For this essay, you will evaluate how a visual artifact ( a specific TV show, Advertisement, Movie, Commercial, Music Video, etc) constructs gender. Your understanding of gender will come from our readings and the documentaries we watched on gender studies.
First, identify how gender is being constructed in the visual/textual artifact youve selected. Give specific examples from the artifact. For example, you could consider how femininity is portrayed or the converse, masculinity.
Secondly, you should analyze the implications of these gender constructs and pursue an argument. For example, do you think the way in which masculinity is portrayed is harmful for our youth? Why or why not? In this section, you may also consider the time period this artifact was created, how some of these choices may have reflected societys psyche. Or, you could also consider why the creator/writer created the characters the way he or she did; perhaps the creator is intentionally portraying masculinity in a destructive way to make a statement.
Your thesis should make an argument regarding how gender is constructed in the artifact. For example, you could assess the implications (positive or negative) of how masculinity, femininity, or gender is portrayed. Or, you could also consider the degree of self-awareness the author/director/creators(s) had in the construction of gender.
At least 750 words in length
12 point Times New Roman font
1 inch margins, double-spaced, single sided
MLA Format / Works Cited Page (the works cited page does not count in the page requirements)
Readings/Documentaries/Sources you could use to support your argument:
The Bechdel Test (YouTube)
Miss Representation
The Mask You Live In
Purdue Owls Feminist Criticism
Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
Why our feminism must be intersectionalLinks to an external site.
Roxane Gay TED TALKLinks to an external site.
Bad Feminist Film ClubLinks to an external site.
A Masters Degree in
Masculinities?Links to an external site.
How Animated Film is Indicting Toxic MasculinityLinks to an external site.
Cool Story, Bro by Emily NussbaumLinks to an external site.
I Like To Watch, a podcast with Emily NussbaumLinks to an external site.
Fly Men to the Moon: Ad Astra and the Toxic Masculinity of Space Films
Visual Artifacts/Artifacts you could explore (select only one):
Any of the videos/commercials/trailers from your group work
Or, any video of your own choosing.
Successful essays will
demonstrate critical thinking, a close reading of the texts/videos, and thoughtful analysis
arrange paragraphs in a logical order and incorporate smooth transitions
use textual evidence (quotes, paraphrasing, summary) effectively and appropriately to support the summary and analysis, and thesis
have a strong, arguable thesis, and
be free of errors in grammar, spelling, and mechanics.