This assignment can accompany the homework included in lesson 1. It should take several days. Ask students to watch English language TV to determine the prevalence of sexually suggestive imagery and situations on network TV during prime time programming, programming for children, and programming for teens. Ask students to pay attention to commercials, too. They should note the frequency in their journals of the occurrence of sexual imagery in a given period of time (How many sexual images in a 30 second beer commercial?--for example) as well as the quality of the imagery--How suggestive is it? How subtle? (These may require some explanation.) Perhaps students could compare the treatment of sexuality on English language TV and TV in their native language.
Tell the students that this exercise is designed to increase awareness of the degree to which TV and other popular media like movies, magazines, and recordings encourage sexual behavior, but devote very little, if any resources to promoting safer sexual behavior. Make clear that you are not opposed to sexual behavior, or to its presence in the media, only to the lack of media attention to safer sexual behavior in the Age of AIDS.
Ask students to discuss their observations with classmates. Ask what the reasons might be for media fondness for open sexuality and for their aversion to safer sex. Ask them if they feel this is socially responsible behavior on the part of the TV industry.
Ask students to write to programming directors and news directors of local TV stations expressing their concern on this issue. Mail the letters for the class.