Assignment Prompt
CRITICAL CULTURAL CRITIQUE
Students will choose a mediated example that highlights inequity in regards to intersectional marginalized identities. The student will then create a two- to three-page critical analysis, presented as a magazine article/layout in Adobe InDesign
DEADLINES
Upload your InDesign project to your Adobe Portfolio by 12pm Friday April 22, and then upload on Canvas. DO NOT COPY AND PASTE in the comment section. Any assignment turned in later than the deadline (time & date) will also receive a zero (0).
DIRECTIONS
Each student will choose a mediated example (from film, television, streaming media, radio, social media, phone app, etc.) exemplifies social inequity in regards to intersectional marginalized identities (i.e. sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, disability, religion, socio-economic status, immigration status, gender identity, etc.). I then want you to engage with the mediated example and reflect over the content. Conduct a critical analysis on the mediated text and characters. Write a magazine article (1700-1900 words) on that content. It must be a critical critique of the mediated text supported with facts, statistics, and outside sources. As always, proofread your content before submitting it. Also, be sure to address the following issues in your paper.
Examples of representation, absence, production, and consumptionProduction:
Name of Media Text
Media Platform of Media Text
Creators, Producers, & Distributors of Media Text
Reason for selecting media text
Representation & Absence:
Analysis of pop culture politics, characters, relationships, and/or stereotypes.
Include class concepts like hegemony, patriarchy, heteronormativity, intersectionality, and/or theories discussed in your previous classes and lectures.
Think of motivations, actions, descriptives, and role of character to plot and other characters.
Consumption:
What is the significance of your critique/analysis?
What are possible implications on audiences (think of those that belong/identify to your characters' identities and those that do not)
Use at least two outside academic sources and cite correctly (APA style).
Use facts and statistics on and from the mediated text.
Proofread, watch structure & GSP, and format correctly.
Include a title page & reference/source page using the InDesign template.
Include 2-3 paragraph abstract on title page.
Upload to Adobe Portfolio and Canvas.
Once written, place the content of your magazine article into Adobe InDesign using the template: literary-mag_template.indt Download literary-mag_template.indt. Add pictures, quotes, and references in the spaces provided in the template. In the template's section labeled "abstract" add a brief overview of what your magazine article will address (think quick summary).
Once you have completed the InDesign Project, generate a URL in InDesign. Select "File." Then, in the dropdown menu, select "Publish Online." Be sure you have a title and description entered. Be sure you select "all pages" and export as "spread." Select the blue button labeled "Publish." Adobe InDesign will take a few seconds to generate a code. A pop-up box will appear with a URL code. Select the white/grayish button labeled "Copy" to copy the URL code.
Then use https://www.iframe-generator.com/ (Links to an external site.) in order to obtain an embed code. Paste the InDesign URL code (from the above step) in the field "iFrameURL:" and select the green button labeled "</>Generate." iFrame will then generate a code in the field "iFrame Generated Code." Select the green button labeled "Copy." Paste the generated code in Adobe Portfolio.
In your Adobe Portfolio, navigate to your page titled "InDesign." On the page select the blue "+" to add elements. Select "text" from pop-up menu. Type a title for your InDesign assignment (again, title it whatever you want). Then, underneath your title, select the blue "+" again. Select "embed" from the pop-up menu. You will notice a left-hand menu spring out. Locate the label "embed code" with a blank box underneath it. Paste the iFrame Generated Code in the box and select the blue button labeled "save embed."
Once completed with all the above steps, copy and paste a link to your Portfolio (InDesign page) in the submission section under this assignment (InDesign Project) when done.
RESOURCES
How to Use OneSearch: https://libguides.sdsu.edu/onlineinstruction/OneSearch (Links to an external site.)
One Search & Peer Reviewed Articles: https://libguides.sdsu.edu/c.php?g=906708&p=7949779 (Links to an external site.)
Understanding APA Citations (7th Ed.): https://libguides.sdsu.edu/onlineinstruction/APA7
Student Example #1
Student Example #2
Student Example #3
Dr. Nathian Shae Rodriguez is an Associate Professor of Digital Media in the School of Journalism & Media Studies at San Diego State University and core faculty in the Area of Excellence: Digital Humanities and Global Diversity. He specializes in critical-cultural and digital media studies, critical communication pedagogy, and pop culture pedagogy. His research focuses on minority representation in media, specifically LGBTQ and Latinx portrayals and intersectional identity negotiation, as well as pop culture, identity, radio broadcasting, and issues of masculinity/mascing. Dr. Rodriguez also has 10 years of professional radio experience in on-air talent, sales, promotions, and social media marketing.
