I understand: That the point of media literacy is to teach as many poeple as possible to be able to "read" the messages that the media sends by way of propaganda; both to be able to make an educated analysis of its downfalls and to be able to create countermedia that breaks the norms and premotes further awareness. It is not just to find the downfalls, but the positives as well, and futher to be able to understand what is missing altogether. It is the base of the higher educational degree entitled "Media Studies". One of the main points is to not be afraid to make media work for us, so as to turn uninclusive messages or degrading ones into forcefully and positive ones.
Dont understand: so here's a slight contradiction in thought, couldn't someone who is otherwise illiterate be media literate? i would think very easily so, becasue you dont have to know how to read and write to hear the radio, watch a movie, see a tv ad, and understand what is wrong, what is acceptable, and what is missing.
Dont understand: how young can we start teaching media literacy? i would argue that as soon as a kid is old enough to be watching tv, listening to the radio, music, and watching movies, they should be taught media literacy.
(view the video that i previously posted called SLIP OF THE TONGUE)
Linda Christianen argued, as do it, that just becasue we want to critique media and create our own countermedia doesn't mean that all media is totally wrong, or that we can't enjoy the stories, shows, and charectors that we love. liking somehting and seeing it for what it is are two completely different things. Like the mulan video from last class post, and how i told you that i love the "be a man" video, even though i think its one of the worst videos disney made. my main qualms are the title "BE a MAN" suggesting that women can't do the same things men can, or that being a woman is undesireable, further added to by the song "did they send me daughters when i asked for sons", and even worse by the "i'll make a man out of you". but i love it becasue the tune is catchy and in the end the female shows all the men how it's done and climbs the pole to retrieve the arrow first.
this also connects to the theme that "teenagers are not some alien life form" because we see teenagers all through media. like in vitamins, with one a day's Teen Advantage. or in allstate's safe driver contract. we were all teenagers, and ad companies do a lot of promotion to the teenage crowd becasue they are more apt the succum to wanting to be "cool" or "fit in" and ads can appeal to this desire.
i really like the new commercial for cyberbullying and its effect on teenagers, and i think it shows media literacy and specifically counter media at its best, but i couldnt find it online so ill describe it: a male teen sits getting tattooed with words like "loser" and "faggot" and "dumbass" and "sissy" he gets a text and says to the artist "i guess we're doing 'idiot' next, i think i still have room on my back". and the narrator comes on and says "the things you say can have a longer impact then you think. don't cyberbully".
0 comments:
Post a Comment