Hi, this is S.

On the skyscraper model of culture (see Ch 1), our first video analysis could be considered "high culture," while this one is arguably "low culture." The purpose of this activity is to get you thinking about how we value cultural products while you practice applying the 5-step Critical Process (Ch 1). You will be applying these steps to a media topic in your semester-long Media Criticism Project as well.

For this activity, you will apply the first three steps of the 5-step Critical Process from your textbook to a music video. Taking time to 1) describe, 2) analyze, and 3) interpret often leads to meaningful research questions for the last two steps in the process. This discussion requires one original post and two responses.

1. Watch the music video closely (9:30 minutes) and as you watch, take notes on the first two steps in the critical process: describe and analyze. What jumps out at you or leaves an impression?

**content note: I chose the extended version of the Telephone video for this activity because it is full of provocative imagery, symbolism, and pop culture references. It is also campy and ridiculous. However, it does also contain a moderate amount of overt sexuality, especially in the first few minutes. If this bothers you, feel free to skip to 2:45 for the more "cable-TV" version of the video. The rest of the video is pretty PG-13.

2. Write a brief (just a few sentences), objective description of the music video (plot, characters, style, etc.) Then identify 3-5 patterns or themes and explain why you identify them as patterns/themes. Do you consider this video high or low culture? Where would you place this video on the Skyscraper Model of Culture from Chapter 1? Please explain.