Created by Pharrell Williams, this site houses a collection of video shows dedicated to all creative pursuits, including art, music, fashion, popular culture, and news. The site celebrates individuality or, “OTHERS.” Each video runs approximately 5-10 minutes. Featured video shows include StereoTypes, Style Hunt, and In Other News. Some videos from this collection may be appropriate to incorporate in undergraduate courses on sociology, women’s studies, African American studies, or related disciplines. However, given that the site is not specifically designed for educational use, course-relevant features are not explicitly articulated or even immediately apparent. Use of this material would require an instructor to contextualize and tailor the content for the topic being taught.
Type of Material:
Collection
Recommended Uses:
In class. Given some potentially controversial language and topics, videos would be best used in class where an instructor could closely monitor how the videos content facilitated learning goals.
Technical Requirements:
Safari and Firefox used. The scroll feature didn’t work on the homepage when using Safari. The collection is also housed on a YouTube channel.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The site is not explicitly intended for educators, so the learning goal is whatever an instructor is able to bring to the material. The video series with the most learning potential is likely Stereotypes; however, given the profanity and potentially offensive language in some of the clips, instructors will likely want to provide trigger warnings if they opt to use this material.
Target Student Population:
Videos from this collection, particularly the StereoTypes series, could be useful in an introductory sociology course or related disciplines.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
None
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
Topics explored in the videos are timely, relevant, and provocative; videos often draw upon humor to engage viewers. Videos could be useful for igniting class discussion around course content.
Concerns:
Given that the site is not originally intended for classroom use, learning goals are not articulated alongside the material, nor are concepts explicated within the context of disciplinary research. Instructors must contextualize and tailor content for the purpose of learning. For example, in the Stereotype video series, while engaging and potentially useful for sparking conversation, there is no explicit effort to dismantle or be systematically critical of the stereotypes, nor are the stereotypes rooted in a larger body of disciplinary research as to where the stereotypes come from, the social and material consequences of such stereotypes, and/or the numerous efforts taken by communities, indeed communities of OTHERS, to combat such stereotypes. Some use of potentially offensive language.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Some of the links are to interesting sites.
Concerns:
Given that the site is not originally intended for classroom use, learning goals are not articulated alongside the material, nor are concepts explicated within the context of disciplinary research. Instructors must contextualize and tailor content for the purpose of learning.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The videos are well-produced, aesthetically appealing, and engaging. Videos are conveniently located on a YouTube channel in addition to the website.
Concerns:
While video titles can provide some direction (e.g., Stereotype: “Female Breadwinners” or “Good Hair”), the material is not organized or searchable around learning goals or course concepts, thus requiring instructors to spend time searching and viewing videos that could be appropriate for classroom use. The scroll feature didn’t work on the homepage when using Safari.
Creative Commons:
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