Toward Critical Media Literacy Reflection
Niel Postman Excerpt Reflection:
- Personally, I feel that Niel Postman was correct in stating that we are overwhelmed with hidden agendas on a daily basis (even more so now than in 1969).
- Having felt as strongly as he did in 1969, I think Niel Postman would feel even more strongly about the necessity to teach our students how to search for hidden messages and critically decode persuasive media.
Cameron Russel Video Reflection
- This video made me think about the humanness of models, and those of whom have model-type bodies. Too often I judge them as being one-dimensional, but hearing Cameron Russel speak out about real issues and show a bigger picture of herself makes me feel like I should think twice before putting everyone into the same box.
Secondly, this video made me think about the representation of beauty and how much of an importance we place on it in our culture. - The video supports Niel Postman's statements because she is showing us the story behind what is presented by the media. The BS that the media presents to the public in order to promote certain corporate interests was exposed by her reality tale. Stories like this help to expose hidden agendas and promote human connections.
Importance of Teaching CRITICAL Media Literacy
The video from Carmen Russel provides us with a good example of why it is important to teach critical media literacy in- and out-of school. Her description of the one-sided story that the media portrays in order to promote corporate interests is an example of the situation mentioned in the following quote from the article Toward Critical Media Literacy: "This situation calls for critical approaches that make us aware of how media construct meanings, influence and educate audiences, and impose their messages and values" (372). The corporate interest of selling certain products with the message supported by beautiful, happy people also in subtext sells the idea that the people are beautiful and happy because of their looks and their ability to own the advertised products. Helping people to be able to decode both the text and subtext of the message is a skill that, along with "analyzing media codes and conventions, abilities to criticize stereotypes, dominant values, and ideologies, and competencies to interpret the multiple meanings and messages generated by media texts" (372) leads towards Critical Media Literacy. "Critical media literacy not only teaches students to learn from media, to resist media manipulation, and to use media materials in constructive ways, but is also concerned with developing skills that will help create good citizens and that will make individuals more motivated and competent participants in social life" (372). Her example of these constructions along with her deconstructions fully supports the article's main ideas and necessity of critical media literacy.
References
Kellner, D., & Share, J. (2005). Discourse: Studies in the cultural politics of education. Toward Critical Media Literacy: Core Concepts, Debates, Organizations, and Policy, 26(3), 369-386.
Postman, N. (2007, July 22). Neil Postman – Bullshit and the Art of Crap-Detection. Retrieved August 23, 2014, from http://criticalsnips.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/neil-postman-bullshit-and-the-art-of-crap-detection/
Russell, C. (2013, January 16). Cameron Russell: Looks aren't everything. Believe me, I'm a model. Retrieved August 23, 2014, from http://youtu.be/KM4Xe6Dlp0Y
Kellner, D., & Share, J. (2005). Discourse: Studies in the cultural politics of education. Toward Critical Media Literacy: Core Concepts, Debates, Organizations, and Policy, 26(3), 369-386.
Postman, N. (2007, July 22). Neil Postman – Bullshit and the Art of Crap-Detection. Retrieved August 23, 2014, from http://criticalsnips.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/neil-postman-bullshit-and-the-art-of-crap-detection/
Russell, C. (2013, January 16). Cameron Russell: Looks aren't everything. Believe me, I'm a model. Retrieved August 23, 2014, from http://youtu.be/KM4Xe6Dlp0Y
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ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said 100%. The one-sided story of the media is corrupting this world and students need to learn how to see through it so they can see reality. Getting past stereotypes is a hard thing to after it has been thrown at us all our lives. Like you said "Too often I judge them as being one-dimensional..."
ReplyDeleteThe hidden agendas are ever present it 's the need to discern what that agenda is that makes learning and critical thinking skills so vital. I really like the way you worded this..."Her example of these constructions along with her deconstructions fully supports the article's main ideas and necessity of critical media literacy." Even in the changing of her clothes she was constructing and deconstructing her corporate image and her personal image, which made the act very powerful and instantly multi-dimensional. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your responses. I think Postman would be just as adamant, if not more adamant, about critical media literacy if he were lecturing students in today's world of social media. I also agree that the Russell video is thought-provoking. I never imagined the life of a super model, and I have always had a hidden assumption that models must be the most confident people in the world with amazing self-images. It was shocking to learn just how untrue that is!
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ReplyDeleteTrixie, you did an outstanding job connecting your reaction to the Cameron Russell video with the Kellner and Share reading. What I think is most important here, and I think your posting conveyed this message, is it that critical media literacy is about power. It involves a power struggle between the media creators and their audience. It is not enough to deconstruct media in terms of it's design and message, it is imperative that people realize that all media messages are created to exert power over others. That is what I like best about the Cameron Russel. It helps us see why we need to take media education beyond just analysing the production of meaning but to ‘extend explorations of how individual and corporate sensemaking tie in with larger socio-political issues of culture, gender, class, political economy, nation, and power’’ (Luke, 1994, p. 31).
ReplyDeleteWe are being overwhelmed with hidden agendas. Just think of the many ads we see if we are online or just looking at the TV.Teaching our students to search for the hidden agendas and decoding the messages will benefit them. As I was reading your thoughts it made me think more deep into mine. Everyday when we see famous people, or models we label them but it isn't by who they are, it is how the media wants us to see them. The connections between Postman, Cameron and Kellner and Share is that we need to learn to decode so that we can understand what message is not being seen. The message that is unseen is sometimes the most important one.
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