Media Project Organizer

Select one of the following areas to explore. Follow directions listed with your chosen topic. Once you complete instructions, answer the questions located at the bottom of this page.

Option One - Music
Visit the following GLAAD Web page to learn about GLAAD's objections to the lyrics of rapper Eminem; students may refer to the edited version of his Marshall Mathers LP: http://www.glaad.org/org/topics/index.html?topic=857
Discuss why these lyrics are particularly offensive to the gay community. Find examples of songs that portray gay and lesbians in a positive manner and compare the two songs. (The GLAAD Web site contains examples of musicians nominated for their annual awards http://www.glaad.org) Students may choose to rewrite an Eminem song so that it is not offensive, or write a song of their own that portrays gays and lesbians in a positive manner.

Option Two - Advertisements
The Commercial Closet, a non-profit organization, looks at how the gay and lesbian community is portrayed in the world of advertising. http://www.commercialcloset.org/cgi-bin/iowa/index.html
Visit this site to view the advertisements. Discuss how gays and lesbians are portrayed (positively and negatively) in these advertisements. Write an advertisement of your own creation, or rewrite one of the advertisements on the site to portray gays in a positive light.

Option Three - Television
Discuss the television programs mentioned on the following site: http://www.glaad.org/org/projects/tv/index.html?record=2525
Think of a past or current-day television show that does not portray gays and lesbians in a positive way. Create your own idea for a television show, or show how you would re-write an existing show so that it is sensitive in its portrayal of the gay and lesbian community.

Option Four - Other Options
Students may also choose to complete this activity for one of the following topics: movies, literature, newspapers, or comic books.


Questions
The following is a list of questions for every group to complete for its particular topic:
  • In the past, how have gay and lesbians been portrayed in this area? (give examples)
  • What changes have occurred in this area? (give examples)
  • Why is it important for people to be aware of the existence of stereotypes or negative imaging that exists in this area?
  • How can negative portrayals in this area impact people in the gay and lesbian community?
  • How do you see this issue evolving in the future?
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