Ageism in the media assignment Students will examine how older adults are portrayed in the media (TV advertisements or programing, newspapers, magazines, greeting cards, films). Each student will post 2 examples for the class via the discussion board during week three. A worksheet is available for each specific type of media you choose, to help guide your observations and your reaction paper. Choose only one type of media from the 4 options: TV advertisements, TV programing/films, Newspaper/Magazines, or Greeting Cards. Plan to spend two hours observing or reading the type of media chosen. Then, analyze the underlying messages communicated by the images or text. A two page reaction paper will be due by February 1st. You will also post two examples from your research, into the class discussion group. Images of Aging: Greeting Cards The media in the U.S. can be considered a mirror of our society and ourselves. What does this mirror tell us about our perceptions of aging and the elderly? This assignment asks you to consider how the elderly are portrayed in the images we receive each day from television programs and movies. 1.Assemble a collection of greeting cards for various ages: 16, 21, 30, 40, 50, 60, 65, and 70. 2.Evaluate the message, tone, and design of the cards. 3.Write a reaction paper discussing your analysis of how the overall message of the cards changes with the age for which they are intended. or Images of Aging: Television programs and films The media in the U.S. can be considered a mirror of our society and ourselves. What does this mirror tell us about our perceptions of aging and the elderly? This assignment asks you to consider how the elderly are portrayed in the images we receive each day from television programs and movies. 1.Watch two hours of television (choose either daytime or prime-time programming) or a feature film that includes elderly characters. 2.Record how many elderly are presented in the programming. What percent of the people presented are elderly? 3.Note the elders’ level of involvement in the story line and the development of the elderly. Are the representations stereotypes, do they reinforce myths or are they realistic? 4.Write a reaction paper using the elements and questions listed below as guide lines. Evaluating How Media Portray the Elderly Inclusion •Are the elderly included in the medium? •Are both men and women included? •Do the elderly play a significant role? Balanced Portrayal of physical status •Are successful elders represented? •Are elders with impairments presented realistically? •Are elders with impairments shown adapting to the impairments? Balanced portrayal of living arrangement •Are elders shown living in the community? Balanced portrayal of character •Are the elderly characters fully developed socially and psychologically? Individuality and heterogeneity •Are elders shown in a variety of contexts, including economic, educational, occupational, recreational activity and sexuality?