GENDER AND POPULAR CULTURE

WGST 201

T/F 2:00-3:20

 

Instructor:                     Ann Marie Nicolosi

Office Hours:                Tues.: 3:30-4:30 ; Weds.: 3:45-4:45 ; Fri.: 9:45-10:45

Office:                          Bliss 123

Telephone:                    (609) 771-2276

E-mail:                          nicolosi@tcnj.edu

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

In this course we will explore the relationship between popular culture and gender. We will examine how the media constructs gender and how those constructions become cultural norms and mores. Together we will investigate how gender is defined and replicated by the media. We will also critically analyze the effect of popular culture on our own lives.

 

COURSE TEXTS:

The following books are required and are available at the bookstore:

Gail Dines and Jean M. Humez, eds. Gender, Race And Class in Media (Sage Publications, 2003)

Jean Kilbourne, Can’t Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel

There are also readings that are posted on SOCS (designated by an asterisk) or available online through either EBSCO or Genderwatch. (Ask a librarian if you need help accessing them)

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Regular attendance, informed participation, oral presentation, and quizzes, 25%. It is imperative that you come to class prepared to discuss the readings and to participate. There will be "pop" quizzes periodically. If you are absent or late, you will not be permitted to make-up the quiz. If you have a doctor's note, the zero will not be included in the average.

 

2 Critical Review Essays

Each essay is a 5 page paper providing a critical review of and analysis of any selection we have or will read.  One will be due the date of the assigned reading (along with an oral presentation) and one will be due on the date listed below.

Group Presentation, 25%

 

Each group (three or four students) will choose some aspect of popular culture and give a 20-30 minute on the relationship between the chosen topic and gender. The group must use at least one audio/visual aid, and make up a one-to-two page typed handout for the rest of the class.

 

Final Exam, 25%

Choose a text, novel, television program or movie, from contemporary popular culture (subject to my approval) and using the course readings,  write an analysis of how it portrays/ is informed by gender constructions.

 

COURSE READINGS

(*denotes a SOCS  reading)

 

August 26

Intro to the course

 

September 2

A Cultural Studies Approach to Gender, Race, and Class in Media” in Dines 1-7

Kellner, Douglas “Cultural Studies, Multiculturalism, and Media Culture” in Dines    

Croteau and Hoynes, “The New Media Giants: Changing Industry Structure” in Dines

                                                                                                                        

September 5

Beck, Debra Baker. "The "F" Word: How the Media Frame Feminism" (Gender Watch)

Rich, Frank, “Naked Capitalists” in Dines

Lull, James, “Hegemony” in Dines

 

September 9

Hall, Stuart, “The Whites of Their Eyes: Racist Ideologies and the Media” in Dines

Rogers, Mary P., “Hetero Barbie?” in Dines

Raymond, Dianne, “Popular Culture and Queer Representation: A Critical Perspective” in Dines

 

September 12

Ouellette, Laurie, “Inventing the Cosmo Girl: Class Identity and Girl-Style American Dreams” in Dines

Zook, Kristal Brent, : Living Single and the “Fight for Mr Right”: Latifah Don’t Play” in Dines

Kilbourne, Introduction

 

September 16

*Holtzman, Linda. “Gender: In Pink and Blue and Vivid Color”

 

September 19

CRITIQUING DISNEY

The Little Mermaid                                                                                             *Zipes, Jack. "Breaking the Disney Spell

*Sells, Laura. "Where Do the Mermaids Stand?": Voice and Body in The Little Mermaid                                                                                                            *Haas, Lynda. "Eighty-Six the Mother": Murder, Matricide and Good Mothers"  

 

September 23

GENDER AND MUSIC

Perry, Imani, “Who(se) Am I? The Identity and Image of Women in Hip-Hop” in Dines

Rose, Tricia, “Hidden Politics: Discursive and Institutional Policing of Rap Music” in Dines

* Berry, Venise T. "Feminine or Masculine: The Conflicting Nature of Female Images in Rap Music"

 

September 26

*O'Brien, Lucy. "Lipstick traces: Madonna, Manipulation and MTV 

*hooks, bell. “Madonna: Soul Sister or Plantation Mistress” 

*Coates, Norma. "Moms Don't Rock: The Popular Demonization of Courtney Love"      

                                                                                                                       

September 30

*Horrocks, Roger. "Male Images in Rock and Pop Music"                                                                                             

 *Whiteley, Sheila. "Little Red Rooster v. The Honky Tonk Woman: Mick Jagger, Sexuality, Style and Image"                                                         *Denski, Stan and David Sholle. "Metal Men and Glamour Boys: Gender Performance in Heavy Metal"

 

 October 3

*Palmer, Garth. "Bruce Springsteen and Masculinity"       

*Kutulas, Judy. “You Probably Think This Song is About You: 1970s Women’s Music From Carole King to the Disco Divas”

 

October 7

In class video Dreamworlds

*Kalof, Linda. "The Effects of Gender and Music Video Imagery on Sexual Attitudes' (EBSCO)

October 10

GENDER AT THE MOVIES

Thelma and Louise

*Willis, Sharon . "Combative Femininity: Thelma and Louise and Terminator 2"                                                                                                

*Tasker, Yvonne. "Women Warriors: Gender, Sexuality and Hollywood 's Fighting Heroines"                                                                                                                          Boozer, Jack. "Seduction and Betrayal in the Heartland: Thelma and Louise" (EBSCO)

 

October 14

Terminator 2

*Tasker, Yvonne. "Gender and the Action Cinema"

 

October 18

Any of the Lethal Weapon and/or Die Hard films

*Willis, Sharon . "Mutilated Masculinities and Their Prostheses: Die Hards and Lethal Weapons Hughes, Bill. "Why are Boys More Violent?" (Gender Watch)                                                                                               

*Tasker, Yvonne. "Black Buddies and White Heroes: Racial Discourse in the Action Cinema"                                                                                              

*Tasker, Yvonne. "Tough Guys and Wise-Guys: Masculinities and Star Images in the Action Cinema

 

October 21

Fall Break—No Class

 

October 24

Work on Group Projects—No Class

 

October 28

In Class Video The Celluloid Closet

                                                                                                       

October 31

Finish Celluloid Closet                                         

*Davies, Jude and Carol R. Smith. "Putting the Homo into America : Reconstructing Gay Identities in the National Frame" 

                                                                             

November 4

GENDER AND TELEVISION

*Strate, Lance. "Beer Commercials: A Manual on Masculinity"  

*Joyrich, Lynne. "Good Reception?: Television, Gender and the Critical View"     

Kilbourne, chapter 7                    

                                                                                                                

November 7

*Spangler, Lynn C. "Buddies and Pals: A History of Male Friendships on Prime-Time Television" 

*Capsuto, Steven. “Lesbian Invisibility Meets Lesbian Chic”

*Womack, Whitney. “Reevaluating “Jiggle TV”: Charlie’s Angels at Twenty Five”

 

November 11

CRITICAL REVIEW PAPERS DUE

Rogers, Deborah D., “Daze of Our Lives: The Soap Opera as Feminine Text” in Dines

Tavener, Jo, “The Case Against Sleaze TV” in Dines

Gamson, Joshua, “Sitting Ducks and Forbidden Fruits” in Dines

                                                                  

November 14

GENDER AND ADVERTISING

Kilbourne, Chapters 1-4

 

November 18

Kilbourne, Chapters 6 & 12

 

November 21

Crane, Diane, “Gender and Hegemony in Fashion Magazines: Women’s Interpretations of Fashion Photographs “ in Dines

In Class Video Killing Us Softly

 

November 25

GENDER AND FOOD

Kilbourne, Chapter 5

*Kelly, Traci Marie. “If I Were a Voodoo Princess: Women’s Culinary
Autobiographies”

 

November 28

THANKSGIVING BREAK—NO CLASS

 

December2        

Presentation of Group Projects

 

December 5

Presentation of Group Projects