Television Movies Advertising and you ?

Essential Question How do the television shows and movies we watch influence the way we see ourselves, the way we interact with those around us, and the manner in which we respond to the world in which we live?

Objectives With this “eStation” you will explore the question of how we are influenced by the television shows and movies we watch as well as the advertising surrounding those shows and films. This will include the following: Watch a section of the documentary “Consuming Kids” and respond to questions Read the short essay “Spudding Out” and respond by exploring your own “spudding” habits Watch a short YouTube video on “What Disney Princes and Princesses Teach Children” and respond with your own ideas about Gender lessons

Television and Movies Activity One: Watch the YouTube clip for the specific time section below and answer the questions. Use the URL below for the Video “Consuming Kids” and go to the times listed below. DO NOT watch the full video. After watching the 8min and 20 second clip answer the questions on the following slide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkei3KTh_vk Time : begin at 10: 33 and end at 18:50

Discuss the importance of the following quote: “I am not a film director; I am a toy maker.” What is your reaction to the explanation of the fact that advertisers are taking advantage of children's reliance on television characters as “touchstones” to make money. Did you have any television characters who were your childhood touchstones? Do you view them differently now that you have viewed this clip? Explain. What is your opinion of the creation of television programs and characters whose sole purpose is to sell products? Were you aware of this practice? Are you more or less likely to purchase these products now? Will you look for product placements in movies and television shows? Do you believe that product placements influence your purchases? Explain.

Television and Movies Activity Two: Read the short essay “Spudding Out”, and answer the questions below on your own paper. The article is located on the wiki. (Use the directional arrows on the top of the screen to rotate the page if necessary. “Spudding Out” is only the first 3 pages – STOP AT PAGE NUMBERED 149) 1.What differences does Ehrenreich note between what we see on television and in “real life”? Could we view these differences as a criticism of our lives or television? 2. Why do you think the term “Couch Potato” has not been commonly used in the recent past? Do you think people are still “spudding out”? What are the habits of your family and friends? 3. What is the satirical point Ehrenreich is making in this essay? Do you agree or disagree with her point? Explain. 4. What are your personal television watching habits? Do you crave the “real life” she describes?

Television and Movies Activity Three: Watch the YouTube video below on “What Disney Princes and Princesses Teach Children.” After watching the video respond to the questions on the following slide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yAqgatzuT0

What is the underlying message of this video? Do you agree or disagree with this message? Who created this message? What do you think is their bias? At the bottom write a paragraph describing what you believe to be the most prominent messages that Disney, television, and movies are teaching our children about who they are and what they need to be fulfilled as an adult.