FINAL

ASSIGNMENT
CRITICAL ANALYSIS ON
POPULAR CULTURE
 5 Paragraphs
Argumentative Essay
• Popular Culture & Mental Health
• Popular Culture & Gender
• Popular Culture & Digital Media
• Popular Culture & Global-Local
Dynamics

Choose 1 issue and

narrow it down into 1 specific topic
 Step 1
Ø 15 Groups (2-3 students)
Ø Choose 1 topic
Ø Narrow down the topic and find 1 case study/corpus
(< September 2021)
Ø Formulate a research question
Ø Ask ChatGPT
 EXAMPLE:
Ø Choose 1 topic: Popular Culture & Gender
Ø Narrow down the topic and find 1 case study/corpus
(< September 2021): Wonder Woman (2017)
Ø Formulate a research question: How does Wonder Woman
(2017) construct an empowered female representation?
Ø Ask ChatGPT
 EXAMPLE:
How does Wonder Woman (2017) construct
an empowered female representation?

Strong female characters

Female leadership roles
Powerful, non sexualized
Female empowerment and ressilience
Avoiding male-gaze narratives
 Step 2: Different Perspective(s)
Ø Ask an opposite question based on the
first question you asked
Ø For example: if the 1st question how
the case study/corpus affirm a certain
dominant ideology, you can ask
ChatGPT how it contest/negotiate with
the dominan ideology
 How does Wonder Woman (2017) construct
an empowered female representation?

How does Wonder Woman (2017) portray

a female character that affirm patriarchal ideology?
 EXAMPLE:
How does Wonder Woman (2017) portray
a female character that affirm patriarchal ideology?

Naive and innocent female character

Patriarchal approval
Lack of female solidarity
Male-dominated storytelling convention
 Step 3:
Ø Look at two questions and your
evaluation on ChatGPT’s answers
Ø Write a refined research question
Ø Use the keywords/phrases from what
your group evaluate on ChatGPT’s
answers
 EXAMPLE:
How does Wonder Woman (2017) challenge
sexism in superhero movies through the
representation of strong, resilient and
non-sexualixed female characters even
though the movie affirms a male-dominated
storytelling convention?
 Step 3: Individual Work
• Find 1 comparable case study/corpus (2023 until now)

• Use the (refined) research question to make a new

research question comparing the previous and

the new case study/corpus

 How do Wonder Woman (2017) and The Marvels (2023)
challenge sexism in superhero movies through the
representation of a powerful and non-sexualixed female
character even though the movies affirm a male-dominated
super hero storytelling convention?
STEP 4
• Write an outline for the 5 paragraphs argumentative essay
• Sample of analysis: choose 1 argument and use the data
from the case studies/corpuses to support your argument
Argument Wonder Woman (2017) The Marvels (2023)
Research findings show that Wonder In the …. scene, the camera does not linger in Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel), Kamala Khan
Woman is portrayed in a non Diana’s body parts and focuses on her combat (Ms. Marvel), and Monica Rambeau (Photon) are
skills and resilience. Laura Mulvey (1975) argues portrayed as powerful female super heroes with
sexualized way contesting the male- that ““In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, central roles in the narrative and driving the plot
gaze narratives commonly found in pleasure in looking has been split between with their super hero abilities. The costumes for
super hero movies. Similar findings are active/male and passive/female.” (p …) As Diana all three characters are practical and not
found in the analysis of The Marvels is being depicted in a non-sexualized way and sexualised. Similar to Wonder Woman’s
the camera is not used to emphasize on her costume, it is designed for combat. The way the
(2023) as the three female super hero sexuality, the movie contest the notion of male camera captures the costume’s functionality
characters are portrayed gaze that is mostly found in super-hero movies. emphasize on the idea of empowerment rather
……………………………………….. than sexualization of the female superheroes.
TIMELINE
15 May 2024
Group Work (output: individual comparative research question)

22 May 2024
Independent Work (output: outline + 2 samples of analysis)
Deadline: 28 May 2024 (midnight)

29 May 2024
Peer feedback

10 June 2024 (noon) 750 – 1000 words

Final Assignment Submission 5 paragraphs essay
A4, Times New Roman 12, 1.5 space
Bibliography
TITLE:

INTRODUCTION:
- ….
- ….
- Thesis statement (Research Question):

BODY PARAGRAPH 1:
- Topic sentence
- Sample of analysis 1
- …..

BODY PARAGRAPH 2:
- Topic sentence
- Sample of analysis 2
- …..

BODY PARAGRAPH 3:
- Topic Sentence:
- Supporting details
- Supporting details

CONCLUSION:
- …
- …

BIBLIOGRAPHY