Part II of our Language & Literature course focuses on our relationship with the Media.
We are going to explore various different forms of “Mass” media and the intended effects it has on an audience. More specifically, we are going to discuss issues like social norms, stereotyping, the boomerang effect, cultivation theory, and more. Looking at how the mass media not only manipulates such things for entertainment or marketing purposes; but how the media becomes a cog in a larger puzzle where we are heavily influenced.
AoK: Ethics, The Arts, History, Human Sciences, Natural Sciences
Terminology: Point of view, mood, tone, setting, juxtaposition, paradox, irony, metaphor, allusion, symbolism, the Media Cycle, marketing, target audience, demographics, focus groups, surveys, medium(s), spin, bias,
Text Types:
- News Reports – written and film
- Print Advertisements
- Television commercials
- Political cartoons
- Public service announcements
Assessments:
- Written Task 1 [WT1]
- Further Oral Activity [FOA]
Writing Genres:Feature article, Opinion column, Op-Ed, Review, Blog, Vlog, Talk Show, Interview.
Unit – Reel War
Mass Media, especially the news, film and now video games – are littered with the language of war. We are all aware of these terms, but to what extent has this particular lexicon worked its way into our everyday lives? Although war itself is unfortunately a daily occurrence, how then have we become so laissez-faire and apathetic in the face of these atrocities?
Significant Concept: Communication is a source of power, it is key to expression and organization – so how can manipulating the language we use to describe conflict(s) effect our perception of said conflict?
TOK Links:
WoK – Language, Emotion, Reason, Sensory Perception
AoK – Ethics, The Arts, History, Human Sciences
Terminology: Point of view, tone, structure, setting, mood, character arcs, diction, allusion, figurative language
Text Types:
Advertising: Propaganda Posters & Recruitment advertisements throughout the years
TV and Movies:
Glory (1989) Dir. Edward Zwick
Passchendaele (2008) Dir Paul Gross
Platoon (1986) Dir Oliver Stone
Three Kings (1999) Dir David O. Russell
M.A.S.H. TV series (1972-1983)
Novels: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Noer
War Poetry:
Flanders Field by J McRae
Not to Keep by R. Frost
Aftermath by Siegfried Sassoon
Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen
America by Claude McKay
I, Too, Sing America by Langston Hughes
Assessment:
- FOA
- Written Task 1
Lang & Lit Classroom 