The question that drives my interest in media is: how is society shaped by media? I want to understand how different communities and their cultures are affected by the media they consume. For example, I’m interested in investigating how different communities see themselves represented in movies, TV, music, and advertising. I’m planning on focusing primarily on traditional media in my research paper, specifically film.
Movies have been so important in shaping my identity and discovering what is possible for me, particularly those directed by women for women. Online discourse and information surrounding film in general has also made me a much more critical consumer. Understanding the conventions and history of film has helped me decipher the intent and message behind some of my favorite movies and empowered me to demand more from filmmakers and the industry.
I want to understand what makes a movie a cultural touchstone and how members of that culture respond to it. How can one movie alter a niche community and cement its place in the cultural cannon? How do different communities respond to this movie? How do we analyze diversity in culture and film with an intersectional lens?
These are all questions that I hope to answer through this class as well as my own research.