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New Student Project Site Fall 2019 - CM 178 Winter 2019 - Gender Studies 149 Fall 2018 - Education 204A Winter 2018 - Gender Studies 149 Winter 2018 - CM 178/278 Fall 2017 - Education 204A Fall 2016 - Education 204A Fall 2015 - Education 204A Fall 2014 - Education 204A Winter 2014 - CM 178/278 Fall 2013 - Education 204A Spring 2013 - CM 178/278 Winter 2013 - CM 178/278 Fall 2012 - Education 204A Spring 2012 - Women Studies 187-2 Winter 2012 - CM 178/278 Winter 2012 - Education 204A Fall 2011 - Education 204A Winter 2011 - CM 178/278 Fall 2010 - Education 204A Winter 2010 - CM 178/278 Fall 2009 - Education 204A Fall 2008 - CM 178/278 Winter 2008 - CM 178/278 Winter 2007 - CM 178/278 2006 - CM 178/278 2005 - CM 178/278 Special Projects |
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The Night Shifts (CM178)
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This documentary explores the four different prostitution laws (criminalization, partial criminalization, legalization, and decriminalization), and closely examines their positive and negative effects on American sex workers. It sheds light on how sex workers are viewed in the eyes of the law and argues that prostitution should be decriminalized. Sex work is also work, and sex workers are just like others, working to provide for themselves and their families. While some argue that sex work is demeaning, some argue that the government should allow people to set their own moral standards and allow free access to purchase and sell sex.
In addition, sex work is also constantly confused for sex trafficking. There is a distinct difference between the two; sex work is voluntary work whereas sex trafficking is a forced labor. While some argue that by decriminalizing prostitution, sex traffickers can easily get away, some suggest that decriminalization would in fact help combatting sex trafficking because trafficked victims can seek help from the police without worrying about getting incarcerated.
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Unboxing Implicit Bias (CM178)
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Unboxing Implicit Bias is an inquiry into the concept and process of unpacking implicit bias expressed through the subversion of unboxing videos popular on YouTube. Retail products are analyzed through cultural critique to explore the myth of meritocracy, biological sex as a social construct, and white racial innocence.
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You scare me, No I scare you (CM178)
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The films places into conversations the stereotyping and criminalization that occurs through different outlets of film. Through the media landscape, television, and film has violently targeted marginalized communities. Through pictures, we put into conversation the existing films as informants to mainstream media and the news. These mediums portray social constructs of communities that result in violence in society. The film also highlights how critical media studies can be a way of straying away from these biases. We also convey the most recent events of white woman calling the police on Black civilians into conversation with the over-criminalization of minorities through films and thus resulting in police brutality.
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Aliens, Criminals & Immigrants: The Reality of Children From Those "Shithole Countries." (CM178)
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A very popular narrative, in much of US contemporary media, and politics misrepresents Latinx folks, and those seeking to immigrate to the US, from south of the border, as inferior people comprised of criminals and rapists. Under the presidency of Donald Trump, there has been a documented increase in public backlash and hate directed at these emigrants who are only seeking a better future for their children. This film explores the realities, masked by these kinds of false narratives as well as some of the obstacles immigrant youth face, not just physically but also psychologically.
Through comparisons of negative depictions of Latinx, and immigration in popular media with factual evidence, the inhumane policies and practices of the US Immigration Enforcement Agency will be exposed through an examination of the deplorable conditions and harsh realities of the everyday lives of immigrant children, held in most if not all of ICE detention centers.
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Home: The Los Angeles Housing Crisis (CM178)
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Two experts analyze why the housing crisis has hit Los Angeles so intensely and what can be done about it, juxtaposed against the opening of an affordable housing project and one woman's story out of homelessness.
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Cis-temic Transgender Representation in Film (GS149)
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An exploration of the representation of transgender roles in all genres of film, focused primarily on the casting of cisgender actors as transgender characters. While some may argue that it is an actor's job to portray different roles, there is a lack of opportunity for transgender actors globally. One of the most important jobs as an actor is to portray the role as accurately as possible. Therefore, more transgender actors should be considered when casting for transgender roles in films to properly portray roles in an accurate and authentic manner. This short documentary looks at the dynamics of casting and the effects of how film influences the societal existence of transgender people. |
When Women Rule: A Paradigm Shift in America's Political Sphere (GS149)
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This documentary explores the relationship between women politicians and the media-specifically within the framework of the 2018 midterm elections. When Women Rule: A Paradigm Shift in America's Political Sphere sheds light on how political representation is transforming. Representation is of vital importance to a functional democracy. Political women are represented in the media in ways that portray them differently than men. Regardless, this moment in time is proving to be a pivotal moment in history for political representation with more than 100 women being elected to Congress in the recent midterm elections. These numbers have shattered records, laying a foundation for radical change-change America so desperately needs. |
Autism in the Media: Beyond Rain Man (GS149)
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Using interviews with PhD researchers and actors with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), this short documentary examines how characters with ASD in American film and TV do not accurately represent the autistic community in the United States. These characters are frequently heterosexual white men, despite the fact that ASD diagnoses occur in every race, gender, and socioeconomic class. The portrayals of characters with ASD also tend to be speaking. The relative homogeneity of representations can create limited expectations for what ASD should "look like", when in reality it is a spectrum disorder. Every person's autism is entirely idiosyncratic, and mass media should reflect these distinctions. |
Representation of Women in Horror Films: Slasher (GS149)
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An exploration of the reputation of women in the horror film genre, specifically within slasher films, which will analyze the glorification and fetishization of abused, tortured, and slaughtered female bodies. This short documentary primarily focuses on the dynamics of casting and the effects of how this genre influences the hyper-sexualization of the female body and sexist portrayals of women as frail, helpless victims. Furthermore, it will discuss films that both perpetuate this toxic fetish, as well as the films that promote female empowerment examined through more of a feminist framework. Ultimately, Slasher aims to promote an intersectional viewpoint of women, discussing their unique experiences of sexism by race, class, ability, and sexuality in order to reduce the derogatory portrayal that women have been plagued with through not only horror films, but all forms of media. |
More Than an Athlete (GS149)
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This short film addresses the high significance that sports carry in American culture as well as the commoditization of professional and collegiate athletes. Colin Kaepernick is an athlete that has sparked attention by the media most recently to protest the inequalities that still exist in the United States today and carried out by many athletes following. More Than an Athlete critiques the dominant ideological views that athletes serve primarily as entertainment and have been told to stay silent when it comes to their political opinions. Kaepernick was not the first in speaking out to address these problematic issues, as well as those that arise from the commodification of black bodies (Bunche, Jackie Robinson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, etc.) and now has inspired both professional and collegiate athletes to also act in solidarity in their own teams. Interviewees: Josh Woods, Kaiya McCullough, Patricia A. Turner (Senior Dean of the College and Dean/Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education) |
The American Epidemic: School Shootings (GS149)
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Our country has been taken over by an epidemic. School shootings have become more widespread and common in this day and age and are getting more common every year. Our documentary takes a closer look into a deeper issue in our society: how toxic masculinity helps fuel violence that leads to these shootings. We will also look into the Parkland students' activism and the impact that they are making with a call to action. Your voice matters - go and vote for politicians that can help stop this epidemic!
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Pretty Ugly: The Beauty Industry's Issue with Diversity (GS149)
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The beauty industry has systematically excluded people of color for years in product formulation, advertisements, and social media representation. Now, as a wave of diversity and inclusivity initiatives permeate the landscape, companies must adhere to inclusive policies to avoid public scrutiny. However, this brings about the issue of performative diversity--or inclusivity being performed for the sake of business, rather than with good intentions. Our documentary explores the beauty industry's issue with racial justice and diversity, over the ages and into the present day Interviewees: Celia Feramisco and Rachel Ricketts |
AlieNation: Asylum-Seekers in the Media (GS149)
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The United States of America has a notorious history of "otherizing" groups of people who do not meet the standards of an American citizen-a loosely defined ideal in itself. Today, immigrants and asylum-seekers, in particular, have become the recent target. The global refugee crisis has magnified immigration as a pressing issue worth addressing for politicians, many of whom-particularly those with populist and nationalist platforms-engage with these issues with fear and contempt. This short documentary explores the ongoing national debate on asylum-seekers and demystifies popular misconceptions about asylum-seekers and why they migrate. |
Colorism: Black Womxn in Media (GS149)
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It is imperative that we recognize the institutions in place that sustain and normalize power relations on the basis of identity contingencies and intersectionalities such as gender, race, and class. Specifically, we want to analyze "colorism" which privileges light?skinned people of color over those with a darker complexion. This short documentary will analyze the role of colorism within the institution of media, particularly regarding African American womxn in Hollywood. Through interviews, video snippets, and other compositions, we will be exemplifying the consequences of colorism within media: where it stems from, and the impact that it has on both opportunities for dark skinned womxn in Hollywood and the audiences who watch. Interviewees: Angela Barber, Mikhael Johnson, and Jendi Samai |
13 REASONS WRONG: An Analysis of Mental Illness in the Media (GS149)
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An analysis and examination of the portrayal of mental illness, particularly that of depression and suicidality in the media through a variety of platforms (films, television series, etc.). This documentary explores how media stigmatizes, romanticizes, as well as glorifies mental illness, and could even evoke suicidal thoughts and behaviors in a young, impressionable audience. Using interviews from a clinical psychologist and researcher -- Dr. Richard LeBeau -- as well as a screenwriter and showrunner -- Jason Micallef -- we examine the hit Netflix series 13 Reasons Why and its potentially harmful representation of suicide, considering the demographics of their largest audience. Additionally, we examine how celebrity culture and stigma may also affect the way people view and understand mental illness and suicide. |
Saying No: The Shadow of Medieval Courtly Romance (GS149)
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Cultures, and their problematic bits, don't just exist as snapshots in the present. Rather, they're continuous phenomena, histories of ideas written in the collective minds of societies. This documentary follows the journey of one such idea: the expectation of women to say no to romantic advances in order to seem more "valuable." It's a journey that begins thousands of years ago in Rome, blossoms into prevalence in late Medieval times, and gets carried through to today on the backs of literary giants. It's a journey of confusions, of misogynists, and of consequences. |
Fucking Racism (GS149)
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Our documentary seeks to explore issues of colorism and racism that occur within the scope of pornography. Navigating through a historical timeline of porn itself, this film will focus on racial stereotypes encoded in pornographic media as well as the lack of diversity and inequalities which face people of color within the industry itself. It is in this sense that the discussion of research and interviews with performers raise important questions about challenging these kinds of racist realities. Our goal is not to criticize the performers or porn itself, but rather to criticize the discrimination that occurs within the context of the industry. This in turn, demonstrates the importance of studies of this industry for the kinds of insights it provides about contemporary social desires and exposes the relationship between enforced norms and repressed actualities. |
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The Reality of Dystopian Media (Edu204A)
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Imagine the world as you know transformed into your worst nightmare. Human rights stripped away. Technology turned against you. Sound familiar? Perhaps the dystopian realities generated by author Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid's Tale) and popular director Charles Brooks' ("Black Mirror") weren't so far-fetched after all. You decide. |
"Teacher, What are we learning?" |
What exactly is curriculum, who designs it, and how does it actually impact classroom learning? In this film, we'll take a look at how curriculum is designed and used across the globe. This films uses a comparative lens to examine both curriculum failures and instances where it is used to shape communities into better places. We will cross international boundaries and explore innovative practices in curriculum development that are not traditionally covered by mainstream news outlets. |
In the Media and Home: |
This video explores the hypersexualization of Latinas in both Telenovelas and United States media. Utilizing platicas, a decolonized methodology used to conduct interviews, the video centers the voices of Latina womxn in understanding what it means to be a puta in the home and in public spheres. In this piece, Latinas are positioned as topic experts in an effort to challenge traditional white supremist and patriarchal ideologies. Lastly, through the examination of media clips of various representations of Latinas in film and television, the topic experts provide insight on historical representations of Latinas in media as well as recent counterstories as an indication of the status and progression of putalitics in the future. |
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The Black Mask: Representations of Black Masculinity in Hip Hop Music Videos (GS 149)
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The Black Mask sheds light on meanings and themes behind stereotypical representations of Black men in hip-hop and hip-hop music videos. The time frame that we are documenting is between the 1980s to 2018. The documentary showcases representations of Black men in various hip-hop music videos and analyzes the recurrent themes in these videos. We dig deeper into the often analogous, underlying themes in hip hop such as fashion, hypersexual representations of women, machismo, and the emphasis of riches and material wealth. The documentary also unpacks the origins of hip hop through information by UCLA scholars and professors. The documentary also speaks to UCLA students about their views and beliefs on what Black masculinity means to them personally, as well as first thoughts that come to mind when they think of Black masculinity in hip hop. The interviewees share with us their first encounter with representations of Black masculinity in hip-hop music videos and how it shaped their development, as well as self-identity. In order to see how Black masculinity affects female artists, we interview two up and coming female hip hop artists. They share their experiences and struggles in navigating the hip hop world being female, as well as the additional competition and pressure they face in order to prove themselves and their ability. The Black Mask also includes a segment dedicated to exploring the various fashion trends that Black men have sported throughout the years and how portrayals of what is cool have dramatically changed. The documentary ends with where we believe the future of representations of Black masculinity in hip hop is headed. With new up and coming artists, the content and the delivery has begun changing quite noticeably. We end the documentary by highlighting popular hip-hop artists of today. A Very Special Thanks to: Dr. Rhonda Hammer, Vincent Mitchell from Studio 22, Dr. Kyle Mays, Rico Nasty and Kamillion |
Activism: Social Media, Social Movements, and Feminist Voices (GS 149)
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Activism: Social Media, Social Movements and Feminist Voices is an examination of both the importance and the drawbacks of social media in our current society. It analyzes the role that social media has played in catalyzing recent social and political movements, in particular, the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, while reinforcing that social media users must understand that platforms are not spaces of unfettered free speech, but rather, highly patrolled, and often curated, commercial spaces. Despite their increasingly commercial, for-profit motivations, social media sites give oppressed groups, who have been traditionally silenced, an easily accessible platform to speak out, share their voices, challenge oppressive ideologies, and unite together to dismantle their institutionalized roots. Although all social media movements are largely unresolved, the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements are an example of how powerful social media can be in enacting real change as they have led to men being exiled and actually jailed for their actions. We hope our project inspires others to think about how we can continue to educate others about the realities of social media platforms in order to enable people to use technology to effectively create real change, whether it be through legislature, discipline, or acceptance. |
Racial Representation in Hollywood (GS 149)
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Media is pervasive and has the power to bring about cultural, social, and political change. For this reason, the type of representation groups of different backgrounds and ethnicities receive is of outmost importance. Racial Representation in Hollywood analyzes the kind of racial representation that Hollywood has delivered over the years. We begin by discussing what racial diversity is, followed by a discussion of the issue of whitewashing and stereotyping that permeate movies and TV, citing reasons why these practices may be done. Finally, we highlight the positive movement towards significant racial inclusion in the media. |
Latina Women in Media (GS 149)
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This documentary addresses the way in which Latina women are represented in American media, more specifically in television shows and movies. Throughout mainstream media, many experts argue Latina women are often portrayed as spicy, sexy, and fierce, playing marginalized roles of either seductresses, maids, or over-the-top women. In acknowledging and analyzing these stereotypes within American media, Joshua Guzman professor of Gender Studies, and Jacquelyn Horwitz, professor of Communication and Media Studies, address the question of what the true Latina identity is and how much of it is misrepresented. |
A Double Edged Sword: Hypersexualization in Female Music Videos (GS 149)
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Hypersexualization in music videos is a topic that is everywhere in the media, but not often researched and discussed. There are many viewpoints surrounding this topic, but this film dives into the two most prominent opinions: objectification vs. empowerment.
A Double Edged Sword explores how hypersexualization in female music videos can be viewed as either degrading or as liberating. Interviews from two accomplished feminists provide insight on the media strategies used by popular female artists. However, this film ultimately confirms that there is no right or wrong when it comes to expressing female sexuality.
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Discrimin-Asian in Hollywood: Tokenism, Stereotypes, and Asian Portrayals (GS 149)
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"In recent years, Hollywood has seen an influx of Asian characters in films and TV shows. Many are quick to celebrate this diversity, but are these representations breaking new ground for Asian portrayal in Hollywood? Through a cultural studies lens, this documentary critically examines contemporary Asian representations in Hollywood, uncovering underlying racist sentiments against Asians that have been in place for decades. Through interviews with both eminent scholars and aspiring Asian-American actors, this documentary explores the issues of tokenism, stereotypes, the model minority myth, and the structures that systematically reinforce them."
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The Male Gaze: A Look at Female Sexuality in Film and Editorials (GS 149)
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The male gaze, a feminist theory developed by famed film critic Laura Mulvey in 1975, is a controlling force pervasive in popular film, editorials, and advertising. This concept places the audience into the shoes of the white patriarchal ideology, painting women as purely sexual characters. Our documentary explores the evolution of the male gaze in mass media, as well as how it may become internalized by a female audience in regards to opinions of their own sexuality and self empowerment. UCLA Film School Graduate Students, Michael Reinhard and Michael Potterton, provide insightful academic commentary on the hegemonic domination of white patriarchal capitalism in the art/entertainment industry and what consequences that holds for the feminist voice in Hollywood.
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Police Brutality (GS 149)
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The purpose of this documentary is to showcase police brutality and how it affects people of color in disproportionate numbers. We will explore data that shows the disproportionate numbers of how some police officers approach suspects in any setting. The project will touch on stereotypical language used by news outlets to discuss male victims of color. We utilize images provided by new outlets to show the misrepresentation of black male victims, in comparison to other ethnic/racial groups. Lastly, we will show ways in which TV shows have explored racial profiling to communicate it and bring the issue to a large audience and platform. Special Thanks to Rhonda Hammer and Studio 22
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Why Don't They Look Like Us?: Colorism in the Media (GS 149)
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This short documentary focuses on the issue of colorism in the media. From television shows to film, there is an obvious lack of representation of people with darker skin tones due to colonization and racism. European values have portrayed lighter skin to be superior; therefore, many people with darker skin tones are rarely represented. This leads to an inaccurate depiction of many races and ethnicities. Contemporary media has slowly began to show us more people of color than ever before in history. Why Don't They Look Like Us?: Colorism in the Media brings to the narrative what it is like to lack representation in popular media, and what the future holds.
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UCLA |
Description: For many graduate students at UCLA, having on-campus employment such as (Teaching Assistants or Graduate Research Assistant) that offers tuition and fee-remission is the only way they can afford to be in school. Recently, Graduate Division announced that from next academic year they will no longer be awarding fee-remission titles to the position of College Academic Mentor. The University proposes that the current unionized CAM position is instead held my graduate students paid only an hourly wage. College Academic Mentors are graduate students who have been carefully selected and trained to provide academic advising to freshmen and sophomores, as well as graduate and professional school planning for all College of Letters & Science undergraduates. Last academic year CAMs saw 40% of the students who were helped by College Academic Counseling.The current group of CAMs is diverse and made up of some of the most marginalized graduate students at UCLA (people of color, people with disabilities, first-gen students, LGBTQ+ individuals, etc.) This decision will have devastating consequences for undergraduate students in need of academic advising, as well as graduate students in need of a stable job with fee-remission and health insurance. This short video is part of a larger organizing effort to create awareness about this issue and advocate for Academic Student Employee rights. |
Man Up: The Veil of Toxic Masculinity In Popularity, Fame, and Power (cm178/278) |
Toxic Masculinity is a culture and issue that society has created by conflating masculinity with toughness, lack of empathy, weapons or any disregard for women. What we aimed to do the video as a discussion on the effects of toxic masculinity by presenting a set of examples that escalate in severity, all of which are consequences of the environment that toxic masculinity creates. The three main areas we concentrated on were Fraternities rape culture, the "unspoken guidelines" from the NFL to represent themselves as the alpha's on and off the field, and the demonstration of dominance from male American mass shooters. We introduce the video with three shots back to back to back that compare the clink of a date rape drug being dropped into a drink with the clink of a football helmet and the cocking of a gun, in order to establish how three seemingly unrelated things are actually connected to one another. Additionally, we also used small clips from films/videos and conduct one interview, we also included a discussion with three UCLA undergraduate students. We also used face close up shots and audio over for some narration. |
Queer Altar(ed) Audio Only Project (cm178/278)
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Over the last years queer death, specifically deaths and murders of queer (LGBTQQIA) people of color (shortened to QTPOC) has exponentially increased. This altar project is a space of remembrance and visibility for past and future generations of QTPOC. As a QTPOC (specifically Cantonese) I have a personal and intimate connection to this work. Embodying the transcendence of QTPOC flesh, the lotuses are made of newspaper and painted gold in parts. In Chinese tradition lotuses represent the spirits of those who have passed, are filled with a candle and set free on a large body of water. Altared aims to hold space for QTPOC, bringing forth our lost ones and offering peace and transcendence. |
Deafining Culture: Perceptions of d/Deaf People in Media (cm178/278)
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Deaf people are commonly portrayed in the media as being helpless or vulnerable, experiencing a pathological deficiency, and as more "successful" because they can speak or have undergone the cochlear implant surgery. Often times, TV shows and movies fail to depict deaf people as being part of a community, using Sign Language, or existing within a culture. In some media, ASL is used, but commonly downplays "its grammatical complexity" (Foss 2014). Bolstered by the research and data collection of Katherine Foss, this project seeks to visually elucidate the complexities and diversity of the Deaf community and Deaf culture, and demonstrate the erroneous depictions of Deaf people in the media. |
Clemency (cm178/278)
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Clemencia (Clemency), is a short exploration and glimpse into the life of Clemencia Rosalinda Monterroso, a survivor of the Guatemalan civil war and genocide. In 1982 Efrain Rios Montt an active and powerful military leader led one of the biggest killing sprees and massacres during the Guatemalan Civil war that attacked and left over 200,000 indigenous Guatemalan's dead and/or disappeared. Clemencia, begins with a short introduction to Clemencia's current life as an in-home hospice caregiver and housekeeper. At the age of 79, Clemencia retells her story as the mother of five children and as a sister to thirteen, who escaped violent persecution by the Guatemalan government. Clemency intends to shed light on not just the pain and violence of genocide but the humanity and resistance that has allotted Guatemalan indigenous people survival. |
Modeling for America (cm178/278)
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The Model Minority myth affects the Asian American community both positively and negatively. In this documentary, we will delve more into the myth itself and hear from different narratives about the issue. We will be exploring the current issues and perspectives that Asians Americans face, and how problematic media can be reiterating certain stereotypes about the panethnic community. We want to shed light and perspective on the myth, with the intent for society to move forward, to be aware of it, and deconstruct it. |
The Unbearable White Maleness of Late Night Television (cm178/278)
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"The Unbearable White Maleness of Late Night Television aimed to discuss the prevalence of white male hosts in late night talk shows, The purpose of this is to criticize the media and the public's celebration of a certain demographic, which in turn prioritizes/ normalizes that perspective and that ideology. Overall, this documentary sheds light on the gender and ethnic disparities that occur within this professional sector. |
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Misogyny, Politics and Society: An Exploration of the 2016 Election (Edu204A) |
Misogyny was rampant during the 2016 US Presidential Election, from verbal attacks such as "Trump that-Bitch" to tolerance for sexual assault. The nomination of the first female candidate by a major polity brought gender to the forefront of the public debate. This film examines the impact of misogyny during the election on women and society at a large. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from Feminist Theory and Critical Race Theory, the video recognizes that systems of power and oppression are intersectional, involving not only gender discrimination, but its interaction with other factors such as racism, religious persecution, and socioeconomic status. We also consider the psychological effects of daily misogynistic microagressions on both men and women and upon their link to sexual assault and violence against women. In response to the setbacks to the women's agenda during the 2016 election, the women's rights movement has been reinvigorated. The video presents examples such as the 2017 Women's March, public accusations and prosecution of sexual harassment, and acts of solidarity such as the #metoo phenomenon. This suggests that this election may be an important moment in in the fight against sexism and misogyny in society. Finally, we provide fuel for those seeking a more equal future by suggesting concrete ways to counter sexism in our daily lives. Guest Appearances by: Isabelle Nguyen, Natasha Mynhier
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Publish or Perish: The Impact of University Rankings on Higher Education Institutions (Edu204A)
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The mechanism of university rankings has dramatically changed the nature of Higher Education. This rankings game, to a large extent, separates re search-intensive universities from the rest. It inevitably enlarges the existing vertical hierarchies in the higher education landscape. Our media project investigates rankings by situating them within a theoretical framework of academic capitalism to address the following questions: Who ranks Higher Educational Institutes? Why are these Institutions ranked? And how are rankings determined? Who benefits from rankings? Who suffers from rankings? What impact do rankings have on the performance of university faculty? Several allegorical terms regarding the negative impact of rankings are introduced, such as the "Matthew Effect", and the "SSCI Syndrome". By collecting data from websites, citing relevant video clips, and conducting brief interviews with two UCLA students, our documentary demonstrates that university rankings not only marginalize the teaching function of higher education but also lead to the production and reproduction of social inequality. Our project also suggests that, to reduce the negative impact of rankings, the quality of faculty teaching should be incorporated into the criteria for ranking universities. And it is in this sense that our documentary also proposes that many university professors need to change their teaching styles to adopt what bell hooks identifies as "engaged pedagogy". As she describes it: "To educate as the practice of freedom is a way of teaching that anyone can learn" |
Undocumented Students: Resisting Racist Nativism (Edu204A)
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Undocumented students face numerous forms of discrimination and barriers in the education system. Yet, many are determined to pursue a higher education in face of these obstacles. This video will examine the way racism and prejudice conveyed through media and rhetoric affects undocumented students' experiences, specifically Latina/o students' experiences. Using a Critical Race Theory (CRT) framework, the video will explore how undocumented students resist these messages using internal and external forms of resistance. The CRT tenant of "Experiential Knowledge" will be used in the form of undocumented student's personal testimonies. Lindsay Perez Huber and other scholar's definition of racist nativism frames overt forms of discrimination and attitudes toward undocumented Latina/o students. Daniel Solorzano's concept of transformation resistance is implemented to demonstrate various examples of how undocumented students engage in forms of internal and external resistance to challenge racist/anti-immigrant ideologies. |
Trump Talk:
Normalizing Hate Speech Through Media Spectacle and UCLA Voices of Resistance to |
This documentary seeks to examine the lens of Donald Trump's rise to presidency and his presidential campaign within the context of media spectacle. The role of media culture is highly important for society today, socializing certain behaviors and portrayals in everyday life and norms, and with the recent mass exposure of Donald Trump's divisive rhetoric in his campaign, the role of media spectacle is crucial to examine the necessity of media literacy in education and for society as a whole. This documentary examines how hate speech used by Donald Trump in his presidential campaign and its mass exposure in the media has affected public spheres, particularly students of UCLA, and how students of higher learning perceive the media portrayal of Trump and of his aggressive rhetoric. Using Dr. Douglas Kellner's research on media spectacle, we seek to examine the media portrayal of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, and how he has become the "master of the media spectacle", receiving $2 billion's worth of free media exposure, and how media exposure of his hateful rhetoric has possibly legitimized the use of such discourse in public spheres, particularly in education, and the reactions and perceptions to such rhetoric. We believe the election serves as a teachable moment for the use of media literacy in education and for society as a whole. |
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Academics vs. Athletics: How Do Student Athletes Balance School and Football |
This short documentary raises questions about how student athletes balance their academic and athletic responsibilities. The film looks through the lens of standpoint theory to understand whether interscholastic sports programs serve student athletes at the high school level and as recruits into college football. We also look into the role that high schools and universities play in making sure that student athletes are able to take advantage of their free education. The film offers expert opinions on how to establish a fair playing field for student athletes in high school and beyond. |
A Perspective of Inclusion: Understanding the Asian & Pacific Islander (API) |
This documentary explores problems associated with research and educational policies which misrepresent a diversity of peoples as one homogenous group, generally identified as "Asian and Pacific Islanders" (abbreviated as API). Within the context of what bell hooks describes as "engaged pedagogy," this film demonstrates the importance of recognizing and addressing the different backgrounds, experiences and needs of API students within US institutions of Higher Learning. Engaged pedagogy, according to hooks, involves knowing more about where students are "coming from and what there hopes and dreams might be." |
Global Citizenship Through Engaged Pedagogy: A Look at UCLA International Students (Edu204A)
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According to UNESCO, "Global Citizenship Education (GCED)" equips learners of all ages with those values, knowledge and skills that are based on and instill respect for human rights, social justice, diversity, gender equality and environmental sustainability and that empower learners to be responsible global citizens. GCED gives learners the competency and opportunity to realize their rights and obligations to promote a better world and future for all. Inspired by the broad concept of GCED at the international level, this documentary focuses on how individual understanding of global citizenship is influenced by the university experience. With this film we examine international students' perceptions of global citizenship as informed by their experiences at UCLA. Through semi-structured interviews with international students, we investigate how their UCLA experience, with particular regard to their participation in extracurricular activities/groups, has shaped their views on being global citizens. We conclude by inviting Carlos Torres, UNESCO Chair in Global Learning and Global Citizenship Education and Distinguished Professor at UCLA, to bring his scholarly perspective into our investigation thereby enriching our understanding of global citizenship at the university level.
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Student-Teacher Perspectives on Engaged Pedagogy (Edu204A)
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This documentary explores different ways in which bell hooks' (1994; 2010) notion of Engaged Pedagogy is practiced in and out of the classrooms, and how it impacts student-teacher relationships. More specifically, students and teachers discuss the process for creating a more collective classroom environment, the need to connect curriculum to students' lived realities, and specific ways to re-envision teaching and learning to create a more humanizing pedagogy. This exploration provides insight to further explore engaged pedagogy on the ground and pushes for this type of earning for all students. |
Thinking Outside the Box: Towards a Critical Pedagogy of Math Learning (Edu204A)
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Education is at the heart of social, cultural, political and critical debates about freedom and democratic ideals and nowhere are the disputes over the state of education as vigorously contested as they are in debates about the teaching and study of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Educators, parents, politicians and business leaders are all lively participants in bemoaning the state of math education today, but strangely the voices of children have been absent or ignored. This video seeks to provide an alternate view. Using bell hooks' concept of engaged pedagogy as our starting point, this video enlists children's voices in the discussion by asking elementary school children to critically reflect on their experiences of learning math in the classroom. Through interviews we hear diverse, thoughtful, funny and critical analyses of classroom experiences from children most impacted by the debates on education reform. Our hope is that this video contributes to the discussion and challenges viewers to work towards a more robust critical pedagogy of math learning. |
Undocumented on Paper, Documented at Heart (Educ204A)
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The identity of undocumented students has been misconceived and misrepresented through media and in the public. As a result, harmful labels such as "intruders," "criminals," and "illegals" have often been associated with their undocumented status. Many times, these negative portrayals do not take into account the newcomers' passion, drive, and determination to make a better life for themselves and their families. This short film highlights the dedication of a diverse undocumented student body and the community cultural wealth these students bring to this country. The resilience demonstrated by these students' pushes us to ask, how we can develop better policies to create a permanent solution for this marginalized population. |
Muslims: The "Story" and Counter-Story (Edu204A)
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As per Critical Race Theory, racism is ingrained in the fabric and systems of American society. Unfortunately, as a nation we have a history of discrimination against many non-white groups of people: Blacks, Latinos and most recently Muslims. The 9/11 attacks changed America's perception of Muslims. While Muslim people are a mosaic of ethnic, linguistic, ideological, social and economic groups, they have become lumped together under one label, as one race and are seen as a threat. This project seeks to understand the vilification of Muslims through Edward Said's concept of Orientalism. By presenting counter representations of Muslims, we attempt to upend the current narrative by highlighting positive examples from current and former Muslim UCLA students. Recognizing the power of counter-stories through Daniel Solorzano's work in Critical Race Theory, we present examples of tolerance and empowerment in the Muslim community. |
Freedom of Speech vs. Freedom of Speed: Net Neutrality (Edu204A)
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This documentary address the topic of net neutrality within a critical media literacy framework, looking at systems of power, specifically corporate interests which control the gateways to information access.
Our project introduces the issue of "net neutrality" to a student audience through expert interviews and found footage. Equal access to the Internet is now taken for granted, particularly by students who can take advantage of privileges provided by UCLA. However, corporate Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, and Time-Warner - are threatening net neutrality by seeking to assign "fast" and "slow" transmission of selected content over the Internet based on ability to pay. This builds new barriers for both independent content producers and users to access information on the Internet, particularly information and content that is not backed by corporate interests.
This has serious consequences for participatory democracy and freedom of speech. Unfortunately, most everyday users of the Internet are unaware of the issue of net neutrality and potential consequences. Our video seeks to raise awareness of net neutrality and the influence of corporate interests on the media we consume, towards a larger goal of developing critically media literate students and participants of society.
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America's Hard-On for Crime: Media Saturation of Rape and the Politics of Prison Policy (cm178) |
Sexual assault and violence are some of the most prominent issues that are visible in mainstream media regarding correctional institutions. As a result, the imagery of "prison rape" has been ingrained in the American public consciousness and although many consider this a comical matter, state officials and the public are slowly starting to address the issue of sexual assault and violence in correctional facilities by passing new bills and regulations to protect vulnerable inmates.
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Rated M for Men: Women and Video Games (cm178) |
Often, video games are collectively associated with negative portrayal of women. Rated M for Men: Women in Video Games looks into this misrepresentation and sheds light on movements that may provide women with brighter futures in video game design and culture. |
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Building UCLA's Learning Community: the Chinese Student Experience (2013) (Edu204A)
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This documentary will explore the experiences of Chinese students at UCLA. More specifically, it examines the differences between Chinese and American education, and the ways these differences have affected their individual experiences. This exploration encourages us all to critically think about the positionality and experience of this population, as well as the many other ethnically diverse populations on UCLA's campus, in the hopes of building a stronger learning community. |
DACA: Realities and Perception
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This critical media analysis explores the media depiction and the implementation realities and consequences of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration policy. Implemented as an executive order in 2012 by President Obama, DACA grants individuals who are undocumented and meet the eligibility criteria, two-years of relief from deportation and the ability to apply for employment authorization. This analysis seeks to present both the positive and negative realities and perceptions resulting from the DACA policy on undocumented youth through an analysis of their fears and hopes. |
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Media Representations of Women in Medicine: Bitch vs. Beauty (cm178) |
Media representations of women in medicine provide limited roles for female physicians. Shows such as Grey's Anatomy and Scrubs portray these women as either "bitches" or "beauties". These representations of female physicians can provide difficulties in their line of work when they must face real life issues of proving themselves in a male dominated occupation, the gender wage gap, and the glass ceiling. Interviews from two doctors, a female surgeon and a pediatrician, give insight into the damaging effects of the dichotomous representation of women in medical shows.
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Hood Fag Politics: A Discourse on Life Opportunity as Presented Through the Mass Media (cm178) |
Over the course of this quarter the role of the media in maintaining and normalizing hegemonic power relations has become clear. By shaping, and at times limiting, the discourse surrounding issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, etc. the mass media works to influence the ways in which such matters are understood. Through the exposure and deconstruction of these sinister mechanisms, the political and social implications of the absence of queer youths of color from the media for the community becomes clear, as does the importance of noting and challenging this absence.
Hood Fag Politics sheds light on the way the subversive potential of LGBT characters in the mainstream has been undermined by media portrayals that fail to engage issues of sexuality and identity. Modern representations of LGBT people in the media often fulfill socially sanctioned roles and do not challenge normative understandings of race, gender, sexuality and class; what this means is that these characters often emerge as male, white, middle to upper class and cisgender. To represent queers that deviate from this socially permissible role would prove too disruptive as such images would necessary elicit questions pertaining to race relations in America, dominant systems of power, and modern binary modes of thinking as they relate to sexuality.
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Menstruation in the Media (cm178) | Our critical media project documentary is an exploration of the ways in which media including film, television, print and commercial advertising, and public service announcements have historically portrayed menstruation and how, if at all, these portrayals have transformed today. Our project focuses on tropes that include shame, discretion, purity, and the various taboos that media has circulated in regards to the biological and inevitable process of menstruation. Have media messages really improved since the mid-twentieth century? |
Party Girls and Rejects: Representations of College Girls in Popular Media (cm178) |
Party Girls and Rejects: Representations of College Girls in Popular Media, explores the mainstream portrayals of college girls, particularly the stereotypes at play. By posing the question: “What do you think of when you hear the term, ‘College Girls?’” this film reveals some of the common opinions of men and women regarding perceptions of college age girls.
Our video explores how television and films follow and create cultural norms for behavior. That is to say, that media representations of college girls focus on and exaggerate the prevalence of partying and sexual encounters, while ignoring the consequences of these actions and the larger social implications associated with these kinds of stereotypical depictions.
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Ovary Interrupted (cm178) |
How do television commercials and the news media misrepresent women who take birth control? Our project examines commercials to understand how they exclude women from underprivileged socio-economic statuses and paint an unrealistic picture of women who take birth control. We also look at the news media and describe the way that primarily men frame birth control and women’s reproductive health as a moral issue. This film helps the viewer understand how bias is created in television advertisements and the news media. |
Where Do You Sleep?: The Rise in Homeless Students at UCLA (cm178) |
As a result of the fee hikes and increased tuition at UCLA, there has been a dramatic increase of homeless students within the last decade. Despite the lack of a permanent place to sleep, these students continue to persevere and find ways to pay for school, as they believe that attaining an education is an integral step towards success in their future endeavors. Maintaining a "normal" student life is difficult for the homeless, but they continue to prove that they are willing to work hard to move past their struggles and succeed in their time at UCLA.
Included in this documentary are interviews with Diego Sepulveda & Emilio Hernandez
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Parts Of Me: The Story of Queer Students of Color in East LA High Schools (cm178) |
Our documentary follows three LGBTQ students of color from East Los Angeles High Schools and one ally, who does not identify as queer but advocates for queer issues. In it we describe and explore how theories and practices of intersectionality and critical media literacy can expand the scope of what the "average" American considers LGBTQ issues, as well as to better understand the important role of GSAs [Gay Straight Alliances] in high schools. Further, we investigate how intersectionality informs the lives of these students and assists them to survive some of the "typical high school experiences," which are shared by so many LGBTQ youth.
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Girls & Guns: The Media Campaign to Keep Women Sexy and Armed (cm178) |
Girls & Guns: The Media Campaign to Keep Women Sexy and Armed looks at the infantilization and sexualization of women through the promotion of gun use in the US. In posing the question "What do you think about women and guns?" to women and men alike, this documentary reveals a variety of opinions, experiences, and suggestions for future gun legislation. Girls & Guns is a short collection of interviews and media footage that weaves a narrative of protection, safety, fear, and empowerment with unrealistic portrayals of what gun ownership can and will do for women. |
El Anzuelo Americano/The American Hook (cm178) | This blog aims to create an inclusive space of dialogue for Latino immigrants. As such, it engages topics related to the immigrant condition, and focus on a rendering of the role of mass communication, through visual and linguistic means, in creating the transnational context in which the histories of Latino immigrants develop. The issues explored are dictated by the need for reflection and analysis, as well as expression and sharing, of this community.
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Tikkun Olam (cm178) |
"Tikkun Olam" is a Hebrew phrase that translates to repairing (or healing) the world. The phrase suggests humanity's shared responsibility to heal, repair, and transform the world. Our documentary explores how implementing this phrase on the UCLA campus could help build a stronger community of students and bridge the chasm that is created between students who deal with depression, anxiety, stress (or any emotional and/or physical difficulties that may impede students academic or social lives) and their peers. We focus on the experiences of two students in particular who have been diagnosed with depression. With the documentary we hope that students (and people in general) will begin to talk about their difficulties and not be afraid to ask for help when needed. At the end of the day we are all in this together and, as the phrase Tikkun Olam suggests, we should all feel a responsibility to help one another and work against the issues that tend to divide us. |
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Identity Shifts: Internationalism through a Critical Race Theory Lens 2012 (Edu204A) |
This critical media project explores the development of socio-political identity within an international context. Utilizing Critical Race Theory, 5 students share testimonios of journeys beyond their home countries and discuss their ever-changing relationships with power, oppression, and resistance. These students attempt to unpack their experiences abroad, acknowledging identity and citizenry in both their host and home countries. Their narratives suggest that Critical Race Testimonio can be utilized as a powerful theory and liberatory practice both within and beyond the U.S. borders. Nation states, regardless of their geopolitical status, reify hierarchical power structures, resulting in the relegation of individuals into socially constructed, disparately organized communities of dominance and subordination (Chomsky, 2006; Fanon, 1963). Given this global prevalence and permanence of oppression, it is crucial that educators create and support critical counter-spaces (Solorzano, Ceja, & Yosso, 2000; Solorzano and Villalpando, 1998) wherein marginalized people can reclaim agency, speak their truths to power through testimonios, and engage in transformative resistance (Delgado-Bernal and Solorzano). |
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Feisty Latinas and Hot Tamales: A Visual Analysis of Machismo in Telenovelas (Women187-2) |
Machismo and hyper-masculinity are depicted as one and the same in much of the media produced by or about Latino culture. More commonly, Mexican and Peruvian Telenovelas (Soap operas) demonstrate the hypersexualization and construction of the Latina women's body through machismo ideals. This documentary explores the negative representation of female protagonists in Telenovelas (Soap operas) due to masculine ideologies. Notions of machismo contribute to the ways in which girls from younger generations perceive themselves as sexual beings. By exploring this issue, this documentary seeks to expose how Latina women in Telenovelas are being represented. We pose a solution by utilizing a Persian film, which demonstrates women actively changing masculine ideologies via the cinema.
Interviewees: Maria Concepcion Olivares Pasillas, Maria Elena Rios, Margie Amanero, Leila Hatami |
Paying for It... Race and Prostitution in Media Representations (Women 187-2) |
Paying For It... Race and Prostitution in Media Representations explores the mainstream media portrayal of prostitutes, particularly the racial politics at play. Through examining the stereotypical depiction of prostitutes from different racial backgrounds, this film documents how race influences the agency, the humanity and establishes specific narratives for white and women of color prostitutes. The question then becomes whose body is more valuable? |
Broadcast Yourself: Teaching Youtube (Women 187-2) |
Broadcast Yourself: Teaching Youtube is a short documentary that critically examines the positive and negative aspects of using Youtube as a platform to broadcast ideas, views, and creative projects. Minimal censorship, relatively easy accessibility, and an open forum attitude are aspects of Youtube that prove to be sites of contention as they allow some participants access to tools for abuse and reproduction of inequalities and give others the opportunity for empowerment and resistance. We argue that incorporation of Youtube into contemporary educational curriculum will help foster a more progressive learning environment. Even negative images broadcast on the new media outlet can help foster productive discussion. A new vision of Youtube as a necessary aspect of critical media literacy will help to open up its accessibility to a broader audience and make it a safe learning space. |
Why Do Fools Fall In Love? MisRepresentations of Patriarchal
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This documentary will explore the politics of representation of patriarchal violence imposed on African American women in contemporary American media. With the use of various motion pictures as examples, this movie demonstrates the reoccurring stereotypes of situations regarding domestic violence. This film urges to question the reasoning behind the stereotypical representations of violence against African American women prominently portrayed by the mass media.
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Baby Mama Drama: Infertility as Tragedy in Media (cm178) |
Baby mama drama is a critical examination of the portrayal of infertility in the media. In this short documentary scientific research, news reportage, film, and television are put under the microscope to understand the popular trope of the infertile, career woman. This film asks the tough questions. How can these representations be seen as antifeminist, racist, or sexist? And why is it important to critically analyze these media texts? |
Hidden Secrets: The Rise in Homeless Students at UCLA (cm178) |
According to FAFSA, a homeless student is one who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, which includes sleeping in cars or motels, or temporarily living with other people because they do not have anywhere else to go. As a result of the fee hikes and increased tuition at UCLA, there has been a dramatic increase of homeless students within the last decade. Despite the lack of a permanent place to sleep, these students continue to persevere through school as they believe that attaining an education is an important step towards success in their future endeavors. Balancing studies and extracurriculars has become possible for these struggling students with the rise of student initiatives that work to help the homeless student population. Maintaining a "normal" student life is difficult for the homeless, but they continue to prove that they are willing to work hard to move past their struggles and succeed in their time at UCLA and beyond. |
The Resurgent Activist (cm178) |
Youth activism began in the U.S. in the mid- to late-nineteenth century when young activists initiated labor strikes in response to their working conditions, wages and hours. Often stereotyped and marginalized by the media, youth activists have often been at the forefront of progressive social movements, passing the torch for social justice from one generation to another. The Resurgent Activist explores youth activism from the 1960s to the present Occupy movements when once again the youth of today are calling attention to social problems and injustice in American society. Additionally, this video production will briefly show how youth activism has changed in the context of globalization, new technologies, and the mediating effect of mass media. |
Where the Real Queer Sistas At? (cm178) |
Throughout history, black women have suffered from multiple forms of oppression because of their race, gender and class. Media culture has significantly marginalized this group by continuously typecasting them in stereotypical roles. |
iTransfer (cm178) |
"iTransfer" focuses on the intricacies of California's Community College system from a student perspective. In order to deconstruct community college stereotypes we interview several UCLA students who successfully transferred from community colleges. For the majority of students enrolled at two-year institutions, attending community college serves as their only entry point to four-year universities. Therefore, we document transfer student experiences to qualify the importance of community colleges as well as how they can be improved to increase transfer rates. |
The Technicolor Asian (cm178) |
Various forms of media, from movies to TV shows, shape our political and cultural views of the world and identify who we are. Unfortunately, ideological representation of certain groups, characterized by race, gender, and socio-economic class, are often misleading |
You See L.A. (cm178) |
This 7-minute documentary talks to the audiences what we can do as a student of a public school by showing University of California, Los Angeles's (UCLA) trajectory for having more diversity. My goals for this film are to encourage students to get involved more with the community to achieve our mission and to learn more about our community. I approach this by introducing the Civil Right project conducted by UCLA researchers and interviews with the current UCLA students. The data shows that 70% of students enter community college with the idea that they will eventually transfer to a four year university; however, their findings indicate that 70% of them failed to graduate from the secondary school within six years. We can bring up the transfer ratio by participating volunteer works, mentoring, and service learning classes. Having a great diversity is important because it does not only fulfill the state mission and educational equality, but also, teaches us cultural awareness. |
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Criticizing Hip Hop (Edu204A)
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Crit-icizing Hip Hop explores the topic of critical media literacy and how youth in the Pico Youth and Family Center's (PY&FC) music program critically consume and produce Hip Hop, highly aware of its content and social influence. Youth from the PY&FC discuss their own perceptions of media culture, and showcase their own musical stylingâthat foster a sense of political and social consciousness. |
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Agents of Social Change: The Possibilities Of Youth Participatory Action Research (Edu204A)
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In this presentation, we summon the world of critical pedagogy and the promise of engaged praxis through Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR). YPAR provides youth the opportunity to "study social problems affecting their lives and then determine actions to rectify these problems" (Cammaota & Fine, 2008). Guided by Paulo Freire and bell hooks, we locate the potentiality of YPAR as a tool for social justice and a site for transformation. |
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FREAK THE RACE OUT: Politics of Representation in Children's Programming (cm178) |
Children today are bombarded by media. We often take it for granted that children's programs are child-friendly. How do children from diverse backgrounds involve television characters in their processes of identity construction? What do we offer children to help them value themselves, their families, and their cultures? Our film seeks to explore the politics of representation in television programming designed uniquely for children aged 8-11, focusing on two of the most popular networks: Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. We investigate the ways in which racial diversity is represented, paying particular attention to the types of roles these characters are assigned. Our film seeks to capture the ways in which stereotypical representation, interracial pairing, and racial ambiguity are presented in popular children’s programing. This project advocates for a growing Critical Media Literacy by encouraging children, parents, and teachers to question social norms and behaviors delivered through these television programs. |
Gay for Pay (cm178) |
"Gay for Pay" explores how LGBT representations by celebrities and non-celebrities alike are used for media spectacle, career advancement, and financial gain. The documentary aims to make viewers conscious of the often hidden motives and ideologies that pass across TV screens, through movie theaters, and over radio waves. Although LGBT representations have often fallen short of empowering, the recent abundance of them gives hope toward confronting heteronormativity. |
Beyond the Stat Sheet: Sports, Scandal, and Society (cm178) |
"Beyond the Stat Sheet" explores the relationship between professional athletes, media, and society. The film lays out the importance of sports in American culture and explains the rise of modern sports spectacles and how scandals involving sex, drugs, and violence have become nearly as, if not more, important than performance on the field. Building upon this foundation, the film delves into social learning theory and examines whether or not athletes should be held accountable as role models for young fans. |
Media EffXXX: Let's Talk About Sex (cm178) |
This documentary examines how the glamorization and saturation of sex in media can affect audiences' attitudes towards sexual behavior in everyday life. In particular, we explore how depictions of casual/unsafe sex provide a potentially unrealistic portrayal of sex and often fail to include the potential consequences of these kinds of relations. As this may have adverse effects on audiences, we emphasize the importance of critical media literacy about sex and media effects. |
Prison High (cm178) |
This production provides a critical look at the "School to Prison Pipeline," and focuses on ways in which a disproportionate number of black and brown youth in urban communities are essentially channeled into prisons from schools. Specifically, this documentary illuminates how policies and practices within our educational system serve to either alienate or punish students, rather than to educate or uplift them. |
Black Tassels: Media Representations of Black Men in Higher Education vs. the REAL Thing (cm178) |
Black Tassels focuses on a diversity of media's representation of race and schooling pertaining to African American men. Black males are among the least likely to graduate from high school, and many experts argue that this is due, in part, to media's misrepresentations, which can also mediate low enrollment rates in universities and colleges. This documentary examines stereotypes of Black men, in many media forms, which includes: the rapper; gangster; geek; athlete; and entertainer. This video production further explores media depictions of black males in higher education and compares this to the realities of college educated black men's experiences. |
The Age Divide (cm178) |
This 10-minute documentary explores the American Anti-Age movement and how the race to hold onto youthfulness has changed the face of the old as well as the young. Through our own research as well as the utilization of several interviews we delve into this controversial (yet seldom covered) topic and discuss what the desire to be forever young implies. We found that despite being a process in which we all take part, it is seen as a disease in our dominant culture. As baby boomers grow older, more and more of our culture has turned to focus on maintaining an appearance of youthfulness primarily through consumption of superficial products that seemingly help bridge the divide. Our project focuses heavily on the gender discrepancies within the Anti-age movement and how nearly every aspect of this phenomenon is magnified for women (although it is still an issue for men). We want to push people to ask what being young even means in this era and, ultimately, why everyone wants to be young. Our goal with this project is to incite thoughtful questions about our own feelings towards age and aging as the current youth. |
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X & O (Edu204A)
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This film unveils the athlete/jock identity. It explore current stereotypes of both "athletes" and "jocks." Because the media plays a significant role in educating the masses, it attributes the origin of the stereotypes to the media. Media specialists comment on the role of the media. The film shows how each interviewee acknowledges the stereotype, qualifies its "truth," and identifies as "athlete." It proposes, therefore, to apply standpoint theory as a means to filter the essentializing media representations of athletes. |
Living Standpoint Theory (Edu204A)
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Narrated personal vignettes connect the development of individual consciousness to the understanding of a larger global community. This Power-Point presentation utilizes Sandra Harding's Stand Point Theory to explore the intersectionality of influences leading to self growth and to the positioning of one's interconnectedness within the global collective. |
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Friend Me (cm178) |
What is a friend? "Friend Me" explores and compares social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace and their influence on society, including issues of privacy, the concept of friendship, and how social networking is changing how we see our relationships with others. |
Milgram Nation: Why Torture is No Shock (cm178) |
Milgram Nation is a documentary looking to understand the paradox of Americans' moral repulsion toward the prospect of torture at the hands of soldiers while at the same time how people have become desensitized to it through the institutions of corporate media in conjunction with governmental policies, identified as the military-industrial media complex. We introduce our investigation with the infamous social scientist, Stanley Milgram's 1960's experiment on people's unwavering obedience to authority figures. Many experts have argued that after 9-11, the Bush administration consciously exploited the fears and disorientation of Americans allowing the Bush administration, essentially stripping Americans of their constitutional rights. Also, it ignored and overrode the Geneva Conventions international law on humanitarian treatment of all victims and prisoners of war. Hence, torture was openly supported by those in positions of power and has rapidly expanded to a variety of experiences and practices of everyday life. |
Education for the Masses Not Just for the Ruling Classes (cm178) |
This documentary presents an analysis of the effects of the recent budget cuts and fee hikes on the university system, and UCLA in particular, through the lens of critical pedagogy. California's Master Plan guaranteed the right for any student to have a low-cost "tuition free" public higher education; this is no longer true. Class sizes are growing, resources are becoming more scarce and tuition is spiraling upward. Is this a result of a simple state budget shortfall, or is there more to the story? We present a slice of the bigger story. What do the UC budget cuts and fee hikes mean in the greater context of social and economic justice? What effect will the budget cuts have on our university's quality of education? |
"Reds v. Board of Education" (cm178) |
Almost 60 years after the Supreme Court's historic ruling in Brown v. Board of Education declared that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional, segregation continues to beleaguer American schools. What accounts for the gap between the promises of the civil rights movement and the poor quality of education for many African American students? In ?Reds v. Board of Education,? filmmaker Shawn Van Valkenburgh suggests that the US Government may have had ulterior motives in supporting desegregation, contributing to mere surface level changes to an educational institution founded upon systemic racism. |
I Am An American Girl (cm178) |
Do the American Girl dolls truly represent what it means to be an American girl? I'm an American Girl is a brief documentary exploring the politics of representation in the American Girl doll line. Through interviews with professors, former American Girl consumers, and parents of American Girl consumers, I'm an American Girl assess the racial and gender ideologies perpetuated to American children and public. This documentary not only exposes and questions the marketing strategies of these media corporations, but contests that the capitalistic system is the root of the problem. |
Spitballs at Battle Ships: A Show and Tell of Women in the News (cm178) |
This -documentary reveals and examines the sexism and misogyny embedded in television news minibroadcasts, through what the news shows us and what it tells us. Are women agents or victims in sexist news-making, what are the consequences when newscasters resist the sexism, and what are the consequences of sexist news broadcasting on the public? A discussion of alternative media and tools for resistance is provided. |
Stolen Lands (cm178) |
This film is about the domination and control of the United States and its ability to create war in order to maintain its hegemony in the Middle East specifically Iraq and Afghanistan. Through various interviews and media we uncover the consequences and effects of this war on the Iraq, Afghanistan and United States citizens. |
Segregation and Educational Inequality: The Doctrine of Believing in Brown v. Board Has No Place (cm178) |
This brief documentary explores the misconceptions around what actions were taken to eliminate segregation in America and in Los Angeles. Additionally, it reveals the truth about the segregation that permeates Los Angeles today and the risks of such a division between races. |
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Education and Empowerment: Through the Eyes of Edith Omwami and Don Nakanishi (Edu204A)
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This short documentary (10 minutes) features Professors Edith Omwami and Don Nakanishi from the Social Science and Comparative Education division at UCLA, their backgrounds and research interests, as well as how their work deals with empowerment through education, activism, diversity, and political engagement. |
Val D. Rust: Outlaw in the Field of Comparative Education (Edu204A)
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Not only is Val D. Rust a valued professor within UCLA's Graduate School of Education, he is also vital to CIDE and the field of Comparative Education. Through this presentation we explore his life of travels, projects, and particularly, his works that have given him a reputation as... an outlaw. This project was created for the course 204A during the fall quarter of 2009. |
Bite Me (cm178) |
With all the movies and television shows that are created, it is a rare phenomenon when one hits the mainstream with such force and influence, but such was the case for the movie "Twilight". Our goal in filming a documentary about this societal mania was to look deeper in terms of why the notions of eternal life, love and commitment were so powerful to people (mostly females) of all ages. This is a documentary that depicts an aspect of our society that perhaps we as a whole do not often look into; what is missing, what are we all yearning for and what do people really hope for in the grand scheme of things. Ironically, the fantasy of vampire culture, as we found, was a very relevant mirror that reflects the pulse of our modern culture. |
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Undocumented Stories (cm178) |
Undocumented Stories is a short documentary on media portrayals of undocumented migrants in the U.S. In it we explore the use of the term illegal alien, the criminalizing of undocumented migrants and the reasons behind these migration flows. |
Inside the Digital Closet (cm178) |
Inside the Digital Closet is a documentary that examines the way in which current popular media links the queer community with negative characteristics, such as promiscuity. As a result, current media engages in an influential relationship with its audience that creates harmful stereotypes that are essentially oppressive to the community.
We integrated reality television clips as well as scripted shows to exemplify this stereotypical portrayal, and incorporated interviews that help define, analyze and solve this problem. |
Promoting Access, Equity, Academics, and Educational Excellence: |
The Center for Community College Partnerships is responsible for developing and strengthening academic partnerships between UCLA and California Community Colleges, particularly those in the UCLA service area. CCCP works with community college administrators and faculty to develop a campus wide transfer culture for all students, to strengthen and diversify the curriculum, to improve teaching pedagogy, to develop strong academic support programs, to increase the number of transfer-eligible community college students, to increase the diversity and academic competitiveness of the transfer applicant pool, and, ultimately, to increase the diversity of transfer students admitted to UCLA. |
Red, White, and Black (cm178) |
This documentary is a satire about the media's portrayal of the candidates in the 2008 Presidential Election. We incorporated clips from popular media and the internet along with interviews to get the view of the general public. |
The Merit-ocracy of Education: |
Five high school seniors from the Los Angeles school system share their struggles, their successes and their aspirations for getting into a university that will accept them based on more than just their grades and test scores. Meanwhile, a professor at UCLA challenges the new Holistic Review admissions process that just may be taking race into consideration when looking at applicants, a factor that became illegal with Proposition 209 in 1996. |
A Generation of Change: The Historic 2008 Presidential Election |
This short documentary explores the 2008 Presidential Election of Barack Obama through the eyes of four interviewees from different generations. It highlights the historic nature of the election as it relates to change made possible by the struggles of previous generations by engaging the past and present in dialogue. Interviewees discuss aspects of personal importance as well as their opinions of media coverage. The main message is that a change has occurred and, with the recognition that there is more to be done, will continue. Viewers are purposefully left to interpret the meaning and aspects of change for themselves. |
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Sanctity of Marriage (cm178) |
The purpose of this film is to present the multiple dimensions of ideology and resistance regarding same sex marriages. The use of critical media literacy is used in this film as a tool to illustrate the hypocrisy and absurdity of those that argue that same sex marriages threaten the "sanctity of marriage". This film will demonstrate the flaws with this argument and visually articulate the complexities regarding this issue. |
Muslim Women: Constructed Representations (2006 - cm178) |
The documentary depicts how images are used to perpetuate a one-dimensional infantilized view of Muslim women, and then expands the perspectives multi-dimensionally. |
Are You Black Enuf? The Politics of the Black Female Identity (2007 - cm178) |
Societal constructs and implicit stereotypes of black women have created a definition of "blackness" far removed from reality. What does it mean to be "Black Enuf" in the 21st century? And what are the assumptions placed upon black women? Our film seeks to explore the meaning of "blackness" in regards to the black female experience and examine the intersectional identity of black women who face multiple oppressions due to race, sex and class and culture. Another theme that is visited is the impact of the media on how black men have been conditioned to view black women in negative ways and how this internalization has been perpetuated. We hope that our film eradicates myths and stereotypes circulated by the media and causes us all to think about the politics of the black female identity. |
Terror ON the Air: Muslim Misrepresentation in the Media. (cm178) |
Following the events of September 11, 2001, a media onslaught ensued aimed at an entire religion. Terror ON the Air analyzes the Nation of Islam and the politics of how that group is represented in the media, especially post 9/11. The video discusses how people of color have been historically represented in the media, the dangers of certain representations and how important language and critical media literacy are. This video is small effort to highlight these issues while we continue waiting on the world to change. |
Girl Geek ? (cm178) |
There is a prevalent stereotype of "geek" within our society and media. While a diverse and complex set of individuals, both men and women, self identify as geeks in real life, media portrayals are usually focused on the male geek. This short documentary explores the lives and media portrayals of female geeks. |
Now Showing Gender (cm178) |
Now Showing Gender will explore the role media plays in the socialization of femininity and masculinity. Media, more specifically advertisements and reality TV shows, have limiting definitions of masculinity and femininity. They promote societal ideals of masculinity by portraying males as dominant and agressive and cultivate ideals of femininity by depicting females as passive and subservient among other things. This counter hegemonic short-video montage will not only expose how media promotes these cultural ideas but will also reveal how individuals are socialized to take on certain roles. Similiar to other activist media, this video will shed light on the prevalent themes and messages hidden within advertisements and reality tv shows. |
Modelize Me (cm178) |
Modelize Me takes a critical look at the danger of the fad diet, the "Master Cleanse." We also look into the affects that the recent growth in blogs and real-life images of overly skinny celebrities can influence people's perception of what is a healthy way to loose weight. |
Hey: Where'd all my Money Go? (cm178) |
This film takes a look at the widespread outrage over escalating textbook prices for college students. For any student who has ever wondered where their hundreds of dollars go every quarter, this film is not to be missed. |
VOTING IN BLACK & WHITE: Politics of Race & Gender in |
Historically, the political power and landscape in America which covers the past 200 years has been ruled by white men. How much has really changed over the past 200 years in regard to race and gender in American Politics? Our film will explore the division of race and gender and portray the political discourse including the Post Re-Construction Era and the Suffrage Movement to the 2008 Presidential Election. We hope our film will categorize historic political change as well as capture how the media's hegemonic culture influences Voters, Candidates and American Politics. |
The Great Imbalance (cm178) |
"The Great Imbalance" is a short documentary that explores America's unhealthy relationship with food. In particular, we focus on two groups "anorexic women and the homeless" in order to juxtapose how both suffer from extreme malnutrition and serious health problems for two very different reasons: while the former chooses not to eat, the latter cannot choose the kinds of foods that they can eat. With this film, we want to explore the reasons behind the existence of these problems that will hopefully spark action for America to tackle these issues, and, in the end, have a much healthier relationship with food. |
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The Color of Invisible- Latinas in the American Media |
The Color of Invisible- Latinas in the American Media examines the invisibility and misrepresentation of Latinas in television and movies. It focuses on Eurocentric standards of beauty and body image as well as the essentialized, stereotypical imagery of those Latinas who are portrayed. The film looks at the effects of these pervasive images on identity formation in young Latina women. |
'Staging Resistance' (cm178) | 'Staging Resistance' is a video documentary that examines the current impact of women in the counter-culture music scene in Los Angeles. The video addresses the importance of having a space within which to challenge traditional, mainstream ideals of music and performance, which historically, have been male-dominated. Using the stage as a site of resistance to heterosexist, patriarchal norms and expectations, we look to two Los Angeles-based bands and one DJ who all have a particular approach to artistic and musical expression. The video aims to highlight the social significance of female artists specifically, who contribute to counter-hegemonic resistance by subverting gender role expectations and create a sense of community among musicians and audiences alike. |
The Continuum: Hip Hop (cm178) |
Hip Hop is a continuum of a movement evolving from the civil rights era. It is continuously evolving with each generation as a voice narrating their realities. It is an emerging culture that will never die just simply evolve with the new generation of hip hoppers. |
Hair Peace (cm178) |
An alternative media project exposing the realities of women's hair issues, questioning the stereotypical images presented in the media and the related societal expectations. |
Deconstructing the Superhero: American Idols in Film (cm178) |
This film offers insights into the superhero genre including the reasons people like them, their relationship to religious iconography, the importance of the dual identity and direct political themes. These include the anti-democratic narrative structure of many of the films, their proximity to social anxiety and desire and transgressive and utopian traces in the films. We use a combination of interviews, images and movie clips to deconstruct the films. |
[projected masc] (cm178) |
For most, secondary sources define our "experience" of war. Technically, it is often secondary sources from other secondary sources (for example, a person creating a first-person shooter video game when their only experience of war is through a fictional movie depicting war). With each added filter, we become exponentially detached from war as anything but an ideological fad. We did not attempt to deconstruct these filters. Rather, the interviews were done through an added filter of projected war images. Projecting images of war onto four men, we asked them to project back to us their relationship to war, militarism, politics, and masculinity. [projected masc] did not begin with an ideological goal. We didn't set out to prove or disprove a theory, merely to explore a process. |
Has The Media Killed Feminism? (cm178) |
The purpose of our film is to juxtapose current understandings of feminism within the media and see if that correlates with ordinary peoples understanding of the topic. Because feminism is often misunderstood or portrayed negatively, it was our goal to see how much of this negativity comes from pop-culture (read: mass medias) portrayal of it. |
My Crown and Glory (cm178) |
This satirical project juxtoposes "minorities' hair and non-traditional white hairstyles , hair color and hair texture to mainstream white America's standards of beauty with regards to hair. This production also includes cameos by celebrities and political figures. |
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Commodifying Lolita: |
Commodifying Lolita: The Hypersexualization of "Tweens" in America by highlighting the influence of celebrities, entertainers and fashion marketing, "Commodifying Lolita" examines the hypersexualization of young, American girls between the ages of 8 and 12. The film investigates media and advertisers and raises the idea of the connection between the hypersexualization of young girls and the prevalence of pedophilia in America. Our film questions why a society that claims to oppose pedophilia and child pornography seems to market images that promote the sexual exploitation of young girls. |
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A Question of Voice: Moving from Object to Subject (cm178) |
Los Angeles, a bustling metropolis of over ten million people, is currently composed of almost 50% Latinos and Latinas. Yet despite comprising nearly half the population, their voices are seldom heard in the mainstream media, and their lives are often absent or stereotypically portrayed. In downtown Los Angeles, a group of mothers at Leo Politi Elementary School are meeting each week for an autobiography-writing class called the Family Album Writing Workshop. While learning elements of the writing process—such as prewriting, editing, and revision—the women also have the opportunity to share their stories with each other, and to gain strength from their collective experiences |
Illuminations Website (cm178) |
The Illuminations Web page is an effort to politicize and disseminate the thought of the Critical Theory of the Frankfurt school and to point to new trajectories that have taken place in this tradition. The Illuminations web page has retained all of the valuable resources of the former Illuminations web site while also enhancing the original intent of the Illuminations web site by providing new information and resources on the so called Third Generation of the Critical Theory tradition. This new mapping of Critical Theory highlights its advances in fields such as Feminist Theory, Critical Theory of Race, Critical Prison Studies, Postcolonial studies, and education. Moreover, the illuminations web site offers a multimedia archive that will have important and interesting discussions and interviews with critical theorists and educational theorists such as Herbert Marcuse, Ivan Illich, and Paulo Freire. Students and researchers will be able to access essays and multimedia archives from a site that situates Critical Theory in a historical framework that allows visitors to view a genealogy of the thought of Critical Theory. Illuminations will thus serve as an indispensable resource for researchers and students who are working in the field of social theory. (2004) |
The Old Boy's Club: Politics of Representation in Hollywood |
Utilizing data from over 1,300 TV shows and top box office movies, Dr. Darnell Hunt (Director of the Bunche Center for African American Studies) lays out a case for increased diversity in Hollywood. Dr. Hunt's statistical findings clearly demonstrate that Hollywood is way behind the times when it comes to the representation of non-whites and women both on and behind the screen when compared to the make-up of the general U.S. population. Additionally, his findings point to the fact that TV shows and movies with diverse talent on screen and/or behind the scenes tend to fair better in ratings and in the box office. |
Thinking From Women Lives: Sandra Harding, Standpoint & Science |
"In one sense all feminist work uses standpoint; it all starts from the lives of women. That's what makes it feminist." Sandra Harding is a Professor of Social Sciences and Comparative Education in the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Sciences. Harding, Standpoint Theory, and her contributions to it are taught in women's studies and philosophy courses around the world. Harding work in feminist philosophy and science studies has been groundbreaking and her substantial body of published work includes The Science Question In Feminism (1986), Whose Science? Whose Knowledge?: Thinking From Women’s Lives (1991), Is Science Multicultural?: Postcolonialisms, Feminisms, and Epistemologies (1998), and Science and Social Inequality: Feminist and Postcolonial Issues (Race and Gender in Science) (2006). Thinking from Women's Lives: Sandra Harding, Standpoint, and Science is an educational video designed for the undergraduate classroom. This video frames standpoint epistemology with broader connections to multiple feminist concepts making it not only a portrayal of Sandra Harding's work but an informative introduction to the field of women's studies as well. Featuring interviews with and a lecture by Sandra Harding, this video gives an overview of how Standpoint Theory came about, its history and applications, its relation to science, and how it is still useful today. Says feminist theorist and critical media literacy expert, Dr. Rhonda Hammer of the project, As Professor Harding explains it in this video: "To do research that's for women is to make women subjects of history and knowledge." Interviewing her was an amazing experience, says video creator Loran Marsan, who was immediately captivated by Harding's charisma and ability to explain not only complex feminist theory and her own work within it but also concepts about the philosophy of science and the field of science studies. Indeed, according PhD graduate student Saru Matambanadzo, who employs Harding's ideas and writings in her own research and is interviewed in this video "She is truly one of the rock stars of feminist theory." Loran Marsan is a doctoral student in UCLA's Women's Studies Department. Her research interests include cultural studies, film theory, queer theory, and postcolonial studies, as well as film production. She produced this video under the advisement of Professor Rhonda Hammer with funds from the Graduate Summer Mentorship Program and the Department of Women's Studies |
A Quest for Social Justice - a documentary on Dr. Carlos Alberto Torres
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A Quest for Social Justice uses multimedia to highlight the research agenda of Dr. Carlos Alberto Torres, a scholar with a history of academic production and work in the social sciences. Organized around several themes, this 38 minutes video presents a body of work that has spanned over 30 years and focuses on transformative movements in education. The central topics of the video are sub-divided into two sections, the first containing three sub divisions and the second four subdivisions, an initial part explores the roots of Dr. Torres' praxis and the second part illustrates his theoretical work. The first section includes Theology of liberation, Adult Education and Comparative Education, each of these areas explores the foundations of Dr. Torres' commitment to uplifting the underserved. Theology of liberation, includes an analysis of organized religion's role in supporting the poor; With an emphasis on the work of Paulo Freire, adult education illustrates the process of empowering the oppressed; and comparative education presents the international commonality of cultural differences and sociological struggles. The second section covers the mechanics of the political sociology of education in western society. It includes Neoliberalism, The State, Globalization(s) and Democratic-Multicultural-Citizenship. Neoliberalism is explained as a cornerstone of today's capitalist society; The State examines neoliberal responses to education; Globalization(s) identifies the logic of neoliberal proliferation; and finally Democratic-Multicultural-Citizenship presents counter-hegemonic answers with education as its tool for promoting social justice across society. The documentary, directed by two UCLA GSE&IS Ph.D. graduates in Comparative Education in collaboration with a video production professional, uses an original form of presenting a research agenda to demonstrate the application of Dr. Torres's work to social problems affecting education challenges in a neoliberal, globalized world. It is intended to incite intellectual dialogues around the method used and the themes illustrated. The content can be employed to introduce the work of Dr. Torres to undergraduate and graduate students alike as well as to aid in teaching its application to modern day education problems and challenges. Likewise, the form can be used as a model of how multimedia can be a powerful tool to promote critical understandings of society. |
Kellnerian Cultural Studies 2012 |
In this documentary, Cultural Studies is introduced and discussed through the lens of Douglas Kellner's thought and work. It features interviews with Professor Kellner as well as other scholars in the field. |
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