MEDIA STEREOTYPES PROJECT

INTRODUCTION

  • You are an up-and-coming film director and screenwriter. You dream of winning Oscars, but first you need to create a masterpiece. For your next film or television program, you want to direct something that will get attention for its positive portrayal of diverse characters- not for being offensive or stereotypical!
  • In order to direct the next big thing, you first have to study the industry. You will go beyond analyzing film and TV shows based on its plot, characters, cinematography, and action and instead focus on what messages it sends to audiences.

For this assignment, you will look specifically at the role of gender, identity, and sexuality in the media and how it affects both individuals and society. You will learn about different portrayals of gender, identity, and sexuality in the media,by analyzing film clips.You will find that themedia has power. The messages the media send have real life implications. As a future director and screenwriter, you have a huge responsibility to represent diversity fairly and accurately.

Analyzing the media will give you a better understanding of these issues and make you more aware of the society in which you live. Ultimately, this research will lead you to understanding Hollywood's problems and propose an alternative.

TASKS

1. Learn about gender, identity, and sexuality in the media

2. Critically analyze televisionand movie clipsin short reviews

3. Produce a PowerPoint presentation on the current state of representation in Hollywood and how you would represent diversity on the big screen...

PROCESS

This webquest is all about gender, identity, and sexuality and how they relate to the media. But first, we need to understand what those terms mean.

What exactly is the difference between an individual's gender identity and sexual orientation? Click below to find out!APA Definitions -This link will cover the basics you'll need to know for this assignment.

Throughout this webquest, keep the following questions in mind. You do not have to answer them right now, but you should return to them by the end of the project when you are making your PowerPoint presentation.

As adirector, why should you pay attention to issues of gender, identity, and sexuality when analyzing different sources? How can you make a difference?

What problems are found in the media? How are stereotypes found in movies and on TV? What implications dostereotypeshave for our world? How have they affected your life?

Is the media representative of the American population? What groups are underrepresented? What groups have power in the media? Who benefits from the media as it is-- who would benefit it if it was changed?