- To what extent do you agree with Neil Postman? I do agree that much of what we see online is "bs!" - I also feel that we need to constantly assess the validity/accuracy of the presented information as well. It was easier to find truths in textbooks where sources had to be well documented before printing. It is a different age now, and we develop with our surroundings and adapt as the change comes. We hope! It is a never-ending learning curve and I'm riding the waves.
- Neil Postman delivered this speech in 1969. How do you think he might feel about "the art of crap-detection" now given recent advancements in digital technologies? I think he may feel the same way now, but his concentration would be a wider scope to include the web. I agree that teachers do help students find the essence from the garb of a confusing paragraph or story. At least we try! We may not always succeed. We teach our students to get to the point when needed and to not beat around the bush.
- Then watch the video
- What did the video make you think about or feel? It reminded me of my respect for models and their sacrifices, but also have an appreciation that they, like Cameron Russell are aware of their fortunate connections and are conscious of other struggles in the world and in the areas in which they live. It made me surprised at how well she articulated her thoughts in an intelligent manner, b/c a model stereotype is ditziness and perhaps lack of proper education b/c of life choices and circumstance. I think she did a marvelous job of explaining awareness to image and the power of image. It was a different spin on a TED Talk and I liked it! Thanks for sharing.
- How does it support Neil Postman's concerns about "crap-detection". It illustrates hidden meaning behind what is forced in the media. How she was just an inexperienced girl forced to portray a sexy perhaps highly experienced girl in an ad shoot for some product. I enjoyed her photo comparisons of "shoot" images vs. the images from her own life that day or close in time as a juxtaposition of our ideas and understanding of her. Our idea of perceived beauty and the realities of the fantasy. It is all very intriguing and begs us to adjust how we are manipulated by media influences without realizing it.
- Then, tell us how this video effects your understanding of why it is important to teach CRITICAL media literacy and not just MEDIA literacy in-and-out of school. Support your response with three quotes from the reading. It is important to teach critical media literacy so that students are aware of when they are being tricked by advertisements or media and how to not fall into the trap! This trap includes product sales, class inequalities and discrimination to name a few. We need to arm our students with the knowledge to navigate media in a safe way and teach them ways they can avoid being negatively influenced by content.
"There is expanding recognition that media
representations help construct our images and understanding of the world and that
education must meet the dual challenges of teaching media literacy in a multicultural
society and sensitising students and the public to the inequities and injustices of a
society based on gender, race, and class inequalities and discrimination" (Kellner & Share 2005, p. 370).
"..media education and the production of alternative
media can help create a healthy multiculturalism of diversity and more robust
democracy" (Kellner & Share 2005, p. 370).
"Media literacy helps people to use media intelligently, to
discriminate and evaluate media content, to critically dissect media forms, to
investigate media effects and uses, and to construct alternative media (Kellner & Share 2005, p. 372).
References
"There is expanding recognition that media
representations help construct our images and understanding of the world and that
education must meet the dual challenges of teaching media literacy in a multicultural
society and sensitising students and the public to the inequities and injustices of a
society based on gender, race, and class inequalities and discrimination" (Kellner & Share 2005, p. 370).
"Media literacy helps people to use media intelligently, to discriminate and evaluate media content, to critically dissect media forms, to investigate media effects and uses, and to construct alternative media (Kellner & Share 2005, p. 372).
"..media education and the production of alternative
media can help create a healthy multiculturalism of diversity and more robust
democracy" (Kellner & Share 2005, p. 370).
"Media literacy helps people to use media intelligently, to discriminate and evaluate media content, to critically dissect media forms, to investigate media effects and uses, and to construct alternative media (Kellner & Share 2005, p. 372).
References
I agree with you that Neil Postman would have focused on the ever-increasing amount of media on the web. The messages that we are exposed to in todays age is so much greater than the amounts from 1969, yet even then he was passionate about the need. It is a little discouraging to see that people have been trying to expose this issue for so long with such little headway in the educational system.
ReplyDeleteI had a similar reaction to the TED Talk. Just from her introduction and "I'm a model" my expectations for the speech lowered. I was pleasantly surprised by her articulation and recognition of the issues that it actually made me feel bad! And rightly so, I suppose. But I would like to think I'm better for it, having my stereotype exposed and countered that way. I agree that she and her speech are excellent examples of what the article is about and why it is important to expose and decode the media messages.
I agree with you about negative media and how this is one a tool everyone needs to learn about. I know at times I fall trap to the negative media and am influences. I think we are always going to be influences both negatively and positively but it is what we do with that media. I also am not sure if I see media as tricking us. Media is trying to sell us a thought, product, or idea. In their eyes I don’t believe they are trying to tick us but trying to get us to buy into what they are advertising.
ReplyDeleteLaura,
ReplyDeleteI love how you addressed the whole "model" stereotype. I, too was impressed at Russell's intelligence and well-spoken manner. (I actually did a quick Google search after watching the video, and found out that she attended Columbia University for political science and economics.) She definitely defies the "model" stereotype.
Your line, "Our idea of perceived beauty and the realities of the fantasy" is a perfect example of why we need critical media literacy education. As a young adolescent, I did not realize that this was a fantasy, but rather I thought this was an attainable reality. In order for our youth to understand this, we need to equip them with the tools necessary to decode and deconstruct these sources of media.
I agree with your responses. I think that it is interesting the way you explain the importance of teaching critical media literacy. I never thought to explain it as being "tricked", but that is exactly what is happening. That's a very interesting hook that we can use to reel students in and get them interested in learning about and becoming better critics of media!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you highlighted the quote I copied and pasted below because I think this is what Cameron's Talk does best,
ReplyDelete"There is expanding recognition that media representations help construct our images and understanding of the world and that education must meet the dual challenges of teaching media literacy in a multicultural society and sensitising students and the public to the inequities and injustices of a society based on gender, race, and class inequalities and discrimination" (Kellner & Share 2005, p. 370).
Your insights on critically teaching media skills is valuable and true. I also had never thought about teaching students they are being tricked- this would get their attention and help them to analyze what they are viewing.
ReplyDelete