Honestly…how does the media work? What sorts of questions are posed behind the scenes of your favourite show? What exactly are those different strokes used in your favourite art pieces, and what conversations do they create? Do the most popular songs on the radio hit high notes with you, or do their messages, or lack thereof, leave you singin' the blues?
These questions and more point towards what are called media literacy skills. These critical-thinking skills will help to identify holes and/or questionable content in various media. Asking questions such as, "Why are these particular people in this commercial?" or, "What image is my favourite singer creating with their brand new album, and what do their songs say about themselves?" or even, "Why is this actor such an inferno of red-hot heart-throbbing unfair attractiveness?" show that critical media literacy skills are taking place. Even observations/opinions such as "TV producers will usually choose attractive people for their roles to boost ratings and increase total viewers," show that there is critical thinking taking place.
How does one become media literate, and what sorts of questions and statements will help aid in media literacy? This TED Talk by Andrea Quijada shows her first steps to becoming media literate, and her concepts of what it means to decode media can be applied to other mediums, as well, not just the advertisements, TV shows, and movies referenced in her talk.
Still interested? Stay tuned to this blog for more information about media literacy and how to sharpen your critical eye!
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