Series of Steps
Online Persona Role Play
Objectives: Students will design an argument from the theoretical framework of a fictitious person.
Goal: By assuming a persona, or a personal facade that an individual presents to the world, students will identify layers of rationale behind theoretical frames of analysis.
Assignment Overview: Each student will locate an advertisement, write a one-paragraph critique it from one theoretical frame of seeing the world, and post both the advertisement and the critique on his or her personal website.
Step-by-step process:
1) Survey online (preferably) magazines for advertisements. As you do so, take time to distinguish major features of the ad’s composition:
a. Artwork: Photographs, drawings, graphics, borders, captions
b. Title: Headline and subheadings
c. Body: Indentation, pull-quotes, bullet lists, layout
d. Contact: Logo, slogan, advertiser name
2) Choose an advertisement (if you decide to take the more difficult route of choosing a print version, you’ll eventually need to scan it so you can transfer it to your website.)
3) Choose the best theoretical lens (i.e. masculinity, Marxist, postmodern, post-colonial, etc.) in which to critique the advertisement you have chosen.
4) Review the Language of Interpretation to zoom into the best possible academic language with which to frame your theoretical interpretation of the advertisement.
5) Write a one-paragraph (4-7 sentences) critique of the advertisement from the point of view of a person who ascribes to the particular theoretical lens you have chosen. Create this person so as to sound like somebody who is alive: use an authentic (socially-appropriate) voice and context as you write.
6) Post your work on a new page on your personal Google website, titled “Online Persona Role Play: Advertisement Analysis.”
7) Always refer to your name via your pseudonym.
8) Note: we’ll be devoting time to commenting on each other’s critiques virtually, so know your theoretical framework!