Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Thesis Proposal

Primary Texts:
Star Search
American Idol

My essay will compare these two shows to discuss the cyclical nature of television--that overall, television has not changed since the 'good ol days' of the 50s and 60s, and that the most popular shows on television are just nostalgic 'remixes' of the original shows.

Secondary sources:
Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television by Jerry Mander
"The Cultural Politics of Wifeswap: Taste, Lifestyle Media, and the American Family" by Sarah Matheson
"Food and Beverage Advertising on Television: A Comparison of Child-Targeted Versus General Audience Commercials" by Ron Warren
"Theorizing The Bachelorette: Waves of Feminist Media Studies"
"Haes/The Biggest Loser" by Beth Bernstein and Matilda St. John
"Domesticating Politics: The Representation of Wives and Mothers in American Reality Television" by Jim Brancato

Ultimately, my essay will classify Johnson's work as a socially irresponsible text which ignores the danger of proposing such an argument.

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