paper two topics

Here are some ideas for your second paper:

Paper Two Topics:

1. Cultural Studies researchers have historically been keenly interested in the attitudes and behaviors of of subcultures, groups that have in some sense been marginalized by mass culture and developed creatively reading practices and communal meanings to address this marginalization. Consider the case of one such contemporary subculture and argue how their "native" culture broadly adds to theories of both hegemony and polysemy. Be sure to use specific examples of specific practices / interpretations / etc and how they contribute to your larger argument. Do not use anecdotal evidence, but draw on print or media examples of the examined subculture. Draw on classic examples Cultural Studies research as outlined in Fiske as models.

2. John Fiske discusses the important of gossip for the social meaning of television, that is the way television is "used" in everyday life. Examine and consider another use of film / television / media and consider how the example's larger impact on Cultural Studies theory and methodology as outlined in class. Do not use anecdotal evidence, but draw on print or media examples of the examined practice.

3. Examine and discuss the activities of any contemporary media fandom active on the Internet. Use what you have learned from this example to make an nuanced argument regarding how and to what extent new media alters the relationships of consumers / producers and the changing nature of active / inactive viewing practices. Be sure to address the theoretical claims made by Jenkins and Andrejevic as well as at least one outside source.

4. Political Economy thinkers argue that the potential of any given media system is restrained by a the larger political regime that sets policy, regulation as well as the entire economic system. This leads these thinkers to often attack the structure surrounding these media systems and to expose how these structures influence and limit what is produced. Consider how such a Political Economic stance can be used to discuss contemporary debates over either net neutrality or minority representations in contemporary media.

5. Consider a prominent example of media censorship of the last several years. Examine and argue what prompted the example, what bodies of knowledge were explicitly or implicitly being used as justification, and, ultimately, whose interests were being served in the act of censorship. Draw on the Cronin reading to use your example to make a larger theoretical point about the nature of contemporary censorship; specifically, does it lend credence or does it complicate Cronin's model of the "subjectification" of censorship and in what specific ways.

6. Marshal McLuhan has been described as a theoretical father of from everything from new media, to the Internet to the cyborg. Consider and argue how exactly how two or three of McLuhan's ideas about the media have come to pass, or have failed to come to pass in the contemporary media environment. Be specific with your examples. Avoid arguing either that McLuhan was either right or wrong in his predictions, but focus instead on how either this rightness or wrongness can be used in how one should go about doing media studies and how McLuhan can be specifically used to discuss at least one contemporary media text or phenomena.

7. Steven Johnson makes the startling claim that more media is good for you. Using this author as a model make a similar argument about any contemporary media text / phenomena. Be careful in your argumentation. You must, like Johnson, ground your observations in some larger legitimizing discourse be it cognitive theory, education theory, media theory (including other theorists discussed in class), or any other school of thought that I've left out.

8. Consider the example of any media text or genre adapted across cultures / nations and argue how this case specifically contributes to the larger theories of cultural imperialism / globalization.

Also I am willing to entertain any student-generated paper topics provided that they are cleared with me well in advance of the due date of the paper.

The paper is due on the final day of class. The length expectation is 6-8 pages. Please use academic citation style. Other expectations are same as outlined for previous paper -- we can discuss more in class if necessary.