Using arguments by Sarah Boxer, Diana Kendall, Jean Kilbourne, Michael Kimmel, and Joan Morgan as a springboard, take a leap into the world of pop culture or advertising to explore how certain media establish or perpetrate gender-related cultural myths and values that shape our attitudes and behavior. The material for your analysis may include printed ads, billboards, TV soaps, commercials, music videos, songs, and film. What is the psyware that we unknowingly get with the tempting content of marketing and entertainment? The purpose of your analysis is to make your readers aware of the underlying warrants, tacit assumptions, and implicit messages that these media convey with regard to gender.

QUESTION

Using arguments by Sarah Boxer, Diana Kendall, Jean Kilbourne, Michael Kimmel, and Joan Morgan as a springboard, take a leap into the world of pop culture or advertising to explore how certain media establish or perpetrate gender-related cultural myths and values that shape our attitudes and behavior. The material for your analysis may include printed ads, billboards, TV soaps, commercials, music videos, songs, and film. What is the psyware that we unknowingly get with the tempting content of marketing and entertainment? The purpose of your analysis is to make your readers aware of the underlying warrants, tacit assumptions, and implicit messages that these media convey with regard to gender.

Consider that your readers are adult consumers of pop culture, who are not familiar with the sources referenced in your analysis. Use summaries and paraphrase to avoid lengthy direct quotations (over 3 lines long) and cite all your references in MLA style.

In the opening paragraph, introduce the topic and provide pertinent background information to prepare your readers for your thesis. Present your thesis that orientates them toward detailed media analysis; state the purpose of your analysis. Make sure your thesis and your purpose match the task in the prompt.

In this project, you are expected to use multimedia sources for your analysis, which means that you should insert images, screenshots, or hyperlinks to accessible online content. Your analysis of a scene from, say, a TV show should include a brief summary of the context (relevant background information) so that your audience will follow your analysis which should dissect the scene to reveal the implicit message that targets its audience.

You may organize your essay thematically as Boxer or Kilbourne does: each relies on multiple evidence to prove her point. Or you may use one particular show to demonstrate a few implicit gender-related messages that its producers want the audience to absorb or accept.

Focus each body paragraph on a specific aspect of your thesis, providing references with your reasoning and commentary, as well as with appropriate supporting evidence from the assigned readings. Conclude each body paragraph with an appropriate summation.

Finally, wrap up your analysis with a brief overview of the media workings on our perception of gender and with an evaluation of the significance of your analysis for people

ANSWER

 Unveiling Gender-Related Cultural Myths in Media: A Critical Analysis

Introduction

In today’s world, the media plays a pivotal role in shaping our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, particularly when it comes to gender-related cultural myths and values. Advertisements, TV shows, films, music videos, and other forms of popular culture often perpetuate certain gender stereotypes and reinforce societal norms. By delving into the arguments put forth by Sarah Boxer, Diana Kendall, Jean Kilbourne, Michael Kimmel, and Joan Morgan, we can uncover the implicit messages conveyed by these media and shed light on the psyware we unknowingly consume. This analysis aims to make adult consumers of pop culture aware of the underlying warrants, tacit assumptions, and implicit messages surrounding gender.

Thesis

 Through an examination of various media forms, including printed ads, TV shows, music videos, and films, this analysis seeks to unveil the ways in which media perpetuate gender-related cultural myths and values, shaping our attitudes and behaviors. By exposing these implicit messages, we can foster a more critical and conscious engagement with media, promoting positive societal change.

Body Paragraphs

Gender Stereotypes in Advertisements

Printed ads, billboards, and commercials often reinforce traditional gender roles and perpetuate stereotypes. According to Sarah Boxer, advertisements often depict women as passive objects of desire and men as active agents (COMM Exam 4.docx – Communications | Segment 4 Exam Exam Due: Dec 2 Blue Vocabulary Words Green Assigned Reading Yellow Important Information MODULE #21: | Course Hero, 2022). For instance, many beauty product ads portray women as objects to be looked at, emphasizing physical perfection and reinforcing societal ideals of beauty. Such ads not only contribute to body image issues but also reinforce gender norms. An analysis of a beauty product advertisement featuring a flawless, airbrushed woman can reveal the implicit message that women should strive for unattainable perfection to be desirable.

Portrayal of Gender in TV Shows

TV shows, particularly soap operas, play a significant role in shaping our perceptions of gender. Diana Kendall argues that these shows often reinforce traditional gender roles and normalize certain behaviors. For example, a popular soap opera may depict female characters as emotional, dependent, and primarily concerned with relationships, while male characters are portrayed as dominant, assertive, and focused on career success. By analyzing a scene from such a show, we can highlight the underlying message that women’s value lies in their relationships and emotional labor, while men are valued for their achievements and power.

Objectification of Women in Music Videos

Music videos, as analyzed by Jean Kilbourne, often objectify women, reducing them to sexualized objects for male consumption. These videos frequently showcase women in provocative clothing, engaging in seductive poses, and serving as background decoration for male artists (Jean Kiilbourne: The Objectification of Women in Today’s. . . | ipl.org, n.d.). By examining a specific music video, we can uncover the implicit message that women are primarily valued for their physical attractiveness and sexual appeal, perpetuating harmful objectification and diminishing their agency.

Masculinity and Violence in Films

Michael Kimmel highlights how films often portray masculinity through violence and aggression. Action movies, for instance, frequently feature hypermasculine protagonists who solve problems through physical dominance and force. By dissecting a scene from an action film, we can reveal the implicit message that masculinity equates to power and violence, reinforcing harmful notions of masculinity and perpetuating a culture of aggression.

 Intersectionality and Cultural Myths in Pop Culture

Joan Morgan’s work emphasizes the significance of considering intersectionality in media analysis. Media often perpetuate gender-related cultural myths and racial and class-based stereotypes (Zeinali et al., 2021). By examining a particular film or TV show that showcases the intersectionality of gender, race, and class, we can unveil the complex web of implicit messages that shape our attitudes and behaviors, promoting further understanding and critical engagement.

Conclusion

Media, including advertisements, TV shows, music videos, and films,exert significant influence on our attitudes and behaviors regarding gender. By analyzing the implicit messages conveyed by these media forms, we can uncover the underlying gender-related cultural myths and values that perpetuate harmful stereotypes and norms. This analysis aims to make readers more aware of the psyware embedded in marketing and entertainment, encouraging them to critically engage with media and work towards dismantling these gender biases. By fostering a more conscious and critical relationship with pop culture, we can contribute to positive societal change and the creation of a more inclusive and equitable world.

References

COMM Exam 4.docx – Communications | Segment 4 Exam Exam due: Dec 2 Blue Vocabulary Words Green Assigned Reading Yellow Important Information MODULE #21: | Course Hero. (2022, February 25). https://www.coursehero.com/file/132366953/COMM-Exam-4docx/ 

Jean Kiilbourne: The Objectification Of Women In Today’s. . . | ipl.org. (n.d.). https://www.ipl.org/essay/Jean-Kiilbourne-The-Objectification-Of-Women-In-PJGCMJN5ZN6

Zeinali, Z., Muraya, K., Molyneux, S., & Morgan, R. (2021). The Use of Intersectional Analysis in Assessing Women’s Leadership Progress in the Health Workforce in LMICs: A Review. International Journal of Health Policy and Management. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijhpm.2021.06