I'd like you to watch three documentaries for this section of the course. The last one on the list I've already mentioned and linked to, but make sure you watch it in preparation for our discussions after break. As with that video, the first was produced by PBS's Frontline (greatest show ever). This one is about pornography, and I must warn you that it is graphic and shocking. (If you don't find it shocking, then we're worse off than I thought.) If you choose not to expose yourself to such content, you must contact me for other ways of getting the material.
The other video, is about rap/hip-hop. It's about social roles and expectations, especially our notions of masculinity, sexuality, and violence. I think you'll find it interesting.
Here they are:
American Porn by Frontline (60 min.)
Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes produced, written, and directed by Byron Hurt (55 min.)
Digital Nation by Frontline (90 min.)
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Professor Sewall - Did you see the MSNBC news (Saturday) clip on Sexualizing Kids? Talking about how plastic surgery is on the increase in young women due to sexual images. Sexual advertisements aren't just effecting Adults it is affecting Young children ages 8 - on up.
ReplyDeleteIt was a really good clip. Be sure you check it out.
Post the link, Katherine.
ReplyDeleteThe Hip-Hop link is actually the American Porn feature again...would you mind re-posting that link?
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me, Chaela. I fixed it.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't the one I saw on TV...but it is still a good article/clip.
ReplyDeletehttp://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26040165/ns/today-parenting_and_family/
The American Porn documentary, by the way, was absolutely shocking to me. I had no idea that people would even think to make a pornographic film about the rape and murder of someone. I was watching this, and my brother commented on how disgusted I looked as I was watching this. My mouth was hanging open, and I just couldn't believe that...especially her explanation for wanting to make porn films about those 'topics'...because she had a rough childhood that made her want to do that stuff to other people...and instead, she exploits people and makes it sound like that is a good alternative? hah!
ReplyDeleteChaela--I've seen the film several times, but haven't had the heart to watch it yet this year. I watched that film when it first aired, imagine how shocked I was seeing that in prime time on a Thursday night on PBS.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say this, but it's good that you were shocked. As we'll discuss, this is a side effect of our mediated environments becoming increasingly insular. With so many environments, each catering to a narrower set of "desires," our assumptions about the world splinter away from everyone else's. Lots of dark things can fester and grow while we act as though our knowledge were complete.
Professor Sewall,
ReplyDeletePerhaps at the beginning of the course, it should be announced that there is a requirement for computer access. I wasn't able to watch these videos over spring break because I don't have a computer.
I don't mean to be rude, just a thought.