Week 1: Media Studies Approaches Post

From the media literacy approaches reading, what approach or combination of approaches do you most value? Why? What do you find problematic and why?

I like including popular culture texts when I can. I’m not sure I agree that it will “motivate their interest in literary works” but I think it’s fun for students to see how something they’re reading can be seen in popular culture, like an episode of The Simpsons.

I’m also interested in those who believe students need to have experience with creating media in order to become critical consumers. I think this is a great idea and would find value in both the “expressive” and “vocational” media production. However, I agree with the critics that this isn’t a practical idea in many schools. I know my school district certainly doesn’t have the funds to add equipment for including production activities that would require video cameras or special software. I think production would be easier to attempt in a class that specializes in media production, rather than trying to include it as a requirement in another subject.

While I would ideally like to protect my students from the potential harms of the media, I found myself agreeing with the critics of the protectionist stance, especially the sentence that states: “Many teachers at both the K-12 and university levels have found that students are unresponsive to the idea that they are helpless victims of media influence who need to be rescued from the excesses and evils of their interest in popular culture”. I, too, have found this to be true with my classes. I have tried discussing gender roles, especially the roles of women and how women are portrayed and stereotyped in advertising and music videos. Most students will admit they see the stereotypes and will agree that women are often treated as objects, but most of my students claim that they are not affected by what they see. I found that I have to be careful with how I present my material so that they aren’t immediately defensive and put up a wall.

I also agree with those who question the political and ideological agendas teachers might have when discussing media literacy issues with students. Even if teachers don’t have a specific agenda, students might think they do and might think they are being fed, and therefore expected, to regurgitate politically correct views.


What approach(es) do the films take? Give an example or two.

#1 Minnesota Battleground—youth documentary

This appeared to be made by students, so I’d say this would be an example of how students can learn through hands on experience of video production, while at the same time exploring their own beliefs about voting. The filmmakers definitely had a chance to discover and express their voices through this creation.

#2 The News Is What We Make It—animation

This is another example of student produced work that allows students to explore their beliefs about mass media, in particular the way in which the media is controlled by a small number of companies. I think this film touched on a variety of approaches, including media production, the criticism of popular culture as well as an ideological agenda.