media ethic

(TOTAL LENGTH of 3 essays: 1,500-2,000 words or 4.5 - 8 pages)

The final will be an at-home time unlimited open-book exam that asks you to complete question #1 and then two of three additional questions. Thus you are completing a total of  three questions  (use APA style for citations). 

QUESTION ONE: BLACK PANTHER

1. The first question asks you to provide an ethical analysis of  Black Panther (2018), a film that depicts a central character who faces several challenges and has to make decisions while learning from and weighing the opinions and differing ethical commitments of several people who are influential in their life. You can reference  Wakanda Forever (2022) if you’ve seen it but this question asks you to focus on the first film.

1.5 - 4 pages (if needed!) for the first question

The subject of this essay is how T’Challa came to learn and grow in his own ethical approach to his life task. What was the  ethical reasoning that led him to question the relationship between his isolationism and his privilege, and that eventually led him to change his leadership and the actions he supported? You are asked to describe, for example, how he moved from a Utilitarian to a Confucian ethical approach (hint: you may not want to characterize his change as a move to a Confucian approach). Provide a  definition of the two ethical approaches you see him embracing before and after his interactions with Killmonger and his father. In order to do this, you also will want to consider and discuss: what are ethical approaches that  at least ONE of the other characters embrace, and how did their stance play a role in TChalla’s shift? (e.g. Killmonger, Nakia, Okoye, M’Baku, Ramonda, W’Kabi) How does the film speak to at least  two themes of critical race theory? Describe the themes and connect them to something that is related to the creation of the film itself. Thus, you are asked to articulate what you see as the main ethical reasoning articulated by differing characters as they understand the dilemmas they are facing. You are also asked to discuss the filmmaking choices of Marvel and Disney that shaped the depiction of the characters and their trajectories in specific ways. For example, how do capitalism and/or Hollywood norms shape or limit what ends up being in the story?

To answer this question you’ll watch the film as well as an in-depth analysis of it offered from a Black perspective, and you will need to include  4 citations to readings/podcasts/videos from the class on critical race theory and race and technology as well as at least  one citation of the in-depth analysis video.  The goal is to demonstrate your ability to apply ethical reasoning within a film analysis and to articulate some of the many complex factors that are at play as a person grows and moves from one approach to ethical reasoning to another, and as a film strives to depict that change. Allow 3 hours for the watching of the film and secondary materials, and at least 2 hours for writing the essay. 300-400 words.

Rubric checklist for Ethical analysis of Black Panther: 

· Description of the plot following T’Challa as he questioned his policies and changed his approach to leadership

· What you choose to argue are T’Challa’s original ethical approach(es) and his second ethical approach(es)

· Definitions of those ethical approaches

· Discussion and definition of the ethical approaches of at least ONE other character that influences T’Challa

· Discussion of Marvel/Disney’s ethical choices (e.g. capitalism and/or Hollywood)

· At least one citation of the video, Nobody Understood Black Panther (Signifier, 2018)

· 4 citations to readings/podcasts/videos on critical race theory and race and technology (e.g. Ashemu 2023 (to heal a people) Seeing White, 2023 https://www.sceneonradio.org/episode-31-turning-the-lens-seeing-white-part-1/ Benjamin 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWIzKlunnHU&t=1s Villa-Nicholas 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO2qVq9_Hcs

· 2 themes from Critical Race Theory

QUESTION THREE: CAREER INTERVIEW

1.5 to 3 pages:

The third question will ask you to reflect on an interview you conducted with a DU graduate or another professional who is in a profession you would like to pursue. To prepare for this essay, you and your peers will be participating in a workshop at the Career Center in which you have a resume workshop and an introduction to the resources of the  DU Career Network. so that you can identify people you would like to interview. The goal of this essay is to demonstrate your ability to write up a list of informational interview questions, make a contact, conduct a meaningful informational interview (in person, by zoom, or by phone but not by email) that draws on our class content, and to demonstrate fluency with concepts of ethical reasoning as well as knowledge you gained through the Career Center. Allow 4 hours for the arranging, interviewing, and reviewing of the interview, and at least 1 hour for writing the essay. 300-400 words.

Rubric checklist for Informational Interview:

· Interview conducted with individual whose name and position is described

· Evidence of something learned from the informational interview questions you asked

· Evidence of how you discussed something from class content effectively with the interviewee

QUESTION FIVE: THE GOOD LIFE

1.5 - 3 pages:

The fifth question asks you to consider: what is your personal reflection on professional ethics in relation to your goals as a media professional, media maker, and/or a professional in another field who will remain a media consumer? Focus your essay on a single virtue that is related to a personal and/or professional goal that is important to you and central to your idea of what it means for you to live "the good life." Include a consideration how dimensions of social ethics (how society is structured in relation to racism as well as sexism, homophobia etc.) come into play in your understanding of the good life. Possible virtues should be broad and inspiring to you, such as "be courageous," or "be fair," and include a discussion of how you envision this theme playing out in relation to two more focused goals such as: contribute to a just workplace, participate in demanding increased accountability from those in power, work to challenge systemic racism, contribute to a more just media system, challenge sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination, practice empathy and compassion in situations of frustration, develop a mindset of generosity, be a great listener and advocate, engage in conflict resolution, learn from your experiences, learn from those whose lived experiences differ from yours, put others' needs before your own, hold yourself accountable for your actions and engage in reparative actions when you have wronged others. Cite at least three sources from the class materials. The goal of this essay is to demonstrate your fluency with the concepts of ethical reasoning and your ability to synthesize materials from the class into reflections on your own life goals and aspirations. Allow 1 hour to review your materials and at least 1 hour to write the essay. 300-400 words.

Rubric for Your Good Life:

· Selection of your virtue of focus

· Definition of that virtue

· How you hope that this virtue will play out in at least two career-focused goals

· Discussion of what it means to live “the good life” for you and how social ethics comes into play in this definition

· Citations of three sources from class materials (name, date)