Orange is the new classroom? Juli Hinds, Ph.D.Prof.
Communication, Medaille College
how the use of the original Netflix series, Orange is the New
Black can spark the goals of engaged pedagogy, where the focus is
on the creation of a classroom experience that is more meaningful,
and holistic. Orange is the New Black, is particularly compelling
because of the rich characterizations of often marginalized, or
even invisible women within society; while, at the same time the
show exhibits stereotypical norms of race and ethnicity. These
ideological contradictions, in the show, often function, however,
as starting points for engagement and reflection on how issues of
power, privilege, and identity become constructed through the
business of new mass media, and as such play a role in our identity
as subjects within society.
Outline
1) Course built around Orange using Engaged Pedagogy 2) Learning
Outcomes 3) Classroom Approach & Classroom Exercises 4)
Assessment 5) Engaged? 6) Conclusion 7) Bib
Engaged Pedagogy
Break down ofFacilitator & Student
Small group sharing to sparking(transparency & affinity)
Bias, Prejudices upfront unlearn, relearn, rethink &
rethink
Prompts micro-macro dialectic on class concepts
Media (constructed reality) Reflection of self, & identity
3) Ideological contradictions 4) Be critical consumer/ power,
privilege5) Our role as creators, producers and exhibitors of
mediated textLO for Students & Teacher
TuesdayStudents do small group shareOrange and ethnicity/content
analysis
Clips Regroup/sharing and exercises Eg. Storyboards/Casting
What is race?
Clips that need to be unpacked and explore theoretical
underpinnings of the week or wherever..the clip serves as a
template to talk in public (if wanted) about race and gender
privilege..explore theoretical underpinningsone week mise en
scence, rep, voice/dialogue, music (gillian rose)
Thursday: Reading, Richard Dyer Whiteness
Small Groups
Facebook responsesDo you fit into a category? What is your
identity?
"We keep coming back to the question of representation because
identity is always about representation. Richard Dyer
Assessment & Topics
1) Reflection journals2) Facebook Posts on Themes (not just
theories)Eg. Netflix as a business (Distribution, Exhibition,
Production) Television portrayal of prison systemStudents are
encouraged to post random questions3) 3 foundational quizzes on
theories (in own words) 4) Final project is a film on the series
rooted in the theory/theme of choice\
So are they engaged?
ensure that environment is safe zone: Facebook page closed
communityall comments stay herefolks watch shows on their own
timereflect in diary, and what they want to in small
Questions?????
BibliographyButler, J. (1990) Gender Troubles: Feminism and the
Subversion of Identity, New York
Dyer, Richard W. White: Essays on Race and Culture. New York:
Routledge, 1997. page 45
Fiske, John. Introduction to Communication Studies. London:
Methuen & Co., 1990.
Foucault, M. (1977) Discipline and Punish: the birth of the
prison. London
Hall, S., Morley, D., & Chen, K.-H. (1996). Critical
dialogues in cultural studies. London
hooks, bell (2010). Teaching critical thinking: practical
wisdom. New York: Routledge.
Visual Bibliography
Orange Is the New Black (2014) Director Jenji Kohan
* All of the students in COR 113 at Madison College gave their
permission to be photographed
