What's it all about?
For my final project, I am creating a print and video lesson plan for educators and parents of young children on the topic of female superheroes and why she matters to everyone.
The project aims to dissect the values and attributes related to female superheroes, delving into concepts of empowerment, fantasy, cultural differences/diversity and any other relatable topics, and discuss how the female superhero is experienced via visual and tactile means (i.e. TV programs, comics, and marketing and merchandising aimed at young children). It will help educators to focus on what powers she truly possesses and which of her attributes and values
the children can relate to, emulate, and own...and why they are important
It aims to answer the following questions:
- what is a superhero? who is your real life superhero? can you be a superhero?
- what characteristics must a superhero have or emulate?
- why do superheroes hide behind a persona. that is normal/boring/plain? - are the values they hold only for one specific gender audience? - what are the differences between male/female superheroes? are there female superheroes who can represent anyone who identifies as other than female?
- who supports these type of media? why is it targeting this audience? - who profits from this narrative? - who supports these type of media? why is it targeting this audience? - who profits from this narrative?
Please note: the first 3 questions are aimed at the students/target audience of the lesson, while the remaining questions are directed towards the educator as a way to help them to understand the main focus of this lesson plan. As listed, the remaining questions are geared towards a more mature audience, but can be utilized as a guidelines or markers that can lead the discussion around the concept of why a girl/woman superhero can be one that all can look up to -- and not just girls.
- why do superheroes hide behind a persona. that is normal/boring/plain? - are the values they hold only for one specific gender audience? - what are the differences between male/female superheroes? are there female superheroes who can represent anyone who identifies as other than female?
- who supports these type of media? why is it targeting this audience? - who profits from this narrative? - who supports these type of media? why is it targeting this audience? - who profits from this narrative?
Please note: the first 3 questions are aimed at the students/target audience of the lesson, while the remaining questions are directed towards the educator as a way to help them to understand the main focus of this lesson plan. As listed, the remaining questions are geared towards a more mature audience, but can be utilized as a guidelines or markers that can lead the discussion around the concept of why a girl/woman superhero can be one that all can look up to -- and not just girls.
My Timeline
My timeline covers 20 days to include research, and creating a video lesson plan using PowerPoint to be uploaded toYouTube, and will even have a presence on Pinterest as a marketing tool that can lead to both YouTube channel, and author's blog (the former is a source teachers use and gravitate towards.), followed by a consultation meeting with local public school teachers to test the validity and usability of this project.
My Resources
I am utilizing the below readings as a guide for educators and instructors to utilize, and to give them a framework of the value of this class activity:
Ways of Seeing: John Berger | White Privilege, Peggy Mcintosh | Beauty and the Beast of Advertising, Jean Kilborne | Gender Trouble, Judith Butler | Cutting Girls Down to Size, Jean Kilborne
As for the superheroes, I will be researching some background information on most present day superheroes that appear on television, and movies, including those that appear as superheroes for the preschool set.
Great Idea! Ruby Rose is cast to play a lesbian Batwoman. Check out The Guardian article from Aug, 8, 2018. You will need to Google it since I can't embed a link in the comments section.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Diana. I will include this link you mentioned in my teacher references portion of the lesson plan! I very much appreciate it.
DeleteI love the concept of this project, it's addressing the issue of representation, which often determines and reenforces stigmas of gender based abilities. It is interesting that even within the realm of superheroes, individuals that have inhuman characteristics, we still enforce gender stereotypes. Superheroes should be a platform that channels imagination, completely fitting for the task of redefining gender stereotypes. I would offer the advice to analyze the differences in catwoman and batman. I was never really into the comic world but I have distinct memories of catwoman's over sexualized attire. I think it says something that what I remember from a kid was her appearance, however, cannot remember her abilities or storyline.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Thomas. What you said really drives the point across that even superheroes are depicted within the confining boxes of gender stereotypes, and that we remember most are the topical nuances that reinforced sexuality for women, and strength for men. My project ends with each child being able to identify what is "super" about themselves and each other, and hopefully that also drives the lesson that our unique strengths is what we should remember to celebrate and be thankful for.
DeleteThis is such an interesting topic to explore, especially recently with the huge commercial success of wonder woman. I wonder how you will address that even though some female superheroes seem progressive, they still were these hypersexualized costumes-how much does that take away from their progressiveness? Excited to hear about the topic!
ReplyDelete