Reflection 4: The "Exclusive" Inside Story—Exploring Tabloid Magazines

People currently has the ninth largest circulation in the United States, and earns a staggering $100 million yearly in advertising revenue. What this speaks to is the popularity of celebrity-fueled tabloid magazines in America. With all the twists and turns of a Mexican soap opera, tabloid magazines have created a large and loyal following. But what is at the core of their immense popularity? For this reflection, examine two of the six major American tabloids (People, Us, Star, In Touch, Ok!, and Life & Style). In your analysis, decipher the mass appeal of these magazines. Specifically, what are some of the techniques they employ to get readers to come back week after week? What is the lure for readers? Finally, how would you characterize their treatment of celebrities, and is there anything in the magazines that you believe crosses the line?

For this reflection, examine two of the following magazines:

• People
• Us 
• Star 
• In Touch
• Ok! 
• Life & Style

Note: You are NOT required to purchase any of these magazines. You must simply spend some time examining them. Also, look only at the print versions; web editions will not suffice for this reflection. 

Requirements:

• MLA Style
• One page in length
• Works cited page

Due: We 10.7

Week 7

Week 7: Mo 9.28/We 9.30
Read: FAME—Introduction – 2. Mobs of Fame-Starved Children
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Watch—Excerpts from Living with Michael Jackson (ITV/ABC)
Due: EDITORIAL (FINAL DRAFT—ATTACH DRAFT 1 TO BACK AND A ONE PARAGRAPH SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES YOU MADE FOR YOUR FINAL DRAFT)

Upcoming:

Week 8: Tu 10.6/Th 10.8
Read: FAME—3. A Home for the Famous and Almost Famous – 5. The Desire to Belong: Why Everyone Wants to Have Dinner with Paris Hilton and 50 Cent
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Watch—Excerpts from $ellebrity (Showtime); Lecture—“On Wordiness: Exercises”
Due: REFLECTION 4

Celebrity News 9.26.15

• This week's most hated man in America: Martin Shkreli (Chicago Tribune)
• Azealia Banks' airplane tantrum caught on tape (USA Today) 
• Ryan Reynolds: A close friend tried to sell photos o my daughter (NBC News)
• Are Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie about to adopt Syrian refugees? (Daily Mail)
• Report: Suicides increase after a celebrity kills him or herself (Medical Daily)
• The ups and downs of love: Man proposes to girlfriend on a roller coaster (People) 

Week 6

Week 6: Mo 9.21/We 9.23
Read: eR—“Investigation of 'Celebgate' Nude Photo Leak Leads to this Midwest City” (Fortune), “Misogyny is Not Human Nature” (Slate), “The Sex Crime We Need to Talk About” (Elle Australia)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Writers workshop
Due: EDITORIAL (DRAFT 1; BRING 2 COPIES)

Upcoming:

Week 7: Mo 9.28/We 9.30
Read: FAME—Introduction – 2. Mobs of Fame-Starved Children
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Watch—Excerpts from Living with Michael Jackson (ITV/ABC)
Due: EDITORIAL (FINAL DRAFT—ATTACH DRAFT 1 TO BACK AND A ONE PARAGRAPH SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES YOU MADE FOR YOUR FINAL DRAFT)

Editorial: Life After the "Fappening"

On August 31st, 2014, dozens of female celebrities found many of their most intimate photos simultaneously released online by hackers. Crudely dubbed the "Fappening," the events of that day (and subsequent waves) represent the single largest breach of celebrity privacy in history. Within hours, celebrities worldwide were scrambling to contain the damage. Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence went to far as to call her hacking a "sex crime." However, nearly all of the images of that day remain readily available on the Internet over a year later. But major security breaches have not been limited to celebrities. In the aftermath of the "Fappening," we've seen major security breaches from Snapchat and AshleyMadison.com—with the former, the "Snappening" involved the release of photos and videos of some 200,000 users, while the latter saw the personal information of over 30 million users compromised. What should should Americans learn from these attacks? For example, which is more troubling, that so many of us rushed to see the hacked material, or that so many were indifferent to plight of these women? In a concise editorial, consider the implications of living in a post-"Fappening" world.

Cite from the following texts below to support your thesis:

• “The Jennifer Lawrence Leak: Who is at Risk Now?” (New Yorker)
• “What We Should Learn from ‘The Fappening’ (A Lesson in Security Design)” (Medium)
• “Don't Blame Sh**ty Technology for the Fappening” (Vice)
• “Investigation of 'Celebgate' Nude Photo Leak Leads to this Midwest City” (Fortune)
• “Misogyny is Not Human Nature” (Slate)
• “The Sex Crime We Need to Talk About” (Elle Australia)

 Remember, an editorial expresses an opinion on a current issue. It may take a formal or informal tone, but its primary goal is always to persuade readers. Because editorials were born in newspapers, they are traditionally succinct in form and can often carry the "voice" of the author. 

Sample editorials from around the country:

• "Donald Trump is an Aimless, Angry Leader" (Washington Post)
• "Refusal to Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses is Not an Expression of Religious Liberty" (New Haven Register)
• "A Shameful Response in Europe to the Refugee Crisis in North Africa and Mideast" (Los Angeles Times)
• "Overreaction in Clock-Bomb Mix-Up has Chilling Effect" (Dallas Morning News)

The best papers will:

• Have a title that articulates its point of view
• Stay within the parameters of the subject matter
• Have a concise thesis which outlines a clear position
• Be written in a voice that is casual, yet informed
• Clearly support their theses with solid evidence and a logical structure, thoughtfully citing from the articles above
• Conclude with a summation of the argument
• Properly cite evidence using MLA's parenthetical citation method
• Are in compliance with MLA Style

Requirements:

• 2-3 pages in length
• MLA Style, including parenthetical citation
• Works cited page

Due: Wed 9.23 (Draft 1: Bring 2 copies); Wed 9.30 (Final draft: Attach draft 1 to back AND a one paragraph summary of the changes you made between drafts)

Celebrity News 9.17.15

• #HotDebateGuy: Social media implodes over attractive man in audience at GOP debates (Us)
• Maybe you have too much money?: Millionaire recreates Bruce Wayne's underground garage from the Dark Knight films (Yahoo News!)
• Chris Brown investigated for another alleged assault on a woman (TMZ) 
• Earning $44 million, Gisele Bundchen tops Forbes' 2015 list of highest paid models (Forbes) 
• Architectural Digest highlights show-stopping celebrity bath tubs (Huffington Post)
• US mom takes on Universal Music over viral video (ABC News)

 

Week 5

Week 5: Mo 9.14/We 9.16
Read: eR—“The Jennifer Lawrence Leak: Who is at Risk Now?” (New Yorker), “What We Should Learn from ‘The Fappening’ (A Lesson in Security Design)” (Medium), “Don't Blame Sh**ty Technology for the Fappening” (Vice)
Class: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL; Reading discussion; Presentations; Lectures—“Better Reading101” and “Citing Sources in MLA 101”
Due: REFLECTION 3

Upcoming:

Week 6: Mo 9.21/We 9.23
Read: eR—“Investigation of 'Celebgate' Nude Photo Leak Leads to this Midwest City” (Fortune), “Misogyny is Not Human Nature” (Slate), “The Sex Crime We Need to Talk About” (Elle Australia)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Writers workshop
Due: EDITORIAL (DRAFT 1; BRING 2 COPIES)

Celebrity News 9.8.15

• Dentist Steven Palmer, infamous killer of Cecil the Lion, breaks his silence, maintains his innocence (NBCNews)
• Step aside Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift is now the most-followed Instagram celebrity (MusicTimes)
• Offensive to many, "Caitlin Jenner" Halloween costume is said to be "great" by the real Caitlin Jenner (PerezHilton)
• After 63 years, Queen Elizabeth II officially becomes the longest reigning British monarch (BBC News)
• Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's ex-nanny allegedly planning a tell-all book (Ok!)
• Scandal brewing at NFL over an alleged "Spygate" cover-up (Time) 

Reflection 3: Doors Swung Open—The Ethics of Outing

Outing is the act of disclosing a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender person's sexual orientation, or gender identity, without his or her consent. In the days of old Hollywood, closeted stars had to contend with not only the rise of an unscrupulous tabloid press, but an American society overwhelmingly unsympathetic to homosexuals. In the 21st century, however, gays have gained unprecedented mainstream acceptance. Today, many performers, athletes, and politicians now often live openly as homosexuals. Still, not all of today's public figures are comfortable coming out of the closet. Those who chose not to openly disclose their sexual orientation, must rely on public charades, clandestine lifestyles, and the good graces of the gay community. Sometimes, their secrets are safe. Other times, they might find themselves publicly outed. Reasons to out a gay public figure vary, but it in every case an individual is robbed of the choice to reveal a very personal aspect of his or her life. Do you believe outing is acceptable? Is it a necessary evil, or a loathable practice? For example, can a case be made to out an A-list celebrity or Washington politician if his or her outing would help the overall visibility of homosexuals in American society? Must some people's privacy be sacrificed for the greater good? Finally, what of closeted homophobes? Are they fair game—and who decides?

Include at least three of the following in your discussion:

• "Outing the Hypocrisy of Outing" (Time)
• "Outing Rep. Aaron Schock is Completely Acceptable" (Huffington Post)
• "Ex-NFL Player Kwame Harris Hopes Outing Helps Gay Athletes" (Sports Illustrated)
• "The Case for Outing Closeted Politicians" (Salon)
• "The Case Against Outing Gay Politicians" (Newsweek)
• "When is Outing Justified?" (New York Times)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
• Must include a works cited page

Due: We 9.16

Week 4

One Direction

Week 4 Mo 9.7 (LABOR DAY—NO CLASS)/We 9.9
Read: eR—“Students Set Course: How Do You Want To Be Remembered?” (Hartford Courant), Excerpts from “The 100 Years Project” (DanaRoc.com), “Song for the Special” (Yale Daily News) Class: Reading discussion; Lecture—“Crafting the Essay: Writing as a Process”

Upcoming:

Week 5: Mo 9.14/We 9.16
Read: eR—“The Jennifer Lawrence Leak: Who is at Risk Now?” (New Yorker), “What We Should Learn from ‘The Fappening’ (A Lesson in Security Design)” (Medium), “Don't Blame Sh**ty Technology for the Fappening” (Vice)
Class: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL; Reading discussion; Presentations; Lectures—“Better Reading101” and “Citing Sources in MLA 101”
Due: REFLECTION 3

Celebrity News 9.3.15

• Miley Cyrus goes undercover on Jimmy Kimmel to find out what America really thinks of her (CNN)
• Also ... Cyrus comes out as "pansexual" in Elle UK (ThisWeek)
• Taylor Swift duets with Friends' Phoebe Buffay (AKA Lisa Kudrow) to cover "Smelly Cat" (Chicago Tribune)
• Wrestling legend, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, to be charged with the murder of his girlfriend (TMZ)
• Fans pay tribute to horror director Wes Craven in a unique way (Time)
• Kylie Jenner starts her anti-bullying campaign (#IAmMoreThan) on Instagram (People)

Multimedia Presentations, Sec. 7

As you know, this semester you and a classmate will be responsible for a 10-minute multimedia presentation and class hand-out.

You have now been randomly assigned a partner, a date, and a topic. Some time will be given in class to trade your topic, if you should so desire. 

Requirements:

• The work distribution is up to each group, though it should be somewhat equitable
• The presentation must be approximately 10 minutes in length—everyone must present at least part of the time
• There should be 10-12 slides, including at least one video clip (no more than 2-3 minutes in length)
• You must provide a handout related to or outlining your presentation (sent via email) 
• On the day of your presentation, email both your presentation (or a link) and handout to me at dhdelao@gmail.com.

You may utilize any presentation program you like (e.g PowerPoint, Prezi, Keynote). However, please sort out any technical issues before your presentation date (our room's projection system can be found throughout campus). Groups may be docked for a lack of preparedness.

The best presentations will:

• Have an introductory slide which contextualizes the topic—very important 
• Use words economically 
• Include visually interesting illustrations—gifs are also acceptable
• Avoid a heavy use of animation and effects 
• Have a style that complements the subject matter and strikes the appropriate tone
• Engage the class through a conversational style, utilizing questions and/or activities
• Embed a relevant video or audio clip (e.g. YouTube, SoundCloud)—ad blockers are also helpful in saving time
• Conclude with a slide that summarizes the topic—also very important

This is an opportunity to be creative, so feel free to have fun with the visual layout of your presentation.

Lower scoring presentations might:

• Begin without an introductory slide and/or fail to offer any context upfront
• Be thinly researched
• Allow visuals to overrun their content, or lack a cohesive style
• Fail to engage the class in any meaningful way—this is often achieved by reading an entire presentation
• Lack multimedia
• End without a concluding slide

Remember, you must provide your own laptop. Also, Macs will require an Apple-specific adapter to connect to the university’s projection system. Newer model PCs with HDMI-only connections will also require special adapters.

Presentation Schedule:

Week 6: Mo 9.21/We 9.23

Michael V. and Sendy T. - The People’s Princess: Diana, Princess of Wales

Week 7: Mo 9.28/We 9.30

1. Jaspreet S. and Taylor R. - Mark David Chapman: The Man Who Killed John Lennon

2. Zan J. and Diana D. - The Life and Times of Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico

Week 8: Tu 10.6/Th 10.8

Bharath K. and Armand M. - "The Crime of the Century": The Lindbergh Kidnapping

Week 9: Mo 10.5/We 10.7

Nada H. and Gabriel L. - The Reality of Reality TV

Week 10: Mo 10.12/We 10.14

Luis G. and Anne C. - So, I Won a Realty TV Competition: American Idol, America’s Next Top Model, and The Bachelor

Week 11: Mo 10.19/We 10.21

Paige S., Darriell F.,  and Aspyn A. - FF: Fifty Shades of Grey and the World of Fan Fiction

Week 12: Mo 10.26/We 10.28

Matej M. and Justin G. – The Legend of Billy the Kid

Week 14: Mo 11.9

Selena R., Megan S. and Alec R. - Legendary Hoaxes: The Surgeon’s Photograph, The War of the Worlds, and Ballon Boy

Week 16: Mo 11.30/We 12.2

1. Derrick S. and Patrick O. - Entertainment for Men: Hugh Hefner and the History of Playboy

2. Maria R., Quynh P., and Taylor M. - No Laughing Matter: The Fatty Arbuckle Scandal