IC

Exam Study Notes

Career Advice and Internship Opportunities

  • Importance of Internships:
    • To secure a career after college, students must actively seek internships and resources during their studies.
    • Colleges that provide better resources tend to have more success in helping students find employment.
  • CUNY Inclusive Economy (CIE) Program:
    • The film and media department has received funding for the CIE program, along with the human biology and economics departments.
    • The program is designed for media studies majors, with 200 exclusive spots available.
    • The goal is to help students secure paid internships and full-time entry-level roles after graduation.

CIE Program Details

  • Program Structure:
    • Tara Chiari (student-facing) and Jeanne (employer-facing) will work with students and faculty.
    • Students will complete an application form indicating their areas of interest and preferred workplaces.
    • Tara will provide career preparation, including resume and cover letter assistance.
    • Jeanne will secure internships and employment opportunities and connect them with suitable students based on Tara's recommendations.
  • Internship Timeline:
    • Peak internship application time is ongoing, particularly for fall internships.
    • Deadlines typically range from late June to mid-August, with rolling interviews.
    • Internships usually begin in late August or early September.
  • Program Requirements:
    • Students must meet with Tara at least once.
    • Attendance at program events is required.
    • Active application for internships and jobs is necessary to remain in the program.

CIE Application

  • Application Process:
    • Use the QR code provided to access the application for the CIE program.
    • After applying, students can schedule an intake meeting with Tara.
    • Tara and Jeanne are available full-time during the summer, both in-person and virtually, to answer questions and provide assistance.

Cultural Studies vs. Frankfurt School

  • Distinction:
    • Cultural Studies was influenced by the Frankfurt School, which examined media in relation to power and culture.
    • Cultural Studies emphasizes sociopolitical concepts such as race, class, and gender.
  • Birmingham School:
    • The cultural studies approach is also known as the Birmingham School.
    • It represents a school of thought rather than a physical university.

Key Aspects of Cultural Studies

  • Textual Analysis:
    • Cultural studies brings textual analysis to the forefront, examining media texts within their societal contexts.
    • Analysis considers societal factors that influence the production and reception of media.
  • Audience Studies:
    • Cultural studies differs from earlier audience studies (e.g., Payne Fund studies) by focusing on understanding audiences rather than making assumptions.
    • Janice Radway's Research: Radway's research on women who read romance novels revealed that these women were attracted to themes of rebellion, independence, and life outside domesticity, rather than just romantic fulfillment.
  • Political Economy:
    • Examines the interconnections among economic interests and political power in media production.
    • Noam Chomsky and Sut Jhally: Argue that the type of art and programming produced is directly tied to the economic system and capitalist nature of the producing company.
    • Example: News Coverage in the U.S.: The limited coverage of perspectives favoring universal health care may be linked to the sponsorship of news networks by insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
    • Diversity on Netflix: The increased diversity in Netflix programming compared to 1980s network television can be attributed to the profitability of targeting niche markets globally.
  • Counterpublics:
    • Critiques of the public sphere by scholars like Nancy Fraser, who coined the term "counterpublics".
  • James Carey:
    • An American communications scholar who emphasized the importance of studying everyday conversation, rituals, and communication as a process of belonging.
    • His work inspired organizational communications, focusing on motivation and bringing people closer together.
    • Carey challenged the idea of taking norms for granted, highlighting how they can change over time.

Analysis of Do the Right Thing

  • Influence and Power:
    • Considered one of the most influential and powerful films released in the U.S. in the last half-century.
    • Its power comes from cinematography, costume design, performances, and camera angles.
    • Presents a nuanced view of racism and community relations.
    • It does not have purely "evil" or "angelic" characters, instead showing the humanity of each character.
  • Inspiration and Context:
    • Inspired by the tragic, racist attack on 23-year-old Eddie Griffin in 1980s New York City.
    • Griffin was harassed and attacked by racist teenagers while seeking a phone after his car broke down.
    • The film addresses anti-Black violence and racism.
  • Cinematic Techniques:
    • Heat: Evokes a sense of tension through the use of heat, symbolizing the unrelenting tension throughout the film.
    • Cinematography: Ernest Dickerson used a lit can of Sterno in front of the camera to create heat waves on screen.
    • Low Angle Shots: Used to present characters like Radio Raheem as powerful or larger than life.
    • Dutch/Canted Angles: Slanted shots create unease and instability during tense moments.
  • Themes:
    • Power: The film questions what constitutes power and who wields it. It doesn't portray simple binaries of powerful vs. powerless characters.
    • Pizzeria: Functions as a character.
    • The song, "Fight the Power", is central to the film’s themes and conflicts.
  • Character Wardrobe: Pino is dressed to look as though he doesn’t belong, the intention behind this style choice shows the outsider’s perspective.
  • Key points from the film: Smiley, Martin Luther King, and Malcom X represent different approaches to tackling the issue of racism and race