MCOM 250 - Women & Media

Spring 2004  -  MWF 1:30-2:20 p.m. - 116 Miller

 

Instructor

Ms. Tracy Lauder                                             Office Hours

218 Miller                                                         MWF 11 a.m.- 12 p.m.

944-6152                                                         TH 10-11 a.m.

tlauder@ehc.edu                                             (also available by appointment)

 

Course Objectives

The purpose of this class is to introduce students to main issues relevant to the portrayal of women in media as well as to womenÕs evolving role as professionals in the media industry. Through the course, we will:

      - educate ourselves about the power and influence of the media

      - explore the mediaÕs gendered treatment of women as objects and consumers

      - recognize how the mediaÕs representations of women inform our own identities and ideas about women in society

      - learn to become more critical consumers of media

      - examine the history of womenÕs contributions and struggles in journalistic professions

     

Required Texts

Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader, 2nd. ed., by Gail Dines and Jean M. Humez, eds.  (Sage, 2003).

Taking Their Place: A Documentary History of Women in Journalism, 2d. ed., by Maurine H. Beasley and Sheila J. Gibbons (Strata, 2003).

Additional readings made available in a supplementary reader (for purchase at the campus bookstore) and/or via the instructor.

 

Course Requirements

A variety of assignments will be utilized in this course, including:

- readings on women in media

- class discussions

- out-of-class assignments

- occasional reading quizzes

- media critiques

- research projects

- class presentations

The instructor will make every effort to explain the process, expectations, and grading criteria for each assignment. Clarification about assignments should be sought from the instructor as soon as questions arise. In addition, midterm and final exams will test accumulated knowledge and the application of such knowledge. Classroom attendance and participation are necessary for successful completion of the course, especially due the instructional and informational nature of class discussions.

 

Grading

The final grade for this course will be computed in the following manner:

 

                        Reading worksheets/quizzes/

                            other msc. assignments                 40 percent

                        One research project                         20 percent

                        Midterm exam                                    15 percent

                        Final exam                                         15 percent

                        Participation/attendance                    10 percent

 

Writing & Editing Skills

High standards of writing and editing will be expected and enforced. Students, therefore, must be able to edit their work for grammar, punctuation, accuracy, clarity, conciseness, and style. Poorly written work will receive a reduced grade.

 

Attendance Policy

Dedicated class attendance is essential for learning in this course. Students are expected to attend every class meeting and arrive on time unless absolutely unable due to unusual circumstances. A student should make every effort to contact the instructor prior to the class meeting if he or she will be unable to attend; in some cases (such as the death of a family member or a serious injury to the student), makeup work may be arranged. In general, makeup work will not be allowed, and the absence of completed assignments will decrease the studentÕs final grade.

 

Students will be penalized for more than three absences in the course; five points will be deducted from the final course grade for each absence after three. If you already know that you will need to miss several classes due to extracurricular activities, a job, family responsibilities, or other obligation(s), you should consider taking this course at another time.

 

Roll will be taken at the beginning of the class period. If you arrive after roll is taken, you will be counted absent. If you arrive late for class, you should verify your attendance with the instructor after class. Three tardy arrivals will count as one absence.

 

Deadlines

As in any mass communications course, students are being trained to follow the professional standards of the media industry. Deadlines, therefore, are strictly enforced.

 

Out-of-class assignments must be turned in at the beginning of the class period in which they are due, even if the student does not attend class. Late assignments will be accepted but will receive a penalty of one letter grade for every 24-hour period past the deadline. As with class attendance, if a student encounters circumstances that prohibit him or her from completing the assignment by the deadline, he or she should contact the instructor as soon as possible, but exclusion of a late penalty is never guaranteed.

 

Academic Misconduct

Representing another personÕs work as your own violates the collegeÕs Honor Code. Copying homework assignments, cheating on quizzes or exams, lying about sources of information, and plagiarizing on projects all constitute academic misconduct, a serious offense with serious consequences. Cases of academic misconduct will be turned over to the DeanÕs office for investigation and disciplinary measures.

 

The House Rules

Respect for fellow students and the instructor are necessary for an enjoyable learning experience. This includes being prompt for class, turning off cellular phones before class, and participating in classroom discussions that foster a healthy exchange of ideas.

 

The subject matter covered in this class by nature will result in controversial issues. In fact, students will be required to make arguments about certain topics and explore values and ethics in classroom discussions. Good will and respect should be extended to all classroom participants, regardless of the opinions and personal beliefs shared.

 

Winter Forum and Lyceum Events

Students will be require to attend several Lyceum and Winter Forum events (to be announced later) that are inherently related to subject matter discussed in this mass communications course. Failure to attend the required events will result in a zero as an assignment grade.

 

Course Schedule

 

      Week 1: Introduction to the Course

W 1/14           Syllabus       

 

F 1/16           #1 (Kellner), ÒCultural Studies, Multiculturalism, and Media CultureÓ

                     Supp. (Baran), media literacy

 

Week 2: Cultural Studies Approach to Media Studies

M 1/19           #2 (Croteau & Hoynes), ÒThe New Media Giants: Changing Industry StructureÓ

                     #3 (Lipsitz), ÒThe Meaning of Memory: Family, Class, and Ethnicity in Early Network TelevisionÓ

 

W 1/21           #4 (Rich), ÒNaked CapitalistsÓ

                     #5 (Lull), ÒHegemonyÓ

 

F 1/23           History: ÒColonial Era,Ó ÒEarly Political Journalism,Ó ÒReform Periodicals,Ó & ÒForeign Correspondence,Ó 1-29       

 

Week 3: Media in a Consumer Culture

M 1/26           #16 (Davis),  ÒSpace Jam: Media Conglomerates Build the Entertainment CityÓ

                     #19 (Schor), ÒThe New Politics of Consumption: Why Americans Want So Much More Than They NeedÓ

 

W 1/28           #23 (Steinem), ÒSex, Lies, and AdvertisingÓ

                     #24 (Breazeale), ÒIn Spite of Women: Esquire Magazine and the Construction of the Male Consumer:Ó

 

F 1/30           History: LadiesÕ Periodicals,Ó ÒSuffrage NewspapersÓ & ÒNewspaper Correspondence,Ó  31-52     

 

Week 4: Women in Advertising

M 2/2             #25 (Jhally), ÒImage-Based Culture: Advertising and Popular Culture

                     Supp.:

     

W 2/4             #27 (Kirkham & Weller), ÒCosmetics: A Clinique Case StudyÓ

                     #32 (Crane) ÒGender and Hegemony in Fashion Magazines: WomenÕs Interpretations of Fashion PhotographsÓ

 

F 2/6             History: ÒPioneer African-American JournalistsÓ & ÒStunt Reporters and Sob Sisters,Ó  56-73

 

Week 5: Women in Advertising

M 2/9             #26 (Kilbourne), ÒÕThe More You Subtract, the More You AddÕ: Cutting Girls Down to SizeÓ

                     Supp.:

 

W 2/11           Supp.: Readings by Naomi Wolf (TBA)

 

F 2/13           History: ÒInvestigative Reporting,Ó ÒMetropolitan JournalismÓ & ÒWar Correspondence,Ó 74-97

  

 

 

 

 

Week 6: Media Violence & Pornography

M 2/16           #33 (Gerbner), ÒTelevision Violence: At a Time of Turmoil and TerrorÓ

                     #34 (Katz), ÒAdvertising and the Construction of Violent White Masculinity: From Eminem to Clinique for MenÓ

 

W 2/18           WINTER FORUM      

 

F 2/20           Discussion/processing of Winter Forum events

 

Week 7: Media Violence & Pornography

M 2/23           #39 (Boyle), ÒThe Pornography Debattes: Beyond Cause and EffectÓ

                     #40 (Jensen), ÒPornography and the Limits of Experimental ResearchÓ

 

W 2/25           #41 (Snitow), ÒMass Market Romance: Pornography for Women Is DifferentÓ

                     #42 (Caputi), ÒEveryday PornographyÓ

 

F 2/27           History: ÒPolitics and Political CommentaryÓ & ÒAdvocates of Social Justice,Ó 98-116

 

Week 8: Women in Television, by Day

M 3/1             #44 (Fiske), ÒGendered Television: FemininityÓ

                     #45 (Rogers), ÒDaze of Our Lives: The Soap Opera as Feminine TextÓ

                     #49 (Hayward), ÒConsuming Pleasures: Active Audiences and Soap OperaÓ

 

W 3/3             #50 (Moorti), ÒCathartic Confessions or Emancipatory Texts? Rape narratives on The Oprah Winfrey ShowÓ

                     #51 (Peck), ÒThe Mediated Talking Cure: Therapeutic Framing of Autobiography in TV Talk ShowsÓ

                     #53 (Gamson), ÒSitting Ducks and Forbidden FruitsÓ

 

F 3/5             MIDTERM EXAM DUE

                     History: ÒNewspaper FamiliesÓ & ÒEarly Days in Broadcasting,Ó 117-140.

 

Spring Break

 

Week 9: Women in Television, by Night

M 3/15           #58 (Byars & Meehan), ÒOnce in a Lifetime: Construcing ÔThe working womanÕ Through Cable NarrowcastingÓ

                     #59 (Lindsey), ÒIn Their Prime: Women in Nighttime DramaÓ

                     #60 (Bogle), ÒWorkplace Dramas, Ensemble Casts, 1990s StyleÓ

 

W 3/17           #13 (Zook), ÒLiving Single and the ÔFight of Mr. RightÕ: Latifah donÕt PlayÓ

                     #57 (Hubert) ÒWhatÕs Wrong With This Picture? The Politics of EllenÕs Coming Out PartyÓ

                     #63 (Chyng Feng Sun), ÒLing Woo in Historical Context: The New Face of Asian American Stereotypes on TelevisionÓ

                     #64 (Antler), ÒJewish Women on Television: Too Jewish or Not Enough?Ó

     

F 3/19           History: ÒWomenÕs PagesÓ & ÒDevelopment of Alternative Media,Ó 141-167

 

Week 10: Women in Books & Magazines

M 3/22           #6 (Radway), ÒWomen Read the Romance: The Interaction of Text and ContextÓ

                     Supp.:

 

W 3/24           #12 (Ouellette), ÒInventing the Cosmo Girl: Class Identity and Girl-Style American DreamsÓ

                     Supp.:

 

F 3/26           History: ÒWomenÕs Magazines,Ó 168-182

 

Week 11: Women in Film & Music

M 3/29           Supp.:

 

W 3/31           #14 (Perry), ÒWho(se) Am I? The Identity and Image of Women in Hip-HopÓ

                     Supp.:

 

F 4/2             History: ÒChallenges to the Mass Media,Ó 183-209

 

Week 12: Women in Sports

M 4/5             Supp.:

 

W 4/7             History: ÒModern Diplomatic and War Correspondence,Ó 211-230

F 4/9         EASTER BREAK

 

Week 13: Women of Color

M 4/12           EASTER BREAK

 

W 4/14           Supp.:

 

F 4/16           History: ÒWomen Journalists of Color,Ó 231-246

  

*S/S              April 16-17               E&H Mass Communication Days

 

Week 14: Portrayals of Men in Media

M 4/19           Supp:

  

W 4/21           Supp:

 

F 4/23           History: ÒWomen in Journalism TodayÓ & ÒToward Nonstereotypical News Coverage,Ó 247-274.

 

Week 15: Research Presentations

MWF             April 26-30

 

SSM              May 1-3                     Review Days

T-M May 4-10          Final Exams

 

TBA                                               FINAL EXAM DUE