Project: Final Project

My esteemed colleague Josh Smith and I decided late in the game to work together on some sort of analysis of the relationship between media and culture. We see media as an essential component of culture as well as an indicator of popular opinion. We don't really know where we're going to take this, but we will be looking at three different types of media, and trying to make a distinction between examples that highlight both the religious and political experiences of Israelis and Palestinians. 

First, we will look for news reports, sermons, and children's programming broadcast on television. Second, we will examine political cartoons and editorials as well as the status of foreign reporters in Israel and the disputed territories. Finally, we will examine popular music both secular and religious. We want to examine as wide of a spectrum of ideas and ideologies as possible, whether they come from terrorists, centrists, fanatics, zealots, cosmopolitans, clerics, conservatives, liberals, the peace now camp, the hate now camp, rabbis, imams, MKs, bakery owners, you name it. Any suggestions on how to solicit as many different sources would be helpful. 

This is a pretty broad topic and we will have to try to stay focused on Jerusalem... even though we don't exactly know how to do this. As far as newspapers are concerned, one way is to look at Israeli residents' access to Arabic Language/Palestinian media and Arab Jerusalemites' access Hebrew Language/Israeli media. Another thing we are interested in is how these two governments, who are in such close contact, keep their populations politically separated by what is on TV and in the newspaper. We think the differences in media have a real impact on the prospects for a peaceful resolution of this conflict. 

Any questions, comments, concerns, or candy bars are welcome.