Blog Buddy Peer-Feedback Instructions

On your "blog buddy's" blog, read their posted assignment and, provide feedback (in the "comments field") on:
2-3 ways/areas your "buddy" excelled (in the post you're commenting on)
2-3 areas that could be improved, and offer any suggestions for improvement.

After you've left your comment, create a new post on the Class notes blog with:

Title: [your name]'s feedback on [your blog buddy's name]:  [Title of post you commented on]
Link: [provide specific URL to the post on your blog buddy's blog that you commented on]
Main text editor area: [Copy and paste your feedback]
...............................
Please publish your post, then check the class notes blog to ensure that your post made it there, then click the title to make sure you were able to get to the original post you commented on

Blog Post 2: Constructs of Femininity or Masculinity in an Aspect of Popular Culture

Gender & Popular Culture Maymester 2010
Blog Post #2
Constructs of Femininity and Masculinity In an Aspect of Pop Culture
Due on May 14th by 1pm to your individual blog

Choose a very narrow aspect of popular culture to analyze (an episode of a TV show/music video/etc). Analyze how your chosen element of pop culture portrays masculinity or femininity.  
Your "big goal" is to argue a point that addresses the following question according to your chosen element of popular culture:

What does it mean to be a man, or what does it mean to be a woman, in this element of popular culture?

Avoid including too much narration of the show, instead write in a clear analytical manner that targets an aspect of pop culture, and examines how this element constructs an understanding of masculinity or femininity.

You may choose to focus on a specific character/music video/episode of a show/song/etc if your find yourself with too many examples from the aspect of pop culture you have chosen (in order to keep the length manageable and close to the equivalent of a 3 page paper).  

Try to use the readings to define terms that may be new to you (or to a reader without a women's and gender studies background), by quoting the reading that defines the term when you first use it.  For example, Lull would be a perfect fit for using his work to define hegemony, while Johnson would be ideal for defining patriarchy. 

Remember, your goal is to analyze this piece of pop culture (analysis and judgment are not the same and if anything, judgment in place of analysis is counterproductive). Additionally, it may help you to look at both masculinity and femininity in both male and female-appearing characters

• See the course syllabus and the blog post rubric for the guidelines for your blog post.
• Include an introduction (with your thesis, which is up to you to develop) paragraph and a conclusion paragraph. 
• Double-space between paragraphs (indenting frequently is undermined by the template you have chosen to use for your blog). 
• You must include 2 different direct quotes (at minimum), from 2 different course readings from the week that precedes your blog post. 
• Remember that it's imperative you incorporate your direct quotes into sentences and that you use the best possible quotes in a point-by-point basis to use as "backup" or as an "expert witness" for each of your points (therefore, you should make a point in a 4-6 sentence paragraph, then the following 4-6 sentence paragraph would include a direct quote from a course reading to back up your point)
• Cite all in-text (parenthetical references) in MLA format and a include a works cited list (at the end) in MLA format.
• If you use any quotes, clips, images, etc from the aspect of popular culture you have chosen to analyze, include them in your works cited list (and when appropriate for the source, in text citations as well). 

 
Comments will be posted to your blog in the “comments” section by me
Grades (alpha-numeric) will be posted to the SOCS gradebook.

(Counter)Hegemonic Representations of Femininity and Masculinity In an Aspect of Pop Culture

Gender & Popular Culture
Summer 2009
Blog Post #1
(Counter)Hegemonic Representations of Femininity and Masculinity In an Aspect of Pop Culture


Choose a very narrow aspect of popular culture to analyze (an episode of a TV show/music video/etc). Analyze how your chosen piece of pop culture both (re)creates/enforces hegemonic representations and understandings of masculinity and femininity and how this same piece simultaneously disrupts these messages (counter-hegemonic representations).

Use at least 2 course readings (direct quotes) to support your argument that support your thesis (located in the last sentence of the first paragraph, aka your intro)

Avoid including too much narration of the show, instead write in a clear analytical manner that targets a aspect of pop culture, which both reinforces and disrupts hegemonic masculinity and femininity in US pop culture. Note: Most elements of popular culture do both reinforcement and disruption of these constructs; therefore, don’t focus on just hegemony or just counter-hegemony.

You may choose to focus on a specific character if your find yourself with too many examples from the show (in order to keep the length manageable and close to the equivalent of a 3 page paper).

Cite in text citations using MLA format and include a Works Cited List at the end of your post (also in MLA format). Avoid paraphrasing the texts you include and choose only the most relevant quotes to support your points (you may use more than 2 sources; however, I expect that you’ll need at least 2 short quotes from each of the 2 sources to adequately support your thesis).

Remember, your goal is to analyze this piece of pop culture (analysis and judgment are not the same and if anything, judgment in place of analysis is counterproductive).
Remember to look at both masculinity and femininity in both male and female-appearing characters

The post is due on Friday by 12 pm
Comments will be posted to your blog in the “comments” section by me
Grades (alpha-numeric) will be posted to the SOCS gradebook.

Mixed Media: Gender & Consumer Capitalism Collages - Summer Session B 2008