Following the critical pedagogy praxis model and drawing upon the oppression matrix, draft a proposal for topic(s) to study; in terms of DI-HW, what’s the problematic(s)?

This assignment begins to name the issues, aka problematic(s).  There are three parts:

1. Name and describe the issue/problematic.  Using the oppression matrix as an analytic tool to begin an analysis of the power structure in which the issue is embedded.
2. Search for and describe voices for change:  advocacy/activist sites, organizations, and individuals.   
3. Capture (2) screenshots that somehow represent the issue(s) you want to address.

One:  Name and describe the issue/problematic, using the oppression matrix to detail your initial sense of power structure levels.

1. Read and take notes (on your Google doc) on the oppression matrix.   You will use the oppression/power matrix levels to describe (map) the DI-HW issues/problematic(s) you want (us) to study, on varied levels that seem applicable:  institutional, cultural, individual.
   

   From Spokkz, July 15, 2018, a critique of how media consolidation (oligopoly) driven by Wall St. profit motives kills creativity and diversity. https://medium.com/spokkz/the-big-brands-that-dominate-the-media-industry-62e63afe0c8d

2.  On your Google doc, brainstorm/list elements that are part of the multi-layered power structure that has determining force on this issue.  You can handwrite/visualize the power structure on a piece of paper; bring to class to share.  The above diagram (2018) maps media ownership consolidation — the institutional level of oligopoly corporate ownership.  There is no one way to do this; use your intuition.  In this mapping, brainstorm varied parts of the Hollywood apparatus that impact and/or are a part of the issue(s).  This could span from ownership to distribution to publicity to consumer. 
3. Write a page describing the issue and your concerns.

• Begin with a strong opening sentence(s) that summarizes the issue(s)/problematic(s).  In the opening paragraph include some discussion of why this issue is significant.  
• In the next paragraph(s) make an effort to include elements of the oppression matrix in your narrative about this issue.  Consider this a first draft to be developed over time in dialogue with your learning cohorts.  See it is a sketching process;  a way to get started doing an analysis that will sharpen over time.
• Conclude with any initial thoughts and questions raised by this issue and follow-up directions in terms of next steps of inquiry.  

Two:  Search for and describe voices for change:  advocacy/activist sites, organizations, and individuals.  

Do some online research to find (3) advocacy/activist sites – organizations, individuals – that somehow speak to the issues you’re beginning to name.  Here’s one example:  https://hollywood.colorofchange.org.

Summarize what you’ve found, including URLs.  

• Who are the groups and/or individuals expressing critical perspectives and calling for change?  How are they naming the issues & identifying root causes?
• What are their demands?  What changes are they calling for?  What social change strategies are they advancing?  E.g. petition campaign, boycott, legal-policy reforms. 
• Discuss how the concerns articulated by these stakeholders relate (or not) to the oppression matrix.  What levels of the institutional power structure are they naming?
• If you’re having challenges finding groups and/or individuals calling for change, consider searching social media, e.g. TikTok, Twitter, what else?, to find critical voices on these issues.  Since searching social media on these issues will be a follow-up assignment, this kind of search gets you started. 
• You might also discuss how this search went:  any challenges in finding critical voices for change?
• Include URLs;  this will facilitate sharing these in class.

Three:  Capture (2) screenshots that somehow represent the issue(s) you want to address. 

Post them to your Google doc.  Write a sentence or a few, describing why you selected the images, and what they say about the topic.  If you have the resources, print them out – ideally in color – and bring to class.  This is in addition to posting them on your Google doc.     

Post all (3) elements of this assignment to your rolling Google doc with date, assignment title.  Single-spaced & typed in Times New Roman or Arial (size 12 font), 1-inch margins.  Insert horizontal line between assignments.  Remember to proofread.  Send link to instructor.