There is so much media that we all consume on a daily basis. We consume media through many different devices. We consume media through the Internet, television, cell phones, newspapers, magazines, and other devices. Baran and Davis discuss media literacy and how important it can be in today’s society. Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and communicate messages (Baran & Davis 338). Two parts of media literacy really stood out for me and helped make sense of it all. Baran & Davis say that, “Media content can implicitly and explicitly provide a guide for action.” They also say that, “People must realistically assess how their interaction with media texts can determine the purposes that interaction can serve for them in their environments.” I think that these two statements can definitely be true because what people see in the media really can have an affect on how they live their lives or at least what they think can happen in real life. While reading about the effects that media can have on viewers and how they may interact in real life based on what they see, I started to think about how all of this media can affect children who use it. I found an article (http://www.reporternews.com/news/2010/apr/11/not-all-tv-is-bad-for-kid-viewers/?partner=yahoo_feeds) that discusses how not all TV is bad for kids. Kurt Boyland, a marriage and family therapist said, ““Most research shows that educational, age-appropriate, non-violent, non-aggressive television programming may have positive effects on children and their social interactions with others” (Lober). “Shows that portray good pro-social skills can be a good opportunity to learn those things along with problem-solving skills. This contributes to their health, which can contribute to their self-esteem, which can contribute to their peer relationships,” said Dr. Lori Copeland, associate professor of psychology at Hardin-Simmons University (Lober). I agree with these statements because these types of shows can definitely have a good impact on their self-esteem and how children interact with other children. Boyland does go on to say, “Studies show that children may better understand and learn from real life experiences than from television” (Lober). So, does media literacy really pertain to everyone who consume media on a daily basis? Or, does it have a lesser effect on children?
Maybe it has to do with the quality of television programming. Herbert Schiller says that, “The absence of programming that might shed some light on the country’s deepening general social crisis does not seem to concern the industry’s owners. Instead, the audience is regaled with endless hours of sports spectaculars, fortuitous human tragedies, and infomercials (6). Basically, Schiller is discussing how the lack of quality programming on TV has an effect on the way people view the world and there isn’t enough culture in the media. Now, this could relate to children because they see this kind of programming on TV. They may see sports, violence, and programs with bad language and too much drama. This could affect their interactions with other people and it could also affect the way they see the real world and the society they live in. With all this said, do you think media literacy is important in today’s society? Should children be watching as much TV as they are or does it not have too much of an effect on them? Also, is it a good thing or a bad thing for children to be media literate at such a young age?
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There is a huge difference between media consumption and media literacy. You can have consumption without literacy, but you can’t have literacy without consumption. Although media consumption can be found on many different levels, I don’t think children have a strong ability to be media literate. Their consumption could lead to understandings and interpretations, on conscious or subconscious levels, but to actually analyze and interpret media effects requires greater knowledge.
ReplyDeleteMedia literacy plays a huge role and is a defining factor in how uses of the media are understood. People are constantly accusing the media for problems that might be caused by it, but so often exclude other potential factors. McLuhan’s idea that “the medium is the message… new forms of media transform our experience of ourselves and our society, and this influence is ultimately more important than the content of specific messages” (Baran & Davis, 220) expresses how media consumption itself is significant, even without being media literate. It is easier to criticize the media than to attempt to understand it or consider alternative interpretations.
I think the amount of exposure children have to television should be limited, which parents should be aware of. Although children might be too young to have any levels of expertise with media literacy, every generation becomes more media dependent and should be aware of the power of the media. If “people everywhere are consumers of (mostly) American images, sounds, ideas, products, and services…,” (Schiller, 4) then it could be argued that the globalization of communication does not necessarily mean a globalization of interpretation. Ideas might be difficult for children to grasp, but it is crucial for them to at least recognize the importance of becoming media literate. This will provide them with an open mind and hopefully an ability to think critically as they develop and their media exposure continues.
It is so easy to point a finger at media when it comes to our actions and beliefs. Why? Simply because it is everywhere you turn. Like Matt said, we utilize media in a variety of ways—the Internet, television, cell phones, newspapers, magazines, etcetera. I cannot stand on my soap box and preach that media is bad for our society and we should limit our intake. I am a media junkie. I love television and magazines and the Internet. I am not quite sure how I would manage without these things. However, I do think it is important to be able to recognize that these methods of relaying messages are not always truthful depictions of life and are sometimes there simply to entertain. Baran and Davis delve into this by using a cultural studies perspective saying, “We all need to develop our ability to critically reflect on the purposes media and media content serve for us. We need to be able to decide which media to avoid and which to use in ways that best serve our purposes” (Baran & Davis 338). As producers, their job is to provide forms of entertainment even if that means throwing in as much sex, violence or cursing into a movie/television series. The only thing that matter to them is how much money is made, not how it effects their viewers. As viewers, it is our job not only to choose which show is worth watching, but also to understand that what we are given is just entertainment.
ReplyDeleteOf course I am talking about adults in this particular situation. When it comes to children, they may not be as well informed about the media and it’s potential to depict reality in a false light. It is obvious that the “mass media are constantly and rapidly expanding in terms to technical power and penetration, coverage and representation of bother public and private life in the West” (Tomlinson 225). Even if parents attempt to regulate what children watch on television, they can log onto the Internet and watch whatever show they want or flip through a friend’s magazine in school. The media always finds a way to get into the hands of the youth. For a young individual, I feel that it is easier for them to be influenced by the media’s messages—whether it be the “perfect” woman or dealing with issues through violence. This is where the parent needs to step in and maybe not regulate their television watching, but explain to them that television is not reality. We cannot depend on shows to teach us life’s lessons. Instead of constantly blaming the media, maybe it's time to take time out of our day to talk with our kids.
Michelle Kokot
I think that it is hard for children not to be exposed to the media because they are growing up in a world surrounded by it. While some television shows could have negative effects on children, I do believe there can be ones that have positive effects. The media has become such a major factor in our culture, that if children are not media literate, then they may be behind other children which would not be good for their self esteem.
ReplyDelete"Culture is entirely -even definitively- the work of human beings (McQuail 226). We created our culture, and I think that it is time we controlled it. If children are going to be exposed to violent television, then they should be taught that it is not acceptable behavior. I understand that it may be difficult for children to understand differences such as that. However with proper teaching tools, maybe they can understand. They are being surrounded by it, so it would be hard to "protect" children from such violence.
"The purpose of media literacy is to give us more control over interpretations" (Baran & Davis 340). While children may be media literate, they cannot possibly be at the same level of adults. They have not fully matured, and what they see on the television, even if they are told it is fake, may still confuse them. Their interpretations are not neutral because they are learning what they see, whether it is appropriate or not.
We brought the media to level it is at. I think it is time for people to stop blaming it, and utilize it in a different or more positively effective manner. Parents know their children, and if they think they are too easily influenced then they should limit their exposure.
Today, we consume more media than ever before. With all the advanced technology that we have, it is even easier to stay connected. I don’t think people are always aware just how much media can impact their lives, but as media studies students and avid media consumers, this is something we are aware of. I think media literacy pertains to everyone who consumes media, including children. Although the older audience is capable of doing more with the media they consume, children are still affected by media.
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult to put all children in one category and say whether or not they watch too much television. You need to consider the different ages and realize that not all children watch as much television as others. Overall, I would say that children probably do watch more television than they should since parents often use the television as a babysitter. One problem that can result in children watching too much television is the fact that they may be exposed to advertisements which convince them they need certain products. Baran and Davis discuss advertising as “clearly designed to intrude into and disrupt routine buying habits and purchasing decisions” (337). Though children don’t actually have money to spend, they have huge buying power in the form of their parents. Especially when parents leave the kids at home with the television, they feel bad when they can’t spend time with their kids so they’ll give in easily to what their children want.
The argument against children watching television could also apply to the argument about how much media adults consume, as Chrissy mentioned. Media have become such a huge part of our lives that we don’t often think about just how much our lives revolve around it. Schiller says “the net effect of such total cultural packages on the human senses is impossible to assess but it would be folly to ignore” (5). Though we can not possibly analyze exactly how every form of media we have consumed has impacted our lives, we should be aware that media do affect decisions we make and how we live our lives. Children and adults alike are affected by their media consumption maybe more than they’d like to be. It is definitely not a bad thing for people to be media literate, but it may be important for audiences to limit media usage so that it does not control their lives completely. Children are not as media literate as adults are, but if they consume too much media while growing up, I believe they may become literate at an even younger age than they would have otherwise.
Television and different media programs are great ways to capture the attention of children and to teach them life lessons as well as about different ways of living. Schiller writes that “with the phenomenal growth of the transnational business system, and its utilization of the computer and communication satellite, what used to be national in form and content has become transnational, or as some prefer to describe it, global” (7). In a world that is getting smaller and smaller due to the advanced technological advancements, the media that children are consuming is exposing them to all kinds of cultures, heritages, and ways of living and this sort of education may be helpful in breaking down racial or gender barriers. Shows like Manny the Handy Man and Dora the Explorer are able to teach children bits of different languages, to accept characters of different backgrounds, as well as the typical life lessons such as sharing or helping others.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as with everything in life, nothing is good when consumed excessively. While sitting in front of a television screen for hours, children are unable to put these life lessons into practice as well as inhibiting their own imaginations and expressiveness. Another huge problem with children watching too much television is the fact that not everything on television is wholesome and good for them to watch. With much exposure to violence or aggressiveness, children may develop these sorts of behaviors. In Baran and Davis, it is written that “audience interpretations of content are likely to be quite diverse. Some people make interpretations at one level of meaning, whereas others make their interpretations at other levels”(217). This is applicable to children as well as adults. While some children may walk away from a program learning and understanding something good such as it is not right to take things that do not belong to them, another may not have learned anything.
With continuous advancements in technology and globalization, it is necessary to be somewhat media literate and it is beneficial for children to be as well. Media can be a great educational tool but, as stated in Baran and Davis, “people must realistically assess how their interaction with media texts can determine the purposes that interaction can serve for them in their environments”(339). Not everything learned from television programs can or should be applied to real life situations, such as violence. It is up to the parents to limit the quantity and control the content of the media that their children consume.
I love television so maybe this makes me a bit biased, but, like some above posters, I think it's unfair to place entire blame on one institution for problems in children. Television can certainly contribute, but I think this is the same situation where people blame any murder committed by a teenager on violent music or video games. By doing this they are insinuating that music and video games are the cause - which therefore implies that anyone who plays games or listens to music can and might go out and commit violence. As Baran and Davis discuss, everyone interprets media differently; "A second insight well articulated by Newcomb is that audience interpretations of content are likely to be quite diverse. Some people make interpretations at one level of meaning, whereas others make their interpretations at other levels" (Baran and Davis, 217). Not everyone takes the same thing away from media - and not every child will be affected the same way by media use. I watched cartoons and played N64 when I was younger, but I also played outside and played sports. Like with anything, too much media use can't be healthy for anyone, particularly children. But any media usage shouldn't necessarily be considered a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteThe other side of this, of course, is that television provides companies with a medium for the mass exploitation of children. What better way to convince a child he needs a shiny toy than to bombard them with images of it during their favorite programs? Companies are able to reach children in their own homes whenever they want and convince them what to buy. Schiller discusses this in his essay, saying "Only the largest national companies can afford to pay for prime-time commercial messages and the programming that accompanies them. Corporate expression has no competition - literally" (Schiller, 6). So we have the same few corporations domination the TV, sending out their ads daily, raising a generation of consumers of their products. In terms of health and social skills, television is not that harmful. However, in terms of the increasing commercialization of the youth in this country, it definitely isn't helping.
I think that in today’s society, being media literate is a requirement. Because we have integrated media into such a huge part of our lives, we need to be able to decipher what is “good” media and what is “bad” media. Especially with our children, as they grow up, they need to be able to sort through the various media they will encounter.
ReplyDeleteBack in the day, I think that the transmissional perspective was an accurate representation of how our society used media. Baran and Davis define transmissional perspective as the “view of mass communication as merely the process of transmitting messages from a distance for the purpose of control (215).” Thinking back many decades ago, before the media had consumed our lives, I get mental images of family’s sitting around the radio, waiting to hear the daily news. They were using the media as a tool for gathering information.
Today though, the media has become a huge part of our lives, quite possibly one of the biggest. Because of this, I think that the media has taken on what Baran and Davis describe as the ritual perspective, which is a “view of mass communication as the representation of shared belief where reality is produced, maintained, repaired, and transformed (216).”
Today, we have given the media so many different roles. It can be a babysitter, an educator, a reporter, or just pure mindless entertainment. Because of this, I think it’s incredibly important that our society is media literate. As Michelle said, “You can have consumption without literacy, but you can’t have literacy without consumption.” The two are very important, and especially when it comes to children, they need to either be taught how to be media literate, or have an adult who is able to decide things for them who is media literate.