Before writing my take on the Buckingham reading, I want to say that I enjoyed reading your comments on the topic of the gap between young people’s worlds outside the school and their experiences in the classroom, and also using technology to have fun and being kids.
OK. I am going to look at Buckingham’s article from the perspective of “media and identity”, as I am passionate about the notion of self/identity! As Buckingham says media production provides a space for young people to explore their identities and take on new positions. This is exactly what I like about media productions. I see media productions as a “mirror” that reflects different images to people of who they already are. This is the “reflective” aspect of media productions as a mirror. In addition, they can give young people information and images of who they can ‘become’. This is the “constitutive” aspect of media productions as mirrors.
While I know the identities that people try and can take on through media are not deep—whether it is an online environment trying different persona via having different avatars, or it is a space exploring and voicing unspeakable needs and desires via blogging, youtubing, etc.—they are definitely useful in helping people understand different aspects of their self, and see themselves in different roles and dispositions, especially the positions that are restricted or unpopular because of the norms of the society or school, … . Such taking new roles can be useful when the mirroring is positive, I must say. However, reflecting negative or oppressive images to people can be harmful. Therefore, as Buckingham says “a form of critical discourse in which to describe and analyze what is taking place” is needed. I do believe so, too. “Mirroring” and identity exploration in media productions are important to examine and question, and as teachers, we need to educate our students on that.
6 comments:
I have to totally agree with Mahboubeh on what she said about media and Identity. It is true that media can give people a way of expressing them selves in a positive light and in more creative ways than would have been previously possible, post the digital age. People who might not be completely comfortable expressing their identity in reality now have a "safer" way to do so. Though the darker side of this is that it can also allow terrible and disturbing messages to be conveyed as well, and these messages of hate can sometimes have a multiplying effect that was not entirely possible pre the digital age we are living in now. So how do we find balance is the 24 million dollar question?? I would suggest media literacy would be the strongest defence???
yes, Bryon, awareness is the first step... media literacy...
I have to agree with both Mahboubeh and Bryan. I think it is also important that we teach the concept of self image and that we need to accept ourselves as who we are. The way that we can express ourselves through technology is a good way to some extent. But, I also believe someone needs to facilitate and help people who posts negative or oppressive images. I have to agree awareness and prevention is the way to go.
Teaching self concept and self image are two vital lessons for all students regardless of age.
Previously we discussed some important aspects of teaching a sense of community in our classrooms. How each of us fits in so to speak.
Community and culture are greatly enhanced by today's multimedia and without a good self concept / image students and teachers can be easily overwhelmed by the socio-technological super highway.
Having a solid understanding of your own identity is key to understanding others and self acceptance.
Know Thyself...
Know Thymedia... :)
Ian
Yes, in addition in the article Buckingham states " the experience of young people growing up in contemporary culture is now vastly different then the majority of teachers....it places significant limits on what we can possibly know about students experiences with media" . We have to think about bridging that gap of knowledge and experience. We can easily scoff at Web Kinz or Facebook or World of War Craft, or Naruto or Pokemon Texting and Text language, MSN, Hannah Montanta - media my kids are into. As teacher's we need to immerse ourselves in this media and critically analyze it so we can come to a conclusion on the messages being constructed in terms of gender, race and didactic messages and see how "they are different from our own". Are we ready to do it?
Hi everyone,
I liked the idea to let our students be aware of the pros and cons of media.I also agree that teachers have to explore the possibilities and limitations of media.
When I read the article, I was particularly interested in Buckingham’s comment about ‘interactivity’ and the boundary between producers and consumers are getting unclear. Before the internet age, media is more one way traffic from producer to consumer. But now, using the internet consumers can easily send their feed back to the producer or even can create new media product very easily in a short period of time. Internet has made it easy to many people to express and send their identity and ideas.
But one problem, is our generation is getting 'drowning' by the mass of media formats available and our students are getting lost in there.
To create critical consumers, I think as some of you already mentioned, either we give them guidance or teach them to find a way to grow good judgment skill(knowledge). It will be a challenging job!
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