Loyola University of Chicago
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Teaching Team

Jeff Harder, Laura Herman, Dr. Elizabeth Lozano, Dr. Bren Ortega Murphy

Curriculum

Loyola's -ISM (N.) course, "Critical Ethnography of Communication" was offered through the Communication Studies department.

The overall objectives of this course were to have the knowledge to reflectively respond to the role of the media in the process of production, reproduction and legitimization of discourses on identity and difference; to study documentaries that critically respond to the mainstream media construction of social identities/differences; to gain the knowledge necessary to explore video representations of self and other; to produce video diaries of personal, social and cultural value; to produce a final video text informed by a critical understanding of multiculturalism and of the politics of representation in the USA; and to study and reflect on the dynamics of cultural diversity, difference, and identity within the contexts of classroom, college and community.

The course led students to identify and evaluate their own social positioning as those who are signified, across the lines of gender, age, class, ethnicity and sexual orientation. Students deconstructed given images of identity (particularly those generated by the mainstream media) by bringing to light their ideological assumptions, cultural limitations and contradictions. Students explore subject positioning, and through fieldwork, consider alternative ways of imagining, living, experiencing and articulating identity and difference as they emerge from communities or groups of people with diverse backgrounds. Students also re-construct and re-present such lived forms of identity/difference, through video production, in ways that are reflexive and reflective.

Community Educational Activity

Loyola University has not yet planned a CEA.

Resources Used In Course

Gutman, A. (1994). Multiculturalism: Examining the Politics of Recognition. Princeton University Press. (Loyola)

Rosenthal, Alan. (1987). New Challenges for Documentary. Berkeley: University of California Press. (Pitzer) (Loyola) (CCD)

Erens, Patricia. "Women's Documentary Filmmaking: The Personal is Political," New Challenges for Documentary. Ed. Alan Rosenthal, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988. (UMD) (Loyola)

Hall, Stuart. "Media Power: The Double Bind", New Challenges for Documentary. Ed. Alan Rosenthal, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988. (Pitzer) (Loyola)

Pryluck. "Ultimately We are All Outsiders", New Challenges for Documentary. Ed. Alan Rosenthal, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988. (Pitzer) (UMD) (Loyola)

Winston Brian. "Documentary, I Think We're in Trouble", New Challenges for Documentary. Ed. Alan Rosenthal, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988. (Pitzer) (UMD) (Loyola)

Bohlen, Anne; Rafferty, Kevin; Ridgeway, James. (1991). Blood in the Face. New York, NY: Right Thinking Productions. (Loyola)

Friedman, Peter; Joslin, Ton. (1993). Silverlake Life. Betelgeuse Productions. (Pitzer) (Loyola)

Livingston, Jennie. (1992) Paris is Burning. Off White Productons. (Loyola)

Student Video Topics

gay identity

 

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