Discussion Directions: Each weekly module will have a class discussion, with questions posed about the key concepts covered in that module and/or about an activity posted in that module. The purpose of the discussion forum is to foster student engagement and interaction. You will be expected to post an initial comment as well as post a comment or reply to ONE other student’s post, for a total of 2 posts each week.
There are a total of 5 Discussion Forum Posts and Replies, each worth 85 points, for a total of 425 points (42.5% of overall grade). Each weekly forum is worth up to 70 points for the initial post and 15 points for the reply comment to one other student’s post. Keep in mind that your discussion forum postings will be seen by other members of the course. Care should be taken when determining what to post. Please review the discussion requirements for this course below.
This week’s discussion helps you prepare for your final media project assignment, as this is a type of media analysis you could do (ie, music video analysis). Here, you’ll get practice writing a short media analysis.
Read this article: https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ent-music-videos-politics-0618-story.html (Links to an external site.)
Then, pick one of the 2 videos to analyze (watch both videos, so you can respond to peers who may have analyzed a different video, but only analyze one for your discussion):
1. Watch this Music video by Childish Gambino – “This is America” to analyze:
Childish Gambino – This Is America (Official Video) (Links to an external site.)
Childish Gambino – This Is America (Official Video)
OR
2. Watch this music video by Beyoncé & Frank Ocean’s called “Superpower” for your discussion analysis:
Beyoncé – Superpower ft. Frank Ocean (Links to an external site.)
Beyoncé – Superpower ft. Frank Ocean
Read the above article and watch “This is America” by Childish Gambino or “Superpower” by Beyoncé & Frank Ocean to analyze (still watch both, but only analyze one).
In this week’s discussion, briefly describe the music video you decided to analyze and what kind of music it contains and what’s it about.
Then analyze what the lyrics of the song says and compare them with the message of the music video.
Explain the metaphors and themes that show up in the video and lyrics that go beyond a literal interpretation.
What messages are being sent in the visual image and in the lyrics/script?
Be sure to include sources from the textbook, articles from class that we read for the week, from previous weeks, and/or additional outside sources.
Remember, to cite in APA style and format. See Owl Purdue website as a guide:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_overview_and_workshop.html (Links to an external site.)
Watch this short video on 5 facts on how to do a media analysis, as this will help you with this discussion post:
5 Facts on how to write a media analysis (Links to an external site.)
5 Facts on how to write a media analysis
