Contemporary American Issues
Ms. Portman

Read "Self-Fulfilling Stereotypes" by Mark Snyder (page 511)

What purpose to stereotypes serve? What does "self-fulfilling stereotypes" mean? What stereotypes do you think strangers may have of you? What are stereotypes you have of other groups?

Read "Anti-Gay Stereotypes" by Richard D. Mohr (page 517) and "TV Arabs" by Jack G. Shaheen (page 353)

Should these stereotypes be dismissed as meaningless? Do you think stereotypical comments actually lead to real violence in our society? What is the responsibility of the media to present all people in a positive and realistic manner?

Read "Asian Stereotypes: Restrictive Portrayals of Asians in the Media and How to Balance Them" A Memo from the Media Action Network for Asian Americans, and "That Old Black Magic" by Christopher John Farley

What do the authors have to say about images of Asian Americans and African Americans in the media? Do you agree or disagree with their analysis? What are some examples that support and/or contradict the arguments in these essays?

Read "Am I Thin Enough Yet?" by Sharlene Hesse-Biber (page 527)

Besides fashion magazines, where do you see "cultural messages on the rewards of thinness and the punishments of obesity?" Bring in a print advertisement or article which illustrates this point.

Read "Media Magic: Making Class Invisible" by Gregory Mantsios (page 563)

How do broadcast news, sitcoms, dramas, and talk shows each deal with the issue of class? Why do you think this difference occurs? Do you think that Matsios is being too hard on the media? Why or why not?

Film
Color Adjustments by Marlon Riggs

Writing Assignment
Spend a week critically examining the media around you (television, movies, music, magazines, the internet). How are race, class and gender represented in the media? (You can choose to focus on one topic, but often they overlap.) Keep a record the roles or situations they appear in (cut out print media examples) and be specific in your reference and description. You need to write a 3-5 page analysis of your finding. Don't approach this project with a fixed hypothesis in mind; try to be as objective as possible when gathering data. You should include a bibliography with a listing of all forms of media which you have examined. We'll go over your findings in class discussion.