For each section of our course (identity, technology, and convergence). a short response paper of 1,000 words (about 4 double-spaced pages) is due. In each paper, you’ll be asked to read and/or view a media presentation and respond to it using at least two keywords as a critical lens. You are also welcome to use any additional keywords from Keywords for Media Studies that we don’t cover in class. The purpose of these response papers is not simply to identify how keywords are addressed in the text, but to explain how the text engages keyword ideas and to provide multiple specific examples from the text to illustrate your claims about how the keyword helps you interpret the media.
Each response paper should address the following questions:
- Why did you select the keywords you did? Why are they useful to interpreting the media?
- How does the keyword help you better understand the media?
- What questions does the media leave unanswered in relation to the keyword?
- What aspects of the keyword remain unaddressed or unengaged in the media, if any?
- If you don’t apply this keyword, how might your interpretation of this media differ?
Paper #1: Identity
- Watch I Am Not Your Negro (streaming on-demand through Kanopy).
- Use at least two keywords as a critical lens in a response to the film: Choose from identity, gender, feminism, queer, race, and intersectionality; or select other keywords related to identity from KMS.
- Write your response and submit it as a Word or PDF document via the Blackboard assignment entry.
Paper #2: Technology
- Read All You Need is Kill, then watch Edge of Tomorrow (it’s important to do this in order)
- Use at least two keywords as a critical lens in a response to the film (but feel free to use the text to help you talk about the film): Choose from technology, data, network, infrastructure, and agency; or select other keywords related to identity from KMS.
- Write your response and submit it as a Word or PDF document via the Blackboard assignment entry.
- New: Include on your cover page a paragraph in which you explain how feedback on Paper #1 helped you improve this paper.
Paper #3: Convergence
- Watch Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson: Episode 1: Auto-Tune (streaming on Apple+)
- Use at least two keywords as a critical lens in a response to the film: Choose from assemblage, flow, gaze and surveillance; or select other keywords related to identity from KMS.
- Write your response and submit it as a Word or PDF document via the Blackboard assignment entry.
- New: Include on your cover page a paragraph in which you identify what you’ve learned about writing from the previous two short response papers.