Media Analysis #1

DUE February 3, 2024 (11:59pm, EST)
10% | 100 Points  

This assignment is designed to help you develop your skills in evaluating mass media content by analyzing a different types of media messages. Choose one of the below topics, and respond to it with as much depth of thought as possible.  Be sure to cite (quotes and/or phrases) the work that you are analyzing.  Be sure to provide complete source information. The format of your response may be any one of the following:

  1. a 1000-1500 word essay
  2. a 3-5 minute video (in which you talk and/or show items, such as images, quotes, charts, graphs, etc.)
  3. a 30-50 slide print presentation (made with Google Slides, MS PowerPoint, or something similar, that combines printed words with images, quotes, charts, graphs, etc.)

CHOOSE ONE OF THESE TOPICS:

  1. Consider Hans Rosling’s “200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes” video (linked in Unit One—Media in Transition | Lesson 1—Media Literacy). In what ways is this video  autoethnocentric? Might it be centric in other ways?  Is this video intended for high culture or popular culture—why do you think so?  
  2. Watch the official trailer for Michael Moore’s Roger & Me Trailer (linked in Unit One—Media in Transition | Lesson 1—Media Literacy).  In what ways does this trailer suggest that the film might be autoethnocentric? Might it be centric in other ways?  Is this film intended for high culture or popular culture—why do you think so?  
  3. Consider the “Wellerman Song” TikTok phenomenon (linked in Unit One—Media in Transition | Lesson 1—Media Literacy). In what ways is this social media phenomenon  autoethnocentric? Might it be centric in other ways?  Is this video of a TikTok experience intended for high culture or popular culture—why do you think so?  
  4. Consider the “Wellerman Song” TikTok phenomenon (linked in Unit One—Media in Transition | Lesson 1—Media Literacy). In what ways is this TikTok phenomenon a contact zone? Between which communities is this a contact zone, and why do you think so? Is this TikTok phenomenon (not the video of it) intended for high culture or popular culture—why do you think so?  
  5. Attend the Student Short Film Festival on January 31, 2024. The festival will be held in the Theatre/Library Lobby on the Trumbull Campus, and it begins at 7:00pm. In what ways is this festival a contact zone? Between which communities is this a contact zone, and why do you think so? Is the festival intended for high culture or popular culture—why do you think so?  

How to Submit Your Work to Me

You have several options:

  1. a 1000-1500 word essay
    1. Via KSU Google Document (see “How to Use KSU Google”).
    2. As a well composed email (sent to clrobins@kent.edu).
    3. As a document (PDF or a word processor document) attached to an email sent to me (clrobins@kent.edu)
  2. a 3-5 minute video (in which you talk and/or show items, such as images, quotes, charts, graphs, etc.)
    1. Via KSU Google Drive: upload it to your Drive account and then share it with me (clrobins@kent.edu)
    2. Via YouTube as an unlisted video
    3. Microsoft One Drive
    4. Dropbox
  3. a 30-50 slide print presentation (made with Google Slides, MS PowerPoint, or something similar, that combines printed words with images, quotes, charts, graphs, etc.)
    1. Via KSU Google Drive
    2. Microsoft One Drive
    3. Dropbox
    4. Convert the slides to a PDF and attach that to an email to me

Once I have received an email–either with the assignment attached or with notification that you have shared it with me–I will send you confirmation of receipt for that assignment, usually within 48 hours of receipt.

How Your Work Will Be Evaluated

Your assignment will be evaluated for clarity of thought expressed, and it must be thorough—fully responding to the topic. It must demonstrate critical thinking skills, particularly as they are tailored to the communication parameters of the medium/media under analysis (media literacy skills).

RUBRIC

An A level assignment follows the assignment directions fully.  It responds to the chosen topic fully, with demonstrated depth of thought and logic. The communication is coherent (clear images, complete sentences,…).  The communication has a professional tone.  The assignment demonstrates having gone through the lesson(s), as well as having thought deeply about the content of what is being taught.

A B level assignment follows the assignment directions fully.  It responds to the chosen topic fully, with some demonstrated depth of thought and/or some logic. The communication is mostly coherent (clear images, complete sentences,…).  The communication has a professional tone.   The assignment demonstrates having gone through the lesson(s), as well as having thought considerably about the content of what is being taught.

A C level assignment mostly follows the assignment directions, but not completely. It responds to the chosen topic, there is not much demonstrated depth of thought and/or  logic (the depth of thought is weak or vague). The communication is mostly coherent (clear images, complete sentences,…).  The communication has a mostly professional tone.   The assignment demonstrates having gone through the lesson(s), but not much more (not much thought put into it).

A D level assignment  barely follows the assignment directions.  It responds to the chosen topic, but the depth of thought is weak or vague, and it might wander off topic. The communication is sometimes incoherent, difficult to follow.  The communication may or may not have a professional tone.  The assignment does not demonstrate a lot of thought or having gone through the lesson(s).

An F level essay doesn’t really follow the assignment directions.  It fails to respond to the chosen topic in any sort of coherent and meaningful way.  Communication is mostly gobbledygook.