Katie Rust, CLAS '13
Often the first reaction to encountering a new text is to ask what it means; what message is it trying to communicate, what ideas does the author want the reader to grasp? These questions assume a central correct reading in every text chosen for its audience to be interpreted in a particular manner. However, it [...]
Anna Kovatcheva, CLAS '12
A desolate, yellowed landscape. A rider on horseback, wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
These are instantly recognizable trademarks of the classic Western. Recently, this image appeared on the promotional posters for The Walking Dead, AMC’s drama about a group of survivors trying to make their way through a post-apocalyptic America destroyed by a zombie plague…
Njeri Gachathi, CLAS '12
Joseph Goebbels, the Third Reich’s Propaganda Minister, once noted that the “best propaganda is not that which is visibly evident, rather it is the one that works invisibly, one which permeates public life without public life having any actual knowledge of the propaganda initiative.”[i] Although Goebbels was part of the Axis Powers, his sentiments were [...]
Katie Rust, CLAS '13
Mass media outlets have been immensely important in shaping the American conception of war for generations, particularly due to the fact that the United States has very little physical evidence of lasting war damage relative to other countries worldwide. Media sources such as the newspaper press, television broadcasts and even radio reports have historically had [...]
Grace Garcea, CLAS '13
President John F. Kennedy was a television and media President. He manipulated the press and the public to create the perfect image for the American public. Although winning the presidency with a narrow margin, Kennedy developed a strong relationship with the American public, and a large segment of the population saw him and his family [...]
Stephane Glynn, CLAS '13
People love Hollywood film trailers. They are the only type of commercial that routinely keep audiences engaged and interested. They often generate more excitement than the movies that follow them in the cinema. But what exactly comprises a Hollywood film trailer? Some consider them commercial in nature. Others consider them cinematic narratives. Some, like author [...]
Jessica Hatch, CLAS '12
I remember sitting on our couch and staring at the gray paneled walls. I didn’t want to look at either of them. I remember asking if they’d tried to work things out and then feeling stupid for asking. My spit had a thick, metallic taste and was hard to swallow. I felt like I was [...]
Wei Eris Qian, CLAS '13
Abstract Extensive research has focused on the power relations in Chinese families with only children. Only children are usually considered to be self-centered and spoiled, enjoying higher power position in the families than their counterparts in families with multiple children. This paper will analyze this phenomenon through media audience research, focusing on the behavior pattern [...]