Feminist Media – looking at anime, television, film, video games, and literature through a feminist lens

Instructor: Claire Graman

Dates and times: July 19, 20, 21, 22, & 23, 2021, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

For ages 13-17

Platform: Computer with Zoom

Supplies/requirements: Writing materials and access to a computer with Zoom.

Art and entertainment reflect and shape the world around us, but not always in the best way. This class teaches girls to think critically about the media they consume. From literature to anime, we’ll practice critiquing media for feminist and sexist themes. As a result, girls will be empowered to better understand the world around them.

Course Outline:

1. Introduction to Feminist Media

We talk about what feminism is and how to do a feminist critique/close reading of media with tools like the Bechdel Test, introducing concepts like the Male Gaze and Intersectionality. How has the Feminist Movement changed since the Victorian times? What if gender roles were reversed?

2. Literature

Lady Murasaki, a Japanese noblewoman, wrote the first novel, The Tale of Genji, in the 11th century. Even so, women are too often excluded from the literary canon. In this lesson, we read and discuss poems and other literature written by women.

3. Media

Feminist Film Theory began in the 1970s with Second Wave Feminism. Because of this, the culture focused on how film portrayed women, and how cinema reinforced patriarchy. Clips from movies and television show how media objectifies women.

4. Pop Culture

Anime, video games, and memes show us how they reflect mainstream society’s message about women’s roles. From The Honeymooners and I Love Lucy to Xena Warrior Princess, we see the evolution of the expectations for women. This unit covers early video games, and as a result, some of the first women game programmers.

5. Conclusion

Girls choose a piece of media and present it, analyzing it with what they’ve learned as a result of taking Feminist Media.