Critical Media Literacy: Core Concepts and Debates

Toward Critical Media Literacy: Core Concepts, Debates, Organizations, and Policy 

by Kellner and Share

1.     “Computer and multimedia technologies demand novel skills and competencies and if education is to be relevant to the problems and challenges of contemporary life, engaged teachers must expand the concept of literacy and develop new curricula and pedagogies” (Kellner & Share, pg.369).

I completely agree with this quote. It is our job as teachers to continue to keep up with technology and learn new ways to implement it into our classrooms. We want to become professionals when it comes to utilizing technology and resources that are available to us. In order for our students to be successful in the 21^st century, we need to make sure that we are creating a curriculum that is meaningful and relevant for each and everyone of our students.

2.     “Critical media literacy not only teaches students to learn from media, to resist media manipulation, and to use media materials in constructive ways, but it 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” (Kellner & Share, pg.372).

I think that this quote is 100% true when it comes to teaching students about the media. Students need to have the skills to be able to create their own identities online and be able to socialize with others as well. They need to know how to thoroughly evaluate the media to see whether it is credible or not and find sources that can help them become successful learners. By using media students are able to participate in various things online and become an active citizen as well. They need to create themselves and share their thoughts and opinions with others and stand for what they believe in.

3.     “The ability for students to see how diverse people can interpret the same message differently is important for multicultural education, since understanding differences means more than merely tolerating one and other” (Kelner & Share, pg.375).

This quote is completely true and I agree with all of it. Every person, student, teacher, etc. views things differently no matter what the picture or message is. An entire class of students could look at the same picture but have a different interpretation of what it’s meaning is. Everyone thinks differently and that’s what students have to consider when people are looking at different things on the Internet and in the real world. Looking at the document for this course is a great example. All of us had to deconstruct the same document but I am sure that we all have different interpretations of the subtext. We need to understand the differences of others interpretations and learn to respect them as well and not just tolerate them.

TED video by Cameron Russell

Watching the video by Cameron Russell, I wasn’t sure where she was going with her speech at the beginning when she was talking about being pretty and skinny. All of the images that she showed from modeling have deeper meanings than just pictures of her. Pictures are worth a thousand words and everyone interprets them in a different way. The way people see her, as a model is different than how she sees herself.  I can relate to how she said that she is very insecure about herself but her pictures don’t show that. When she showed pictures of her modeling compared to how she looked that day without all of the glam, it was very eye opening to see. People expect models to look and dress how they are when they are being photographed all the time but that is not the case. No one should be judged on the way they look at any time of their lives. When looking at images and the media students really need to know how to deconstruct the meaning of what they are looking at. They need the critical media literacy skills to help them find the meaning of social media documents.

“Critical media literacy not only teaches students to learn from media, to resist media manipulation, and to use media materials in constructive ways, but it 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” (Kellner & Share, pg.372).

 “It takes a comprehensive approach that would teach critical skills and how to use media as instruments of social communication and change” (Kellner & Share, pg. 373).

“Demystifying media messages through critical inquiry is an important starting point for media literacy” (Kellner & Share, pg.374).

When using digital resources and print resources we need to be able to critically evaluate what we are reading. Students need to gain the skills in order to be evaluating websites and images like we did this week. We need to make sure that our students are digital literate and understand everything that they are finding on the Internet and in print.

I believe that I would fall into this category: A ‘‘media literacy’’ movement, in contrast, attempts to teach students to read, analyze, and decode media texts in a fashion parallel to the advancement of print literacy. Media arts education, in turn, teaches students to appreciate the aesthetic qualities of media and to use various media technologies as instruments of self-expression and creation.

I chose this YouTube video because it reminded me of deconstructing the document for our activity and the video that we watched this week. Students are looking at pictures presented by their teacher and are asked to share their feelings. Students give their insight on the pictures and analyze the pictures by looking at the background and what is going on. When we start teaching our students how to deconstruct videos and images we need to give them guiding questions to help them. Once they start learning the correct questions to ask themselves they will have success with analyzing, understanding, and evaluating different media sources.

Media Deconstruction

About this document

The Blaze is a news and information business founded by conservative Glenn Beck. They have their own website, videos, blogs, television network, and radio station. The purpose of this posting is to bring truth and information about the topics that are listed on the cover from his perspective. This document was produced in May 2014 by Chris Fields. If you go to the webpage you will see that it was entered on April 24, 2014 in the Education section.

Audience

I would say that by looking at the cover this document is geared towards parents of students all over the nation. The editors are trying to make people “aware” of the truths about the common core and how it greatly affects our children and our future. This business is based on the truth and facts that they have found about various topics in the world based on their perspective or beliefs. In this article you see things about Willie Robertson, how college wastes your money, the rise of Christian persecution, and nuclear power.

Messages, Meaning, Subtext, and Text

Looking at this magazine cover I can see that it is taken from the back of a classroom. The article is focused on students that are sitting in their desks doing different tasks. Some students seem to be writing, some are looking at their notebook, while others are looking in different places. They have the cover story written on the chalk board in a thought cloud that’s coming from each of the student’s minds and it reads, “Common Core’s Threat to our kids, our freedom, and our future.” When you read the cover story title and see that it is coming from the minds of the students it makes you want to read more into it. Some people might say that Common Core is a good thing and that the students don’t look like they are in any danger based on the picture. A picture is worth a thousand words and everyone views them differently. The magazine title is in big red letters that instantly gets your attention.

Glen Beck’s fans would benefit from this article and those that are against the Common Core. This article is only one sided so those that are for Common Core are not getting their information out to the readers of this magazine.

Representation and Reality

There are a lot of pros and cons for the Common Core. Based on the author and the information it seems that the document is credible for those that are pro Glenn Beck. I looked up the author of this document, Chris Fields, and found that he has a degree in Secondary Education. He is an advocate for the youth and has been working non-profit by coaching and mentoring children. Based on his information I think that he would have some insight on the Common Core and how it is implemented in the classrooms, but I think that this is more one sided based on their beliefs and views. Looking at The Blaze website, he has written so many articles about the education system.

Language of Persuasion

Emotional Appeals would be one. When people see that something is “a threat to our kids, our future, and our freedom” they tend to get worried and need to read more about it. Loaded language I think is another one for this article because there are words like “threat to our kids, future, and freedom” that would make people want to read what the article is about.

My Animoto

My Introduction

My name is Brianna Jones and I am from Clarksburg, WV. I am the Library Media Specialist at Robert C. Byrd High School. Taking this class, I hope to gain more skills and resources that I can bring into my school. I want to become familiar with different technology sources that I can implement in my library and into our classrooms. I am getting my Masters Degree in Digital Media, New Literacies and Learning. This is my second semester in the program and I have already taken EDUC 6305 (Advanced Educational Technology) and EDUC 6809 (Teaching in the New Media Age). I am hoping to graduate in Spring 2017.