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Title: Bell Hooks: Cultural Criticism & Transformation Rating: 3.4 out of 4 Reference: By Bell Hooks. Abstract: Bell Hooks makes a compelling argument for the transformative power of cultural criticism.
Reviews and Numerical Ratings 3 This is a great video to initiate a discussion on pop cultural criticism. The flashy, shocking, & often troubling mainstream movie clips will certainly capture those with even the shortest of attention spans. And it is definitely recommended for first to third year classes (or bell hooks fans of all ages). The images work well to illustrate bell hooks’ commentary. She provides an excellent and, as is to be expected, accessible introduction to a number of issues/concepts: e.g. why study popular culture? critical thinking as a mode of political/self transformation, the politics of representation & particularly representations of violence against women & racism (note there are strong images & language used here), the concept of motivated representations, & an explanation of her concept of “White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy.” The second part of the video works through a number of examples of cultural criticism in greater detail. Albert Banerjee 4 Hooks deals with many concepts in this video and if students are not familiar with them, this might present some problems in conceptualizing and understanding her talk. Consequently I would recommend this for 2nd-4th year students, and not for 1st year students (though it could probably be used at that level to show the importance of literacy). The mass media is very powerful in its representations - both positive & negative - of racial stereotypes & white supremacy, and somehow we are subconsciously manipulated into believing & accepting these representations. I recommend this video for mass communication, cultural/popular culture studies. It could also be used as a tool to teach critical thinking skills. This is a great video for me as I do not see images of feminists, women of colour, scholars & role models in this capacity often enough & my recommendation is that we use more people of colour videos. As a woman of colour, I need the role model. Jennifer Lewis-Phillips (undergraduate) 2.5 This video touches on important topics but the scope is too narrow. This video discusses the ways in which capitalism, patriarchy, sexism, & racism are interrelated and embedded in cultural media and in the production of knowledge. However, hooks only offers one side of the argument since her focus is only on the media. She claims that pop culture is where the pedagogy begins and clearly this is not the case. The media is not where the pedagogy begins; it is merely a reflection and an extension of it. bell hooks’ intention to make people more critical of the media is important but her argument does not stray beyond what is basic. For students at any level. Kisrene McKenzie (undergraduate) 3.5 Excellent for classroom use as it attends to some of the key issues that resistant students raise in the classroom. (Just show part I - On cultural criticism, 26 min., or part ii - Doing cultural criticism, 40 min., not both.) Very good pace, interesting. Lecture topics: gender, “race”, mass media, class, capitalism, popular culture, content/discourse analysis, pedagogy. Angela Aujla & Riley Olstead 4 Hooks has a great personality & a great analysis. Very well-paced, images complement narration, transitions between the movies & sections where Hooks presents her analysis keep you from being lulled. Would cause viewer to watch movies differently. (Introduction to who Hooks is helps too.) Kathy Bischoping & Sujatha Varghese About the project | Book a video for class | Enter the Library Catalogue | Send us feedback | Back to main |
