1: Media Literacy

Learning Objective: 
to understand what it means to be media literate
Success Criteria:
- develop a definition of media literacy
- explore how an understanding of media literacy contributes to our identity and success as media studies students
- use terminology appropriately (AO1)
DEFINING MEDIA LITERACY 
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TASK ONE
a) Read the definitions of media literacy.
b) In each definition, identify:
  • what ideas of media literacy they all share
  • ideas of media literacy that are unique to particular definitions
  • how much agreement there is overall
  • where there seems to be disagreement
c) Share your ideas with the rest of the group.
d) Produce your own three-sentence definition of media literacy. 

thoreau.colonial.net
TASK TWO
a) Read through and remind yourselves of the CIE Assessment Objectives (AOs) for this course.
b) Match your definition of media literacy against these objectives.
c) Write a paragraph explaining what it means to be a successful, media literate A2 media studies student.

THEORIES OF MEDIA LITERACY 
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Many people have negative feelings towards the saturation of today's media. Parents feel that younger generations are missing out on 'real culture' (plays, novels, art) and that they are 'demonised' by digital culture. 

Thinking about this, how much do you agree with the following statements:

Statement 1

It is a natural part of the ageing process to believe that music, television, films, and culture in general was 'better' in the past.

Statement 3

"Modern entertainment fans have little respect or time for people who don't understand something, making comments about the effect it has on people who do understand it". (Barham, 2004)

Statement 5

Today's media provides rich, multi-layered experiences through streamed television drama, participation in blogging and intense motivational energy in gaming.

Statement 2

We should think of the media as "a kind of positive brainwashing: the popular media steadily, but almost imperceptibly, making our minds sharper". (Julian McDougall)

Statement 4

Older people dismiss media and entertainment as "lowbrow fluff" because they are a bit jealous of youth and they don't really 'get it'.

Statement 6

Media studies is relativist: there are no judgements made about which texts and products are of more value than others.
New Literacies

Let's explore what we mean by literacy historically and today. Read the information below and discuss as a group. 
Finally, complete the MEME project.

Freire (1972) suggested that people are disempowered from social structure when they are excluded from literacy: if you cannot read and write it means there are lots of things you are not able to conceptualise, understand or participate in. Freire believed a lack of literacy meant you were unable to really develop a critical view of the world - therefore meaning you were more easily oppressed and even controlled.

This idea of literacy, of the process of learning to read and write words, was integral to learning to understand how the world works socially and culturally - and how there is inequality for different groups of people. Ultimately, literacy leads to social justice and a desire to make the world a better place. 

Media Literacy
Literacy is therefore empowering and linked to social change. In understanding how the media are constructed - in being able to 'read' media, people can be more critical and strive for change - or at least resist media influence.

Ofcom suggests media literacy could operate as an alternative to censorship, as media-literate people can self-regulate their use of media and the chances of people being negatively affected by violent video games etc. are reduced.

Meta-literacy
A plumber is able to use a shower BUT ALSO knows how the water pressure works. Most of us can use a computer and read a website, but not all of us know how to write and build our own. Gee (2007) sees literacy in a similar way and calls it 'powerful literacy'. This 'meta-understanding' means we need to be able to operate within several literacies in order to be successful in society.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      For example, we can listen to a football match commentary and immediately understand terms such as "offside" or "keeping it tight", or not, and be excluded from the discourse of football. If you are then able to switch from that discourse to another, such as a formal meeting, and understand the discourse required, you are able to work with more than one literacy. You have the ability to work between and step outside of each literacy, to understand how it works as well as being able to use it.
























































































































These theories see literacy as both TOOLS for us to USE and SYSTEMS for us to UNDERSTAND. It is a commodity - as something you either have or don't have, and a critical tool that leads to freedom. 'Powerful literacy' is the ability to step outside of discourses and be critical about them.

Digital Literacy
Web 2.0 developments arise from technological change; they are cultural as they relate to the ways in which we communicate and participate that were not possible before web 2.0. 
Digital literacy is a way to reduce the 'digital divide' yet there is still a lack of clarity around what digital literacy truly is. Is it the ability to find and use information on the Internet? 
Is it about being able to protect yourself online? 
Is it about being able to complete games, or protect yourself from the dubious morality of Grand Theft Auto IV? 
Is it the ability to critically read YouTube and Facebook? 
Or is it about CREATING and sharing your own material?

Let's explore the CREATION side of media literacy... MEME project.

Subpages (1): Memes & Remix Culture