After completing Module 7 on media use with adolescents, reflect on the impact of pop culture and media on early adolescent development. Watch two 30-minute episodes from different shows intended for this audience (pre-teen or early teen: ages 11-15) on Nickelodeon, Disney, or something similar. Name the shows in your paper. It must be a minimum of 5 pages. Do NOT number your paragraphs; you may begin each with the questions instead. See the grading rubric for expectations.
Answer these questions separately about each show:
1. Name the shows and describe the main characters (ages, gender, SES, personality, family structure and life situation).
2. What is the main plot of the show? The conflict?
3. Are the conflicts appropriate for this stage or are they too immature or mature for these pre-teens or early teens? Use an APA formatted in-text citation from the textbook to support your conclusion.
4. Are the characters’ behaviors appropriate for the age they are portraying? Use an APA formatted in-text citation from the textbook to support your conclusion.
5. Give specific examples of the relationships between teens and adults or other authority figures. Do you feel the teens’ attitudes are respectful or not? Do the adults respond in a positive, respectful, yet authoritative manner?
6. Are there any themes or clothing that oversexualize pre-adolescents, or hyper-exaggerate gender?
7. Do you believe the conflicts were resolved in a healthy way?
8. What overall message do these episodes send to teens? Do you judge the messages appropriate or not? Use an APA formatted in-text citation from the textbook to support your conclusion.
9. If you could re-write any part or character from the shows to send a better message to this audience, what would it be?
10. Reflect on your views of how pop culture shapes pre-teens and teen behavior and attitudes and what actions you’ll take in the future based on your conclusion.
