To: Ms.

Hofmann
From: Micaela Flowers
Subject: Research Proposal
Date:3/11/14
1.My inquiry question is How have privacy laws changed over the last 20 years?
2 Additional questions that I have:
1What are the privacy laws?
2 Do privacy laws differ in different cities?
3 How have privacy laws changed over the years?
4 What are some experiences that may have caused the changed privacy laws?
5 Were privacy laws created with celebrities in mind or the general public?
6 How does privacy, or the lack of, affect Pop Culture? (Substantive)
7 What is the definition of privacy?
8 Are there active law suits dealing with privacy laws?
9 How do privacy laws affect family life? (Substantive)
10 What role do paparazzi play in abiding by/ breaching privacy laws?
3 I am at the starting point where I know a lot about Pop Culture as well as paparazzi, I
am also quite up to date on privacy lawsuits.
I consider myself biased towards creating stricter privacy laws, especially in
bigger cities like Los Angeles and New York City. I have seen videos of paparazzi,
specifically, being ruthless about following people. I am aware of incidences such as
Princess Dianas death due to a lack of more preventative privacy laws.
I chose this subject because I am very interested in mass media, Pop Culture,
mainstream trends, etc. I have always watched shows like E! news and TMZ . On those
shows they show videos from their paparazzi and watching how those photographers
are allowed to act and treat celebrities is sometimes horrifying and abusive. I always
find myself being able to write more about subjects that I take interest in and this is one.
I also have a lot of base knowledge prior to even starting research.
4 On the internet I have found a website about paparazzi reform efforts. On this website
there are articles collected that are written about privacy laws, incidences, petitions, etc.
My working knowledge is that privacy laws prevent any person from stalking and
endangering their life. They create boundaries, however, there are loopholes within the
laws and also times when their principles are not enforced strictly.
I have been working on broadening my subject from just Paparazzi to privacy
laws in general. Now that I have focused on that I need to figure out where I am going to
narrow it from there. I can modify my inquiry question by either making it more broad or
more specific depending on what advice my group gives me.
Sources:
1) http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/104250
2) http://www.paparazzi-reform.org