Stereotyping in Literature, TV, & Drama Mr. Kranick’s English Class Stereotyping in Literature, TV, & Drama

Agenda Today's Agenda Will Include the Following Components: Receive instruction about stereotypes in literature, drama, life, etc. Discuss stereotypes in literature, drama, life, etc. Form groups to identify & analyze stereotypes in a provided example Reflect upon stereotypes in literature, drama, life, etc. in a discussion

Initial Questions Who here knows what a stereotype is? Can anyone provide an example of a stereotype in books, TV, or from the Internet? Can anyone provide an example of a stereotype (books, TV, Internet)? Are stereotypes good, bad, or both?

Definition Stereotyping- typecasting a character based on the character's nationality, religion, size, age, or gender. a depiction or description of something or someone in an over-simplified way. believed by the public at large, but that might not be true. applied to a group of people, or to someone as a representative of a group. Why would people stereotype someone else? We make meaning out of what we do not fully understand What does this mean?

Why do writers use stereotypes? Establish background Create a sense of familiarity of the characters for the readers. Easy to visualize because readers have typically seen stereotypes before Label characters rather than developing them Initially, in some ways it can help characters make meaning of the unfamiliar

Stereotypes & Literature (Fairy Tales) Wicked stepmother Evil stepsisters Prince charming Spooky woods

Stereotypes & TV "The Big Bang Theory“ Any others? All ugly people are intelligent All beautiful people are unintelligent  Any others?

Stereotypes & TV (New Transfer Student) " Jerri: Speaking of cute, there's this new kid at school... Sara: New? I don't like the sound of that. Jerri: He's really nice! Sara: Most new people are, until provoked. And then they turn out to be... different." — "Strangers with Candy" (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main /NewTransferStudent)

Stereotypes & Life 1. Saying that all women are bad drivers 2. Saying that men don't ever ask for directions 3. Saying that older people don't know how to use technology 4. Saying that all little girls want to grow up to be princesses 5. Saying that smart girls are not pretty (http://www.softschools.com/examples/gramma r/stereotypes_examples/189/) What stereotypes have you come across in your lives?

Playing Against Stereotypes William Shakespeare- Lady Macbeth Believed women to be weaker than men Lady Macbeth uses her skills of manipulation to get what she wants.

Through what ways is stereotyping used in literature? Literary elements Include but not limited to the following: Plot Style/Tone Setting Character Conflict

Stereotypes & Plot Main events of a work Devised and presented by the writer as an interrelated sequence. Example: Work beings with protagonist burdened with stereotype Work ends with protagonist overcoming stereotype Acceptance, changing their circumstances, etc.

Stereotypes & Tone Reveals author's attitude toward their writing, reader, subject, people, places and events. Feelings= serious/ironic, happy/sad, private/public, angry/affectionate, bitter/nostalgic, etc. Examples: Condescension, Didacticism, Irony, Humor, Parody, Sentimentality

Stereotypes & Style Enhances flow of words, makes writing more appealing, clarifies meaning Incorporates denotation, connotation, alliteration, consonance, assonance, hyperbole, understatement, wordplay, symbolism, imagery, and rhythm.

Stereotypes & Style: Figurative Language Way of adding information/description to the writing and of encouraging the reader to think about the text. Details not spoon-fed to the reader. Simile, Metaphor, Analogy, Personification, Cliché, Allusion... Diction- the author's choice of words Voice- the author's individual writing style and use of dialogue, diction, alliteration, and other devices within a text; fingerprint of the author

Stereotypes & Setting Time/place in which a story occurs (backdrop or integral). Example: 18th Century England vs Modern New York

Stereotypes & Character Protagonist- main character Antagonist- opposes protagonist Round Characters- fully described/revealed characters Static Characters- unchanging characters Dynamic Character- developing/changing characters Flat Characters- not fully described/revealed characters Stock Characters Stock characters are archetypal characters distinguished by their flatness. As a result, they tend to be easy targets for parody and to be criticized as clichés

Stereotypes & Conflict Conflict- tension/fighting between characters Stereotypes can be the cause of conflicts How?

Any Questions?

Class Assessment Distribute lyrics handouts Follow lyrics and Listen to the song "Prologue“ From the musical Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 Independently identify examples of stereotypes Note them on the handout!

Group Analysis of Stereotypes Stereotyping- typecasting a character based on the character's nationality, religion, size, age, or gender. Style/Tone [Figurative Language, Imagery, Style] What words are used to stereotype? Setting (Atmosphere) How does setting impact the present stereotypes? Plot How does the stereotype affect the protagonist’ goal? Character [Protagonist, Antagonist, Flat, Static, Round, Dynamic, Stock] How do characters view each other? Conflict Is there evidence of characters rebelling against stereotypes?

Jigsaw Assessment I will now separate you into groups of five with five members. Task 1: Identify all the stereotypes you can (5 minutes) Task 2: Each group will examine the song “Alexander Hamilton” from the musical Hamilton with regard to the following elements: Style/Tone [Figurative Language, Imagery, Style] What words are used to stereotype? Setting (Atmosphere) How does setting impact the present stereotypes Plot How does the stereotype affect the protagonist’ goal? Character [Protagonist, Antagonist, Flat, Static, Round, Dynamic, Stock] How do characters view each other? Conflict Is there evidence of characters rebelling against stereotypes? Support your claims with evidence from the text. Everyone, please compile your evidence in your notebooks!

Jigsaw Assessment (Everyone, please compile your evidence in your notebooks!) Group 1 Style/Tone [Figurative Language, Imagery, Style] What words & phrases are used to stereotype? Group 2 Setting (Atmosphere) How does setting impact the present stereotypes? Group 3 Plot How does the stereotype affect the protagonist’ goal? Group 4 Character [Protagonist, Antagonist, Flat, Static, Round, Dynamic, Stock] How do characters view each other? Group 5 Conflict Is there evidence of characters rebelling against stereotypes?

Jigsaw Assessment Part 2 New groups will be formed composed of experts from each group. Mr. Kranick will explain how this will be done From your notes, exchange their gathered information to the other students in their groups. Receive information from others to become experts.

Class Discussion Style/Tone Setting Plot Character Conflict

Reflection After receiving the lesson/completing the assessment... What the affects stereotypes have upon others? How and why? Have you ever used any of the examples of stereotypes in your life? Why? What impact does the use of stereotype have upon you as a reader/audience member? How can an author's/playwright's use of stereotyping can influence the reader's/audience's perceptions of characters, settings, objects, and events in literature and drama?