Virtual Class a Success!

Thanks to all of you for some excellent analyses, and I think those of you who read the entire blog as part of your participation were rewarded amply with points of view from your colleagues in the class. I look forward to hearing your journalism and framing analyses... please contact me via email (mgeorge@hpu.edu) and don't use the comments here... if you or your group are having any problems developing a presentation.

Dr G

Real Women have Curves

Here are some 'prompts' that you can respond to, expand upon and debate among yourselves. Please use this as an exercise in analyzing the film in the way you might write a paper on a film for this class (i.e. we are not looking for opinions of the 'I like/I don't like' variety, but substantive comments that connect the themes of the film to the readings and lectures for International Communication this semester, ok?) Here goes....

What does this film say about national boundaries and culture, globalization and national identity, immigration and the United States? Do you agree with what the film seems to be saying? (How does the film 'frame' the immigration issue? Do you agree with this framing? Would you prefer or suggest another framing? Be specific.)

How does the film portray (or 'frame') social and economic hierarchies and what does it seem to say about them? Do you agree? (please say why or why not to any of these "do you agree" type prompts)

What is the conflict between traditional and modern culture in the film? What theories have we read about, or what other transnational situations have we discussed that could be referred to in order to help understand what the movie is 'about'? Do you have any analogies to the situation portrayed in the film that you want to share?

What kinds of resistance to media images occur in the film? What are the effects of media on the minds of the different characters? Do you think the resistance to media in the film is an effective one? Why or why not? Which theoretical perspectives would you use to advance your interpretations (or disagreements with other people's interpretations) here?

So, the idea is that you will make an initial comment and then make several comments about other people's comments and we will have a nice dialog to read and learn from. Check the syllabus for the due dates and when the online roll call will happen!!! If there are other things you want to comment about regarding the film please feel free. Enjoy the virtual class!

Welcome to International Communication

This blog will serve as our virtual classroom and as a place to circulate ideas in addition to our normal classroom time.

Introduce yourself (and practice posting) by writing a comment to this post that tells us which region/nation of the 'tri-continent' fascinates you the most and why. Then add a paragraph about your own media experience: have you ever 'resisted' the messages of media? How and why did you do (or not do) this?

Finally, if anyone has ever seen a good movie about how traditional values are threatened by modern life (and especially by American media) let us know about that too!

Welcome yourself to International Communication studies, and tell us where you are 'coming from'....