This is the instruction of the professor. For this assignment, you will select a song or music video from a culture/country you are not intimately familiar with that relates to a current social issue. The song does not necessarily need to comment specifically on the issue in question, but you should be able to describe the connection clearly. (For example: if the issue you choose to talk about is female objectification in popular music, the song might not mention the issue directly, but might serve as an example OR counter-example.) You will then listen to the song with one or more friends and interview them about their thoughts or reactions to it. The completed assignment will consist of two parts. Each part should be a minimum of 1.5 double-spaced pages. Part 1 will be your own thoughts about the song or video, written BEFORE you conduct the interview. In Part I, you will describe the song or video and its relevance to the social issue you have chosen to discuss. Does the song have a positive/negative message? Something in between? Does it bring public awareness to something important? Does it challenge listeners/viewers to think about an issue through new perspectives? Does it creatively use artistic elements to make a statement in a way that would not be possible or effective through other means? At the end of part I, write down a few questions that are specific to this song that you would like to ask your interviewees (e.g. “What do you think is being referred to in this verse?”). Part II will be written AFTER you conduct the interview. How did your interviewees’ reactions or interpretations differ from yours? Were there things you thought were important that they did not, or vice versa? Were there things they noticed that you did not, or vice versa? Did their observations change your own feelings about the media? For all of these questions, also reflect on how differences or similarities in your social and cultural backgrounds might have affected your different or similar reactions to the media. If possible, include a few quotes from the interview that reveal their thoughts or perspectives. Interview guidelines and tips: Interview people with whom you have not discussed this song/subject before. If possible, try to interview someone from a different generation or social background. Ask questions that help you discover their perspectives on the song, rather than asking them to respond to yours. For example: BAD question: This song is all about X – what do you think about X? GOOD question: What do you think this song is about? BAD question: I was really blown away by this one part! What did you think about it? GOOD question: Were there any moments or lines that stood out to you? Why? After you feel your interviewees have said everything they want to say, then share your own ideas and engage in a dialogue about the media. Take notes during the conversation so that you can write about it later. If your friend(s) give you permission, you may also choose to record the conversation, so you can directly quote their ideas or reactions in your paper. Core Objective: Social Responsibility This assignment requires students with multiple perspectives on a popular media product. They must engage critically with popular media as it relates to current social discourses, and then engage with other people who might interpret or react to that media in different ways than they do. By successfully completing this assignment, students will demonstrate that they have gained a broader perspective on global popular media production and deeper understanding of social discourse, and that they have taken the effort to engage their peers in discussions of these issues. Students who receive an A or B on the assignment (80% or higher) are considered to have successfully met this core objective. Grading Criteria A: Student’s work fulfills expectations well. In part 1, student presents a clear connection between popular media and current social discourse. In part 2, student demonstrates depth in engaging with other perspectives. B: Student’s work meets expectations. In part 1, student adequately presents a connection between popular media and current social discourse. In part 2, they attempt to seriously engage with other perspectives, but their analysis may lack depth. C: Student’s work does not meet expectations. Connections between popular media and current social discourse are unclear in Part 1, and Part 2 does not seriously engage with multiple perspectives. D: Students work fails to meet expectations. Work may fail to conform to the required parameters, or show a clear lack of effort or understanding of the assignment.
