1
Madeleine Le Jeune
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
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
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
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
