The Media, Identity, & Communication (MIC) Innovation Research Lab is a creative research collaborative that focuses on intersectional identity studies in media, entertainment, communication, and pop culture. The lab was founded by Dr. Nathian Shae Rodriguez, Associate Professor of Digital Media and Associate Director of San Diego State University's School of Journalism & Media Studies with funds from the inaugural SDSU Presidential Research Fellowship. The lab’s mission is to foster innovative research imbued with creative media technology that bridges boundaries between intersectional scholars, practitioners, and media producers. The lab plays a crucial role in the School’s role in educating and empowering diverse scholarship in our students and faculty.
The lab’s physical space, located inside the School of Journalism & Media Studies, provides media technology that supports creative research methodologies and data analyses such as interviews, content and textual analyses, multi-screen observation, python, EnVivo, Qualtircs, and SPSS, among others. With wall monitors, Apple Airplay, podcasting equipment, in-home simulation space, and gaming consoles, the MIC Lab also provides a space for students and faculty to research and produce podcasts, children’s media, sports media, pop culture studies, and video game studies.
About the Lab Director
Nathian Shae Rodriguez, PhD
Dr. Nathian Shae Rodriguez (Dr. Nate) is an Associate Professor of Digital Media and the Associate Director of the School of Journalism & Media Studies at San Diego State University. He is also a core faculty in the Area of Excellence: Digital Humanities and Global Diversity, a public speaker, and podcast host. Dr. Rodriguez specializes in critical-cultural and digital media studies, critical communication pedagogy, and pop culture pedagogy. His research focuses on minority representation in media, specifically LGBTQ and Latinx portrayals and intersectional identity negotiation, as well as pop culture, identity, radio broadcasting, and issues of masculinity/mascing. Dr. Rodriguez also has 10 years of professional radio experience in on-air talent, sales, promotions, and social media marketing.
Undergraduate Student Projects
(Fall 2024) Ines' research study, in progress, uses textual analysis to explore depictions of policing, women, and religion in the television series Law & Order SVU. Website coming soon.
Ines is a Sociology major who will graduate in 2025.
(Fall 2024) Olivia's research study, in process, uses textual analysis to explore the impact of pop singer Chappell Roan on audiences. Website coming soon.
Olivia is a Public Relations major who will graduate in 2025.
(Spring 2021) For Alexa’s research study, she analyzed the representations of four bisexual characters in various television shows. She focused on how these portrayals often include harmful stereotypes and tropes, which can negatively influence audience perceptions of LGBTQ+ individuals. Her findings highlight the gendered nature of these depictions, with bisexual women frequently shown in oversexualized roles. Alexa’s research underscores the ongoing issues in media representation of bisexuality and its impact on societal views. Click the button below for her study's webpage.
Alexa majored in media studies and graduated in 2021 from SDSU's School of JMS.
(Fall 202) For Drew’s research study, he used intersectionality to analyze 54 film and TV characters to study Asian-American racial stereotypes. His findings reveal that these stereotypes uphold white racial hegemony and reinforce societal stratification. This research highlights the persistence and evolution of Asian stereotypes in modern media. Click the button below for the study's webpage.
Drew graduated in 2021 from SDSU's ISCOR Program.
Undergraduate Special Studies
(Spring 2022) JJ's special research study centered on trans representation in video games. His study resulted in a presentation , which won the College of PSFA Undergraduate Research Excellence Award at the 2022 Student Research Symposium (SRS) – Now called SDSU Student Symposium (S3).
JJ is an Interdisciplinary Studies (IS3D) major with disciplines in Sociology, Computer Science, and Statistics with a minor in Philosophy. JJ will graduate in Spring 2025.
Graduate Student Projects
Arleen Jia Rasing
(Spring 2024) Arleen’s research study examined intersectional representation in the shows Gordita Chronicles and Diary of a Future President. She found that through their diverse production teams and inclusive storytelling, the shows challenge stereotypes and normalize taboo topics for young Latinas. Her study underscores the impact of such shows on mainstream media representation and fostering inclusive narratives and cultural dialogue. Arleen's special study resulted in a first-authored paper, with Dr. Nate, titled "Beyond Stereotypes: Intersectional Storytelling in Gordita Chronicles and Diary of a Future President," which is currently under review for publication.
Arleen will graduate in 2025 with a Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication.
Jessica Arguelles
(Spring 2024) Jessica's research study employed a qualitative analysis of Generation Z Asian Americans’ perceptions of Instagram beauty advertisements to investigate how ethnic identification impacts the perception of Asian American influencers. Jessica's special study resulted in a first-authored paper (along with Dr. Rodriguez & Dr. Hu) titled "Ethnic Identification in Gen-Z Asian Americans and Instagram Beauty Influencers," which is currently under review for publication.
Jessica graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication in 2024.
Adriana Villa
(Spring 2024) Adriana's research study used a survey to explore consumer responses from Latinx/e Gen Z consumers in San Diego County. Her study resulted in a white paper that she presented to the Public Relations firm Nuffer, Smith, Tucker - her employer.
Adriana graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication in 2024.
(Fall 2022) Mirelle's research study used visual and textual analysis to examine DEI media for the JMS event “Screening Circle.” That semester the screening circle centered on the Disney film "Coco" and featured a keynote from Herbert Siguenza (cultural consultant for Coco) and performances from Ballet Folklórico Xochipilli de SDSU and Mariachi Dinastia. Click the button below for her website.
Mirelle graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication in 2023.
2023 Weber Honors College Research Student Fellows
Paloma Villavicencio
For Paloma's fellowship, she worked alongside Dr. Nate to conduct focus groups composed of Indigenous, Latinx/e, and Black identifying students. The data from the focus group helped to inform a study on intersectional representation in the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Paloma is a Journalism major who is minoring in Creative Publishing and Editing.
Spencer Deines
Spencer's fellowship centered on conducting qualitative research on Twitter (now known as X) to examine consumer reactions to M&MsM&Ms’s woke advertising spokescandy campaign. Spencer is also listed as a coauthor with Dr. Nate on the paper "Go Woke Go Broke: A Case Study of the M&Ms Spokescandies Superbowl Campaign," which is currently under review for publication.
Spencer is a Psychology Major
