J610/Spr06/Merskin
J610: Gender, Race, & Media (CRN: 26022)
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE1
Everyone is expected to read the assigned books and journal articles and able to discuss,
them in class. For each reading, prepare a 1-2 paragraph brief that includes what was studied,
why it was studied, how it was studied, and why it is important. Come to class with one question
you came away from the readings with. Each section below contains the weekly readings and
assignments as of January 07 (may be updated depending on guest availability). Note: • is placed
next to books that are to be completed by the date indicated (or specific chapters read).
Not every certainty is worth preserving. David Berreby
Week 1
Tuesday
January 08
{Readings}:
Thursday
January 9
{Readings}:
Introduction
Introduction to the course, topics, review syllabus
1. Lippmann, W. (1921). The world outside and the pictures in our heads.
Propaganda.
(http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/Lippman/contents.html
2. Martin Luther King, Jr. A tough mind and a tender heart.
Context for thinking about race, gender, ethnicity, and media
1. Kellner, D. Cultural Studies, Multiculturalism, and Media Culture.
http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/kellner/papers/SAGEcs.htm
2. Coman, M. & Rothenbuhler, E. W. The promise of media
anthropology. In Media anthropology.
3. Coman, M. (2005). Cultural anthropology and mass media. In Media
anthropology.
4. Behar, R. The vulnerable observer: Anthropology that breaks your
heart. Boston: Beacon Press.
1
I like to keep the course current. Therefore, this schedule is subject to modification depending
on new readings that might be available, guest speakers, or other adjustments. Be sure to check
Blackboard regularly for any changes. You will also be emailed these in advance.
2
Week 2
Constructing Difference
Tuesday
January 15
Hybrid learning: We will not meet in the classroom. Instead, go to
our Blackboard site. Under the “Course Schedule” link and click
“Tuesday Week 2” link. Follow instructions thereafter.
{Readings}:
AFTER Web assignment is completed
Sassenberg, K., Moskowitz, G. B. (2005). Don’t stereotype, think
different! Overcoming automatic stereotype activation by mindset
priming. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 41, 506-514.
Ewen, S., & Ewen, E. (in press). Stereotype.
Constantine, M. G. What do we know …
Thursday
January 17
{Readings}:
•Santa Ana, O. Brown tide rising. Forward, Preface, Chapters I & II.
•Berreby, D. Us and them: Understanding your tribal mind.
Introduction- Chapter 8.
hooks, b. (2001). Eating the Other. In M. G. Durham & D. M.
Kellner (eds.). Media & Cultural Studies: KeyWorks (pp.
424-438). Blackwell.
{Due}:
Hybrid assignment.
3
Week 3
Researching race, ethnicity, gender, and other isms
Tuesday
January 22
Smith, L. T. (1999). Decolonizing methodologies. Intro & Chapters 1-7
{Assignment}:
Thursday
January 24
Week 4:
In Chapter 8 of Smith, select one of the 25 Indigenous projects. Write a 23-page paper that describes the project and an example of this
approach in a journal article. Come to class prepared to discuss
both in class on Thursday.
Presentations of Methodologies.
•Freire, P. (2000). Pedagogy of the oppressed. Chpt. 1 & 2
Power and social class
Tuesday
January 29
{Read}:
Hegemony @ http://www.indigogroup.co.uk/foamycustard/fc027.htm
Chomsky, N. Language of Mass Deception
•Berreby, Us and Them (chpts. 9-15)
Thursday
January 31
{Read}:
hooks, b. (1994). Seeing and making culture: The poor
Butsch, R. A half-century of class and gender in American TV domestic
sitcoms.
Lewis, C. Working the ritual: Professional Wedding Photograph and the
American Middle Class. Journal of Communication Inquiry.
Section II: Case Studies: Stereotypes in Mass Media
Week 5
Tuesday
February 05
{Readings}:
Constructing the Other
Arab & Muslim Stereotypes
Merskin, D. (2004). The construction of Arabs as enemies: PostSeptember 11 discourse of George W. Bush. Mass
Communication & Society 72(2), 157-175.
Wieseltier, L. (2006, March 20 & 27). Jollies! The New Republic,
38.
Gavrilos, D. (2002). Arab Americans in a nation’s imagine
4
community: How news constructed Arab Americans reactions to
the Gulf War. Journal of Communication Inquiry 26(4), 426-445.
•Sontag, S. Regarding the pain of others
Thursday
February 07
{Readings}:
Zelizer, B. (2005). Death in war time.
Campbell, D. (2003). Representing cond. Of war
Sontag, S. (2004, May 23). Regarding the torture of others.
{Due}:
Proposal for final paper/project: A 1-2 paragraph description of
what you write about, why, how, why it is an important
topic, and to whom.
Week 6
Tuesday
February 12
We will not meet in the classroom. You will be emailed a take
home exam, due 2/21
Thursday
February 14
Framing feminism
{Readings}:
Gallagher, M. (2003). Feminist perspectives. In A. N. Valdivia (ed.). A
companion to media studies (pp. 19-39). Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Mulvey, L. (2001). Visual pleasure and narrative cinema. In M. G.
Durham & D. M. Kellner (eds.). Media & Cultural Studies: Key
Works (pp. 393-404). Blackwell.
Parameswaran, R. Journalism and Feminist Cultural Studies.
•Griffin, S. (1993). A chorus of stones.
Week 7
Latina/os and mass media
Tuesday
February 19
{Readings}:
Thursday
February 21
•Complete Santa Anna by today (Brown Tide Rising)
Merskin, D. (2007). Three faces of Eva. Howard Journal.
Valdivia, A. (1999). La vida es loca.
5
{Readings}:
Bender. S. (2003). Sight, sound, & stereotype.
Bender, S. Chapters from Greaser, Gringo
Rinderle, S. (2005). The Mexican diaspora: A critical
examination of signifiers. Journal of Communication Inquiry
29(4): 294-316.
{Guest}:
Steven Bender, UO School of Law
{Due}:
Take-home exam
Week 8
Constructing the Other:
Tuesday
February 26
Asian Stereotypes
{Readings}:
Shim, Doobo [1998]. From Yellow Peril through Model Minority
to Renewed Yellow Peril. Journal of Communication Inquiry,
22(4): 385-409.
Thursday
February 28
African American Stereotypes
{Readings}:
Fuller, L. (2007). Are we seeing things? The Pine-Sol Lady
Black, R. (2003). Satire’s cruelest cut.
Week 9
Tuesday
March 04
{Readings}:
Zinn, H. Chapter 1, “Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress”
http://www.ditext.com/zinn/zinn1.html
Yellow Bird, M. (2004). Cowboys & Indians.
Merskin, D. (2000). Winnebagos, Cherokees, Apaches, and
Dakotas: The persistence of stereotyping of American
Indians in American advertising brands. The Howard Journal of
Communication 12, 159-169.
Thursday
March 06
{Readings}:
Bird, S. E. (1999). Gendered construction of the American Indian
in popular media. Journal of Communication, 61-81.
6
Tovares, R. (2002). Mascot matters: Race, history, and the University
of South Dakota’s ‘Fighting Sioux’ logo. Journal of
Communication Inquiry 26(1), 76-94.
Week 10
Wrap up and Presentations
Tuesday
March 11
Thursday
March 13
Wrap up/Presentations
Presentations of final papers/projects
Final papers due March 18 (Tues) by 5 p.m. at my office