At the Beginning
This page is to reflect what I have done throughout week 1-7 in Writing 39A for creating a podcast. The podcast is a group project, a 20-25 long minutes discussion of the Disney’s construction of social expectations for the female gender has changed through the evolution of their princesses. I was the Microsite editor and the speaker for the first segment of the podcast. Before we released the final video, our team held three meetings, totaling four hours, to discuss the project.
Section 1: Pre-Production: Preparation and Planning
In week 2, I have finished the close reading of the "looking into the magic mirror" by Lynda Haas and Shaina Trapedo. This article remind me the Disney plays a big role in influence social construction of gender. I still remember that “Disney has been a pervasive and consistent reflection of culture, the study of its versions provides insight into how preferences, ideals, and values have changed through the years”(Haas & Trapedo).
In the same week, we have watched the presentation "Killing us softly" by Jean Kilbourne. This impress me a lot about how gender role affect us in person.
In week 3, I annotated “What is Toxic Masculinity?” by Salam. “Toxic Masculinity” is a new word for me at that time.
In week 3 Exploratory Writing: Beauty & the Beast and Gender Codes, I exchanged ideas with my classmates. This helps me achieve the course objectives: Improve your peer review skills through practice. This is an effective way to improve our writing skill and Understand the importance of peer review to your own reading and writing.
Practice Session: Verbs, Tense, Voice, Agreement, this helps me a lot when I am writing an article. I've learned that good writing requires correct grammar. The training also improved my grammar.
Section 2: Production--Creating the Podcast and Microsite
This is my first time to form a podcasting, so I wrote a simple draft of my own. Then communicate with the host to insert some conversation. This draft has been revised by three times. This Improve your written literacy, digital literacy, and overall communication skills across several media.
I am responsible for the website setting, I try my best to make the site both beautiful and useful. I am careful to remind viewers that they need to click on the image to enter the podcast.
I highlight words that don't sound right and practice them over and over again.
Section 3: Looking Ahead in Three Paragraphs
After my reflection, I think there are several areas worth improving. First, I serve as the MicroSite Editor in the team, so it is very important to phone the self-introduction and photos of each member. However, when members are sent to me from Gmail, there is a problem in my mailbox that it cannot be downloaded. I asked my friends to undownload Gmail. Second, when it comes to teamwork, it can be difficult to agree on meeting times because team members live in different time zones. We should arrange the time of the next meeting in each meeting contact instead of email communication, which will be much more efficient.
Help other members solve problems and pass on their skills to others without reservation.
At this stage, not only the awareness of teamwork, but also the ability of teamwork, the ability to see clearly and analyze problems, after seeing clearly the problems, they can provide solutions, help other team members to solve problems, and pass on their knowledge and skills to others.In my podcast, I mainly compare two different generations of Disney: Elsa and Snow White. If I were to focus on one main character, I would choose Elsa, and highlight her independence and strength.
I find that in podcasts, students pay more attention to character changes. But my main point is that the Disney princess story line has changed with The Times. Such as the most common scene in Disney princess movies is of a beautiful princess living a terrible life and the only way she can save herself is to wait for the prince's true love and a "key" kiss. But the storyline has also changed, with Disney princesses becoming strong, independent characters (Elsa, Mulan).
Although we faced some problems, we succeeded.
