Talking Points #2

MEDIA LITERACY

After spending quite sometime surfing the web on media literacy, i have come to find some things about the topic. First, i didnt have a firm grasp as to what it exactly meant. In turn, i did what most do in that situation. . .wikipedia. Media literacy is the process of accessing, analyzing, evaluating and creating messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres and forms. It uses an inquiry-based instructional model that encourages people to ask questions about what they watch, see, and read. So blogging would be a form of media literacy. It is basically understanding the media through discussion of the topics that are being expressed in the media. Media literacy was origanally conceived as an educational tool to protect people from what many perceived to be mass media's ill effects. To this day it is still a way to look at the media nto as a form of entertainment, but taking a "deeper look". For example, when we watched the opening scene of beauty and the beast in class, we tore it apart, and didnt really watch it for the entertainment aspect, but to look at what was the deeper message being expressed by the scene. Found a really great organization called ACME (Action Coalition for Media Education). It was really great for information and seems like a great organization. Its mission is: We live in the most heavily mediated society in world history. Powerful media tools—print, radio, television, the Internet—can bring a rich diversity of information into every home and school. Yet just a few multinational corporations (Big Media) own much of the media that shape our 21st century culture. Independently-funded media literacy education plays a crucial role in challenging Big Media's monopoly over our culture, helping to move the world to a more just, democratic and sustainable future. Maybe check out the site for yourself. http://acmecoalition.org/ . I feel as though it is definitley an important topic to discuss and understand when being influenced by the media! It is fun to watch thesemovies and ads, but one must not let it negetively affect them or influence them throughout their lives. I especially feel as though it is important for children and teens to understand this while growing up!!