|
Com 314: Mass Communication Theory |
Updated: 23 August, 2002
| Day One Discussion |
Go to the following site: "Media Effects on Girls: Body Image and Gender Identity" at the National Institute on Media and the Family at
http://www.mediaandthefamily.org/research/fact/mediaeffect.shtml
Discussion Questions:
1. How do media affect the body image and self esteem of women?
2. How do you think this process applies to men?
3. In what ways do you think the culture imitates media images?
4. In what ways do YOU imitate media messages, models or images?
After discussing the above questions. Ask.....
Do any of you have fashion magazines? Why? (Is there any purpose to those magazines other than to get you to imitate what's in them? The sexy articles, etc. are all lures to get you to look at the products the industry wants you to buy) So, to what degree is YOUR real life imitating mediated reality?
Discuss: "Media Literacy for the Unconscious Mind" by Brian Walsch. Available at http://www.ibiblio.org/nmediac/winter2002/mind.html in the Winter 2002 Issue of The Journal of New Media and Culture.
Muzak
Mall Design
Television Advertising
Politicized Hollywood Film
Kate Hosford makes some similar points in a 2002 Woman's Day article: "Too Much TV, or Should I Say, "Too Many" Womans' Day 6/402 p. 65
After discussing the fact that televisions are popping up in bank lobbies, department stores, and numerous other places -- including grocery store check out lines and gas stations -- she makes the point: "The clutter of TV noise and images in public places puts barriers between us and our neighbors and us and our thoughts."
Do you agree?
What's the problem with that?
Are you comfortable in an absolutely quiet, media-free environment? If not, why?
How do you think your use of media have changed since 9/11/01?
This semester, we will be examining these kinds of issues. What is the role of media in the culture, how do we know, what is the process, and what we can do about it.
Be sure you have read the introduction and first section of Baran and Davis.
Copyright, 2002
Dr. Janet McMullen