Analyze a TV Show or Movie

Assignment 3: Analyze a TV Show or Movie

For this assignment, choose a movie or tv show that deals with class, gender or race issues. Write 1-2 pages about this movie or tv show. It can be a movie or tv show that focuses on a particular class, gender or racial group, or a tv show or movie that you think would be interesting to analyze for its portrayal of class, gender or race.  You may also focus on a combination of class, gender, and/or race.  See the back of this sheet for examples of movies and tv shows, or pick one yourself.  If it is a tv show, you only need to analyze one episode, but you can analyze up to 3 episodes if you would prefer.  Use the lectures and readings on stratification, gender, race and poverty to guide you.  First, briefly summarize the tv episode or movie.  Then, tell me why you think it is a good show/movie to analyze for portrayals of class, race and/or gender.  Next, answer at least 2 of the following questions (from one or more categories), using at least two terms or concepts from the readings or lecture:

Class:

1. Does this movie/episode use any stereotypes of class groups?  How might this be harmful?

2. Do you see examples of any of the four types of capital we discussed in class (economic, human, social and cultural)?  Do the characters have high or low levels of this type of capital?  Will this benefit or hurt them?

3. If there is more than one class group, what are their interactions like?  Does one group have power over the other?

4. Do any of the characters experience social mobility (upwards or downwards)?  Why do you think they experience this mobility?

Gender:

1. Does this movie/episode use any gender stereotypes?  How might this be harmful?

2. Does this movie/episode challenge gender stereotypes or gender norms?  How?  Do you think they are successful at challenging these?

3. Are any of the characters trans*, intersex or gender-queer/non-binary?  How are they portrayed?  What struggles do they face?

4. Do the characters face any prejudice or discrimination due to their gender?  How does this affect them and how do they deal with it?

Race:

1. Does this movie use stereotypes of any racial or ethnic groups?  How might this be harmful?

2. Do the characters in this show face any prejudice or discrimination due to their race or ethnicity?  How does this affect them, and how do they react?

3. Does this movie or episode demonstrate the social construction of race?  How?

4. Does this movie or episode demonstrate anything about the relationship between race and wealth?  

Intersectionality:

1. Does this movie or episode demonstrate anything about intersectionality?  How?

TV/Movie Examples

Class: Clueless The Devil Wears Prada 2 Broke Girls Bloodline Arrested Development Married with Children The Simpsons Foxcatcher The Wolf of Wall Street Good Will Hunting Gender: Jessica Jones Transparent Buffy the Vampire Slayer Sex and the City Sons of Anarchy Mad Men Trainwreck Tangerine Boys Don't Cry Race: Fresh Off the Boat Black-ish Everybody Hates Chris Smoke Signals West Side Story Master of None Chapelle's Show Dear White People American History X Do the Right Thing The Bernie Mac Show

Race/Class: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire Empire The Wire Straight Outta Compton Beasts of the Southern Wild Treme Crash Trading Places Bread and Roses Bulworth Race/Gender: The Mindy Project The Office Community Class/Gender: Girls Roseanne Winter's Bone Shameless Pretty Woman Race/Class/Gender: Orange is the New Black South Park Law and Order Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia House of Cards Parks and Recreation Precious Detachment