write a CRITICAL ANALYSIS on media and entertainment culture as a vehicle for democracy and civic engagement. This is your opportunity to choose a media artifact (a media event, an artistic production, a cultural artist/figure/personality etc.) that is culturally situated as part of entertainment culture that has some meaning to you, and utilize the theoretical tools you have learned in class to analyze this media artifact and discuss how/why your chosen artifact does/does not reflect an opportunity for media/entertainment to function in the service of democracy and civic engagement.
To develop a focused argument, you need to choose and discuss a media/entertainment artifact that is culturally situated as part of entertainment/media culture. The artifact that you choose must be current (i.e. took place no earlier than January 1, 2023) AND it can’t have been discussed in class lectures, featured on class PPT slides, or shared as part of any student presentation.
Once you have chosen an artifact, you will need to critically analyze this form of media/entertainment culture in terms of the following question: can media/entertainment culture be an effective vehicle for democracy and civic engagement. This paper asks that you talk about the potential for media and entertainment culture to be a vehicle for democracy and civic engagement. Using the theories and debates raised in class, discuss how/why your artifact/example reflects the potential for media/entertainment to either promote or limit democracy and civic engagement. You will need to discuss the context that both shapes and determines this potential. This means you are expected to address the following questions: What is the role of media/entertainment in promoting or limiting democracy and civic engagement, and in what ways does your example illustrate the power of entertainment and media to either promote or limit democracy and civic engagement?
You are expected to use 2 different sources from class, in addition to 1 outside (academic or non-academic) source. This means that you are asked to build your argument by using and discussing 2 readings after the midterm and 1 outside academic or non-academic source such as newspaper articles, blogs, podcasts, tweets, Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok or WeChat posts, etc. All popular communication is admissible, as popular discourses reflect the current cultural, political and economic context within which these discourses are debated/discussed.
Conduct your critical Analysis on the popular talk show, “Last week tonight” with John oliver. Discuss how the show promotes democracty and civic engagement by listing a minimum of 3 reasons.
2 class sources (linked below)
1 outside source: https://twitter.com/DewaynePerkins/status/1270053404883120129
Utilize this source to demonstrate how the show overall acts as a vehicle alongside the platform to promote political discussion
Ensure that you include a works cited page and site your sources. (Any style to site is accepted)
Feel free to reach out with any questions
