Thu 28 Feb 2008
Digital literacy and Media Literacy
Posted by Phillip Djwa under General Stuff , Social Change[2] Comments
I saw a youth video on the weekend at a conference and I was struck as we all applauded that while it was cool that they could use the videocamera and editing tools, it was clear that the message was one of violence. Not intense, but more the “wanna-be gangster”…. We’ve been working with youth for the past few years, and the last two years we’ve been teaching a lot of digital literacy skills. But I realize that is only one side of the coin. What we also need media literacy as well. First off, sensitizing them to violence and the unreality of the gang culture that’s put out in a lot of music that the youth I work with love to listen to. Youth have to understand how to decode media so they can create responsibly the messages and stories they want to convey. I read a sad story of a Labrador community where the youth believed the TV “Friends” lifestyle was possible in the “big” cities. I read in some article that the actual value of the supposed New York Friends’ lifestyle was in the millions. Even youth here when they come to Vancouver, somehow think that the world they encounter in television is actually here for them. This isn’t too say that it is impossible to reach, but if you think that the streets are paved with gold in Vancouver, you aren’t likely going to want to stay around home in Terrace…
May 6th, 2008 at 1:30 am
Hi Phillip,
We met briefly at a 2010 Commerce/NewMediaBC event you moderated and I just wanted to comment on this post. I am in agreement with you on all the points you raise. I think the Entertainment machine is so huge and powerful on a young persons’ psyche that it’s an uphill battle to really sensitize anyone to overt violence and sexuality in the media.
Just yesterday, a colleague sent me a YouTube video on Facebook of a young girl(no more than 8-10 years old) dancing so provocatively a la Britney Spears and she forwarded it to 89 people with the push of the button. I didn’t think it was so funny,really. The power of that forward button is getting out of hand.
You are right in thinking that open discussions would be useful. The youth nowadays are under so much pressure to be cool, creative, rich, successful, all before 20 …I think they get overwhelmed and they don’t have enough mentors to engage in conversation who can guide them in gaining confidence in their own values and creativity.
Even as a professional who works in the Entertainment field, there is at times a disconnect between what I work on and my own set of values.
I hope we reconnect at another event, or by email and continue this conversation. In the meantime, keep up the good work. Rosmary
May 6th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Thanks Rosemary. That is an interesting point about the “forward” button. Things can get spread so quickly that people might not consider the impact before it is too late.