Critical Analysis of Media Blog Post Example

Monday, November 5, 2012

How are women being portrayed in American Apparel Ads?

American Apparel has long been the center of conversations regarding very racy ads featuring women in more than compromising positions.  For example, in the ad above, the woman is advertising the socks while laying very suggestively across a bed.  This sexual innuendo portrays women to be very sexually submissive as the camera snags a portion of the woman's derriere.  This sort of portrayal is not new, but rather commonplace for the company.  Though he has been praised for one of few "Made in America" businesses where all products are made in his Los Angeles factory, company creator and CEO Dov Charney has long been under scrutiny for his very sexually explicit ads.   His response is that the girls are simply personifying their "natural beauty."  In an interview with ABC, he states,"This person looks like a girl you would meet. She looks like our customer."  Charney may be on to something as hundreds of young girls flock to AMerican Apparel to sport the latest in today's fashion.  In September, the company's total revenue was $51.1 million.  Aside from my personal observations from seeing many young girls and young men with these "looks," numbers don't lie.  It is clear that the reception of these ads have been more than positive despite growing concerns behind women's portrayals.  As an adult consumer, my wonder though is how will this affect young women's perception of what it means to be sexy.  I cannot help but wonder, does visual perception of other women affect your personal definition of sexy?

ABC Article - http://abcnews.go.com/Business/american-apparel-ceo-dov-charney-tarnished-hero/story?id=16229958

American Apparel Revenue - http://finance.yahoo.com/news/american-apparel-september-sales-figure-132831289.html

Critical Analysis of Media Blog Post Assignment

The World is But a Classroom…: Critical Analysis of Media

“The least of the work of learning is done in the classroom.” – Thomas Merton

 Follow the directions below to successfully complete this assignment.

Acceptable Forms of Media Include (List of Sources at the End of This Document):

·         Blog Posts

·         Articles from newspapers, magazines, and journals (both print and online)

·         Tweets (from public figures)

·         Facebook Posts (from public figures)

·         Television Shows

·         Films

·         Photos

·         Music Videos

·         Songs and Lyrics

·         Radio Broadcasts

·         Advertisements (Print, Commercials, etc.)

Criteria for Choosing Media

·         Other team members must be able to access the media and/or must know the context.

o   If it is an online source, you will provide the link in your post.

o   If it is a television show or film, you must give a summary of what you are referencing and where we can access it.

o   If it is any of the other acceptable sources, you must provide a link to where it can be accessed.

Your Assignment

1.       Think about the week’s essential question.

2.       Find a media entry in which you find interesting and is related to the week’s essential question.

3.       Write an post with the following:

a.       Explain how ____________ (a specific aspect of culture i.e. women, men, African Americans, Latinos, Christianity, etc.) is portrayed in ____________(the media you have chosen).

                                                               i.      How is this aspect of culture being portrayed?

                                                             ii.      Is the portrayal positive or negative?  Why?

b.      Describe the process of how ________ (the media you have chosen) is created.

                                                               i.      Who are the people that played a role in creating this particular medium?

                                                             ii.      Why do you believe they created this particular medium?

c.       How is ________ being received by _________ (pick a specific audience i.e. teenage girls, middle-class families, Latino women, etc.)?

                                                               i.      What is the audience’s reaction to this medium?

                                                             ii.      How will this medium influence future portrayals of ________ (specific aspect of culture you chose)?

d.      Pose a lingering question you still have related to your post, the aspect of culture you chose, or the medium.

4.       Comment on someone else’s blog post.  Your comment must include the following:

a.       Your thoughts on the media in which they posted.

b.      Response to their clarifying question OR Raise a different question

Criteria for Success

·         Your post must be 4-8 grammatically correct, complete sentences each.

·         You must provide a link to the media in which you are referencing.  If it is a film or TV show, you must give a summary of what you are referencing and where we can access it.

·         Your post must include the following:

o   Explanation of how ____________ (a specific aspect of culture i.e. women, men, African Americans, Latinos, Christianity, etc.) is portrayed in ____________(the media you have chosen).

o   Description of the process of how ________ (the media you have chosen) is created.

o   Response to the question, “How is ________ being received by _________ (pick a specific audience i.e. teenage girls, middle-class families, Latino women, etc.)?”

o   Pose a lingering question you still have related to your post, the aspect of culture you chose, or the medium.

·         Your comment must include the following:

o   Your thoughts on the media in which they posted

o   Response to their clarifying question OR Raise a different question

Directions on Accessing the Class Blog, Posting, and Commenting on Blog Post

1.       Check your email for the invitation to access the class blog.

2.       Click the link under “To contribute to this blog visit…”

3.       Go to khhsmediastudies1213.blogspot.com to access the class blog.

4.       A window will pop up that will have a list of all the blogs in which you are an author of.  Click on the blog titled, “The World is But a Classroom…”

5.       To post a new post, click “New Post” in the top right corner of the blog.

6.       Create a title for your post and type in the field to post. 

7.       To post a comment, when you access the blog, click on the “Comments” at the end of their post.

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Your Social Network Project Requirements

Your Social Network

Your Assignment

·         Create your own social network.

o   Remember, a social network is a social structure that maps out the relationships between individuals.

Process

1.       Draft a plan your social network – Due Thursday, January 24, 2013.

·         Who will your social network’s audience be?

o   Example: My social network will cater towards stay-at-home mothers 35-50.

·         What is the purpose of your social network?

o   Example: The purpose of my social network is to connect stay-at-home mothers to provide the much needed companionship other than family in which they are surrounded for numerous hours.

·         What social capital will be exchanged?

o   Example: Stay-at-home mothers will share their favorite recipes, clothing tips, in addition to ways in which they can stay rejuvenated while executing one of the world’s hardest jobs.

·         Explain the layout of your social network.

o   Example: My social network will be a website in which pictures will make up the opening screen.  Pictures will be of various items in which they choose to post.  The user can click on any picture and it will link them to the user’s page where their picture will be in the center.  Surrounding their picture will be more pictures of their various interests.

·         How will people access your social network?

o   Example: People can log onto the website via their computer or use an app on their smartphone.

·         What is the inspiration behind the social network?

o   Example: The inspiration behind this social network is the need for stay-at-home mothers to be more connected to the outside world.  AS someone with friends who are stay-at-home mothers, I observe need of more connections besides their immediate families for their home lives to be stable.

·         What is the name and catchy tagline of your social network?

o   Example: The name of my social network is “PhotoLink: Less Than Six Degrees Away.”

2.       Execute your plan in website or poster form! – Due Monday, January 28^th

·         You may do the following forms for your execution

o   Website

§  Some possible websites include:

·         http://www.ucoz.com/

·         http://www.weebly.com/

·         Google Sites - https://sites.google.com/?pli=1

·          

o   Poster

§  Must include layout of social network.

o   3-D Model

§  Must be a live representation of your social network.

Criteria for Success

·         On your execution you must include the following:

o   A representation of your layout

o   One example of social capital being exchanged

o   Social Network Title and Tagline

o   The Social Network’s Audience