Presentation-Identity Construction
From MediaStudies
Critical Studies Presenters:
Caitlin Daley
Nancy Planitzer
Nikki Morin
Irene Choe
Devin Rapson
Courtney Peterson
Contents |
Preparation
Read/Skim this: Jutdith Butler
Questions to think about before class
1.How have the movies and TV you watched as a child influenced your decisions? Can you give examples?
How do you feel identity is constructed through media? Do you feel that you have been constructed through the media you watch? -ie. Has your attraction to a main character changed the way you act? Have you tried to imitate the characters you've seen on TV and film?
Does media create stereotypes (race, gender, sex)? If so, how does it create and reinforce them?
A few meta-questions: Does identity exist as a singular entity? Is identity static? What are differences between self-conception and the perception of others, and where does a "true" identity lye? Is there such a thing as a core identity, and how does that differ from a presentation of identity?
Who are you compared to who other people think you are? How do presentation and perception interact?
Finally how have and are all of these questions changing in relation to the progression of technology.
Examples
Identity is constructed through the films we watch as children:
Post Class Forum
Will: I always find it uncomfortable to be a male in a class like this, but I still found today's discussion to be insightful. On a small note, what I find interesting about Aladdin is that he does not occupy many areas of society that affords him privilege or power. Sure, he is male, but he is not educated, has no political power, is poor, and is an orphan. When I think of the Disney male protagonists, most of them do not have it as bad as Aladdin at the outset. Despite that, everything works out for him in the end. It is surprising how even the most unprivileged male can succeed. Sounds like the American dream.
We discussed how women are always judged by their beauty. I think it is a negative thing as well, but based on the commercials we saw, there was something funny in the representations. They reminded me of a discussion in one of my classes. We were talking about gender and one male student talked about how sexuality was not a completely bad thing as some women use it to get into parties. A lot of the women, including the professor, took offense to it and said that having "party power" was not real power.
In class, it sounded funny to think that women just had party power. I have probably offended someone on this wiki, but on a serious note, there are women who find that their sexuality empowers them. I believe this was the point the student tried to make. Thoughts?
Liv: There is no question that women can be empowered by their sexuality. But, to me, that is completely different than using your sexuality to get what you want. I believe that is what the Aladdin example was showing. Jasmine's sexuality is not presented as something good or empowering, but as something on par with the wickedness of Jafar. And I would definitely agree that "party power" is not real power. It is a isolated moment when a woman can get what she wants, it is hardly long-lasting. And I can assure you, no respect comes along with this "party power."
Towards the end of our discussion I thought it was interesting how we got on the subject of women and their relationship to food. I asked whether or not we thought that men have an emotional outlet--from the advertisements that we viewed it was clear that the message was that women should eat according to how they feel. Yes, I think that there is a possibility that the genetic makeup of a woman allows one to have more cravings, but at the same time I think that advertising has something to do with consumption. Perhaps the advertising industry tapped into a large market: woman as the ultimate food consumer--not only for hunger but also for emotions. Off the top of my head, the only advertisements you see aimed at men either have to do with football (as in the Superbowl party and food), holiday BBQs, steak and beer. Why are these foods stereotypical of men? Why, for example, is a salad stereotypical of a woman. I guess we can connect this back to the commercials we saw of Barbie and G.I. Joe; society and the mass media market dictate what we see, how we are to act, where our interest lie, and what we are to consumer; it the whole idea that baby boys are supposed to wear blue and baby girls should be dressed in pink. So in the end is it we who have control over our emotions or society? Or is society just an influential power that we tend to ignore?
-Payton
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Steve Mears
Liv Sajjadieh
Kelly Natoli
Jaime Swarthout
Payton Watkins
Will Tran
