Articles to use:
Gauntlett, David. “Ten Things Wrong with the Video Effects Model.”
• http://www.theory.org.uk/david/effects.htm (Links to an external site.)?
Newsom, Jennifer Siebel, et al. Miss Representation. DVD.
• http://film.missrepresentation.org (Links to an external site.)?
Use Times New Roman 12-point font, use 1-inch margins (top-bottom, left-right), are stapled (when printed), and use page numbers (1 of xx pages).
Essay structure: extent to which paper’s organization, flow, and clarity of thought are used effectively to communicate; Writing mechanics: extent to which sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, syntax, proper citations, and formatting are used effectively to communicate; Understanding course material: extent to which quotes and paraphrases and terminology are used effectively to show understanding of
course readings and viewings; Evidence-based analysis: extent to which central ideas are developed and supported effectively with specific examples and evidence; and Critical thinking: extent to which ideas presented in the text are challenged effectively or alternative perspectives
are considered?
INSTRUCTIONS:
In her film Miss Representation writer/director Jennifer Siebel Newsom argues that the media are to blame for women’s lack of power in American society. In his article, “Ten Things Wrong with the Media ‘Effects’ Model,” David Gauntlett argues against the notion that media have definitively strong effects on people’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior. For this assignment, your task is to stage a conversation between Gauntlett and Newsom. As you do so in 2–3 pages, you will draw closely on Newsom’s film and Gauntlett’s article. The goal of this assignment is to demonstrate your understanding of Newsom and Gauntlett’s arguments. You can frame this conversation in any number of ways. You can frame it as an interview (with you as interviewer and each of them as interviewees), a dinner conversation between the two, a play, a talk show, or whatever scenario you create that gets the two talking. The goal is twofold. First, you should establish clearly what each person is arguing. Second, you should reveal the ways in which Newsom and Gauntlett’s claims are at odds with each other. In other words, what would Gauntlett have to say about the claims Newsom’s film makes? And what might Newsom say to Gauntlett about media effects in relation to women? Be sure to include quotes and paraphrased material from the article and film. The material you use from the article and film should be cited with page numbers or minute markers (what minute in the film where the quote appeared). Engage the arguments in the film and the reading through a creatively constructed conversation between the two scholars. For an extra challenge, add a third conversant—Mark Fowler, former chair of the FCC. He argued that televisions are just another electronic device and do not need regulation. What might he have to say about Newsom’s claims about the effects of media images on women’s power? Would he agree with Gauntlett? Where might they differ? (You might wish to return to the Crouteau and Hoynes article for support here.) Cite quotes or paraphrases from the text for support. Engage the film and the reading and talk about discourse, power/knowledge, and subjects.
