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Week Fifteen: Response 15.3

The TV show Transparent features trans actor Ian Harvie, who is interviewed by AfterEllen.  How does Harvie frame the representation of trans men and women in popular culture?

Week Fifteen: Response 15.2

In Julia Serano’s essay on the complexity of language, what are some examples of LGBT-related words shifting between derogatory and acceptable?  Why is the meaning/sentiment behind a word more important than the word itself?

Week Fifteen: Response 15.1

From Katy Steinmetz’s article “America’s Transition” in Time magazine or the interviews conducted by Arabelle Sicardi in “What It’s Really Like to Be a Trans Woman,” what are some things the average, unaware reader learns about transgender people and issues?

Week Fourteen: Response 14.4

In the chapter “Guilty Pleasures,” how does Katz scrutinize guilty pleasures for men as contributing to rape culture, from video games like Grand Theft Auto to violent pornography to strip clubs?

Week Fourteen: Response 14.3

Katz posits that while Eminem’s misogynist and homophobic lyrics sold records, he would have never been famous had he been overtly racist in the same way.  What does this say about the normalization of degrading women in our culture?  What are other examples of American society overlooking or normalizing sexism?

Week Fourteen: Response 14.2

What correlations are made between gangsta rap, white male fans, misogyny, and rejection in Katz’s chapter “Race and Culture”?

Week Fourteen: Response 14.1

Using examples from Katz’s chapter “Bystanders,” describe how culture pressures boys and men to “measure up” and “act like a man.”

Week Thirteen: Response 13.4

In Katz’s “Stuck in (Gender) Neutral” chapter, what examples does he cite of the media using gender-neutral language when covering gender violence?  What effect does this have in our culture?

Week Thirteen: Response 13.3

In Katz’s “Male-Bashing?” chapter, why does he argue the notion behind using “boys will be boys” to excuse male violence is profoundly anti-male?  How could one connect Katz’s argument with the “locker room talk” explanation of the recent Donald Trump scandal?  

Week Thirteen: Response 13.2

Katz’s “Facing Facts” chapter examines how some men rely on denial or fear self-examination when it comes to confronting rape culture.  How is Hustler’s magazine/website Barely Legal used as an example of the way this works?

Week Thirteen: Response 13.1

In Tough Guise 2, what are some of the ways popular culture teaches boys how to be invulnerable and “act like a man”?  Then cite some popular culture examples teaching boys it’s all right to be vulnerable.  

Week Twelve: Response 12.4

Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie allowed Beyoncé to use her work to define feminism on her song "***Flawless," however she recently confessed feeling insulted that every journalist since has wanted to talk about Beyoncé rather than her book We Should All Be Feminists.  Artist Benji Hart's response to"Formation" also distanced Beyoncé's political messaging from his own.  How do their sentiments tie in with Zeisler's critiques of celebrity feminism?

Week Twelve: Response 12.3

Zeisler concludes that she once wanted any woman who believed in equality for women to call themselves “feminist.”  Why is she now less interested in the label and more interested in the actions?  Do you agree or disagree with her criticisms of marketplace feminism?

Week Twelve: Response 12.2

How is choice feminism defined?  In critiquing choice feminism, Zeilser states, “The use of ‘choice’ to rationalize individual choices – and, perhaps, more important, to signify that criticizing those choices is unfeminist – isn’t unethical or amoral so much as it is underachieving.”  Do you think postfeminism and the emphasis on choice has lowered the bar for feminist action? 

Week Twelve: Response 12.1

In Zeisler’s chapter on the history of the use of “empowerment,” what was the Riot Grrrl movement and how did it morph into “girl power”?  Growing up, did you have a relationship with “girl power” in the marketplace?  

Week Eleven: Response 11.4

Advertisers are anxious to appeal to Millennials, who are increasingly criticizing sexism and racism via social media.  Analyze either the Carl’s Jr. or Pepsi ad campaigns designed to court consumers by aligning  brands with anti-sexism or anti-racism messages.  What is problematic about relying on giant corporations to promote social movements?

Week Eleven: Response 11.3

Where is the origin of “trashing” according to Zeisler, and how is it found today among feminists on social media?  What happens to feminist messages when a celebrity like Patricia Arquette or Emma Watson are “trashed”?  How does this ultimately show the problem with celebrity feminism?

Week Eleven: Response 11.2

Zeisler points out that marketplace feminism now uses “feminism” as a brand or a stamp of approval rather than a living, pluralist ethic at the foundation of a larger system.  What are a few of her examples of films, TV shows or fashion items that get labeled “feminist” or “not feminist”?  Why is this limiting?

Week Eleven: Response 11.1

What are some of Zeisler’s examples of “empowertising” or “#Femvertising” that address women through the power of choice?  How do ads like these show the ways neoliberalism is co-opting the women’s movement?   

Week Nine: Response 9.4

Read this article in The Guardian about the James Deen scandal.  How does it present the complexities of porn performers, rape and consent?  

Week Nine: Response 9.3

Can pornography alter one's sexuality, or is it an isolated fantasy world that has little effect on its viewers?  Does is “leak” into the real world?  Rely on the various scholars, pornography producers, users and/or significant others featured in The Price of Pleasure to frame your argument.

Week Nine: Response 9.2

How does Levy frame Female Chauvinist Pigs and link them to Tomming?  Why draw attention to this phenomenon?  Would you or someone you know fall under her definition?  If so, how?  

Week Nine: Response 9.1

Summarize the different points of view between antipornography feminists and sex-positive feminists in Bronstein’s brief history of the ‘sex wars’.

Week Seven: Response 7.4

In Stefania Marghitu and Conrad Ng’s analysis of the reception of Girls, describe some of the discourse surrounding Lena Dunham’s body.

Week Seven: Response 7.3

What are some elements Astrid Henry reads as progressive in Sex and the City, and what areas need further consideration?

Week Seven: Response 7.2

In Harris’ essay, what is the historical purpose of respectability politics, what is an example of it in popular culture, and why does Harris believe it should be eradicated?   

Week Seven: Response 7.1

Describe Anna Silver’s key observations about the Twilight series as young adult literature.  How does the analysis compare to your own relationship with the books?

Week Six: Response 6.4

As an update to Pozner's book, apply her reality TV observations about gender stereotypes, humiliation, violence, racism, sexism, or body image to one of these current hit shows: Keeping up with the Kardashians, Dance Moms or Bad Girls Club.

Week Six: Response 6.3

Does Pozner feel women fare better in The Bachelorette, where females are the ones who have the power to choose the lucky man?  Outline the differences from The Bachelor.

Week Six: Response 6.2

What are some ways Pozner shows the normalization of violence against women in reality television?  What effects may this have on viewers?

Week Six: Response 6.1

Describe Pozner’s analysis of Tyra Banks and Banks’ mixed messages (including examples).

Week Five: Response 5.4

Cite a few of Pozner’s examples of racial or ethnic stereotypes in reality TV.  What is problematic about broadcasting these depictions of “reality” into homes nationwide? 

Week Five: Response 5.3

Pozner argues that intelligent women are often framed as pretentious or intimidating before being eliminated on reality TV.  Cite one or two examples to either support or refute this observation.

Week Five: Response 5.2

The average American woman is overweight according to the CDC, and yet the media is saturated with women the CDC considers underweight.  How does reality TV figure into the complex relationship women have with their bodies? 

Week Five: Response 5.1

Pozner cites a significant drop in the number of university students who are critical of reality television.  What do you account for the shift away from critical viewership?  And how does Pozner respond to the claim that reality TV is just “mindless entertainment”?

Week Four: Response 4.4

Describe the work of Kristina Wong and Margaret Cho as Asian American female comedians.   Does the work counter racism and sexism in mainstream media, or are they reinforcing certain stereotypes through their satire?