wHY DOES THIS TOPIC INTEREST ME?
As a Children Studies major at York University, I had to read Jeff Share's article surrounding the pedagogy of critical media literacy. I instantly connected with this text, because I am able to relate. Media has heavily influenced my own life. I went from watching shows like Barney, to visiting Disney World almost every year with my family. Needless to say, once my family bought our first computer, I was hooked. I downloaded games from the internet, and bought CD roms like "Barbie and Me". At the time, I did not look at all these things as media. I simply saw it as fun games I had enjoyed as a child. I never once was exposed to any implications or the messages that Disney World has. Nor have I ever reflected upon the meanings of Barbie. To be honest, I had never really been explained what critical thinking even was until entering University. How sad! Unfortunately, this is the life many children are living. Adults try to prevent children from thinking critically because they want children to be able to maintain their innocence for as long as possible.
Upon entering York University, I discovered a wide range of terms that I had never been exposed to before. For example. I did not learn about the UNCRC until I was 18. Too bad I was not considered to be a child any more. I was shocked that for 18 years of my life I had never heard of this document. Where was my voice, say, and matter in all of this. Were my rights exploited? According to Article 42, I have the right to know these rights, and adults have the responsibility to inform me of them as well (UNICEF 2013). Why then was it not until my first year at university that I became aware that the UNCRC existed? This sparked my attention, and it was from that point that I wanted to ensure all children in my own life became aware of these rights.
Backtracking to when I first entered high school, the "coolest" thing you could do was join Facebook. Of course, I did. Little did I know that they used a key strategy that Pariser defines as personalization (8). At the time, I do not even think I would have cared had someone told me about this. But realizing how undemocratic, and to be honest, quite creepy this is, I regret joining. Pariser says that through personalization, Facebook is able to create a theory of who we are (9). With the internet and media having such a profound influence on my own life, I wanted to share this information with anyone willing to look at this website.
As an aspiring teacher, I will most definitely encourage critical media literacy. I feel it is a necessary component to educating our future citizens, and agree with Share: that the earlier we teach this, the better. This is how the media, critical thinking, and critical media literacy has influenced my own life, and in doing so, wanting me to educate everyone else.
Upon entering York University, I discovered a wide range of terms that I had never been exposed to before. For example. I did not learn about the UNCRC until I was 18. Too bad I was not considered to be a child any more. I was shocked that for 18 years of my life I had never heard of this document. Where was my voice, say, and matter in all of this. Were my rights exploited? According to Article 42, I have the right to know these rights, and adults have the responsibility to inform me of them as well (UNICEF 2013). Why then was it not until my first year at university that I became aware that the UNCRC existed? This sparked my attention, and it was from that point that I wanted to ensure all children in my own life became aware of these rights.
Backtracking to when I first entered high school, the "coolest" thing you could do was join Facebook. Of course, I did. Little did I know that they used a key strategy that Pariser defines as personalization (8). At the time, I do not even think I would have cared had someone told me about this. But realizing how undemocratic, and to be honest, quite creepy this is, I regret joining. Pariser says that through personalization, Facebook is able to create a theory of who we are (9). With the internet and media having such a profound influence on my own life, I wanted to share this information with anyone willing to look at this website.
As an aspiring teacher, I will most definitely encourage critical media literacy. I feel it is a necessary component to educating our future citizens, and agree with Share: that the earlier we teach this, the better. This is how the media, critical thinking, and critical media literacy has influenced my own life, and in doing so, wanting me to educate everyone else.