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1. Class and Television
2. Book of the Month: Class-Passing
3. October Actions Against Classism
4. Featured Resources on Class and Television
5. Share your experience: Class Action Survey
6. Class Action House Parties
7. Call for Submissions
8. Volunteer Opportunities
9. Upcoming Programs
1. Class and Television
The new television season is upon us. This month Class Action's books, actions, resources, and survey explore issues of class on American television. TV has an enormous impact on how we feel about others and helps us formulate our ideas. As our friends at the Media Education Foundation point out, the average American youth spends 1,023 hours watching TV and only 900 hours in school. However, social class has been a neglected factor in research on American television programs and audiences. We hope to inspire those of you who watch T.V. to watch through a class lens and with a new awareness.
2. Book of the Month: Class-Passing: Social Mobility in Film and Popular Culture
University of Nebraska professor Gwendolyn Audrey Foster’s recent book provides a much-needed theoretical examination of how class is negotiated in film and television. Foster’s premise is, “We all class-pass. We all negotiate class. We all experience and perform class. Yet very little discussion of class occurs, very little attention is paid to class in popular culture and film.” Foster attempts to right this by providing trenchant analysis of class portrayals on television, especially how class issues play out on "reality" programs. Read more...
More information and other recent book recommendations can be found in our book corner.
3. October Actions Against Classism
Our October Actions Against Classism include ways to inform yourself and get involved in media issues. We recommend inviting some friends over to watch "Class Dismissed: How T.V. Frames the Working Class." When you are well-informed and ready to act, Free Press has activist tools including The Media Reform Action Guide. This 68-page booklet gives step-by-step instructions for media reform strategies that get results, from writing a Letter to the Editor to setting up meetings with legislators. Though written mainly to address issues in news coverage many of these tools are applicable to fiction and "reality" programming as well. Find out more at our action page.
4. FEATURED RESOURCES: Articles and links to information on Class and Television
Who Killed Archie Bunker? Working-class Television and the Democratic Party
by Mark Stricherz
This article explore the rise of the professional class in television programming.
Belaboring Reality
Reality Television and how it portrays work.
by Heather Hendershot
Media Education Foundation
Producers of "Class Dismissed:How TV Frames the Working Class" and other examinations of American media.
5. SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE: Class Action's Survey asks for your experiences with Class and Television.
How is television perpetuating stereotypes or classist portrayals? What are some examples of characters, storylines, or news stories that you have found particularly troubling?
Let us know at our survey page.
Read the varied responses to last month's survey.
6. Class Action House Parties
Interested in getting your friends and family talking about class while helping Class Action? Host a Class Action House Party!
Raise awareness while raising money to support this work.
Email Dana or call 413.585.9709 ext. 207 to find out more.
7. Call For Submissions
Class Action is guest editing an issue of Equity & Excellence in Education. We are currently soliciting manuscripts for a special theme issue on Class and Education. We welcome scholarly research, as well as, well-documented descriptive articles that examine topics of class and education. Please see our website for the complete call for submissions.
For more about the Aims and Scope of Equity and Excellence in Education please go to: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/10665684.asp
8. Volunteer Opportunities
Class Action is looking for volunteers! Find out more at our Support Class Action page or email us.
9. Upcoming Programs
Straddling Class
October 14, 2006
Amherst, MA
More info...
Exploring Class
November 4, 2006
Greenfield, MA
More info...
Opening Pandora's Box: Classism for Diversity Trainers/ Consultants
October 12, 2006
Newton, MA
More info...
Appalachian State University
October 24, 2006
Boone, N.C.
More info...
Class Privilege & How It Affects Our Moral Compass
October 26, 2006
Cambridge,MA
More info...
What Katrina Revealed: Economic Apartheid in America
October 30, 2006
Tallahassee,FL
More info...
Opening Pandora's Box: Talking About Class
November 9, 2006
Bryn Mawr,PA
More info...
Kissing Across the Class Divide: A Workshop for Couples Talking About Class, Money, and Lifestyle Issues
November 19
Cambridge/Somerville, MA
More info...
Class Action Groups
For information on joining a group please email us.
Read Class Action's past eNews:
September, 2006: Class and Higher Education
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