#FreeSpeech
Analyzing the media literacy of social justice.
Objective:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” That is the First Amendment, which was written in…1789. “Free Speech” calls to mind the debates about the limits of free expression. It can be a challenge to have a true conversation with others that do not hold your same belief. Technology is shaping the way we communicate with each other, where hate speech, cancel culture, and dense comment sections are eagerly at our fingertips. The sheer proliferation of information (not to mention misinformation, disinformation, and outright lies) bombards our news feeds daily and takes a strong consciousness to filter out and sometimes realize – it’s time to unfollow. Comedy reminds us of both the potential value and the danger of humor as a rhetorical tool in creative spaces. Athletes raise complex questions about the possible limits of free speech, especially for student athletes, who are often seen as representing their institution. This is the challenge of democracy, where free expression and diversity are not necessarily the same.
Readings:
Crash Course – Media Literacy
United Nations – Hate Speech
Facing History & Ourselves – Understanding #TakingAKnee and Athlete Activism
Vogue – On Dave Chappelle, Free Speech, and Netflix’s Trans Indifference
The Myth of Online Free Speech
Writings:
Keep your writing tightly focused. Sometimes it is more challenging to write a short caption than it is to write a long essay. With only a limited word choice, the goal of this kind of writing is to inform readers about something without digressing. You are only pulling from one source. You might provide a bit of background information about the company, and analyze the text/visuals provided on the company’s website, but the main focus is the topic of corporate solidarity. The draft is only the beginning. This is an opportunity to encourage you to prewrite to then be able to receive individual personalized feedback. Then, you will review and add the finishing touches so your argument really drives home!
