mime away! (opener) core concepts by erving goffman. we will be discussing how meanings are...

1

Madeleine Le Jeune

madeleinelejeune@cmail.carleton.ca

COMS 2003A

10

CSAS, 4th Floor MacOdrum Library

Tuesdays 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Whattobring:Asalways,bringyourelectronicdevices!IwouldalsosuggestbringingpensandpapertothisWorkshop.

MimeAway!(Opener) Duration:10Minutes

TostartoffourWorkshopthisweek,wewillbedoingaquickgameoftopiccharadestogetusupandmoving!J

CoreConcepts

Thecoreconceptsforthisweekare;

1. Structuralism2. Critique1:Anti-Structuralism3. Critique2:PoliticsandPowerDynamics4. Critique3:MediasystemsandPower

Also!Threecorequestionstoanswer:

1. Howismeaningcommunicated?2. Howcanweunderstandthewaysthatmeaningispossible?3. Whatcreatesthepotentialformeaning?

What’sInAnAd?(Structuralism) Duration:20Minutes

Forthisactivity,wearegoingtobelookingatsomegenderedAds–liketheonesProfessorWagmanshowedusinclass,andtalkingaboutthefivewaysthatwomenarepresentedasweakinadvertising,asproposedbyErvingGoffman.Wewillbediscussinghowmeaningsareconstructedandunderstoodinsociety,andhowthattranslatesintoads,persuasion,andpropaganda.

Reminder,thesefivewayswomenarepresentedasweakareasfollows:

1.RelativeSize(womenpresentedsmallerorlower,relativetomen)

2.Touch:(womenalwaystouchingthemselves)

3.FunctionRanking(Occupation)

4.Subordination(Symbolizedbylyingdown,forexample)

5.LicensedWithdrawal(Lookingoutthroughfarawaygazes)

2

Madeleine Le Jeune

madeleinelejeune@cmail.carleton.ca

COMS 2003A

10

CSAS, 4th Floor MacOdrum Library

Tuesdays 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Feelfreetotakedownsomenotesonthegenderedadsbelow:

NostalgiaKick(Critique1:Anti-Structuralism) Duration:20Minutes

Thisfirstreactiontostructuralismthatwelookedatrejectedtheideathatmeaningisconstructedthroughstructures,andsaidinsteadthateverythingisarbitrary.Essentially,there’snowaytoknowinasystematicsense,weshouldbesuspiciousofpeoplewhoclaimtohavesystemsforknowing,andmeaningsarepersonal,individual,andmultiple.Whatdoesthismeaninthepracticalsensethough?Well,wewillbedoinga“speed-dating”activitytofindout!

3

Madeleine Le Jeune

madeleinelejeune@cmail.carleton.ca

COMS 2003A

10

CSAS, 4th Floor MacOdrum Library

Tuesdays 2:00pm – 3:00pm

NewsRoomPolitics!(PoliticsandPowerDynamics&MediasystemsandPower)Duration:20Minutes

Finally,thelasttwowaysofansweringourcorequestionsfromthisweekare;Politicsandpowerdynamicsstructuresystemsthatdeterminewhatweknow,andmediasystemsworktostructurewhatweknowandgeneratemeaningforthingsthatdon’texistintherealworldthatwecometointerpretasreal.Thesetwowaysofunderstandingmeaningsandwaysofknowingplacecommunicationsinthecentrestage.BasedonthefiveexamplesbelowthatProfessorWagmanaskedustoconsider,youaregoingtobecreatingsenariosanddiscussinghowpowerandpolitics,aswellasmedia,createsystemsofknowledgeandmeaning.

Thinkabout:

1.Howmostofusonlyreadaboutwhatisoursocialmediafeed

2.Thatmostpeoplereadinformationthatjustifiestheirviews

3.Thewaythatthingsgo“viral”,blowingthemoutofproportion

4.Caseswherepeopledothingsandthenareshamed,insulted,threatened,hacked,embarrassed

5.Thatmanyofuscannottalkaboutatelevisionshoworfilm,forfearof“spoiling”itforsomeonewhohasn’tseenityetorwhoisn’tasfarintotheshowasyouare

Hereissomespacetotakedownsomeidea/notes:

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Madeleine Le Jeune

madeleinelejeune@cmail.carleton.ca

COMS 2003A

10

CSAS, 4th Floor MacOdrum Library

Tuesdays 2:00pm – 3:00pm

NameConcepts(Closer) Duration:10Minutes

Iwantyoutowriteyournameandthenassociateonekeytermoftheoristtoeachletter.Forexample:

M->Modernity A->AdornoD->DistanceCommunications(Transmission)D->DistanceCommunications(Transportation)I->ID(thebasicaspectofthehumanmindwhichisanimalisticandseestoourbasicwantsanddesires)E->Ego