Final Paper
I chose to do my paper on prompt number one and really go into why women need to be studied. I chose to take a look at popular culture and discuss what so many people are missing when they watch the most seen shows on television and in cinema. I discussed the ideas of Bell Hooks, Laura Mulvey and ideas from other sources. I also discussed what people were missing and what they were buying into when they watched what popular television had to offer. Take the show, "Grey's Anatomy" this show has many stereotypes in it that ignore the ideas of feminisim. They display the many boxes that women are put intio such as, dumb and pretty, smart and ugly....They go on and on. The point is that this show puts out all of these ideas and is watched by many Americans regulary. These people may not know who the great feminist theorists are and what ideas they have to offer. Therfore they are being fed this garbage about what women should be. Until everyone is at least informed on these topics, there will be no change in how women are seen. This is why I felt women need to be studied.
I also looked into how these ideas connect to race, sexuality and gender ideals. I studied shows like "Real World" and "Will and Grace" reruns. In each one I found most of the same ideas. None of these groups of people had any place in television or in Hollywood that didn't include certian stereotypes or ideals of what and how we should act and think. Some of these people, especially when it came to race were kept invisable all together, giving them no voice at all. What is the public taking away from this, other than the fact that being a homosexual is shameful and funny, and people of color should not be seen. Looking at this, obviously there is still a need for feminist studies!!!