Review

In the next lesson we will review for the final test. I will give you the test questions and you will have time to discuss them with your group.

The test (and last day of class) will be on January 7th.

Oral Reports

On January 17th and 24th we will have our oral reports. Each presentation will be 10 minutes long (about 5 minutes of you talking and 5 minutes of discussion).

Remember: make your visuals BIG or have handouts for the audience (have enough copies for 6 people). Also, make a list of questions for the audience to get them started in the discussion.

At the end of the class you will give me the outline of your report (references included).

If you have any questions please email me.

Happy new year!!

Why is no one watching TV in Japan?

The Japanese used to be the most TV-addicted people in the world. These days the audience has shrunk so much and so quickly that TV networks are struggling financially. Look at the questions below, choose one, then answer in the comments.

1. Where do you get most of your visual entertainment from? If not from regular TV, why not?

 

2. Why do you think fewer Japanese people are watching TV?

 

3. When you watch TV or other video entertainment, do you usually watch alone? If yes, why? If no, with whom do you usually watch?

 

4. What effects do you think the switch from analogue TV to digital TV had?

 

5. Some Japanese media analysts say that TV programs have become boring. Why do you think this might be happening? Do you agree?

 

6. Why do you think Fuji TV is broadcasting so many Korean TV programs? Why did people protest this?

 

New Media

In the December 12th class, we are going to look at what is called the “new media” and compare it to the “old media”. For homework, please watch James Surowiescki’s TED presentation where he begins his talk with the story of how new media (bloggers) covered the 2004 Sumatran earthquake/tsunami better than the old media (mainstream news). Start from 5:25 and watch about 3 or 5 minutes of this VIDEO then tell us what you learned in the comments. To the right of the video, you can click on “Interactive Transcript” and read while listening.

Current Events

In the next class please prepare to talk about a current event. Briefly explain its background, but more importantly, be sure to tell about why you think the media is covering the event or topic. You may use any source you like, but I have listed a few recommendations below…

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (current events presented in a comedy format)

Nikkei (Japanese news in English)

Pitchfork Media (music news)

Prospect (British news)

Slate (American news)

Spiegel (German news in English)

Uznews (news about Uzbekistan in English)

 

Written Report & Use of Statistics in the Media

Written reports are due on 11/29. Please email me if you have any questions or need a copy of the report tips/citation sheet!

Next class we will be talking about statistics and how the media can manipulate numbers to influence your opinions. Have a look at one of the websites below and in the comments write about something interesting you find.

1. NationMaster is a website that contains many different kinds of statistics comparing the different nations of the world. Click HERE to go to the website then select a category.

2. Worldometer shows statistics in real time as they are happening. Click HERE to see it.

3. Sometimes visual statistics are easier to understand. Look at some statistics from Squidoo HERE.

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Alternative Media

These media offer a choice that is different from the “mainstream” or usual media. Often they are free from the constraints of government or corporate control.

Experience Project and Library Thing are alternative social networking sites.

Free Radio Santa Cruz and Indymedia are alternative music and news sites.

Look at all four of the sites then write a comment about which site was most interesting for you and why.

Media Image vs. Reality

The media offers us many images every day. How realistic are they? For example, look at the headlines from many different newspapers. Are most of the stories about disasters, war, violence, terror, murder and other crimes? If you read these papers every day what kind of image do you get about the world?

Look at advertisements. How do the people look? What are they doing? What kind of personalities do you imagine they have? Seeing these kinds of people every day, what kind of image about youself do you get?

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Please answer one of these questions:

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1. What are the top stories in the news today?

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2. What are women characters usually like on Japanese TV dramas?

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3. What are men usually like in Japanese advertising?

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Media Imperialism

What is Media Imperialism?
Media imperialism is a theory that smaller countries are losing their identity due to the force-feeding of media from larger nations. Many think that media imperialism has led to biased information and inaccuracy within news stories.

The United States is often accused of committing media imperialism through its Hollywood films. People think that Hollywood forces American culture onto other nations and makes it difficult for native filmmakers to be successful. (adapted from here)

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Think about these questions and leave a comment.

1. Do you think Hollywood movies have too much influence in your country?

2. Do you see more American or more Japanese films?

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Book Banning

CENSORSHIP: when a person or group controls what others say, write or produce. Often they try to control the press, literature, and film, but recently social networks too. In the next class we will look at a specific type of censorship: book banning.

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The American Library Association keeps a record of book banning in the US (a country that supposedly has “free speech”). Look at their website HERE and in the comments tell us about one interesting thing you found in the statistics.

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Also, please THINK about: What books are banned in your country? Why do you think they are banned? Is there any book that you think should be banned?