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write a review of a media object of your choosing, analyzing how it presents an issue related to our course topic of sex and society. This media object might be a book, film, tv show, song, advertisement, social media account, news article, or any other public-facing cultural object that you feel warrants critical analysis and discussion.

Your review should be written in the form of a blog post that you imagine being published on a particular forum or website. Please specify this publication in your review by adding it to your header, whether real or imagined. In the review itself, you will be responsible for meeting a few criteria:

Introduce and contextualize your chosen media object: what is it and where does it come from? When was it made and how was it received? What can this object teach us about the relationship between sex and society?
Identify a specific excerpt, scene, or detail to ground your review and allow for more in-depth analysis of how the object mediates issues relating to sex and sexuality. What decisions are made at an aesthetic level, and how do such representational choices inform the social meanings that are being attributed to sex in the media object?
Present specific criteria for your review: What do you think makes for an effective/ineffective, responsible/irresponsible, enabling/harmful representation of sex and sexuality in society? And how does the media object that you’ve identified meet or not meet those criteria?
This assignment asks you to think critically about how issues of sex, gender, and sexuality are mediated in society. By engaging with a specific media object of your choosing, you will develop skills in close reading, critical analysis, and evaluative argumentation. My hopes are that you will apply critical concepts and theoretical frameworks that we have developed over the first half of the semester in order to analyze a feature of our congested media environments with authority, clarity, precision, and persuasiveness. Your reviews should aim to be approximately 750 words.

For advice on writing reviews and links to sample reviews, check out this resource from the New York Times.

Sample Solution

Review: The Handmaid’s Tale (1990) – A Dystopian Exploration of Gender and Power

Publication: The New Yorker

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel set in a future United States where women have been stripped of their rights and forced into reproductive servitude. The story follows Offred, a Handmaid whose sole purpose is to bear children for the ruling elite. Through Offred’s experiences, Atwood explores themes of gender, power, and the consequences of a patriarchal society.

A Scene of Oppression

One particularly powerful scene in the novel occurs when Offred is forced to participate in the Ceremony, a ritualistic act of sexual violence where Handmaids are impregnated by the Commanders. This scene highlights the dehumanization and objectification of women in this dystopian society. Offred’s internal monologue reveals her feelings of helplessness, anger, and despair as she submits to this horrific act.

Criteria for Effective Representations of Sex and Sexuality

An effective representation of sex and sexuality in media should:

  • Challenge societal norms: Question dominant narratives and stereotypes about gender and sexuality.
  • Promote understanding: Increase awareness of diverse sexual identities and experiences.
  • Avoid objectification: Treat individuals with respect and dignity, avoiding objectification and exploitation.
  • Empower individuals: Empower individuals to make informed choices about their bodies and sexuality.

Evaluation of The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale meets these criteria by offering a powerful critique of patriarchal power structures and the ways in which women are marginalized and oppressed. The novel challenges traditional gender roles and highlights the importance of bodily autonomy and reproductive rights.

While the novel is disturbing and graphic, it is essential to recognize its value as a work of fiction that can raise awareness about important social issues. By depicting a dystopian future where women are denied their basic rights, Atwood forces readers to confront the potential consequences of unchecked patriarchal power.

In conclusion, The Handmaid’s Tale is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of gender, sexuality, and power. By examining the ways in which women are marginalized and oppressed in this dystopian society, the novel offers a valuable commentary on contemporary social issues.

 

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