Gina Castle Bell

From “Laying the Foundations” to Building the House: Extending Orbe's (1998) Co-Cultural Theory to Include “Rationalization” as a Formal Strategy

We extend co-cultural theory to include an additional communication strategy: rationalization. Rationalization is defined as instances where individuals provide alternative explanations for communication rather than labeling them as forms of injustice (e.g., racially insensitive, prejudice, or discriminatory). Thirty co-researchers were interviewed about Black and White communication challenges from a co-cultural theoretical lens. Participants employed rationalization to process intercultural tension. Specifically, Black participants rationalized being watched in public, racial comments, workplace practices and treatment, and racism.

Exploring Black and White Accounts of 21st-Century Racial Profiling: Riding and Driving While Black

Data from 60 qualitative interviews reveal the presence of racial tensions in 21st-century United States. Black participants expressed experiencing racial prejudice while operating automobiles. White passengers also reported witnessing instances of driving while Black (DWB) while riding with Black drivers. Specifically, White participants reported instances of profiling, where they witnessed Black drivers pulled over by police officers, although no traffic violation occurred. Two themes emerged for Black participants: (a) fear that they would be pulled over, and (b) motivation to “survive” the law enforcement encounter. Participants’ experiences insinuate a continued racial tension between Black citizens and White law enforcement officers. While the United States has made valuable strides, we still have prejudices to overcome.

Effectiveness of Culture Jamming in Agenda Building: An Analysis of the Yes Men's Bhopal Disaster Prank

Activist organizations have attempted to build their media agenda through hoaxes as part of a broader strategy called culture jamming. To test the efficacy of this strategy, we conducted a content analysis of 114 newspaper articles about the Bhopal disaster, framed through agenda building theory (Cobb & Elder, 1971). The articles examined were published two years before and after a hoax perpetrated by the activist group The Yes Men. Six hypotheses and one overarching research question were proposed. Several 2 × 2 chi-square tests were conducted to determine the impact of the hoax on the media agenda by examining differences in frequencies of several categories, including mention of (a) Dow ownership, (b) ongoing health consequences, (c) death toll, and (d) additional legal redress both before and after the hoax. Results indicate that the Bhopal BBC hoax actually decreased the medias use of frames sympathetic to the victims of Bhopal. This surprising discovery suggests that culture jammers should alter their strategies if they hope to alter the media agenda in substantial and long-lasting ways. Several implications for culture-jamming strategies are proposed.

Investigating the Celebration of Black Friday as a Communication Ritual

This study proposes a culturally based method for achieving greater customer-centricity in marketing by examining Black Friday as a communication ritual. It enables more effective marketing strategies because it explores the meaning of participating in ritual for the consumers. A total of 65 interviews were conducted over a two year period. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis (Owen 1984) and were broken into theory-driven categories adhering to Philipsen’s (1987) definition of ritual. Data analysis revealed that shoppers engaged in a sequential set of symbolic acts: looking for deals; deciding where to shop; mapping out stores; developing in-store action plans; and assigning roles to perform. Furthermore, Black Friday shoppers celebrated four sacred objects: materialism; relational bonding; Christmas; and tradition. The findings are interrogated for their potential implications for more effective marketing strategies for these shoppers.

A Culture-Centered Approach to Improving Healthy Trans-Patient–Practitioner Communication: Recommendations for Practitioners Communicating withTrans Individuals

ABSTRACT The following manuscript explores trans individuals’ lived experiences with practitioners and the types of advice they suggested be provided to practitioners treating trans patients to improve the trans-patient–practitioner relationship. Thirteen semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with individuals who self-identified as trans. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006; Owen, 1984). Data analysis revealed that changes in practitioner’s communication behavior during office visits as well as modifications to office logistics and e-health particulars would contribute to a healthy communication environment. Interviewees explained that these variations may potentially improve trans-patient–practitioner communication. We conclude by offering practical and theoretical implications as well as areas of future research for trans health communication.

Rating Slam Dunks to Visualize the Mean, Median, Mode, Range, and Standard Deviation

Course: Undergraduate Communication Research Methods Objectives: This activity introduces students to data sets by demonstrating how individual answers form data for classroom analysis. Students learn the process of variable operationalization, measures of central tendency, and data dispersion. This activity transforms the idea of “data” from an abstract concept to a concrete one by engaging students in an empirical learning activity.

Exploring representations of Black masculinity and emasculation on NBC’s Parenthood

ABSTRACT Here, representations of Black masculinity and emasculation are explored on NBC’s Parenthood. We question whether depictions of Black masculinity represented through Parenthood’s character, Alex, are empowering or stereotypical; how do they reflect, destabilize, and/or reinforce heteronormative depictions of Black community members? Two seasons were analyzed using Owen’s thematic analysis. Ultimately, Black males are portrayed as being societal failures, criminals, violent, and hypersexualized through his character. This embodiment ultimately preserves long-held images of Black men as “Toms, coons … bucks … as oversexed, aggressive, violent, animalistic, or emasculated” (Jackson, R. L. II. 2006. Scripting the black masculine body: Identity, discourse, and racial politics in popular media. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press). Practical recommendations and suggestions for researchers and media practitioners are provided.