Understanding Beauty PageantsRace, Gender, National Identity and the Media

Welcome!• I am Dr. Manu Avilés-Santiago and

I’ll be your instructor for this session. – How to reach me?

• I’m very accessible and respond to e-mails pretty quick.– maviless@asu.edu

• If you want to have a face-to-face meeting, we can definitely arrange that. – My office is located at the Polytechnic

Campus (Santa Catalina Hall). » But…

• …we can meet at a more convenient location if it works better for you!

Why a course on Beauty Pageants?

• You probably wondered about that question before enrolling in this course– But why not? • Beauty pageants have become an intrinsic

part of popular culture during the last century, then why ignore it? After all, pageants are: – Widely discussed by the media. – A hot topic of conversation among the

masses.» i.e. Steve Harvey’s announcing the wrong

Miss Universe? – Highly critiqued by some scholars.– Celebrated by a global fan base.

– Therefore, why not?

What will you obtain from this course?

• After taking this class, you will be intellectually equipped to look critically at beauty pageants –and other mass-mediated popular culture events- as a site on which narratives of race, gender and national identity take center stage. – We will be approaching the topic

through several case study analysis of the following pageants:• Miss America (National)• Miss Universe/Miss World

(International)• Nuestra Belleza Latina (Transnational)• RuPaul Drag Race (Queer)

How are you going to be evaluated?

• I have designed this course in a very simple way.– The course is divided in seven modules.• Each module contains its own set of readings, videos &

assignments. – You will have two assignments every five days.• Quizzes & Media Critiques.

– For more information on the deadlines, refer to Blackboard and/or the syllabus.

– You will be engaging in active discussion and debate on our Yellowdig Group.

• Let’s take a look at the grading criteria in detail!

Quizzes [45%]

• Every module contains a quiz that will evaluate your comprehension of the assigned readings (available on Blackboard). – There will be a quiz for each module. – Questions will vary between multiple selections, true

or false, and/or matching. – Once completed, you will automatically receive a score

for the quiz; that score will be recorded on the Grade Center on Blackboard.

• Some Important Guidelines about quizzes:

Guidelines for the Quizzes• Make sure you are using a compatible browser. • Make sure you have a reliable and fast Internet

connection • Minimize interruptions • Quizzes are Force Completion/One Attempt/Not Timed. • Avoid multitasking • Stay active in the test window • Keep your computer on and awake • Avoid the Back button and delete key

Media Critiques [45%]

• A media critique is a written response to the assigned media text. – Examples of media texts are documentaries, beauty

pageants, films, and photo essays. • You will have to observe, explore and problematize

the assigned media text using concepts and theories discussed in that module and write a media critique.

• Even though each critique will have its own prompt question and instructions.

Guidelines for the Media Critiques– The length should be 500 words –or more, never less- (one full page single

space). – You should put the media text you will be critiquing (i.e. documentary, photo

essay, etc.) into conversation with concepts and/or theories discussed in that learning module, particularly those in the readings.

– You will have to incorporate those concepts into your critique. • Important: It is not just mentioning the concept(s); you have to use them to make

your argument. Your argument can be supporting or challenging the ideas of the author vis-à-vis the media text.

– Correct grammar is a must. Proofread! – You will have to submit your media critique through the Submission Link that

will be available in each of the course modules on Blackboard. – If you do not submit your media critique by the deadline, Blackboard will

register it as a zero. • Do not wait for the very last minute!

– A rubric with a score-based feedback will always be included with your grade. • If necessary, I will add comments to the rubric sheet.

Participation (10%)

• This is an online course; therefore, your presence and active participation online is crucial to your success.

• Participation online does not mean only exchanging messages with the instructor, answering the quizzes and/or completing the assignments online. – In a digital environment, participation means active

involvement with the class material. • For that reason, I have a created a Yellowdig Group.

Participation YellowdigYellowdig will be the platform that we will be using to discuss content related to the class. Each module revolves around certain themes and ideas. On Yellowdig we will be tackling, deconstructing, critiquing, and problematizing these themes with relevant and current information (i.e. news, info-graphics, reports, videos, images, etc.). • Creating a new Pin with a minimum of 20 words earns 10 points. • Adding a new Comment with a minimum of 10 words earns 5

points. • Upvoting a Comment or Pin (Like or Love) earns author 1 points. • Receiving an Instructor Badge earns 5 points. • 100% participation achieved after earning 100 points.– To guarantee that you will keep a track of your participation you have a

maximum of 25 points per week and a minimum of 4 weeks to reach to the 100% of participation. This is primarily to discourage you from trying to earn all the points right at the beginning of the semester, or waiting till the end. Students can participate as much as they like, but they only earn points to the weekly maximum points in a given week.

How to approach this course?• Want to be successful in this course? It Is not a difficult task if

you follow these rules: • Access Blackboard and:

– Read the article(s)– Answer the quiz– Watch the media text– Write the media critique

• Visit Yellowdig and:– Post original content– Share links– Comment on posts– Like