Video #1: "What is Media Literacy"
In this video, the topic of what media literacy is was discussed, and it also presented the proper and most effective ways to go about analyzing and critiquing media. One of the points that were discussed in this video that I felt was effective was that we should not just be critical of media as consumers but as producers as well. The only sensible way to judge something is to have a valid understanding of it, and that concept also applies when analyzing media. With media, it is extremely circumstantial and independent to the extent where it will affect everyone differently. From music to movies, all media is open to every different opinion of everyone. If no one was critical of both the media they produce and the media they consume, no media would face proper judgement before being presented, and therefore projects in the media would be an endless cycle of low-budget, poor-quality work. When producers are able to judge themselves as well as other media, it creates an understanding of different opinions and allows producers to create work with an open mind for all other forms and types of media.
Another good point that was made during this video was that the number one goal of corporations, including those that own media, is to make money more than anything. With a corporation that is producing media, they truly only care about the financial outcome of the product, not so much the opinions and reviews that they receive. This results in more low-budget and desperate work that is strictly to make money for the company, not the make a positive impact on an audience. Unfortunately, this very real concept results in low quality work and is essentially a wasted outlet for media creators. This does not mean that these corporations should be stopped or should feel bad for these goals, because they have a sensible understanding of what the consumers will be attracted to, and even that takes work to create media that will attract people for money. Although this is an unfortunate circumstance for the consumers, it is a realistic idea for corporations and will be something that never goes away as long as media exists.
Video #2: "Generation M - Media Literacy, Education, & Choice"
The second video focused on issues covering the use of media and media literacy in education. The main point that was discussed in the video was that the education system is failing in diversifying its media. Many educators are clueless about their discrimination, meaning that the education system does not offer the ability to learn about and appreciate differences among people and media. If educators in the school systems do not become more self-aware and change this discrimination, they will end up teaching children who will grow up without being able to understand that people can be different and different opinions exist aside from their own. Unfortunately, the media is what influences children the most as they grow up today, and situations like these do not help. It would make more sense to teach children about media this way, however not without explaining that others have differences, and growing up for those children is only going to be sheltered and close-minded.
Another point that I found interesting from this video was that no matter how diverse the media is made to be, there will never be a form of media that can appeal to everybody. This is obviously impossible, and I personally I think it is a ridiculous goal for any media producing corporations. Of course, it would be ideal to fit everyone's opinions into a piece of media, but because everyone that media would be exposed to is so diverse and has different points of view, it is not possible. No corporation should never intentionally exclude a point of view just because they do not agree with what they believe is right. I believe that it is important to diversify as many points of view as possible in the media, as it may help to diversify the minds of the consumers, as well as to satisfy everybody who views the media as much as possible.
In this video, the topic of what media literacy is was discussed, and it also presented the proper and most effective ways to go about analyzing and critiquing media. One of the points that were discussed in this video that I felt was effective was that we should not just be critical of media as consumers but as producers as well. The only sensible way to judge something is to have a valid understanding of it, and that concept also applies when analyzing media. With media, it is extremely circumstantial and independent to the extent where it will affect everyone differently. From music to movies, all media is open to every different opinion of everyone. If no one was critical of both the media they produce and the media they consume, no media would face proper judgement before being presented, and therefore projects in the media would be an endless cycle of low-budget, poor-quality work. When producers are able to judge themselves as well as other media, it creates an understanding of different opinions and allows producers to create work with an open mind for all other forms and types of media.
Another good point that was made during this video was that the number one goal of corporations, including those that own media, is to make money more than anything. With a corporation that is producing media, they truly only care about the financial outcome of the product, not so much the opinions and reviews that they receive. This results in more low-budget and desperate work that is strictly to make money for the company, not the make a positive impact on an audience. Unfortunately, this very real concept results in low quality work and is essentially a wasted outlet for media creators. This does not mean that these corporations should be stopped or should feel bad for these goals, because they have a sensible understanding of what the consumers will be attracted to, and even that takes work to create media that will attract people for money. Although this is an unfortunate circumstance for the consumers, it is a realistic idea for corporations and will be something that never goes away as long as media exists.
Video #2: "Generation M - Media Literacy, Education, & Choice"
The second video focused on issues covering the use of media and media literacy in education. The main point that was discussed in the video was that the education system is failing in diversifying its media. Many educators are clueless about their discrimination, meaning that the education system does not offer the ability to learn about and appreciate differences among people and media. If educators in the school systems do not become more self-aware and change this discrimination, they will end up teaching children who will grow up without being able to understand that people can be different and different opinions exist aside from their own. Unfortunately, the media is what influences children the most as they grow up today, and situations like these do not help. It would make more sense to teach children about media this way, however not without explaining that others have differences, and growing up for those children is only going to be sheltered and close-minded.
Another point that I found interesting from this video was that no matter how diverse the media is made to be, there will never be a form of media that can appeal to everybody. This is obviously impossible, and I personally I think it is a ridiculous goal for any media producing corporations. Of course, it would be ideal to fit everyone's opinions into a piece of media, but because everyone that media would be exposed to is so diverse and has different points of view, it is not possible. No corporation should never intentionally exclude a point of view just because they do not agree with what they believe is right. I believe that it is important to diversify as many points of view as possible in the media, as it may help to diversify the minds of the consumers, as well as to satisfy everybody who views the media as much as possible.
Eve,
ReplyDeleteVery thoughtful reflection. I could not help but think about the many different ways we can consume media today. Your observations about different media for different people is illustrated in the great number of choices that we have today in how we consume and create media. From independent films to YouTubers, there are so many different choices that sometimes it is almost overwhelming.
Thanks,
AC
Eve ,
ReplyDeleteThis was a very good reflection. you did a very good job on this i thought that you had a lot of good ideas and you told us a lot about everything , there are a lot of consumers for media today.
Eve,
DeleteThis was a great reflection, you definitely had a lot of good points about how people consume media, great Job!