Vocabulary:
1. Discourse—communication of thought by words; talk; conversation
2. Intertextualities—the property of multiple written materials to form a coherent whole; the nature of identifying a quality of texts
3. Subjectivities—the state or quality of being subjective (placing excessive emphasis on one’s own moods, attitudes, opinions, etc.)
4. Semiotics—the study of signs and symbols as elements of communicative behavior; the analysis of systems of communication, as language, gestures, or clothing
5. Ideology—the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group
Media Literacy Vs Critical Media Literacy:
Both media literacy and critical media literacy call for the development of critical thinking, the use of communication, student centeredness, and the use of multiple learning styles that incorporate the learner’s culture and prior knowledge. Media literacy is the ability to search through the mass media to find truth and biases presented to the public. Understanding what and to whom the media is presenting is key to having media literacy, or the ability to analyze and decipher information presented by the mass media. However, critical media literacy emphasizes the role of schooling with a capitalist economic order and involves problems in the curricula that support critical thinking and reasoning. People who use critical media literacy to their advantage often use a method called text analysis. They also see teachers as cultural workers who help expose the conformist, passive and disciplining elements in the “hidden curriculum”, which is the curriculum not taught within the content of the class. Critical Media Literacy’s goal is to reveal the ideological forces that influence everyday life and the ability to act upon them.
Quote:
“This theoretical position encourages the learner to develop forms of analysis in order to expose ‘hidden ideologies’ within media texts thereby minimizing their influences. This position is further supported by Lestyna and Alper (2007) who demonstrate how corporate media produce illusory images that conceal the structural dimensions of class while perpetuating dominant myths of meritocracy.” (Resist, 2004, March)
Reaction:
This quote caught my attention because it discusses the need for the ability to discern and analyze the political jargon and propaganda found in the media. Many students look to various media outlets for their style of dress, how they act, and what trends are “cool”. It is very important for people, not just students, to be able to see what sources and resources are reliable and valid. It is these multi-media sources that overwhelm people with information that may or may not be true, or may present it in such a manner that entices the viewer/reader/hearer to accept such information. One has to look pass the eye-catching persuasion to the heart of the media’s information, in order to gather complete understanding of what is presented and given.
Reference:
Resist, I. (2004, March). Critical media literacy. Retrieved from http://www.iresist.org/media.html
Related Resources:
A related resource I found was at What is Media Literacy? . This website discusses what Media Literacy is and how to enhance one’s ability to sift through mass media for underlying persuasive or biased information.
Tollim, J, & Thoman, E. (2010). What is media literacy?. Retrieved from http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/teachers/media_literacy/whatis.swf
Tollim, J, & Thoman, E. (2010). What is media literacy?. Retrieved from http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/teachers/media_literacy/whatis.swf
It is hard to discern what is true and what isn’t especially when you aren’t familiar with the source. I used to think that Wikipedia was the gospel but found out last semester that it’s really just a bunch of people writing and editing that really don’t have to be experts in the field. I think that students (young people) are generally more accepting of information that looks formal and official and don’t question the validity.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, I was told in school that Wikipedia wasn't a reliable source. I had originally assumed, as you did, that it was a legitimate website.
ReplyDeleteWe spend a considerable amount of time in the 5th grade curriculum teaching persuasive writing and persuasive tactics. We try to instill in our students the skills to evaluate and judge text for reliability.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm glad to hear that we're doing that earlier on than in high school.
ReplyDeleteIt's important to teach students how to correctly decide what sources are legitimate or not. That way they can not be persuaded from their own personal views.
ReplyDeleteOnline jargon and propaganda make our students susceptible to new types of danger. It's scary because they can access such sites easily and without adult consent or supervision.
ReplyDeleteI think what Diana was saying is that Wikipedia is a legitimate source for information and learning! That is, if you know how it works. You can go behind the scenes in Wikipedia and read the discussion that is occurring between the members who are managing the site. Here you can learn that issues are not black and white as presented in textbook. instead knowledge is continually being constructed and contested and varies depending on one's particular point of view. Wikipedia is an outstanding source for student to get a more complex understanding of the issues, learn how to validate information, and learn how to become part of a 21 st century knowledge construction community.
ReplyDeleteAs we have all heard before, "never believe anything you hear and only half of what you see". Media is a good source for valuable information, but everyone always pushes their point of view. Fox News has always been dubbed the biased news network. Good point in we have to learn to validate the information before we accept it.
ReplyDeleteI think it is also important for everyone to make sure that the sources they are using are reliable and valid. When there is a question about something it is so easy to Google and try to find the answer, but when you get your search results and there are over 20,000 links, how do you know which one will give you the correct answers that you want?
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