What is critical media literacy?
After understanding what media is and understanding how to think critically, it is now time to put these two important terms together. Once merged, it becomes critical media literacy. Critical media literacy is a pedagogical approach that promotes the use of multiple and diverse forms of media, while questioning the role and intent of the media, and the content of the message itself (Share 109).
why critical media literacy?
Jeff Share argues that children need to be taught critical media literacy, starting in kindergarten. For him, "the earlier, the better". Children have often been viewed as passive, and voiceless entities that are not capable of making thier own decisions. They are dependent upon adults and are therefore controlled and regulated by them (Share 110). But by teaching young children critical media literacy, it challenges this notion, demonstrating that children can in fact become active citizens who have a voice and use it to make decisions surrounding their lives (Share 109).
Critical media literacy also offers the potential for young children to engage with popular culture and various forms of media and ICT's that are meaningful and important to them. This experience gives children the ability to create and maintain their own messages and as Jeff Share argues, they can become productive participants empowered to confront any problems they have, transforming society (109). With a horizontal expansion (broadening and incorporating multiple forms of media) and a vertical deepening (understanding, asking questions, and finding solutions), Share argues that children can become more aware in the messages that the media producers
Critical media literacy also offers the potential for young children to engage with popular culture and various forms of media and ICT's that are meaningful and important to them. This experience gives children the ability to create and maintain their own messages and as Jeff Share argues, they can become productive participants empowered to confront any problems they have, transforming society (109). With a horizontal expansion (broadening and incorporating multiple forms of media) and a vertical deepening (understanding, asking questions, and finding solutions), Share argues that children can become more aware in the messages that the media producers