COMM 390, 209 (optional): Caroline Kennedy and images of women in politics

For COMM 390: Look for gender role stereotypes like those we have been discussing -- as well as political and class steretypes -- in this profile of Caroline Kennedy by Larissa MacFarquhar of New Yorker magazine. What roles must be juggled by a woman involved in politics? How is she stereotyped? Read for Wednesday, and we'll discuss in class.

For COMM 209, MacFarquhar is a observant, subtle reporter who is well worth reading. You can get through my basic newswriting course without reading her story, especially if you're not a communication arts major and/or you're satisfied with a "C" in the course. But this is an excellent profile that's very well reported (even though Kennedy refused to be interviewed for the story), and you will learn things from it you can use in your own writing. As you read, ask yourself how you would handle that quote, that interview, that descriptive passage, etc., if you were writing the story. If you're serious about comm. arts, you'll start asking yourself those questions about everything you read.

MacFarquhar also wrote a well-regarded profile of Barack Obama in May 2007, during the early stages of his successful presidential primary campaign.