Module 2 Readings
After completing the readings for Module 1, I was given a strong background of media literacy. When going through Module 2, I was given a deeper look into media literacy and the vast amounts of hidden messages throughout media. Being made aware of the connotations within media, I find it even more important for everyone, especially youth to be media literate. “Visibility is often times controlled by those in power, meaning that media makers with power can hide the truth to those with little or no power” (Tollefson, 2008). I feel this quote, given by Professor Tollefson, is fitting because it brings attention to the fact that media is made with underlying intentions for those viewing it. Which, again brings me back to the importance of media literacy for both youth and the rest of society.
Being enlightened on how media can manipulate an image or provide a deeper meaning behind an image with simply the graphic design of the image, ad, commercial, etc., was disturbingly surprising. I found this to be disturbing because it was not something I was previously aware of, nor looked for within media; but, due to my new found knowledge of the connotations within media, I am now constantly on the lookout for possible hidden meanings throughout media. When completing activity 12, I noticed when flipping through several channels there was significantly more men than women, and when there was a woman she was most of the time a lesser counterpart to the male. This reminded me of the Smurfette Principle, where a story contains a predominately male cast with only one female character (Sarkeesian, 2011). Furthermore, the Bechdel Test has been created to measure a female character’s importance and involvement throughout movies. To not be considered a movie containing the Smurfette Principle, a movie must contain two or more female characters with names, whom interact with one another, and if they communicate about something other than the male characters (Sarkeesian, 2009). Overall, I made the unnerving discovery of the immense amounts of inequality throughout media today. Americans spend several hours a day watching television (Gross, 2001). Which, gives those within media the power to possibly manipulate the abundance of people whom are watching television. Specifically, media can persuade consumers to purchase products, in turn making those whom have power within media more money. Due to children being so easily persuaded, Anup Shah states in his article, Children as Consumers, that children basically male the food market big money (2010). Thus, displaying the way that media is used to manipulate those who are exposed to it.
Ultimately, Module 2 opened my eyes to the disturbing truth behind media and the hidden messages it can display through its images. Because it is so easy to manipulate media, it is crucial for children and all of society to be media literate. Not only is it important for everyone to become media literate, but it is crucial to educated children on media literacy. I find this to be crucial because as they grow and develop, children should be aware of the possible lies and/or manipulations displayed throughout media. Thus, the importance of media literacy.
