snoipah
Dec 30, 2010
Undergraduate / "Women and Gender Roles in Horror Media" -Notre Dame short essay answer [5]
Hi! I'm looking for a few second opinions on my answer to this question on the Notre Dame Common App Supplement. My parents don't want me to send it in because they're afraid it isn't outward-focused enough (ie, it's not about solving a huge social problem or deworming orphans in Somalia), but I think it's an original idea that would give admissions officers a good idea of my interests and focuses as a person. Thoughts?
3. The curriculum offered at Notre Dame varies from what you might expect (e.g. Introduction to Biological Sciences, Accountancy) to topics you might not (e.g. Theology and Engineering, Friendship: From Aristotle to Facebook). If you could introduce a new course and serve as the expert instructor, what would it be and why?
The course I would most like to introduce at Notre Dame would be Fear and Femininity: Women and Gender Roles in Horror Media. Although horror is by far my favorite genre - not just of literature, but also of film and video games - its treatment of women is often problematic, highlighting cultural stereotypes of female vulnerability and sexuality. By discussing common tropes, such as the young teenage girl being stalked and harassed by a predatory male figure, contrasting them with more progressive portrayals of women in the genre, and critically examining current trends in horror media (particularly the resurgence of gory exploitation films such as Hostel and I Spit on Your Grave), I believe that this course would appeal to a wide variety of interests and help students become more aware of the broader social implications of their "popcorn" entertainment.
Hi! I'm looking for a few second opinions on my answer to this question on the Notre Dame Common App Supplement. My parents don't want me to send it in because they're afraid it isn't outward-focused enough (ie, it's not about solving a huge social problem or deworming orphans in Somalia), but I think it's an original idea that would give admissions officers a good idea of my interests and focuses as a person. Thoughts?
3. The curriculum offered at Notre Dame varies from what you might expect (e.g. Introduction to Biological Sciences, Accountancy) to topics you might not (e.g. Theology and Engineering, Friendship: From Aristotle to Facebook). If you could introduce a new course and serve as the expert instructor, what would it be and why?
The course I would most like to introduce at Notre Dame would be Fear and Femininity: Women and Gender Roles in Horror Media. Although horror is by far my favorite genre - not just of literature, but also of film and video games - its treatment of women is often problematic, highlighting cultural stereotypes of female vulnerability and sexuality. By discussing common tropes, such as the young teenage girl being stalked and harassed by a predatory male figure, contrasting them with more progressive portrayals of women in the genre, and critically examining current trends in horror media (particularly the resurgence of gory exploitation films such as Hostel and I Spit on Your Grave), I believe that this course would appeal to a wide variety of interests and help students become more aware of the broader social implications of their "popcorn" entertainment.
