Extra Credit –Documentary Analysis

POINTS Worth up to 40 points.

INSTRUCTIONS View one of the following documentary films and write a 400-600 word report which includes: • Summary: What is the documentary about and how does it relate to the study of mass media? Explain specifically how it relates to information in the textbook (theories in Chapter 2, ethics in Chapter 11 and/or another chapter or chapters that relate to the topic of the documentary) and concepts discussion in class. Make specific citations using APA style, and include a References page that includes the textbook and the documentary you viewed. • Comments: What is your opinion about the documentarian’s thesis or point of view? Do you agree? How does the movie relate to your own experience? If you have documentary suggestion that is not on the list but you think is applicable, run it by instructor for approval.

MEDIA DOCUMENTARIES

• Films on Demand (through De Anza Library) o TEDTalks: Jon Ronson—When Online Shaming Spirals out of Control (2015) – Examines one story of how a tweet ruined a woman’s life. o We Are Journalists (2014) – Journalists in Iran face extreme difficulties doing their job. o The Slanted Screen: Asian Men in Film and Television (2006) o A Film Unfinished – Documentary about how Nazis in World War II controlled and manipulated information o Aggression: Is Violence Learned? (2013) – Social scientists examine what instigates violence in children o Innovation: Secrets of Branding – Looks at how Ikea, 3M and Burberry use research and development in their branding strategies o The Sun Never Sets – Story of an award-winning weekly newspaper in New Mexico where old-fashioned hard-hitting journalism is still the focus. See it here (De Anza log-in needed)

• Documentaries in the media category at this website: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/category/media/

o How the Fake Newsman Won Over America – Jon Stewart o Punchlines for Progress – Jon Stewart o Buying the War – How 9/11 and misinformation lead to catastrophic invasions o Freedom to Broadcast Hate – Radio and TV in the Arab world and ideas of free speech o The Whole World is Watching – Citizen journalism o Fiefdom of Speech – When the U.K. took Iranian channels off the airwaves o Mean World Syndrome – Mass communications researcher George Gerbner o PsyWar – Propaganda and public relations in the U.S. o Starsuckers – The celebrity-obsessed media and our addiction to fame

• On : o Page One – Life at the New York Times (DVD) o The September Issue – Life at Vogue Magazine (DVD) o Miss Representation – Media images of women

• On Vimeo ($) o The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords https://vimeo.com/ondemand/blackpress

• Other Documentaries (if a link is not provided, you will need to find it online): o Before the Music Dies – Why talented music artists are not making it in the modern media market. o $ellebrity – about the changing face of celebrity and the many ways that the media has conveyed, defined and even demeaned what it means to be famous today. o This Film is Not Yet Rated is a 2006 independent documentary film about the Motion Picture Association of America's rating system and its effect on American culture, directed by and produced by Eddie Schmidt. It premiered at the 2006 and was released limited on September 1, 2006. The Independent Film Channel, the film's producer, aired the film later that year. It was rated TV-MA in the . (WARNING: The MPAA gave the original cut of the film an NC-17 rating for "some graphic sexual content" – scenes that illustrated the content a film could include to garner an NC-17 rating.) Kirby Dick appealed, and descriptions of the ratings deliberations and appeal were included in the documentary. The new version of the film is not rated. The film discusses disparities the filmmaker sees in ratings and feedback: between Hollywood and independent films, between homosexual and heterosexual sexual situations, between male and female sexual depictions, and between violence and sexual content. o “Inside the Mind of Edward Snowden” – In a wide-ranging and revealing interview, Brian Williams talks with former NSA contractor Edward Snowden about the global impact and debate sparked by his revelations. (Besure to watch the entire feature) http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/edward-snowden-interview