Discourse & Identity I & II (Discussion)

Ann Kaplan discusses four particular, political approaches feminists have taken to television:

1. liberal/bourgeois
2. Marxist
3. radical
4. post-structural

Main cast

• Julie
• Heather
• Becky
• Andre
• Norman
• Kevin
• Eric

Group 1

1. You are a liberal/bourgeois feminist. Analyze the Jamaica trip episode of The Real World. What is your opinion of it? From your perspective, what does it say about gender relationships? Does the ep have a moral or "message"? Do you approve of it? Refer to specific lines of dialog or actions that support or are contrary to liberal feminism.

Group 2

1. You are a Marxist feminist. Analyze the Jamaica trip episode of The Real World. What is your opinion of it? From your perspective, what does it say about gender relationships? Does the ep have a moral or "message"? Do you approve of it? Refer to specific lines of dialog or actions that support or are contrary to Marxist feminism.

Group 3

1. You are a radical feminist. Analyze the Jamaica trip episode of The Real World. What is your opinion of it? From your perspective, what does it say about gender relationships? Does the ep have a moral or "message"? Do you approve of it? Refer to specific lines of dialog or actions that support or are contrary to radical feminism.

Group 4

1. You are a post-structural feminist. Analyze the Jamaica trip episode of The Real World. What is your opinion of it? From your perspective, what does it say about gender relationships? Does the ep have a moral or "message"? Do you approve of it? Refer to specific lines of dialog or actions that support or are contrary to post-structural feminism.

All groups

1. What does Kate Millett's term, "sexual politics", mean? What are the sexual politics of The Real World episode we viewed?

Bibliography

1. Jeremy G. Butler, Television: Critical Methods and Applications (NY: Routledge, 2011).