Week 3 Lecture Notes

Syntagmaic axis - order of words

Paradigmatic axis - various choices for each word

diachronic - across time

synchronic - synchronous in time

• parole - actual instances of language
• langue - rules that govern language

Week 3 Thesis Statement

The thesis statement describes a position. Here “position” means an opinion or perspective that answers the question. It is also known as the argument. The thesis statement also summarises the evidence and analysis that supports that position.

Three things that need to be found when interpreting an essay question;

1. Task - Tells you what to do.

1. Topic - General area of discussion.

1. Focus - Specific area of discussion.

What you need to include in your thesis statement;

• Topic

• Focus

• Your opinion 

• Elements of support - to back up your opinion

Other important guidelines for the thesis statement;

• State the outcome of your essay, not just your intention to investigate (avoid “this essay will”, “this essay intends to”, or “I will”)

• Give a short summary of the reasons for your outcome (“because”, “as”, “due to”) in the same sentence

• Keep the thesis statement clear and specific; avoid language such as “perhaps” and “may” and don't give too much detail (that's what the rest of the essay is for!)

• The thesis statement is short: in most essays, one sentence is all you need

• The thesis statement should be realistic: don't exaggerate or overstate your position

• Make sure that your thesis statement answers the essay question directly

The question that my thesis statement is answering;

This module asks you to consider the relations of power (i.e; between the designer, photographer or artist and the groups they engage with or produce representation about) in this process and unpacks issues such as agency, essentialism, privilege and marginalization, in relation to gender, sexuality, class, ablebodiedness and ethnicity.

My thesis statement;

There is a large difference in power between people of different sexualities which is seen through the media representation. 

Week 3 Introduction Break Down

Explain the context of the essay

Give the answer: the response to the question or the overall focus of the essay (the thesis statement)

Describe the structure and organisation of the essay

Context;

Essays are usually written for an intelligent but uninformed audience, so begin with some context: the background of the topic, the topic scope, and any essential definitions.

• Introductions often begin with a broad opening statement that establishes the subject matter and background. Don't make it too broad (“Since time began…”), but identify the relevant topic and sub-topic (e.g. human resource management, early childhood development, animal behaviour…).

Subject matter - Queer community. Background - In the broader population.

• To establish the scope, answer basic questions: Who? What? When? Where? How? Why? Is the essay limited to a particular time period, a particular group of people, a particular country?

Who - Queer people of all ages. When - 1890s to current day. Where - All over the world but mainly in western culture/english speaking countries. How - Through the media outlets.

• Definitions are often established after the introduction, so only include them here if they are absolutely essential.

Definitions; 

• Agency - is the capacity of an actor (a person or other entity, human or any living being in general) to act in any given environment. Agency may either be classified as unconscious, involuntary behavior, or purposeful, goal directed activity (intentional action).

• Essentialism - is the view that for any specific entity there is a set of attributes which are necessary to its identity and function.

• Privilege - a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.

• Marginalization - is the social disadvantage and relegation to the fringe of society. Social marginalization is the process in which individual of people are systematically blocked from (or denied full access to) various rights, opportunities and resources that are normally available to members of a different group, and which are fundamental to social integration within that particular group (e.g., housing, employment, healthcare, civic engagement, democratic participation, and due process).

Answer/focus;

The most important part of the introduction is the response to the question: the thesis statement.

An introduction often ends on the thesis statement. 

• Thesis statement;

There is a large difference in power between people of different sexualities which is seen through the media representation. 

It begins with a broad statement and gradually narrows down until it directly addresses the question:

This module asks you to consider the relations of power (i.e; between the designer, photographer or artist and the groups they engage with or produce representation about) in this process and unpacks issues such as agency, essentialism, privilege and marginalization, in relation to gender, sexuality, class, ablebodiedness and ethnicity. 

• Relations of power:

The relationships between the media outlets and queer people; between the photographer and the person's sexuality; between each person and their sexuality and how they express it to rest of the world.

• Agency:

How queer people react to their representation in the media. How straight people react to queer representation in the media. How people in the media react to queer people. 

• Essentialism:

The attributes given to queer people, compared to the ones they accept and uphold.

• Privilege:

The advantage that straight people have over queer people; larger group of role models; growing up with straight as the default sexuality; queer people being seen as lesser than; not having to come to their loved ones; not having to worry if they parents will not love them because of their sexuality; etc. 

• Marginalization:

There are still many homophobics who don't treat queer people nicely.

Structure;

Strong introductions tell the reader how the upcoming body paragraphs will be organised.

• Do the paragraphs deal with the issue from earliest to most recent (chronological)?

• Are the paragraphs grouped by broader themes (thematic)?

• Does the essay answer several related questions one after the other (sequential)?

• Do the paragraphs describe two elements and them compare them (contrasting)?

This can be as easy as outlining the major points that your essay will make on the way to the conclusion. You don't need to go into much detail in the introduction: just signal the major ‘landmarks.’

Week 2 Early Photos

In these photograph, I am exploring the feelings and emotion associated with sexuality. I did this by painting the sexuality flag that the subject matter feels most connected with. These photos portray the venerability, worry and pride that truly expressing your sexuality with the world brings.

Week 2 Thesis Statement

I know that I want to focus on sexual orientation, but what about this topic is what I need to figure out.
In my mind map post, I break the topic of sexual orientation into four parts that interest me; contrast between straight people and the LGBTQIA+ community; the sexuality spectrum or Kinsey scale; how LGBTQIA+ couples are viewed in public; the lack of LGBTQIA+ role models for the younger generations.
I will have to do extra readings to do with these topics to see how I can use just one or combine a few to form my topic. But so far I think my thesis statement will be;
The lack of LGBT couples and people in the media has led to the misrepresentation of the general public population. 

Week 1 Mind Map

Below is my mind map of ideas where I explore the 7 base topics for this subject.

Through this exploration I have come to the conclusion that I will be exploring the topic of sexuality, mainly how LGBT people and couples are represented in media, how they are stereotyped and how they are portrayed to younger generations. Also I might look into how this has changed throughout time, but only if I do not have enough to back up my argument.  

Week 1 Brief Breakdown

This post is where I can break down the brief into parts I understand and can refer back to. 

Due dates; 
Practical Component - 12th October
Written Component - 24th October 5pm

Practical Component;

• An image or object that critically considers relations of power and sexual orientation. 
• Critically consider the artists/designers/medias position of privilege in relation to with audiences/participants/clients.

Zine Component;

• You will work collaboratively as a class to compile these into a zine.
• The zine will include aspects of your written component to support connections between your research and your image/object. 
• This should be clear through your analysis of the issues you discuss rather than a description of what your reader can see.

Written Component;

• An essay that critically unpacks the key theme you have considered in your practical exploration.
• This is done through course readings and appropriate further reading discussing/employing relevant examples. 

At the end of this assessment:

• Develop and apply critical awareness of a variety of different cultural world views in historical and contemporary contexts.
• Identify key course related issues through appropriate case studies.
• Analyse different intentions, values and meanings in thematic contexts of design and the creative arts.
• Express ideas clearly through written work and other presentation requirements. 
• Appropriately identify, source and synthesise different methods of information gathering.