Gender Identity and Culture

Do the gender stereotypes reflected (and exploited) in popular culture define and codify gender identity, or do they derive from fundamental, innate gender differences? To what extent do the messages about what it means to be male and female that we see in television, film, print, and web media influence our gender identities?

As you reflect on the gender stereotypes that pervade our culture, consider their implications: are they dangerous pigeonholes that limit understanding and personal growth (as many strident writers have noted), or are they less insidious charicatures, more deserving of playful mocking and armchair speculation (Dave Barry and Maureen Dowd) than passionate rebuke (Sut Jahlly and Jackson Katz in Tough Guise)? Additionally, what gender issues does screenwriter Tina Fey explore (and lampoon) in Mean Girls?

College Writing

The ability to think on your feet, to read a rich piece of prose, glean its purpose and message, and reflect that understanding in a well-reasoned, fully-developed essay defines much of the writing you'll be asked to do after high school. As you work to develop your skill at composing impromptu essays, consider the following elements of good writing:

• Clarity - Have you written a focused, controlling thesis?


• Specificity - Are your supporting examples specific enough?


• Coherence - Do your transitions allow your reader to follow your thinking easily?


• Concision - Have you said what you have to say in as few words as possible?


• Interest - Does your writing offer the reader any compelling insights?


• Stylistic Maturity - Does your writing demonstrate the control of language and basic adherence to rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics that college professors will expect?

Strive to enhance your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. Good writing need not be perfect writing. Above all, have something to say, and say it well.

Melting Pot or Salad Bowl?

As we continue our cultural identity discussions, be sure to look around you as you move through the hallways and pass through the commons. Is Groves a melting pot or a salad bowl? Does our school climate allow expression of cultural differences or are cultural differences minimized in order to highlight similarities between students? What are the benefits and potential drawbacks of "melting pots" and "salad bowls"? What pressures do students encounter to fit within the school's culture? Are there any costs for fitting in?

Does Groves reflect anything in larger American culture? You may consider Billy Collin's poem, "The Names," which includes many surnames of different ethnicities in a memorial for victims of September 11th or Lorraine Ali's essay, "Do I Look Like Public Enemy Number One," in which her father changes his name to "Allen" when he makes dinner reservations. What role does language play in preserving and establishing a cultural identity?

Fahrenheit 9/11: Persuasion or Propaganda?

Moore's controversial film attacks and ridicules President Bush and his administration for the failure to anticipate and respond effectively to the events of 9/11/01. Consider the message and methods of the film. Does it amount to a valid piece of rational discourse, mere ad hominem (argumentation through personal attack) propaganda, or something in between? How accurate is the evidence Moore presents in the film?

In his scathing critique of the film, writer Christopher Hitchens challenges Moore's film for its misrepresentation of facts and the manipulative way it presents information. After viewing the film and reading Hitchens' essay, begin a blog group discussion about the controversy. Brendan Nyhan's Spinsanity website also analyzes the film for factual distortions (and provides links to others who do as well). Still, Moore defends his facts and techniques on his own website. How can you determine who's right here?

Blog Beginnings: 9/11 and Popular Culture

Once you have sent Mr. Inloes the link to your blog, start a discussion thread among your group members concerning the impact that the events of 9/11/01 have had on popular culture. Was Wiltz right in discounting the dramatic pronouncements of pundits immediately following the event, or will daily American life be forever altered in a fundamental way? You may also want to respond to Sontag’s concerns about the “infantilization” of public discourse.

Has viewing the disturbing images from On Native Soil changed your perspective on the impact of 9/11 on our culture? The film’s stark editing and dramatic soundtrack evoke a visceral response to the documented events. I found myself watching with a lump in my throat, a factor of both the memories of the day and the style of the film.