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ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS:
Evaluation Title: Pop Culture and Race, Ethnicity, Sexual Morality, and Gender
Bell hooks (nee Gloria Jean Watkins) is a professor and social activist who has written about feminism and popular culture. For this assignment you will watch bell hooks’ views on Cultural Criticism and Transformation in the video and read the accompanying extended transcript. (Note: there are several very difficult subjects discussed, and visual examples from movies are used to support these examples; more examples are used to further explore each of these themes throughout the remainder of this video.)
ur note should include some discussion of the following questions:
Do you agree or disagree with hooks’ views? Support your position.
Does mass media promote images of equality by leveling racial, ethnic, and gender differences or do they promote inequality through exclusion and exaggeration of difference?
Does mass media reinforce the viewpoints of white, male, corporate culture or does mass allow for the authentic expression of racial, ethnic, and sexual identity? Give examples to support your position
Specifications:
Submit an 800-1000 word note addressing the questions above.
In your note:
Be sure to structure your note with an introduction paragraph that includes a thesis statement, well-organized supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion that reiterates the main points of your argument.
Your argument should be supported by reputable research cited in APA format both in the body of the note and in your references section.
Helpful Resources:
Herzing University’s Tutoring and Writing Center
Grammar checker and writing help: https://www.grammarly.com/
Use the Herzing Library to search for scholarly research sources.
Estimated time to complete: 3 hours
Reference
ChallengingMedia. (2006, October 3). bell hooks: Cultural criticism & transformation [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQUuHFKP-9s
HOW TO WORK ON THIS ASSIGNMENT (EXAMPLE ESSAY / DRAFT)
Introduction Bell hooks, also known as Gloria Jean Watkins, is a renowned feminist and cultural critic who has written extensively about the impact of popular culture on race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual morality. In her video, “Cultural Criticism & Transformation,” hooks discusses the ways in which mass media both perpetuates and challenges dominant societal norms and power dynamics. The purpose of this note is to analyze hooks’ views and to assess the ways in which mass media promotes or undermines equality and authenticity with regards to race, ethnicity, and sexual identity.
Do you agree or disagree with hooks’ views? Support your position. In agreement with hooks, I believe that a popular culture is a powerful tool for both reinforcing and transforming societal norms and power dynamics. While mass media often perpetuates harmful stereotypes and reinforces dominant cultural perspectives, it also has the potential to challenge these narratives and promote greater understanding and empathy. Hooks’ view that popular culture is a site of struggle between dominant and marginalized perspectives aligns with my own experiences and observations.
Does mass media promote images of equality by leveling racial, ethnic, and gender differences or do they promote inequality through exclusion and exaggeration of difference? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not straightforward. While some media may attempt to promote images of equality and inclusivity, this is often done in a way that reinforces rather than challenges dominant cultural perspectives. For example, representation of racial and ethnic minorities may be limited to stereotypical characters and narratives that fail to accurately reflect the diversity and complexity of these communities. Similarly, representation of women and the LGBTQ+ community may be limited or distorted in ways that perpetuate harmful gender norms and reinforces traditional gender roles. In this way, mass media often promotes inequality through exclusion and exaggeration of difference.
Does mass media reinforce the viewpoints of white, male, corporate culture or does mass allow for the authentic expression of racial, ethnic, and sexual identity? Give examples to support your position In many cases, mass media reinforces the perspectives and interests of white, male, corporate culture. This is evident in the dominance of white male voices in media production, the disproportionate representation of white male perspectives in media content, and the ways in which media content is often created to appeal to a white male target demographic. For example, Hollywood’s “white male gaze” has been criticized for its tendency to focus on white male perspectives and experiences, often at the expense of other voices and perspectives.
However, there are also examples of media that challenge these dominant perspectives and allow for the authentic expression of racial, ethnic, and sexual identity. For example, the rise of social media has given marginalized communities greater visibility and voice, allowing them to share their experiences and perspectives in their own words. Additionally, the growth of independent media production and distribution channels has created opportunities for marginalized voices to be heard and represented in ways that are not beholden to corporate interests.
Conclusion In conclusion, while mass media can be a powerful tool for perpetuating harmful cultural norms and reinforcing dominant power dynamics, it also has the potential to challenge these narratives and promote greater understanding and empathy. Hooks’ view that popular culture is a site of struggle between dominant and marginalized perspectives aligns with my own experiences and observations, and highlights the importance of critically examining the ways in which media represents and reinforces cultural norms and power dynamics. Through continued analysis and critique of popular culture, we can work towards a more equitable and authentic representation of diverse perspectives and experiences in the media.
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