Assignment 3 – Due Monday, February 12, 2007

A.  Cultural Studies Criticism (1e Ch 9; 2e Ch 14, 15)

1.  “Textualizing” an event is a fancy way of saying interpreting, or giving meaning, to some behavior.  In terms of cultural studies, it is turning an event into a text (to be read).  While in a public place, observe someone you do know doing something (anything). Describe the actual behavior you see and turn it into a text. What does the text say? Do you think the person was aware of this reading?

2. Hegemony:  Describe any television show in which you see it maintains the current cultural hegemony. How does the (show/characters/story lines) do this?

3.  Myth and Mythic Criticism (1e 293-     ; 2e 445-):  Mythic analysis uncovers narratives that teach us lessons. We use “myth” because many of these lessons are simply not true. Here’s one: Any child born in the U.S. has a chance to become President.  Here’s another: Hard work and talent are the factors by which we succeed in America. Come up with another myth you may have heard (or is implied) floating around out culture and describe a television program which helps support this myth. (It may be a myth involving race, class, gender, or any other category of people).

4. Outlining:  Select any sample essay in the book. Create an outline of the article, point by point, of how the author created the analysis.

5. Write a brief essay (around 400-450 words) disagreeing with number 4. Use the best evidence and arguments you can to suggest the author is quite wrong.