UAC Activities, Reading Questions, Viewings:
I. Free Write:
Question 1: In class reading: Read Rebecca Walker's essay (founder of the third wave foundation) on third wave feminism in class (attached to this email). How does she define this movement and in what ways does she feel women's struggles today are different than women of yesteryear? Also perhaps watch her description (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITzwYy0_xs0&feature=player_embedded#at=20) and ask in what ways might The Hills or ANTM be read as "feminist" or third wave in the way that she describes, or how do the shows not address the issues Walker outlines (perhaps also note some connection between older feminism as espoused by her mother's "womanism", and new feminism as espoused by Rebecca Walker to chart the trajectory of feminist thought over historical time, especially as it intersects with race, sexuality, and class).
Question 2: Is feminism still a relevant movement for women in the 21st century? Why or Why not? Provide specific examples in culture as to why it is relevant and/or irrelevant.
A. Barbie Nation: On Popular Culture, Body Politics, Femininity, Sexuality (Main Course Reserve Video record 7421 VHS)
B. My Feminism (Main Reserve Course Reserve Video record 30933 DVD)
C. You might also view an entire episode of ANTM and discuss its treatment of race, class, gender, consumerism, body politics, and why that matters/the "so what" question of the show/images.
D. Tough Guise: On Masculinity and Popular Culture (Online, and perhaps something to show next week or compare to pop culture and femininity images this week)
D. Tough Guise: On Masculinity and Popular Culture (Online, and perhaps something to show next week or compare to pop culture and femininity images this week)
III. Discussion Questions:
•How does new media help to facilitate the commodification of the “Hills” lifestyle and LC as a commodity/star?
•In what ways is LC’s stardom “gendered?”
•Why do the author’s argue that LC is the first reality star? Do you agree? How do they compare her to other reality stars on other reality shows and what are the differences they note as essential?
•Why does it not matter if The Hills is real or not? In other words, what is the show able to do regardless of whether spectators think the show is “real?”
•According to our authors, why is LC’s “real” identity never called into question?
•How does the show foster a post-Fordist, post-feminist form of embourgeoisment (pp. 6-8) and a structure of feeling (p.13)?
•How does the virtual/avatar world of The Hills contribute to the show’s propagation of consumerism? (17)
•The authors generally dismiss the role of the male characters. How do you think a closer analysis of the men and masculinity might shift their arguments? Is such an undertaking even fruitful to perform?
•How is ANTM able to circumvent accusations of the show being “anti-feminist?” In other words, what discourses is it reliant upon?
•How does the show conceptualize and present ideas and discourses of “home,” “belonging,” upward mobility, and femininity?
•How does the show provide a space for the models to elaborate on the individuality of their narratives and then dismiss those narratives?(5)
•In what ways does the show rely upon racial ambiguity?
•Are winners who do not fit the mold an aberration or contradiction to the author’s claims?
