What is media?
Before we can really understand what critical media literacy is, we must first ensure that we understand what media is. Media comes to us in multiple forms, and always conveys a particular message. The most common misconception is that media is simply what is produced. However, there is much more to this: it is an entire process (Gennaro). Media occurs in multiple forms, which travels on a path. We can therefore define media using a three prong approach (Gennaro).
A: On the above image, A stands for production, which is where the message is produced (Gennaro). It is here where different forms of media take place in order to create that specific message. We need to look at what is happening in the making of media messages. Whoever is creating the message often has a political or economical agenda,which serves to meet their own needs (Gennaro). In order to deconstruct this message, we must use the political economy approach (Gennaro).
B: It is on this other end of the arrow in which the message is received. This is when another person consumes the message (Gennaro). But, everybody consumes the message differently, depending on their upbringing. We are active people with individual thought, and this is where agency comes into play. Therefore, by thinking critically, we can decode this message any way we want. It is in this way that media becomes a communication process. To study this, we can use audience reception as a way to understand how people make meaning of the message (Gennaro). This gets reported back to the producers of the media (A).
C: From where media is produced (A) to where it is received (B), it is along this path that the message is transferred. It is here where we can use textual analysis to decode the meaning of the message (Gennaro). This message created by the media not only influences adults, but influences children as well. Since media now plays such an influential role in their lives, it is important that we understanding these messages and teach children to think critically in order to decode them.
A: On the above image, A stands for production, which is where the message is produced (Gennaro). It is here where different forms of media take place in order to create that specific message. We need to look at what is happening in the making of media messages. Whoever is creating the message often has a political or economical agenda,which serves to meet their own needs (Gennaro). In order to deconstruct this message, we must use the political economy approach (Gennaro).
B: It is on this other end of the arrow in which the message is received. This is when another person consumes the message (Gennaro). But, everybody consumes the message differently, depending on their upbringing. We are active people with individual thought, and this is where agency comes into play. Therefore, by thinking critically, we can decode this message any way we want. It is in this way that media becomes a communication process. To study this, we can use audience reception as a way to understand how people make meaning of the message (Gennaro). This gets reported back to the producers of the media (A).
C: From where media is produced (A) to where it is received (B), it is along this path that the message is transferred. It is here where we can use textual analysis to decode the meaning of the message (Gennaro). This message created by the media not only influences adults, but influences children as well. Since media now plays such an influential role in their lives, it is important that we understanding these messages and teach children to think critically in order to decode them.