15%); analysis of 1–2 scenes from a theoretical and cinematographic perspective (20%); Concluding remarks (5%); Presentation of results (10%); 2 page report on case study (10%).
Most sessions will be organized as follows:
1) Introduction by the instructor (5 minutes)
2) Introduction into research methodology for the next phase of the case studies
3) Discussion of theoretical reading (30 minutes)
4) Group work on select scenes from the week’s medium (30 minutes)
5) Discussion of results (25 minutes)
6) Optional: Guest lecture and exercises
Final sessions of the semester:
1) Introduction by the instructor (5 minutes)
2) Presentation of case studies (… minutes for each case study)
3) Discussion of case studies (… minutes for each case study)
Watching assigned movie/episodes
Due to time constraints, there will be no collective movie screenings throughout the semester. Instead, students are expected to either watch the respective movies/episodes individually or meet up in smaller groups to watch them together. You are expected to have watched each movie/episode before the session to which it has been assigned. All other students are expected to take notes on interesting aspects in the respective episodes.
1) Read the required readingvery carefully,
2) Watch the assigned movie/episode,
3) Take notes, write down questions you might have, and bring your notes and texts (in print) to each session.
Group Work on Case Studies throughout the Semester
At the beginning of the semester, all students will be assigned to a group of 5 students. Throughout the semester each group is expected to develop and conduct a case study of their chosen object of research and submit its individual parts to the instructor at set deadlines. At the end of the semester the groups will present their result to the course and consolidate their results into a 2–3 pages report that is to be uploaded to Moodle.
Individual Steps of Case Study including Deadlines
Step 1: Selection and justification of your research object. First session
Step 2: Research phase (object of analysis and theory), submit preliminary research goals &
bibliography (10%) Deadline: 24.04.2019
Step 3: Development of research question and thesis (15%)
Step 4: Development and clarification of theoretical approach based on research (15%) (1/2 page)
Step 5: Analysis of 1–2 scenes from a theoretical and cinematographic perspective (15%) (1 page)
Step 6: Concluding remarks (1–2 paragraphs) (5%);
Step 7: 15-minute presentation of results at the end of the semester (15%);
Step 8: Submit the report on your case study (2 pages) consisting of all of the above-mentioned parts, including final List of Works Cited (10%).
Explanation of individual steps of case studies:
Step 1: Selection and justification of research object
During the first session, you will be asked to form case study groups (4 people) and to choose an object of study that you will examine throughout the semester. Ask yourselves the following questions: What episodeof a TV-show or moviemight we be interested in analyzing? Why do we want to focus on this object of study? What strikes you as interesting about it? How might you analyze this primary source from the course's vantage points of gender, sexuality, class, race, etc.? What theoretical approaches and resources might be useful in conducting your case study? How do you want to proceed until the next deadline (working meetings, work packages, goals)? What questions do you have for the instructor? Take notes.
Step 2: Research phase (object of analysis and theory), submit preliminary research goals(~300 words) & bibliography (10%) Deadline: 24.04.2019
After the first session, the second phase of your research project begins. Use this time to further clarify your research objective for the semester. Review your primary source together and discuss the questions from the first session in more detail. Try to identify 1 or 2 scenes from your source that might be of particular interest to your analysis. Review the inspirational resources and research & theory toolkits on Moodle. Give yourself time to consult these resources and use them as the basis and guide for your research. What approaches and concepts from them might be helpful for your analysis? How can you find out more about these ideas? How could you apply them to your object of study? Conduct research at the library and in online databases (MLA, JSTOR, academia.edu, Project Muse, Sage Journals, Duke University Press, Oxford Reference, ProQuest, Literary Reference Center, Academic Search Premier, etc.). Look both for texts on your primary source and your chosen theoretical approach. Contact the instructor if you have questions or run into problems. Write and submit your preliminary research goals and bibliography. Your research goals should outline: 1. What TV-show or movie you have chosen for your analysis; 2. Which aspect of your primary source do you want to focus on? 3. What theories and concepts you intend to use; 4. How you might apply them in your case study? Your bibliography should be in accordance with the MLA style and include any source you think intend to use in your analysis. Remember that you have to cite everything that has influenced your reasoning.
Step 3: Development of research question and thesis (1–2 sentences) (15%) Deadline: 13.05.2019
Based on your theme, your reading, and your selected theory formulate one focused and clear research question. Remember, a research question needs to be answerable and debatable!
With the help of your theory, discuss your research question on the basis of three examples from your selected primary text (e.g. quotations, scenes) and come up with a preliminary answer—your thesis statement. Remember, the thesis statement is the central claim or argument of your paper. It should be as precise and nuanced as possible. If in doubt about how to come up research question and thesis consult the research toolkit on Moodle. If you continue to have trouble contact your instructor.
Step 4: Development and clarification of theoretical approach based on research (15%) (1/2 page) Deadline: 27.05.2019
Develop your theoretical approach based on your initial research and the feedback you received on your assignment thus far. Conduct additional research and read additional resources to bolster your theoretical understanding. Think about: What terms and concepts do you need to define? How do you intend to use them? Write half a page in which you outline your theoretical approach and its relevance to your case study.
Step 5: Analysis of 1–2 scenes from a theoretical and cinematographic perspective (20%) (1 page) Deadline: 10.06.2019
Choose one or two (maximum) scene that you want to analyze in more detail. Apply your theoretical approach to this scene and analyze it based on your chosen approach. Also, consider cinematic aspects in the scene—including but not limited to camera perspective, angle, music, etc.
Step 6: Concluding remarks (1–2 paragraphs) (5%); Deadline: 17.06.2019
Sum up what you have shown in your analysis and draw your conclusion.
Step 7: 25-minute presentation (including 10–15 minutes of discussion time) of results at the end of the semester (10%); On 24.06.2019
Present your findings to the class.10 Minutes + another 15 minutesfor discussion, including at least a PowerPoint (with MLA-style works cited slide), an example that gives your fellow students the opportunity to actively engage with the content of your presentation. Your presentation should highlight your research question and thesis, establish a connection between your theoretical approach and your research object, provide an analysis of one or two scenes from your primary source, give an answer to your research question (a conclusion) and highlight questions and problems that you ran into during your case study. Following your presentation, your fellow students will have the opportunity to ask you questions and discuss your case study with you in more detail.
Step 8: Submit the report on your case study (2 pages) consisting of all of the above-mentioned parts, including final List of Works Cited (10%). Deadline 01.07.2019
Consolidate and update the different stages of your case study in your final report and upload it to Moodle.
Including requirements (what should be in it and expected length) and resources to help them figure it out
Late assignments will not be accepted.Plagiarism will result in immediate failure of the class.
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