Purpose

To use the skills, concepts, and information you’ve learned this semester to analyze a work of popular culture using a feminist stance.

Audience

People who are interested in the popular culture you’re analyzing, and who may not be familiar with this work of popular culture. You audience has a basic understanding of a feminist stance. This means that you’ll need to make sure your analysis includes a brief summary of the work of popular culture, and uses course concepts to help educate your audience. Like our other written assignments this semester, feel free to use a semi-formal writing style; this means that things like grammar, essay structure, punctuation are important and that you can use first person language, an authentic writing voice, and not be too worried about using big impact vocabulary.

Format

You have a choice between traditional essay format and various digital media. I encourage you to be creative and think about what media would mostly effectively work for your idea. Some ideas:

· Audio, like a podcast or radio show

· Newsletter

· Blog/Website

· Facebook page

· YouTube Video

· Series of Flipgrid videos

· Research poster using powerpoint

· Other ideas you propose to me

Content

This project has three components: proposal, project, and reflection. The proposal is due earlier in the semester, and the project and reflection are due together later in the semester.

Proposal

You can either write a 250 word proposal or record a 3-5 minute video/audio recording addressed to Dr. J. Tell me which analysis prompt you’re planning to use, what work of popular culture you’ll focus on, and how your analysis will embody a feminist stance. You can also tell me why you want to do this project, and share any concerns you have. You can also ask any questions you have.

Project

Use one of the following prompts to guide your analysis, and use any of the above formats. You should plan on having about 750-1,000 words for your analysis.

Option 1

Choose a song written or performed by a man or male group that’s about a woman. Reverse the sexes, and analyze the assumptions that are revealed. Then choose a song written or performed by a woman or female group that’s about a man. Reverse the sexes, and analyze the assumptions that are revealed. Please answer the following questions:

· What would the songs need to reflect a feminist stance?

· Are there any major differences about how men and women are depicted in the original songs?

· How do these connect with our class concepts of social construction of gender, privilege and oppression, and intersectionality?

· How would you rewrite the songs to reflect a feminist stance?

Reflection

This 250-500 word essay should answer the following prompts. Your audience for this essay is yourself and Dr. J. Like our other written assignments this semester, feel free to use a semi-formal writing style; this means that things like grammar, essay structure, punctuation are important and that you can use first person language, an authentic writing voice, and not be too worried about using big impact vocabulary. Please answer all of the following questions in a narrative style.

· explain why you chose the prompt you did

· explain why you chose the popular culture work you did—what significance does it have for you?

· reflect on your experience analyzing the work of popular culture—how did you feel working on the project? what challenges did you face, and how did you meet them? what surprises/discoveries/insights did you make?

· discuss how this work did/didn’t help you better understand our course concepts and texts.