Critical Analysis Project #3
Critical Media Analysis
As more and more of our information and media come in non-print formats, it becomes increasingly important that we are able to apply the critical thinking and analytical skills developed in our classroom to a variety of formats. The goal of this critical media analysis project is for you to take the theories and ideas that we have been exploring in class and apply them to the critical analysis of a piece of non-print media. This assignment is not a summary of the media you’ve chosen; you can assume your audience is familiar with the film, episode, or album.
Central questions:
What novel or advanced technologies are depicted in the piece of media that you chose?
How are the ethics, values, or expectations of the fictional, future society communicated via the treatment of this new technology?
Is the technology regulated or unregulated?
Are there unaddressed ethical concerns?
Is the piece of technology that you’ve chosen to analyze based on a piece of technology that we already have or that is emerging in our current society?
This project has a few steps:
1. Choose one of the pieces of media listed below. There are film, television, and music options. Watch or listen to your chosen piece of media carefully. You will want to take notes while you watch/listen. You will probably want to watch/listen to your piece of media multiple times.
FILM
Big Hero 6 – 2014 animated film
Available for rent on DVD via the NCSU library or streaming via Amazon or Disney+
Bladerunner – 1982 film, based on a story by Philip K. Dick
Available for rent on DVD via the NCSU library or streaming via Amazon Prime
Minority Report – 2002 film
Available for rent on DVD via the NCSU library or streaming via Amazon
TV
Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 1, Episode 26 “The Neutral Zone”
Available on Netflix
“Arkangel” – Season 4, Episode 2 of Black Mirror
Available for streaming on Netflix
ALBUMS
Janelle Monae’s 2013 album: The Electric Lady
Available on Spotify
CLPPING’s 2016 album: Splendor and Misery
Available on Spotify or SoundCloud
2. Discuss your chosen piece of media with your classmates in the discussion forum that is designated on the Moodle site for that particular film/episode/album. Your initial post in this discussion forum should include a brief summary of your primary critiques of the piece including any portions that you found confusing or problematic and the specific piece of technology within the media that you are choosing to analyze. The purpose here is to give you the opportunity to discuss the material and your analysis of the material with your classmates in order to help each other expand your understanding and critique of the piece. Note: Each of the options listed has a corresponding discussion thread on the Critical Media Analysis Forum, which also includes a few framing questions that you may want to consider to help you put your piece of media into conversation with the other course texts. These are by no means the only questions open to you. – 10 total points
Did you post on the discussion board? Was it on time? – 5 points
Overall quality of the post – 5 points
3. Write a brief analysis (500-1000 words) of the piece incorporating your own critique with at least two of the readings that we have discussed in class. Citations for the two readings that you choose should be included in APA format. – 30 total points
Did you cite two readings? (5 points)
Is it roughly the right length? (2 points)
Does it show evidence of critical thought and analysis? (20 points–4 I
per response to each of the 5 Central Questions listed above)
Does your analysis generally follow the conventions and expectations of academic writing? (3 points)
4. Submit your analysis to the assignment portal on Moodle by midnight on the due date.
