Discussion #5: Thinking about Deviance in the Media and Pop Culture

Discussion #5: Thinking about Deviance in the Media and Pop Culture

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Make sure to read Chapter 6 (which is about deviance and social control) before starting this assignment.

Many shows in recent years feature people breaking almost every kind of social norm imaginable, from folkways to major norm violations. We see deviance on TV in reality shows like Mafia Wives, which portrays women whose husbands may be criminal with mob connections. Dramas such as Grey’s Anatomy or Game of Thrones, comedies such as Modern Family or Blackish, even animated shows like the Simpsons or Family Guy.

For this Discussion Board Post, choose a TV show to analyze. This can be a TV show that you regularly watch all the time, or a show that you are interested in studying for this assignment. Choose one episode, as you watch the episode, take notes about the content of the show and try to document all the ways in which deviant behavior is portrayed on the show. You may want to select a show that has either been recorded, available through streaming, or on DVD so that you rewind and go back to certain scenes. Remember, these deviant behaviors can be major norm violations like murder or they can also be minor deviant acts such burping. Also, keep in mind that you can place the deviant act in historical context. If the show takes place in the 1960s, such as the show Mad Men where smoking and drinking while at work was acceptable, you can write about how this would be deviant now.

For the Discussion, please submit your answers to the following questions:

1. Write a short description of the show and the episode that you have chosen for the assignment and why you chose this particular show.
2. What kind of deviant acts or deviance is featured in the episode? Give specific examples of situations, scenes, dialogues, or characters, and explain why they are examples of deviance.
3. Is the deviance celebrated or condemned?
4. What effect do you think the show has on other viewers?

Requirements for this Discussion:

Your discussion post should be minimum of 200 words.

You will need to reply to two students, each reply post should be at least 150 words.  

Please submit your Introduction post by April 13th and two replies by April 26th.

To submit a post: Click reply to this assignment then compose and submit your post. Once you click "post reply" all students in the class will be able to read your post

To submit a reply to a student: Go to the post that a student has submitted and click reply. Compose your reply and submit. All students in the class will be able to read your reply.