Critic’s Corner Roles for Analysis of Readings/Videos
Devil’s Advocate: Challenge the ideas in the course materials by developing a list of critical and thoughtful questions and arguments that may be raised by critics. Include a brief explanation of why you are making this critique. This is more than just posing a critique for the sake of being critical. Instead, this is about digging deeper into the materials to see what is missing or not fully addressed in the sources you are exploring.
Feminist: Using this role you will want to examine the readings/videos from a feminist perspective. Using this lens you can explore if the resources give agency to female voices and members of the LGBTQ community. Are the issues and experiences of women (of all ethnicities) and the LGBTQ community included or marginalized in these materials? How can you apply these ideas to help female students, as well as those who may identify as transgendered?
Egoist: This view asks the question, “What’s in it for me?!” When you are reflecting on course materials from this perspective you want to explore how you can apply the materials to your own life or practice. If you cannot figure out how to apply this to your own work, what could the authors/directors include or address that could better help your work?
Philosophy Queen/King: There are moments when we need to apply philosophy, abstract ideas, and theory to connect what we are reading/watching to great society. As you engage with these materials you will reflect on the following question: “What are the essential ideas that can withstand space and time?”
Investigator: If you choose this lens you gather background information pertaining to the article/topic (e.g., the authors’ previous research into the topic, professional information about the authors, research from citations used in the article, controversial issues surrounding the article, blog posts/comment about the article/topic). The background information is meant to provide more context for the reading. You will need to submit the additional sources of background information with a description of why that information is helpful in better understanding the context of the reading/research.
Creative Connector: Using this lens you will make connections to other important ideas, from both within the class, as well as to other cultural, social, political, and economic ideas. To examine ideas from this perspective you will make at least one of the following connections: Text to world, text to self, text to text.
Critic’s Idea:Do you have another idea for a role you can use to review course materials? Make sure to first describe the lens you will use to review course materials. First thoroughly describe the strategy you will use to engage with the material. Then outline your findings based on this framework.
