DISCUSSION GUIDELINES
Please submit an original post by 11:59 PM on Thursday, March 9, BEFORE Spring Break (20 points).
– Include at least one reference from the eTextbook or unit lecture notes to support your answer(s).
– For grading purposes, please number your answers, as shown below.
DISCUSSION OVERVIEW / LECTURE NOTES
When we meet new people, we are faced with a number of questions that shape our initial interaction: Will we have anything in common? Will I be understood and accepted? Will we get along? Sometimes we are so concerned about the answers to these questions that we actually avoid the initial interaction – we choose not to risk it and we simply do not meet new people, if possible. But sometimes we do risk it; we must risk it. In this effort, we work to reduce the discomfort associated with meeting someone new. We ask questions, we listen, we disclose, and we begin to form impressions of others. We reduce our uncertainty.
Uncertainty Reduction Theory is a process used to monitor our social environment. We apply this theory in our encounters with new people, but it can prove particularly challenging when we meet people from cultural and social communities outside our own.
As you read Chapter 8, think about the impact your culture has on your perceptions about others and how this affects your communication behavior. Consider whether or not you feel comfortable communicating with people of different genders, ages, and ethnicities, as well as with members of a different religion, sexual orientation, or social class than your own. Finally, think about how others perceive you as it relates to these cultural and social identifiers.
DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENT
After reviewing the chapter and lecture notes in this week’s unit, review some of these articles discussing cultural representation in the film industry, and answer the question shown below.
NOTE: These articles are from 2019, and I have decided NOT to update them because more recent articles seem to include language and references that may go against current USG policies. However, if you would like to reference more recent commentary, news stories, etc., on this topic in your posts, you are welcomed to do so.
“The 2019 Oscars were marked by inclusiveness and firsts,” by Brian Lowery, CNN, February 25, 2019
“On Eve of Oscars, Variety’s Film Experts Answer Three Pressing Questions,” by Variety staff, Variety, February 20, 2019
“How can we talk about progress at the Oscars when three-quarters of the nominations went to men?” by Hannah Flint, Independent, February 23, 2019
“WMC Investigation 2019: Gender and Non-Acting Oscar Nominations — Full report” – Women’s Media Center, February 7, 2019 – he Women’s Media Center’s Investigation 2019: Gender and Non-Acting Oscar Nominations finds that women are, again, missing from the picture. No women were nominated in Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Original Score, and Visual Effects, and only one woman was nominated in Animated Feature film and in each of the two writing categories.
“The Race For The Best Picture Oscar Is The Most LGBTQ Inclusive Ever,” by Curtis M. Wong, Huffpost, January 22, 2019
“Wellesley Professor Discusses the Oscars and Diversity in the Film Industry on WGBH,” Wellesley College News, February 22, 2019
“Alfonso Cuarón continues best director dominance of Mexican trio,” NBC News, February 25, 2019
“Oscars 2019: Pixar’s ‘Bao’ wins Oscar for best animated short film,” by Nicole Pelletiere, Good Morning America, February 25, 2019
“Hannah Beachler and Ruth E. Carter Make Oscar History for Black Women,” by Sopan Deb, The New York Times, February 24, 2019
“Oscars: ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ Wins Best Animated Feature,” by Dave McNary, Variety, February 24, 2019
“Green Book’s frustrating Best Picture win, explained,” by Todd VanDerWerff, Vox, February 25, 2019
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Please review Chapter 8, and briefly answer the following questions. Be sure to include at least one reference from the eTextbook or lecture notes to support your answers:
1. What is the impact of cultural representation, or lack thereof, in film, television, books, etc., and how might it affect the way we communicate in a diverse society? Please explain.
2. How can we apply the Uncertainty Reduction Theory to communicate more effectively in a diverse society influenced by the images we see in these forms of creative media?
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