On-Campus Speakers: Senior Paper Presentations

This afternoon I attended the Communications senior paper presentations. I was not really sure what to expect. It turned out that each presenter spoke for about 10-15 minutes. Some used a power point and others used video clips, but each speaker used some form of a visual aid. The topics ranged from Charles Manson and his influential subjectivities, to analyzing romantic comedies for common trends and comparing those to real life, to gender roles in animated children’s movies, and finally to “Believing in Coke” and the ideological themes it represents to society. It was obvious that each of the speakers had done ample research, and was committed to their topic. They all spoke passionately about their topics which made listening much more interesting. I thought that all four of the presenters were excellent speakers. When listening, I tried to take what they were saying and apply it to teaching in schools today. A few of the topics really had nothing to do with education. For example, there was not much I could take away from a lecture on Charles Manson and apply it to teaching today. But the last two presenters had a lot to say that I found applicable and important to know when working with children. One of the presenters talked about gender roles in animated children’s films and how these images influence how we perceive others and ourselves. Kids, specifically young boys, see the repeated themes of a “damsel in distress” and then a “macho” prince coming to save the day. The prince is always athletic, attractive, strong, and courageous. In contrast, the princess is weak, frail, emotional, and helpless. Boys are taught never to cry or to be overly emotionally expressive. There are many different directions you could take this, but she decided to focus on the influence these images have on young boys. Some of her points caused me to think about how I as a teacher could do more to break down these socially designated gender roles. Also, the next presenter talked about influential holiday ad campaigns, and although this is not directly relatable, it just caused me to consider once again the role of the media and how easily influenced children can be. This is just another reason of why it is so important for teachers to be involved and interested in the lives of their students outside of the classroom. It is important to know the interests and personality of your students. Understanding what they do outside of school, their home life, and other influential mediums in their life can help you determine how to best teach and relate to each student.
I was impressed with the speaking skills and the overall presentation of each speaker. Several of the topics were quite thought provoking. Many of the ideas and problems that sparked my interest have no specific solution or answer, however the influence and power the media has over today’s youth is something that is extremely important to consider and stay informed about. Being aware of youth culture is important when entering the teaching profession.