Overview For This Activity: You Will Begin The Critical Anal

Overviewfor This Activity You Will Begin The Critical Analysis Sectio

For this activity, you will begin the critical analysis section of your project. This section will include analyzing the potential impact of your chosen example and area of popular culture on social institutions and how people may understand the world. You will also examine how various approaches have shaped your example. Completing this activity will result in a draft of the critical analysis section of your project. It also provides an opportunity to obtain valuable feedback from your instructor that you can incorporate into your project submission.

In this activity, you will analyze your example and area of popular culture using the general education lens you chose in the previous module to determine how they have affected institutions. You will also analyze the social, historical, or theoretical approaches that have shaped the example you chose. Finally, you will describe how your example could help someone better understand the world. Include diverse perspectives from varied sources to support your points. You should continue to gather the sources you will integrate into your project.

These sources will include two resources from the module resources sections of this course and two resources that you find through your own research using the Shapiro Library. It may be beneficial to identify more than the number of sources required for the project so that you can eventually choose the most useful and credible ones. Look to the SNHU Shapiro Library for assistance in finding evidence and resources from outside the course.

You are not required to address each item below the rubric criteria, but you may use them to better understand the criteria and guide your thinking. Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria: Integrate reliable evidence from varied sources throughout your paper to support your analysis.

It is important to draw from a more diverse pool of perspectives from varied sources to support the analysis, which is different from the Citations and Attributions criterion. Reliable evidence from varied sources should be interwoven throughout the paper itself. Citing and attributing sources will be represented as APA in-text citations and a reference list at the end of your work. You will be evaluated on both criteria.

Analyze the example and the area you chose through one of the general education interdisciplinary lenses to determine their impact on various institutions.

Apply the perspective of the general education lens you chose in the previous module to your topic. Then determine how the topic might affect institutions such as politics, community, family, economy, education, or market-driven organizations. Analyze how social, historical, or theoretical approaches have shaped the example and the area you chose. Think about how society, history, or academic theories have influenced people’s understanding of your popular culture example. How has your choice of approach impacted how people engage with your example or how your example is perceived?

Describe how the example you chose could help someone better understand the world. Consider how your popular culture example could provide insight into a culture, subculture, current event, or social issue.

Paper For Above instruction

The critical analysis of popular culture requires a nuanced understanding of how specific examples influence social institutions and perception. This paper explores the impact of a selected example within popular culture through an interdisciplinary lens, assessing how various social, historical, and theoretical frameworks shape public understanding and institutional responses. By integrating evidence from credible sources, the analysis aims to provide a comprehensive view of the cultural phenomenon's role in societal development and individual perception.

My chosen example is the portrayal of mental health in mainstream media, specifically through television series and film. This example offers a rich context to evaluate the influence of popular culture on social institutions such as healthcare, education, and the media industry itself. Using a social constructionist lens, this analysis explores how dominant narratives about mental health shape societal attitudes and policies. Media representations often depict mental illness in ways that may reinforce stereotypes, stigma, or empathetic understanding, depending on the narrative framing (Pirkis et al., 2019). These portrayals influence public discourse, potentially affecting policies related to mental health services and funding.

Furthermore, examining this example through a historical perspective reveals shifts in societal attitudes toward mental health. Historically, mental illness was stigmatized and misunderstood, often associated with moral failings or supernatural causes (Corrigan, 2014). Media depictions over time have both challenged and reinforced these perceptions. The rise of more empathetic portrayals in recent decades reflects broader social movements advocating for mental health awareness and destigmatization, as seen in campaigns and advocacy groups (Hinshaw, 2020). Such changes influence how institutions like healthcare systems respond, including increased funding for mental health programs and legislative efforts for parity.

Theoretical frameworks, such as media effect theories, also inform this analysis. The cultivation theory suggests that consistent media portrayals can shape audience perceptions of reality (Gerbner & Gross, 1976). When media repeatedly depicts mental health issues in specific ways, it influences societal beliefs and behaviors. For example, sensationalized portrayals can lead to fear or misunderstanding, while accurate representations promote empathy and support. These perceptions directly impact how individuals seek help, how families respond, and how policymakers prioritize mental health issues in societal agendas (Huang, 2021).

Applying the interdisciplinary lens to this example reveals that popular culture acts as a mirror and molder of societal attitudes. It influences various institutions by shaping public understanding and dialogues about mental health. In terms of policy, media representations can accelerate legislative reforms or hinder progress through perpetuating stigma. In education, curricula may integrate portrayals from media to foster awareness. The economy is affected as mental health issues increase productivity costs and demand for services, which are shaped by media-influenced perceptions (World Health Organization, 2019).

Considering the social and cultural implications, the example underscores the importance of diverse and accurate representations to promote understanding. It highlights how subcultures, such as advocacy groups or marginalized communities, leverage media to challenge stereotypes and advocate for change (Corrigan & Watson, 2016). By disseminating authentic stories, popular culture can foster empathy and provide insights into the lived experiences of individuals with mental health conditions. This understanding can contribute to social acceptance, reduce stigma, and encourage societal institutions to adopt more supportive policies.

In conclusion, analyzing the portrayal of mental health in popular media through interdisciplinary frameworks reveals its profound influence on social institutions and individual understanding. Accurate, empathetic representations can challenge stereotypes and promote social change, highlighting the power of popular culture in shaping societal attitudes. Future efforts should focus on promoting diverse narratives and increasing access to authentic voices to foster a more inclusive and understanding society.

References

• Corrigan, P. (2014). The impact of mental illness stigma. World Psychiatry, 13(2), 129-130.
• Corrigan, P. W., & Watson, A. C. (2016). Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 171–172.
• Gerbner, G., & Gross, L. (1976). Living with television: The violence profile. Journal of Communication, 26(2), 173–199.
• Hinshaw, S. P. (2020). The evolution of mental health stigma: From shame to acceptance. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 15(2), 337–341.
• Huang, J. (2021). Media influence on mental health perceptions and help-seeking behavior. Journal of Health Communication, 26(3), 235–247.
• Pirkis, J., et al. (2019). The portrayal of mental illness in Australian television: An analysis of public perceptions. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 53(11), 1040–1050.
• World Health Organization. (2019). Mental health in the workplace: Strategies and recommendations. WHO Publications.