Topic 1.
Movies and television shows teach us about other countries and cultures. But sometimes
the lessons we learn from media need to be examined in detail. When you watch movies
and television shows, what kinds of lessons are you actually learning?
In your paper, pick a few specific television shows or movies, and discuss the ways that
they represent one of the following groups:
• North American First Nations
OR
• Latinos (Latin or South American)
Pick ONE of these two. How is this culture represented in these films/shows, and why do
you think representation matters? Are these media texts racist? Do they rely on
stereotypes? What do you think we learn from these representations of race? How might
people from these cultures react when they see themselves presented this way?
You must discuss specific examples of films and/or television shows. Choose examples
that you are familiar with, and do research to find what scholars have written about
representations of culture in media.
Topic 2.
Men and women are often represented very differently in the media. The stereotypes we
learn about ‘how to be a man’ and ‘how to be a woman’ are often false, but we see them
over and over again in our lives. Looking at very specific examples from the media can
illustrate how important this is.
In your paper, discuss the ways in which men and women are represented differently in
one of the following media forms:
• Contemporary Horror Movies (ex. The Nun, Purge, A Quiet Place)
OR
• Young Adult Novels (ex. Harry Potter, the Hunger Games, Maze Runner.)
Pick ONE of these two. How are the men and women represented differently: what kinds
of jobs do they have, are they married or single, how do they dress, who are their friends,
etc. What do we learn about masculinity and femininity from these examples, and why is
this important?
You must discuss specific examples of contemporary Horror Movies, or Young Adult
Novels. Choose examples that you are familiar with, and do research to find what
scholars have written about representations of gender in media.
Topic 3.
The influence of media remains a contentious issue; and the impact of media and
technology use/regulation is constantly being debated. For example, every time a
particularly high-profile crime is committed, there are those who blame the effects on
media. The Internet and computers now join the familiar culprits of movies, TV, and
video games, as the cause and effect of major societal changes. We think of these as the
‘media effects’ debates, and they can be better understood using the tools and
frameworks of media, communications, and cultural studies. In your paper, you will pick
one of the common debate questions listed below, and argue in favour of one side of the
debate.
You need to clearly assert the position you are taking, defend it using research and
evidence, and address at least two counterarguments to your position. Your position and
claims must be supported by evidence and research. If you choose this topic, do your
research; anecdotal evidence is not enough.
Pick ONE of the following debates:
• Can social media drive political change? (ex: activism versus slacktivism)
• Is ‘fake news’ harmful to society? (You may want to consider the difference
between ‘satire’ and ‘Fake News’)
• Should cellphones be banned from University classrooms?
Topic 4.
In Week 3, we look at the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, which states that ‘Different
Languages have Different Worlds’. This means that each language on earth constructs its
own way of perceiving and understanding the world around you. In a research paper, use
your own experience of two different languages to discuss and compare the ways that
language and culture are related. Consider can things like class, tone, and formality; are
there different greetings in each language to denote authority? Does one language focus
more on age and social status, than the other? If so, how, and what does this tell us about
a country or culture and the language spoken?
Think about very specific examples, and then try to find bigger patterns. (In English, you
would greet your Professor formally with “Hello”, but your friends with “hey”… if you
speak another language, are these greetings different? Why, or why not?)
To do well on this topic you need to research the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis and the idea of
language. Do not rely only on lecture material and notes. Provide specific examples from
your own experience, but use academic research to support your arguments about
language and culture.
Topic 5.
Throughout the 20th Century, radio was used by a variety of political and social
organizations to broadcast messages and get people to work toward a common goal.
Radio is easy to use, and doesn’t cost a lot of money. It is also much harder to censor
than other forms of media – unauthorized, ‘pirate’ radio stations can reach a mass
audience much more freely than books, films, or newspapers.
In a research paper, look at one or two examples of how radio has been effectively used
for social change. This could be a political campaign, an armed struggle, a protest
movement, International Development etc. There are lots of examples from around the
world: pick one or two that interest you, and research the uses of radio in these situations.
You may want to research the use of ‘pirate radio stations’ to help you better understand
this topic. (You may include some discussion/comparison with other media forms, such
as pamphlets, books, films, etc. But your main focus needs to be radio.) Why is radio
such an important medium in the case(s) you’ve chosen? What have scholars said about
the use of radio as a communications medium? How can the theories we discuss in class
help you understand the historical significance of radio?
Topic 6.
Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime have become a serious alternative to
more traditional ways of viewing television. We now have the opportunity to watch TV
anywhere, anytime, on numerous devices. This has led to a phenomenon called “bingewatching” where we watch multiple episodes of the same program in a single sitting; or
an entire season in a day or two. Binge-watching is such a normal way to watch TV that
we don’t even think about the short and long term impacts of this viewing behaviour.
In a research paper, explore the idea of ‘binge-watching’ and the reasons why we do this.
If you pick this topic, you should consider what technological, personal and market
changes that come from this type of TV consumption. Don’t just tell me why you love to
binge-watch TV, be thoughtful and critical. You may want to consider three questions:
1. What has happened to traditional forms of television viewing? (for example: is
‘traditional’ TV dying? Why do we prefer this type of content delivery?)
2. How has binge-watching impacted us as viewers? (for example: fear of missing
out (FoMo))
3. How are stories now being constructed and told? If content creators know we’re
going to watch everything in one sitting, have they changed the way they tell
these stories?
Remember this is an academic paper not an opinion piece. You need to do your research,
and make an argument that you will defend with academic evidence. Consider the
technology, the viewers, and the stories being told.