Instructions

For this assignment, you are going to consume the relevant media texts listed below, and then answer 5 essay questions. 

Relevant Media Texts

1. Dolly Parton's America Episode 9 "She's Alive!"

2. Pop Culture Happy Hour: A New Podcast Explores 'Dolly Parton's America'

Yes, this is a podcast about the podcast.

3. Queer Eye Season 4: Episode 2 "Disabled, But Not Really"

We will watch this in class. If you miss that class, you can find the episode on Netflix.

4. Responses to 'Disabled, But Not Really'

1. 1. Imani Barbarin, On Being Black and ‘Disabled but Not Really’
   2. HuffPost: Jessica Slice, I Love ‘Queer Eye.’ I Don’t Love The Way It Portrayed People With Disabilities
   3. But Why Tho?: Lizzy Garcia, Dear ‘Queer Eye,’ I Really Am Disabled And Wesley Hamilton is Amazing
   4. Healthline: Vilissa Thompson, "Some Disabled People Blasted ‘Queer Eye.’ But Without Talking About Race, It Misses the Point"

5. One or more media texts of your choosing that tell a story about disability (about physical disability, mental disability, cognitive disability, or about the very concept of disability).

This/these can be selected from TV shows, songs, films, magazine articles, books and shorts stories, social media, etc. Be prepared to provide links, screen captures or quotes. 

Questions

(You should copy these questions, hit submit, and then paste them in to get started on the answers. Use the buttons at the top of the screen to embed media, links, etc.).

These questions are not all about disability. They are a mix of disability-themed questions and wrap up questions on Dolly Parton's America.

1. Explain the media text(s) you selected and provide links to them or to more information. Why did you select this? What story/stories are told about disability in your selection(s)?
2. Thinking of religion and spirituality as sociological issues, including the diversity of beliefs, how do you respond to the discussion of Dolly Parton's faith?
3. Imagine you are a guest on the Dolly Parton's America episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, where they all discuss their responses to the show. Choose 2 of the questions/topics from the show and provide your response to them.
4. The linked essays on Disabled But Not Really demonstrate that it is possible to have a lot of very different reactions to that show. Use them to construct your own position on how the episode dealt with representing disability. Quote from at least two of the essays. 
5. Choose one of the concepts from the unit on disability not covered in the above questions and use the episode Queer Eye or your own media text to illustrate it. Explain why the illustration works. Imagine you are teaching the concept to someone younger and make sure you really explain on clear terms. 

Extra credit alternate question: If you could ask Dolly Parton a question, what would it be and why? OR What question do you wish I'd asked here? Give your answer to that question.