Morgan R. Muller

The emphasis of a woman’s appearance as a means of fashioning an identity in literature, art, film, or TV. Discuss and explore the ways in which fashion and consumer culture influence individual self-creation (whether it be in literature, film, etc.). Female beauty and self-confidence are consistently linked to male attention in literature, and this “beauty” that attracts the men is, most of the time, some kind of physical beauty. This topic would analyze how beauty is equated with physical appearance (meaning possession of expensive commodities and attractive body shape) and how a woman’s level of attractiveness is often linked to the status, price and brand, of her clothing and commodities in literature, film, or TV. Furthermore, discuss the idea that women’s appearances are emphasized and linked to consumer culture and often times used as a means of connection to wealth and status in literature, TV, film, or any other form of art/ popular culture.

There has been much debate about the representation of Africa (past and present) in popular culture; specifically, in the music and film industries. For example, in Taylor Swift's music video for her song "Wildest Dreams," set in colonial Africa, the representation of Africa is directly through the lens of white Western lives. The trope of white colonial romance in Africa is a main element of the music video.

Why is popular culture so invested in this theme of white colonial romance in Africa and how does this perpetuate racist stereotypes in the media today? How does hollywood and popular culture's celebration of white colonial privilege promote racist stereotypes and silence African agency and voice?

Analyze the theory or cultural understanding and/or gender ideology that women aren’t funny and the idea that when women use "men’s humor" they are judged as being profane. Also, explore who men and women have used humor to degrading women and desensitize audiences to serious topics such as rape, sexual assault, etc. Why are categories of humor based on gender? What about just calling it human humor?

Analyze representations of female prisoners in the media (TV, movies, etc.) and explore the question of whether or not these depictions are accurate and/or realistic portrayals of women in prison and/or women's correctional facilities. This topic can also be broadened to include all people (male, female, etc.). Some examples of content that can be analyzed would be representations of female prisoners in the television series Orange Is The New Black and/or the television series Prison Break, etc.

The representations of gender in the Disney princess films is an important topic for discussion in terms of the lasting gender images of femininity and masculinity such movies have on younger generations, especially younger females. The earlier films, such as Sleeping Beauty, demonstrate how culture constructs femininity and masculinity in terms of the beauty ideals. Later films, such as Brave, portray femininity with a more masculine touch by adding male characteristics, such as independence, athleticism, and courage, to the female protagonists. Overtime, have the representations of femininity and the roles and expectations of Disney princesses changed for the better? How do these new representations of gender ideology positively or negatively influence young viewers?

Analyze William Shakespeare's various constructions of gender through his plays and/or sonnets and explore the significance of gender identity in his works. For example, in King Lear Shakespeare’s construction of gender emphasizes the multiple family betrayals and the humankind’s constant committal of sin. In many of his plays, Shakespeare plays around with gender identity and sexuality…why does he do this and what are the underlying themes/ points he makes through his constructions of gender?

Shakespeare’s stage clowns stand apart from his other characters by the way they break down barriers, provide comic relief, and guide the audience through the many layers of complexity that are characteristic of all of his plays. Shakespeare’s progress towards self-discovery by way of disguise and foolery is achieved through the invention of these comic characters. The creation of these fools symbolizes one of Shakespeare’s many contributions to literary tradition. More importantly, these Fools are the critics inside his plays and without their truthful presence Shakespeare’s works would be transformed for the worse. With his famous founding fools, Shakespeare reveals faults in judgment and values and never fails to shed light on the socio-cultural Renaissance atmosphere. So, the question up for discussion is what would Shakespeare's works be without his famous founding fools?