Media Literacy
Impact of the Media in 2014
Media Literacy refers the knowledge and ability to utilize and make sense of the media as well as know the variety of forms it comes in. Media can be defined as a form of communication that is available to a wide range of peoples. Such information can be found on the internet, magazines, television, newspapers, and through social networks such as Twitter and Facebook. The majority of people use the media as not only a form of communication, but as their main source for knowledge pertaining to current events. With unreliable politicians, deceitful athletes, and drug addicted movie stars in the headlines every single day, our society uses the media as their personal informant to the newest stories and gossip. Because of technology evolving and becoming more readily available, media is more prevalent online, through apps, and through social media than through newspapers and the radio. Knowing this, networks such as Fox News and CNN regularly amend their webpage with the most up to date information in attempts to stay ahead of the game. It is nearly impossible to be successful in today’s high-tech, fast-paced world without knowing the fundamental aspects of how to apply the media to one’s own life in a beneficial way. Also, any student must have media literacy in order to be effective in their research and studies. This statement is particularly true for students in a class that inhere to more current topics such as debate and contemporary issues. In my opinion, schools should start teaching students at an earlier age about media literacy.
Media Sources
There are dozens of sources for viewing media on the internet.
Media Aspects
Some of the core aspects of media is global news, local news, politics, and scandal.
Types of Media
There are several different sources to get reliable news.
Radio Shack Super Bowl Commercial
Radio Shack, in their 2014 Super Bowl ad, claims that they have been brought out of the 1980’s and now serves as a modern oasis for young, gadget-obsessed shoppers. Radio Shack comically supports that idea by claiming that famous characters of the 1980’s have ransacked the store of its old, dated merchandise. Radio Shack’s purpose is to prove that they have updated their store so that younger people who have a love for tech toys will keep Radio Shack in mind next time they want to purchase the next big thing. The commercial is set in a humorous tone to attract young viewers to the “new” 2014 Radio Shack.
Satire: No Child Left Behind
A recent study showed that the United States’ education system ranks number seventeen in the world. Just decades ago, the public education that was available to the American people was a shining example to other nations, but now we are mediocre at best.
Between the expanding class sizes and out of control dropout rate of one student every minute, something needs to be done to solve this disconcerting problem. The best solution would be to overhaul the entire education system and expand the No Child Left Behind Act.
Schools will need to make numerous cuts in order to compete with more “academically incline” nations. The proponents of education reform wish to eliminate the teaching or irrelevant subjects such as driver’s education, physical education, and technology skills. Those types of classes waste hours a day teaching skills rather than demonstrating and drilling information. Chairmen of the US Board of Education urge schools to reevaluate their curriculum. More math and science lectures would shoot test scores through the roof.
Another groundbreaking suggestion for successful education is to eliminate teachers and replace them with computers. Teachers have the ability to distribute information, but personality, experience, and insight could potentially cast a gray area. If computers were used, all information distributed would be standard across the nation.
Another goal for education reform is to extend the school days several hours. Sports, hobbies, jobs, and personal engagements need to be secondary to students wishing to achieve high test scores. Also, each student should be required to attend a weekend SAT prep class. Each student should be able to pay tens of thousands of dollars to attend college, and higher test scores would mean they get to pay even more for similar education.
In order to raise a sharper generation of students, education reform should happen sooner rather than later.
Kinentic Typography
Your changeable craving causes continuous confusion and choler in the course of your colossal and costly meal. So the cuisine chosen couldn't completely captivate your craving for a considerably sized chunk of chow? Well, color me curious but I've come to conclude that contrary to your continuous complaints, your course has been close to completely consumed. The captain of this chophouse chooses to comply with your comically corrupted complaints and credits you with complete compensation for your crummy chow. Such a catastrophic calamity would commonly cause much concern, but choosing to construct a career out of continuously conning and cheating cafes causes any concern or care to cease.
History Re-Write
Tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union rose steadily after the end of the Second World War Europe was left in shambles after World War II, and the USSR and United States were the only two world powers that were left standing. The United States stood for democracy and freedom, while the Soviet Union was heavily controlled and paranoid. Joseph Stalin, the leader of the USSR, ordered people to be killed if he felt at all threatened by them.
The Iron Curtain fell and metaphorically divided the democratic Western Europe from East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Ukraine, Belarus, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. Berlin, Germany was the epicenter of the Cold War. The city was divided into an East and West side by a heavily guarded 12-foot wall. Patrol dogs and barbed wire was eventually added to prevent citizens from escaping the communist Eastern side. The wall stretched out ninety six miles all around the city. Over three hundred towers and twenty bunkers made the Berlin Wall a fortress.
The wall has stood for more than fifty years. Some believe the wall represents the oppression that runs rampant around Europe. After Stalin’s death in 1953, his son Joseph Stalin II took over. He continued to control the majority of Eastern Europe and even begin to expand the Berlin Wall in the 1990’s. His intention was to build a wall that surrounded all countries under his control and isolate themselves from the rest of the world. The wall was completed in 2006.
Living conditions were said to be horrible in the newly expanded USSR. People were rationed everything from medicine to clothes. There was no public education system, so that children could begin work in factories at a younger age. Food was scarce, which caused the life expectancy to plummet lower and lower each year. Despite the terrible state of the USSR, Joseph Stalin II lives in the lap of luxury. Boasting several mansions with only the finest cuisine and alcohol served, he hosts regular parties that involve expensive drugs and entertainment.
Although there have been no battles or war declarations, the USSR has tried to impose a threat on other nations. They say that their military is made up of millions of brave, smart, and strong soldiers who are ready to strike back at any country who chooses to inflict any harm. The United Nations confirmed in 1987 that the country was not in possession of any sophisticated weaponry.
It wasn’t until May of 2011 that reform began. As a part of the Seal Team Six Operation that eliminated Osama Bin Laden, within a few hours Joseph Stalin II was also killed by the United States Military Forces. The United Nations has been working diligently in installing democracy in Eastern Europe.
History Re-write Blurb
1984 Musical Connection
Only people know just how to change the world
Only people realize the power of people
A million heads are better than one, so come on, get it on!
Well I know how we tried and the millions of tears that we cried
Now we are hipper we been thru the trip
And we can't be denied with woman and man side by side
Make no mistake it's our future we're making,
bake the cake and eat it too!
We don't want no pig brother scene
Well it's long overdue there
ain't nothing better to do
Now we are hipper we been thru the trip
We can fly right on thru, there's nothing on earth we can do
Fish or cut bait it's our future
e're making all together now pull the chain!
We don't want no pig brother scene
Music Connection to 1984
In George Orwell’s 1984, Winston Smith is living under harsh, totalitarian government control and is surrounded by oppression. The world around him is in shambles; war is ongoing, food and supplies are scarce, and public executions serve as public entertainment. Feeling dejected and helpless, Winston admits he does not have the power to make a change, for he is only one person. Winston believes in the power of the proles, the impoverished majority of the country. Even though they are deemed simpleminded and inept by the presiding government Party Members, Winston regards the human spirit as powerful and capable of creating change.
John Lennon’s “Only People” is a celebration of the vitality of the human spirit. Additionally, the bouncy and vivacious tune of the song creates an interesting juxtaposition between the darkness and depression of Winston’s life. Lennon indirectly agrees with Winston’s philosophy about his unconditional hope for the bettering of our society in the second line of the song “Only people know just how to change the world”. Winston eventually succumbed to the totalitarian ideals of the government. However, Lennon’s song symbolizes what could have been if Winston’s once effervescent ideas of reclaiming power and spreading joy through the country was not squashed by the “pig brother scene”.
Media Literacy Reflection
Media Literacy has truly been different than previous Language Arts courses I have taken. The key concepts I have taken away from this class is being able to open my mind to different and sometimes outside of the box concepts. Ordinarily, learning lessons about Nike Jordans, the Selfie Olympics, Twitter Hashtags, and the ethics behind sumo wrestling would be preconceived as frivolous and anything but thought provoking. However, this course really concentrates on all of the aspects, as minor as shoes and as major as social networking, and how such aspects intertwine and help define American culture. In two hundred years, history books will state that the internet and all of the subcategories within it such as Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter, was the heart and soul of this time period. The world is becoming more and more paperless and heavily reliant on technology, and this particular class helps students feel more immersed in present day culture rather than always reading dry books from the past.
Previous language arts courses had a greater focus on how various literary works were connected with the time period in which they were written, such as Miller’s plays and Whitman’s poetry. What I enjoyed about Media Literacy was that even though Orwell’s 1984 was written in the twentieth century, the lesson was focused on building the connection from the past to present day. I feel that being able to apply things from the past to modern day is a valuable skill that every student can take away from this class. My only ideas on improving this class would be to incorporate some more creative writing and reflections. Occasionally writing from a point of view and without so many restrictions is something that is more enjoyable for students and can also help improve general writing skills.