Summary Archive

Topic 1 - Critical reflection 1
Topic 1 - Critical reflection 2
Topic 1 - Personal reflection

Topic 2 - Critical reflection 1
Topic 2 - Critical reflection 2
Topic 2 - Personal reflection

Topic 3 - Critical reflection 1
Topic 3 - Critical reflection 2
Topic 3 - Personal reflection

Topic 4 - Critical reflection 1
- Critical reflection 1 (2)
Topic 4 - Critical reflection 2
Topic 4 - Personal reflection

Topic 5 - Critical reflection 1
Topic 5 - Critical reflection 2
Topic 5 - Personal reflection

Topic 6 - Critical reflection 1
- Critical reflection 1 (2)
Topic 6 - Critical reflection 2
Topic 6 - Personal reflection

Topic 7 - Critical reflection 1
Topic 7 - Critical reflection 2
Topic 7 - Personal reflection

Topic 8 - Critical reflection 1
Topic 8 - Critical reflection 2
Topic 8 - Personal reflection

topic 8 - personal reflection

I feel that this topic is interesting as it sparked some interest in me. It is definitely happening in our society today, where technology is changing our culture. It is definitely making a very big impact and even though it is somewhat a good thing, but yet we should be careful. Be careful to not let technology make us even lazier, make us talk less, move less and so on.

So conclusion, technology is good if used wisely.

Topic 8 - Critical reflection 2

2) Is there a possibility to reshape the (new) culture today via new technology, How?

I think there is a possibility to reshape the new culture today via new technology.. HOW?

I think the new technology can always incorporate old and some family values into it. Or even the basic human verbal communication into it. The new technology can incorporate new ways into it like focusing more on the people more on the technology. Like focusing how to make it more interactive, so that people will not have their own world of their own but rather, are able to share it together with friends and family.

Topic 8 - Critical reflection 1

It’s typical for a new technology to be adapted within a culture and used to support existing patterns of behavior. With your own relevant examples, answer these questions.

1) What kind of culture influences through technology can you see from today’s world?
2) Is there a possibility to reshape the (new) culture today via new technology, How?

*you can use images and videos to support your arguments and ideas.

I definitely feel that technology is changing the culture of society. It is very obvious and very clear that times are changing, things weren't what it seemed to be before. Take for examples, the MOBILE PHONE. It has evolved in so many ways and now serves us really well. Supplying to ALMOST all our needs. It acts as a camera, map, calculator, communicator and many more. If asked what is the one thing that we would leave home without, one of them is definitely would be your MOBILE PHONE/ CELL PHONE/ HAND PHONE. So it has definitely influenced the culture of society.

The one thing that cell phones have influenced society is... the age that a person starts owning a cell phone. Back then, We do not own a cell phone until they are 18 or maybe older. Today, Children as young as 8 or below already own a cellphone, already learning to text/sms their friends, play games and so on. There is no boundary or limit for children right now. That is why, children are all maturing so fast, or so they think. Technology have made kids not enjoy their childhood but make them want to grow up as quick as possible

Another thing is the existence of the PSP, better known as the Portable Play Station.

It is definitely an interesting technology/invention and can help people pass time and their boredom. But then, It takes away the pleasure of life where people forget to enjoy life. Because there is definitely more to life than to the PSP games.

Sometimes in a group out for dinner, some would be busy with their phones, their psp and not having a decent converstation together. The verbal communication is not there.

topic 7 - Personal reflection

I personally feel that this topic is very hard. Even though it is interesting to see what media can do, how much it can influence us, and how far, to what extend it can influence us. I think it's enough to changed our minds on products, a certain something and even powerful enough to start a war.

But all in all, media is powerful. It is big. It has a huge impact.

Topic 7 - Critical Reflection 2

The documentary entitled "The Power of Nightmares (Part 3 - Shadow in the Cave)" by Adam Curtis was shown in class on Monday. How do you relate the information given to you in the documentary to the theory of Media Imperialism that we talked about in lecture?

I did not quite understand the video and had to watch it a few times. But I feel that the video is definitely an eye opener to how the media can affect us in many ways and also it showed the effects of media. Media imperialisme. Media imperialisme is definitely here and probably happening without some of us even knowing. In the video's context, I feel that media were influencing the public on this existence of this particular terrorist group. I remember the part where the news reporter asked if they have captured any member of that particular group.. The answer was "no, we haven't capture any". When asked if they have killed any. The answer was "No, they have not killed any."

The terrorist group did not exist but it was the media that made it such a big fuss. In terms of media imperialism. I think media imperialism was definitely existing there in the middle east. I feel that the foreign countries will affecting by the media and they start bringing in military forces in and then the local people are affected as well. Thus, creating a sense of tension and there is no more unity there. But instead, trying their best to bring out the suppose, culprit.

topic 7 - Critical reflection 1

The documentary entitled "The Power of Nightmares (Part 3 - Shadow in the Cave)" by Adam Curtis was shown in class on Monday. How do you relate the information given to you in the documentary to the theory of Media Imperialism that we talked about in lecture?

What is Media imperialism?

The Media Imperialism debate started in the early 1970s when developing countries began to criticise the control developed countries held over the media. The site for this conflict was UNESCO where the New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO) movement developed. Supported by the McBride report, "Many Voices, One World", countries such as India, Indonesia, and Egypt argued that the large media companies should have limited access to developing countries. This argument was one of the reasons for the United States, United Kingdom, and Singapore leaving UNESCO.

Later during the 1980s and 1990s, as multinational media conglomerates grow larger and more powerful many believe that it will become increasingly difficult for small, local media outlets to survive. A new type of imperialism will thus occur, making many nations subsidiary to the media products of some of the most powerful countries or companies. Significant writers and thinkers in this area include Ben Bagdikian, Noam Chomsky, Edward S. Herman, Armand Mattelart and Robert McChesney.

The United States' corporate media coverage of events has been seen to limit the freedom of the press. Integrity can be lost among media giants. This combined with the control and flow of information reduces the fairness and accuracy of news stories. American news networks like CNN also often have large international staffs, and produce specialized regional programming for many nations.

Media Imperialism is not always an international occurrence, however. When a single company or corporation controls all the media in a country, this too is a form of Media Imperialism. Nations such as Italy and Canada are often accused of possessing an Imperial media structure, based on the fact that much of their media is controlled by one corporation or owner.

A media source which ignores and/or censors important issues and events severely damages freedom of information. Many modern tabloid, twenty-four hour news channels and other mainstream media sources have increasingly been criticized for not conforming to general standards of journalistic integrity.

*taken from www.wikipedia.com*

What is "Imperialism"?

Imperialism has two meanings, one describing an action and the other describing an attitude. Most commonly it is understood in relation to Empire building, as the expansion of a nation's authority by territorial conquest establishing economic and political powers in other territories or nations ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperialism

• a policy of extending your rule over foreign countries
• a political orientation that advocates imperial interests
• any instance of aggressive extension of authority
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Media Imperialism defined through class lecture slides.

The idea that powerful and wealthy countries can exercise economic, cultural and social control over others through control of media industries.

Media imperialism is a theory stating that smaller countries are losing their identity due to the force-feeding of media from larger nations. It can be equated to small community shops closing down due to large superstores moving in, taking over and having a monopoly. As the larger media corporations begin to take over, smaller media companies are either being forced out or swallowed up.

Topic 6 - personal reflection.

This topic was equally as confusing as ever. But then, it's also knowledgeable to learn about the theories and about the hot and cool media. We've learnt this before during semester 1 in our Media Appreciation class, but I guess it is a refreshing period and also it was a more in depth compared to first semester's lesson.

Topic 6 - Critical reflection 2

What is media effects of blogging?
By using Marshall Mcluhan's Tetrad of Media (shown in the diagram below)

We ask this questions....

1. What does the medium enhance?
2. What does the medium make obsolete?
3. What does the medium retrieve?
   
4. What does the technology reverse into if it is over extended?
   

(taken from wikipedia.com)

1. I think that blogging has enhances the world of newspapers, radio and even news (TV). Instead of having to print out A LOT of newspapers, using paper, we instead can use blogs as e-newspapers to tell people of news. Which can also apply to TV where people can "tune" in on their own free time. By radio also, blogs are able to upload musics and advertisements, so it also a more enhanced way.

2. The medium make obsolete newspapers, TV, billboards advertisement and etc. Because I feel that, Blogs can already do much and have a lot of usage and it is definitely obsolute to convey messages in the following medias when we already have BLOGS. Blogs are more convenient and has been quite useful. It can help people convey messages, advertisements, their own personal comments and many more.

3. I think for me, this medium, "blogging" helps achieve a, self-satisfactory feeling of being able to express your feelings, thoughts, words and so on on your blog. It also helps retrieve a new method of conveying news, advertisements, events and many more.

4. If blogging is over extended, i think technology will not be reversed. But the communication among people and society will decrease. People will not see the need to communicate physically and verbally. People will be sitting in a room filled with silence and still they do not see the need to utter a word or two.

Topic 6- Critical reflection 1 (Part 2)

Using McLuhan's "Tetrad of Media" (see diagram below), choose a medium or media application or tool (e.g. newspaper, books, radio, tv, film, internet, computer games, handphone, instant messaging, blogging, online advertising, youtube, facebook etc.) and explain its media effects? Please refer to Week 9's lecture notes plus your own research to discuss this topic.

The Media application that I choose is "BLOGGING". I feel the blogging has made a very big impact among the internet users. Take now for example, I am using this blog to do my blog assignment. All for critical reflections, personal reflections and everything that I've learnt in my media culture class is all or mostly stated here. So "blogging" has definitely made a deep impact in the media world.

topic 6 - critical reflection 1 (Part 1)

Taken from the WEEK 9 lecture notes.

Marshall McLuhan - the tetrad

Marshall McLuhan summarized his ideas about

media in a concise tetrad of media effects.

The tetrad is a means of examining the effects

on society of any technology/mdium and

explaining the social processes underlying the

adoption of a technology/medium by dividing

its effects into four categories.

Extract from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

McLuhan developed a basis for his thought around what he termed the

tetrad. The tetrad allowed McLuhan to apply four laws, framed as

questions, to a wide spectrum of mankind's endeavors, and thereby give

us a new tool for looking at our culture.

•The first of these questions or laws is

"What does it (the medium or technology) extend?"

In the case of a car it would be the foot, in the case a phone it would be the voice.

•The second question is

"What does it make obsolete?"

Again, one might answer that the car makes walking obsolete, and the phone makes smoke signals and carrier pigeons unnecessary.

•The third question asks,

"What is retrieved?"

The sense of adventure or quest is retrieved with the car, and the sense of community returns with the spread of telephone service. One might consider the rise of the cross-country vacation that accompanied the spread of automobile ownership.

•The fourth question asks,

"What does the technology reverse into if it is over extended?"

An over-extended automobile culture longs for the pedestrian lifestyle, and the over-extension of phone culture engenders a need for solitude.

the tetrad.

•An Example of McLuhan’s Technological determinism

•With the radio and television we have simultaneous access to events on the entire planet. However, television culture diminishes, or amputates, many of the close ties of family life based on oral communication. The simple act of turning on a television can reduce a room of people to silence.

Blog Assignment - Topic 8 (Final Topic!)

Blog Assignment - Topic 8 (Final Topic!) :

Dear Media Culture students,

Here is your eight topic for your Blog Assignment.This is your FINAL topic!

It’s typical for a new technology to be adapted within a culture and used to support existing patterns of behavior. With your own relevant examples, answer these questions.

1) What kind of culture influences through technology can you see from today’s world?
2) Is there a possibility to reshape the (new) culture today via new technology, How?

*you can use images and videos to support your arguments and ideas.

IMPORTANT: Do not take other people's words as your own. Please state your source when quoting someone or article.

DEADLINE: 12 midnight, Sunday, 26th April 2009

Each student must post at least 2 critical reflection on topic given (4%), 1 personal reflection on the media culture class (1%), over a period of 5 days to 7 days

*critical reflection means:

1) Think, ponder, reflect, debate and discuss the issue given
2) Make clear connections to the topic of discussion
3) Include supporting details and examples (you can use videos, audios, photos) to elaborate your points
4) Use correct spelling and grammar

Blog Assignment - Topic 7 :

Blog Assignment - Topic 7 :

Dear Media Culture students,

Here is your seventh topic for your Blog Assignment (one more to go!).

The documentary entitled "The Power of Nightmares (Part 3 - Shadow in the Cave)" by Adam Curtis was shown in class on Monday. How do you relate the information given to you in the documentary to the theory of Media Imperialism that we talked about in lecture?

(*for those who have not seen the documentary, you can either get it from U Torrent, YouTube or Google Videos. The documentary consists of three parts, you are to watch part 3 - shadow of the cave - for this topic discussion and watch part 1 and 2 at your own free time. Believe me, it's worth the watch!! Go to http://www.wanttoknow.info/powerofnightmares for initial research on this documentary. Lecture notes on Media Imperialism can be downloaded from MMLS lecture notes week 10.)

IMPORTANT: Do not take other people's words as your own. Please state your source when quoting someone or article.

DEADLINE: 12 midnight, Sunday, 19th April 2009

Each student must post at least 2 critical reflection on topic given (4%), 1 personal reflection on the media culture class (1%), over a period of 5 days to 7 days

*critical reflection means:

1) Think, ponder, reflect, debate and discuss the issue given
2) Make clear connections to the topic of discussion
3) Include supporting details and examples (you can use videos, audios, photos) to elaborate your points
4) Use correct spelling and grammar

Topic 6 - Blog Assignment

Topic 6 - Blog Assignment :

Dear Media Culture students,

Here is your sixth topic for your Blog Assignment.

Using McLuhan's "Tetrad of Media" (see diagram below), choose a medium or media application or tool (e.g. newspaper, books, radio, tv, film, internet, computer games, handphone, instant messaging, blogging, online advertising, youtube, facebook etc.) and explain its media effects? Please refer to Week 9's lecture notes plus your own research to discuss this topic.

IMPORTANT: Do not take other people's words as your own. Please state your source when quoting someone or article.

DEADLINE: 12 midnight, Sunday, 12th April 2009

Each student must post at least 2 critical reflection on topic given (4%), 1 personal reflection on the media culture class (1%), over a period of 5 days to 7 days

*critical reflection means:

1) Think, ponder, reflect, debate and discuss the issue given
2) Make clear connections to the topic of discussion
3) Include supporting details and examples (you can use videos, audios, photos) to elaborate your points
4) Use correct spelling and grammar

Topic 5 - critical reflection 2

Obscenity, pornography and indecency: What are the differences between these terms?

I think we are often times confused with these 3 words as they sound somewhat similar and the meanings are also somewhat similar. But for me, I think that the meaning lies in the severity of each word.

Indecency. What is indecency? It is the act of being indecent. So, what is being indecent? I think it is more of your character and how you portray yourself. Most of time you accuse someone of behaving indecently. So I think it portrays more of a person's character. Through the person's character, the way they dress can also portray the character of the person. So that is why sometimes we say that person's dressing is indecent.

Then, what is obscenity? It is the act of being obscene. So, what is being obscene? I think obscenity is somewhat similar to indecency. But it has more sexual or lust portrayed. Obscenity may be an act that defies the moral values of society or a person.

As for pornography, I think it involves more of graphic. Like "graphy" is more to the study of something, so pornography is like the study of porn. What is porn? Porn is like movies, magazines etc, portray naked/nude man/woman. I think it is more visual and much more sexual. It can be said a tool to satisfy a person's sexual needs.

Even though all 3 words have different meanings, I feel that the root or the core of it, is quite similar. It involves the moral values of society, sexuality etc.

Topic 5 - critical reflection 1

Definition of Obscenity

• the trait of behaving in an obscene manner
• an offensive or indecent word or phrase
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webw

Definition of obscene:

• designed to incite to indecency or lust; "the dance often becomes flagrantly obscene"-Margaret Mead
• abhorrent: offensive to the mind; "an abhorrent deed"; "the obscene massacre at Wounded Knee"; "morally repugnant customs"; "repulsive behavior"; "the most repulsive character in recent novels"
• lewd: suggestive of or tending to moral looseness; "lewd whisperings of a dirty old man"; "an indecent gesture"; "obscene telephone calls"; "salacious limericks"
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Definition of pornography:

• creative activity (writing or pictures or films etc.) of no literary or artistic value other than to stimulate sexual desire
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Pornography or porn is the explicit depiction of sexual subject matter with the sole intention of sexually exciting the viewer. It is to a certain extent similar to erotica, which is the use of sexually arousing imagery. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornography

Definition of pornographic - designed to arouse lust; "pornographic films and magazines"; "adult movies"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

definition of indecency:

• the quality of being indecent
• an indecent or improper act
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Decency is conformity to sociocultural standards of conduct and speech.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indecency

Definition of indecent:

• indecent - not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society; "was buried with indecent haste"; "indecorous behavior ...
• indecent - offensive to good taste especially in sexual matters; "an earthy but not indecent story"; "an indecent gesture"
• indecent - offending against sexual mores in conduct or appearance; "a bathing suit considered indecent by local standards"
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Blog Assignment: Topic 5

Blog Assignment: Topic 5 :

Dear Media Culture students,

Here is your fifth topic for your Blog Assignment.

Obscenity, pornography and indecency: What are the differences between these terms?

IMPORTANT: Do not take other people's words as your own. Please state your source when quoting someone or article.

DEADLINE: 12 midnight, Sunday, 5th April 2009

Each student must post at least 2 critical reflection on topic given (4%), 1 personal reflection on the media culture class (1%), over a period of 5 days to 7 days

*critical reflection means:

1) Think, ponder, reflect, debate and discuss the issue given
2) Make clear connections to the topic of discussion
3) Include supporting details and examples (you can use videos, audios, photos) to elaborate your points
4) Use correct spelling and grammar

Personal reflection week 7

This week's lecture was a bit hard to understand and to take in. But I can understand the part about cultural stereotype.

I wrote this for my online tutorial discussion.

In the lecture for week 7, one information that I find most interesting is definitely regarding cultural stereotype. In most culture or even among us, there are always a form of stereotype. I don't think that we fully realize that or we are just oblivious to the stereotypes of our culture. For instance, take women for example. Women have become "labeled" and become part of a stereotype of how a woman should be and how each woman should fulfill a certain criteria. But if they do not, it seems like they are not "worthy" enough of other people's attention or rather, be taken seriously. I guess, I can say that is a form of stereotype that we do not realize the existence of it in our culture and also among us

I definitely feel that cultural stereotype is still here in our society and is very much strong. It will be hard to change a person's concept or mindset about something. It is possible but it will be hard. Overall, the class was rather interesting.

What is Media Literacy and why is it important for you as FCM students to have it?

The meaning of Literacy:

• the ability to read and write
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
• the ability to read; understanding of something (ex. computer literacy)
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/literacy

So, What is media literacy? From my understanding, Media literacy is like the understanding of media. What is there to understand about media? It is the ability to analyze and be wise when seeing the message of the media. It is knowing what to believe, knowing the right questions to ask and knowing who the message is intended for.

Why is it important for us FCM student to have it?

As a FCM student, We work very closely with media. Media literacy is very important for us. It's not about knowing the right answers but asking the right questions. It is making the right choices and knowing what intentions of the message. Media literacy is actually also like critical viewing. It is to critically analyze that particular media and seeing through the hidden messages. Media literacy is a skill that can be acquired through experience, Learning to analyze, interpret, evaluating the many different kinds of media of various genre, forms and many more.

Media literacy 2

Taken from:

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/teachers/media_literacy/what_is_media_literacy.cfm

What is Media Literacy?

What do the experts have to say about media literacy? What's the difference between media literacy and media education? Here are a few answers.

Jane Tallim

What is Media Literacy?

Media literacy is the ability to sift through and analyze the messages that inform, entertain and sell to us every day. It's the ability to bring critical thinking skills to bear on all media— from music videos and Web environments to product placement in films and virtual displays on NHL hockey boards. It's about asking pertinent questions about what's there, and noticing what's not there. And it's the instinct to question what lies behind media productions— the motives, the money, the values and the ownership— and to be aware of how these factors influence content.

Media education encourages a probing approach to the world of media: Who is this message intended for? Who wants to reach this audience, and why? From whose perspective is this story told? Whose voices are heard, and whose are absent? What strategies does this message use to get my attention and make me feel included?

In our world of multi-tasking, commercialism, globalization and interactivity, media education isn't about having the right answers—it's about asking the right questions. The result is lifelong empowerment of the learner and citizen.

What is Media Literacy? - Flash Version

Source: Jane Tallim, Education Specialist, The Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

---

Elizabeth Thoman

The 3 Stages of Media Literacy

Media literacy is an overall term that incorporates three stages of a continuum leading to media empowerment:

The first stage is simply becoming aware of the importance of managing one's media "diet"— that is, making choices and reducing the time spent with television, videos, electronic games, films and various print media forms.

The second stage is learning specific skills of critical viewing— learning to analyze and question what is in the frame, how it is constructed and what may have been left out. Skills of critical viewing are best learned through inquiry-based classes or interactive group activities, as well as from creating and producing one's own media messages.

The third stage goes behind the frame to explore deeper issues. Who produces the media we experience—and for what purpose? Who profits? Who loses? And who decides? This stage of social, political and economic analysis looks at how everyone in society makes meaning from our media experiences, and how the mass media drive our global consumer economy. This inquiry can sometimes set the stage for various media advocacy efforts to challenge or redress public policies or corporate practices.

Although television and electronic media may seem to present the most compelling reasons for promoting media literacy education in contemporary society, the principles and practices of media literacy education are applicable to all media— from television to T-shirts, from billboards to the Internet.

Source: Elizabeth Thoman, Founder and President, Center for Media Literacy, 1995.

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Chris Worsnop

Media Study, Media Education or Media Literacy?

Media teachers today use the terms "media education," "media study," and "media literacy" almost interchangeably. My personal preference is to use the term "media education" as a broad description of all that takes place in a media-oriented classroom, whether the subject matter is English, history, geography or science. (There's plenty of media learning that can be done in all those subject areas and others.)

"Media study" occurs when schools or teachers organize specific courses or units to study the media.

"Media literacy" is the expected outcome from work in either media education or media study. The more you learn about or through the media, the more media literacy you have. Media literacy is the skill of experiencing, interpreting/analyzing and making media products.

Source: Chris Worsnop, from Screening Images: Ideas for Media Education, Wright Communications. Mississauga, ON. Canada, 1994.

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Maureen Baron

Literacy, Then and Now

The traditional definition of literacy, when print was the supreme media format, was the ability to decode, understand and communicate in print. But the world has evolved, and print is no longer the dominant media format—that role has been usurped by the electronic media. To be literate today, people must be able to:

• decode, understand, evaluate and write through, and with, all forms of media
  
  
• read, evaluate and create text, images and sounds, or any combination of these elements.

In other words literate individuals must possess media literacy as well as print literacy, numeral literacy and technological literacy.

Source: Maureen Baron, Multimedia Administrator, The English Montreal School Board.

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Neil Andersen

Media Literacy and Media Education

"Media literacy" is a quality, like a tan, which can be achieved.

For example: "Yo! Check it out! I am media literate!"

"Media education" is an ongoing process, which can develop and evolve.

For example: "Every day, my media education is getting more powerful."

Source: Neil Anderson, Association for Media Literacy.

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Rick Shepherd

An Informed, Critical Understanding of the Media

Media literacy is an informed, critical understanding of the mass media. It involves examining the techniques, technologies and institutions involved in media production; being able to critically analyze media messages; and recognizing the role audiences play in making meaning from those messages.

Source: Rick Shepherd, "Why Teach Media Literacy," Teach Magazine, Quadrant Educational Media Services, Toronto, ON, Canada, Oct/Nov 1993.

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Wally Bowen

Citizens for Media Literacy

Media literacy seeks to empower citizens and to transform their passive relationship to media into an active, critical engagement— capable of challenging the traditions and structures of a privatized, commercial media culture, and finding new avenues of citizen speech and discourse.

Source: Wally Bowen, Citizens for Media Literacy, Asheville, NC, U.S.A, 1996.

Media literacy

Taken from Wikipedia.com

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. Media literacy education provides tools to help people critically analyze messages to detect propaganda, censorship, and bias in news and public affairs programming (and the reasons for such), and to understand how structural features -- such as media ownership, or its funding model^[1] -- affect the information presented. Media literacy aims to enable people to be skillful creators and producers of media messages, both to facilitate an understanding as to the strengths and limitations of each medium, as well as to create independent media. Media literacy is an expanded conceptualization of literacy. By transforming the process of media consumption into an active and critical process, people gain greater awareness of the potential for misrepresentation and manipulation (especially through commercials and public relations techniques), and understand the role of mass media and participatory media in constructing views of reality.

Blog Assignment Topic 4

Blog Assignment Topic 4 :

Dear Media Culture students,

Here is your fourth topic for your Blog Assignment.

What is Media Literacy and why is it important for you as FCM students to have it?

IMPORTANT: Do not take other people's words as your own. Please state your source when quoting someone or article.

DEADLINE: 12 midnight, Sunday, 22nd March 2009

Each student must post at least 2 critical reflection on topic given (4%), 1 personal reflection on the media culture class (1%), over a period of 5 days to 7 days

*critical reflection means:

1) Think, ponder, reflect, debate and discuss the issue given
2) Make clear connections to the topic of discussion
3) Include supporting details and examples (you can use videos, audios, photos) to elaborate your points
4) Use correct spelling and grammar

TAKE NOTE: Please read your Blog Assignment Brief thoroughly for instructions first before emailing me your questions.

If you are still not sure what to do after reading the brief, please email me at helena.song@mmu.edu.my.

Stereotype

I do not really recall personally experiencing media stereotype in a movie or on TV.
But I do recall watching a typical american teen movie. It was a parody of another american teen movie. I do not remember the name but it speaks of all the stereotypes of an american teen movie or any other teen movies based in a high school.

It showed of how a typical high school should have the popular gang which consists of the jocks(mostly the american football team) and the pretty girls, there will also be the nerds or the smart alecs, the skaters, the gothic kind and many other cliques I should say.

The stereotype is here and how the groups are protrayed and all. I see it as a stereotype.

Media Stereotype

Give a very short basic explanation of what media stereotype is? (Keep it short please!) From your personal experience, what other media stereotype (besides the example from the article) you have seen either on TV or in the movies?

It took awhile to read the entire article, Some parts were a bit hard to understand but it was manageable.

Media stereotype. What does media stereotype mean to me? After reading the article that was provided, It became much clear on how the media can have it's stereotype. For me media stereotype, is like generalizing the characters. It is like a way the character of a certain race, culture or background should be. For example, of how the portray an arabic character, a chinese character or any of the other races.
This is not good in a way as if the audience has not met or know anybody from that particular race, background or culture, they may assume that that is how they are. They might make assumptions that they are as such. For example of how chinese people are stingy and good with money, of how koreans own laundry shops, of how all sundry shops are own by Indians. So therefore, Media stereotype is like brainwashing people into believing something that might not be true in the first place.

Topic 3.

Blog Assignment - Topic 3 :

Dear Media Culture students,

Here is your third topic for your Blog Assignment.

Please read through this interesting article on media stereotype: http://web.media.mit.edu/~ayah/MediaTheories/

Give a very short basic explanation of what media stereotype is? (Keep it short please!) From your personal experience, what other media stereotype (besides the example from the article) you have seen either on TV or in the movies?

IMPORTANT: Do not take other people's words as your own. Please state your source when quoting someone or article.

DEADLINE: 12 midnight, Sunday, 15th March 2009

Each student must post at least 2 critical reflection on topic given (4%), 1 personal reflection on the media culture class (1%), over a period of 5 days to 7 days

*critical reflection means:

1) Think, ponder, reflect, debate and discuss the issue given
2) Make clear connections to the topic of discussion
3) Include supporting details and examples (you can use videos, audios, photos) to elaborate your points
4) Use correct spelling and grammar

TAKE NOTE: Please read your Blog Assignment Brief thoroughly for instructions first before emailing me your questions.

If you are still not sure what to do after reading the brief, please email me at helena.song@mmu.edu.my

Critical reflection 2.

To relate to this topic of whether to take everything on the internet as truth without taking into consideration whether it's true or fake. For me, One example is clearly forwarded mails. I am sure that many of us receive various kinds of forwarded mails from our friends and sometimes strangers as well. But how many times have we consider the fact whether it's true or false? Many of us would believe that information or the content of the mail as it is backed up with images and links and so on. Take for example...

I once received an email concerning a man eating sushi. He later died and when they opened up his brains... they found maggots or worms..

The article may be found on this site.

The pictures may be found on this site.

After reading the article and looking at images for support, would you still eat sushi?

So, Sometimes, I guess it's best that we do not simply forward forwarded mails, but check out first whether it's true and the validity it. I also once received a rather disturbing mail concerning woman and their undergarments. It was rather disturbing and couldn't get the image out of my head. But I went to search a few sites on whether it was true or not. There some sites that said, they combined two pictures together to make it look like the real thing.

So, Like I said, Everything on the internet may not be true and may be altered by various sources and taken from other references. So it's best to take it with a pinch of salt and to do your own research concerning that particular event or thing.

Evaluation on class week 5.

The lecture was good. Even though I did not really understand it... but it was short and simple.
I feel that I have to read and refer back on the notes to better understand it.

Critical reflection 1

Do you often take what is on the Internet as truth without thinking much about it? If yes, why? If no, why? Discuss this in your own words.

I feel that people take everything on the internet too seriously. They believe everything that they find on the internet, regardless of the source. For me, I take everything I find online with a pinch of salt. I do not only visit one site and believe everything that is written there. Some information on this particular site may state as such and the other might state the opposite. So I feel that it's very important to have various sources and various references. References may not be only from the internet but also from books, newspaper and so on.

Topic 2

Blog Assignment: TOPIC 2 :

Dear Media Culture students,

Here is your second topic for your Blog Assignment.

Attached here is a comic strip entitled "Rumors, lies and innuendo spread far, wide, and fast on the Internet." taken from "Introduction to Mass Communication: Media Literacy and Culture" by Stanley Baran, pg 324. (You can post this up in your blog)

Do you often take what is on the Internet as truth without thinking much about it? If yes, why? If no, why? Discuss this in your own words.

IMPORTANT: Do not take other people's words as your own. Please state your source when quoting someone or article.

DEADLINE: 12 midnight, Sunday, 8th March 2009

Each student must post at least 2 critical reflection on topic given (4%), 1 personal reflection on the media culture class (1%), over a period of 5 days to 7 days

*critical reflection means:

1) Think, ponder, reflect, debate and discuss the issue given
2) Make clear connections to the topic of discussion
3) Include supporting details and examples (you can use videos, audios, photos) to elaborate your points
4) Use correct spelling and grammar

If you are still not sure what to do, please email me at helena.song@mmu.edu.my.

personal reflection of MLC class Week 4

Even though it's rather confusing, but it is quite interesting to know the many classical sociological theories of media. The theories of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Waber and George Herbet. I learn about social media on how it uses people to sell certain products and how important the people are in the context of social media. It can be done through, social networkings and etc. It's also about the ideal value or the communication between the people.

ALSO, I got to learn about the media models. Hot and cold media, entertainment and information, the elitist and the populist.

Social media

This kind of phenomenon has affected me in many ways. Instead of being bombarded with advertisements and all, I get to read the comments of others. I get to have a better insight of the particular thing. Instead being force to make a decision then and then, Through many different kinds of social media, I get to make my decision by listening and reading other people's comments, their suggestions, the evaluate their pros and cons and then make the decision based on the reflections of others.

For example, If I were to choose a favourite ice cream flavour out of the many others. If I were to ask around on which is better. The suggestions from others, the comments and so on. Then I will be able to decide which ice cream flavour suits me best.

It also works the other way round. If I were the producer, I can start forums or surveys online to know the thoughts of my customers. It is like an interaction between consumer and customer. It's like creating a relationship so that I will better understand the needs of my customers, their expectations and so on.

Social Media

I find the video very interesting. It is definitely an insight look into social media.
Taken from www.wikipedia.com
"Social media are primarily Internet- and mobile-based tools for sharing and discussing information."

Internet has evolve so much that it has become one of the necessities of our lives. The internet has helped us in many ways. For example, social media. Companies can spend less on physical advertisements like advertisements on TV, radio, newspapers and many others. The internet has helped made it easier for companies or anyone in fact to get opinions, suggestions and comments through various ways. For example, Take the famous video sharing website, You tube. A lot of people upload videos and they expect people to comment. Then, through the comments, they are to know the requirements or expectations of the viewers. They are also able to improve on that particular action and so on. This kind of social media has opened up many doors as it creates an interaction between producers and consumers. It is like exchanging of comments, ideas and suggestions. It helps also the consumers as they are able to read comments of past users and it makes it easier for the consumers to make decisions. Social media can be in many forms. It can be in forums, social networkings and etc.

This is definitely a smart and productive way of knowing the people's needs and helping the people satisfy their own needs. It helps the people to be more decisive and able to make decisions through the comments and experiences of previous users.

Social Media Video

Blog Assignment: Topic 1 :

Dear Media Culture students,

Here is your very first topic for your Blog Assignment.

Please view this short video on Social Media. (You can post this video on your blog)

Discuss how this new phenomenon is affecting your life and the lives around you.

IMPORTANT: Do not take other people's words as your own. Please state your source when quoting someone or article.

DEADLINE: 12 midnight, Sunday, 1st March 2009

Each student must post at least 2 critical reflection on topic given (4%), 1 personal reflection on the media culture class (1%), over a period of 5 days to 7 days *please refer to CHECKLIST FOR ASSESSMENT at Blog Assignment Brief for more details.

If you are not sure what to do, please email me at helena.song@mmu.edu.my.