Critical Media Analysis Assignment
Explain to visitors of a media web site how a particular television program functions in response to a certain aspect of culture. To accomplish this, your essay must:
* Identify and give examlpes of a particular aspect of American culture. Example: Americans are becoming less and less supportive of public education. For example, parents are demanding government vouchers for private education The US pays its public school teachers significantly less than other nations pay similarly qualified teachers.
* Using examples from ONE television show you have analyzed, explain how that program responds to the cultural condition you've identified. It might respond by reinforcing, resisting, or reassuring.
Reinforcement occurs when the television program perpetuates a myth or supports a particular cultural attitude. Example: Saved by the Bell reinforces America's lack of respect for public education by portraying Mr. Belding as an incompetent buffoon and by depicting students like Screech--who excels in math and science--as nerds.
Resistance occurs when the television program challenges a cultural assumption, often by presenting an alternative view. Example: Saved by the Bell resists America's distrust of public education by depicting Bayside High as a safe, positive environment where representatives of various cliques cooperatively learn the lessons of life. The program promotes public school as a provider of a well-rounded education by highlighting the characters' involvement in various extracurricular activities, from student council and debate (Jessie) to athletics (Slater), from cheerleading (Kelly) to choir (the whole cast).
Reassurance occurs when the television program eases the audience's anxiety about a cultural issue. Example: Saved by the Bell reassures an audience who might fear the deterioration of American public education. Bayside High will survive long after Zack and his friends have graduated. Screech, in fact, remains at Bayside as an administrative assistant. Perhaps he will follow in the footsteps of Mr. Belding, who is himself a Bayside alum.
* Explain why a reader should read your analysis by describing how this reinforcement, resistance, and/or reassurance affects viewers. Example: Ultimately, by poking fun at teachers and glorifying a group of affluent students. Saved by the Bell ignores the true strengths and weaknesses of American public education and distracts our attention from educational reform. It does this, for example, by perpetuating the negative stereotypes about teachers that contribute to the declining popularity of teaching as a chosen profession.
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