In fact, this is something that Obama discusses openly in his book, Dreams of My Father. In that book, Obama discusses the fact that his stepfather is Muslim and how he believes his stepfather's religion helped shape the man that he is. However, that book, written before Obama came into the national spotlight and certainly before his presidential bid, does not say anything about Obama being Muslim. It is not that the book ignores some of Obama's negative qualities. On the contrary, in the book, Obama details teenage and young adult drug use, anger about racial inequality in America, his own religious ambivalence in his young adult life, and a childhood that defies American stereotypes. (Obama, 2004). One who reads the book would find it difficult to imagine that the introspective author would omit a detail as salient as ever being a practicing Muslim, especially since one of the…...
mlaReferences
Free Republic. (2008). Islam and Obama: criticism will not be tolerated. Retrieved October 13, 2008, from Free Republic
Web site: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2092875/posts
Hannity, S., and Colmes, a. (Producers). (2008, August 13). Candidate Revealed [Television broadcast]. New York: Fox News.
Obama, B. (2004). Dreams from my father: a story of race and inheritance. New York:
As an alternative to the protectionist approach, Kellner advocates a media literacy that demonstrates the potential of new media and technology to empower students. Media can be used as strong avenues of self-expression and social activism (7). We should use media as a tool, and cease viewing the media as the enemy to educated civilization, as a pedestrian form of social expression. Protectionists fail to recognize the positive power of all media by overemphasizing the relevance of print. On the other hand, Kellner notes that educators must "avoid an uncritical media populism," in which we pander to the lowest common denominator in popular culture (8). Kellner's message is on balance and critical thinking. What modern educators need is a blend between the glorification of pop culture imagery and censorship. When technology is adapted for the use of education, it can be an immensely powerful tool. For example, students who are…...
Undoubtedly, viewers who have seen his burly frame in Miller's Crossing (1990) and Goodfellas (1990) are naturally inclined toward the perception that his "Angelo Grotti" character in the ffice is a mobster and not an ordinary insurance salesman.
Had a less stereotypical portrayal of the character been used for the role, the central premise of the episode would have remained largely unaffected, except perhaps highlighting the silliness of any nefarious assumptions jumped to by Michael and his inept "backups" Dwight and Andrew. If anything, the fact that the Grotti character does seem to closely mirror so many of the mannerisms, behaviors, and speech patterns typically portrayed by the contemporary genre of mob images draws in the viewer. It reminds all of us who are viewers that we may be guilty of some of the same types of prejudices or assumptions parodied through their exaggeration by Michael.
The scene between Kevin and…...
mlaOne of the reasons that the episode is engaging is that it also touches so effectively on the dichotomous relationship that many Americans (especially males) sometimes have when it comes to criminally thuggish behavior. Specifically, Michael (who routinely incorporates the characteristics he finds admirable in others into his own purposeful outward behavior) immediately begins emulating Grotti's tough attitude and assertive persona.
After Grotti repeatedly instructs a waitress that if any aspect of his order is not followed "I send it back," Michael begins using the same phrase in every possible context, first bossing around the same waitress and later, his employees once back at work. Much like many other American males, Michael is simultaneously fearful of and admiring of the mafia "wise guy" persona as it is portrayed in popular American culture.
The last cultural message used as a mechanism to engage the viewer is the obvious reference to the Godfather by Andrew who warns Michael that, "Not only that, but if they find out that snitched, you get a dead horse's chopped-off head in your bed." That line is engaging both in its recall of a horrific scene in the 1972 mob epic as well as in the confused inaccuracy of the context and meaning of the bloody message sent in the form of the horse head in the Godfather. Likewise, Dwight returns from "checking out the bathroom" in the restaurant and specifically assures Michael that he checked the back of the toilet, another obvious reference to a scene in the Godfather where Michael Corleone retrieves a pistol previously hidden for his use behind a toilet tank in the bathroom of a Bronx Italian restaurant and uses it to murder a mob rival and his police captain body guard.
"
With regards to student multiple-skill development, Kellner proposes that computers should be at the center stage of learning. Students should be able to not only operate the computer but also use it to gather data from the Internet, communicate across classrooms and cultural boundaries. He argues that computers should be used dramatically to transform the circulation of knowledge, images, and other modalities of different cultures. Not only presence but also use of computers should be made mandatory in all secondary schools so that students can learn to think critically early on during their student life. He writes,
Students should learn new forms of computer literacy that involve both how to use computer culture to do research and gather information, as well as to perceive it as a cultural terrain which contains texts, spectacles, games, and interactive media. Moreover, computer culture is a discursive and political location in which they can intervene,…...
mlaReferences
Alvermann, D.E., Moon, J.S., & Hagood, M.C. (1999). Popular culture in the classroom: Teaching and researching critical media literacy. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
Aronowitz, S., & Giroux, H.A. (1991). Postmodern education. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Buckingham, D. (1993). Children talking television: The making of television literacy. London: Falmer.
Carnes, T. (1996). The news link: How my students build media literacy skills by comparing television news to newspapers. Cable in the classroom, pp. 10-11.
Media Literacy and the CAAP Test
Media literacy is one of the most pressing needs in the current anti-intellectual, "alternative facts" American universe. The proliferation of fake news is in part due to lack of media literacy, and the inability to discern credible sources of information from untrustworthy ones. One of the tools that can be used to assess the quality of a media outlet or article is the aptly named CAAP test. The CAAP test evaluates a source according to five criteria: currency, reliability, author authority, organizational authority, and purpose or point of view. Three websites that can be reviewed using the CAAP test include the Vaccine esistance Movement (http://vaccineresistancemovement.org/?page_id=9788), Pro-Con.org (http://www.procon.org/). The CAAP test clearly reveals that the Vaccine esistance Movement is indeed a crap website, whereas the websites of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Pro-Con.org website offer current, reliable, authoritative, and unbiased information in spite…...
mlaReferences
"About Us," (n.d.). Pro-Con.org.
American Civil Liberties Union Website: https://www.aclu.org/
Pro-Con. Website: http://www.procon.org/
Vaccine Resistance Movement Website: http://vaccineresistancemovement.org/?page_id=9788
Media as the Linguistic Discourse Analysis Object
esearch in Discourse Analysis - Linguistics
Discourse analysis' focus is noteworthy semiotic events. Discourse analysis aims to understand not only the nature of the semiotic event, but also the socio-psychological traits of the participants of the event. The proposed subject of research is media discourse analysis or media as the linguistic discourse analysis object. Media is highly relevant and almost fundamental to life in the 21st century. There is no doubt that there are social, perceptual, psychological, linguistic, and behavioral affects of technology and media upon users and communities. Objects of discourse analysis vary in their definition of articulated sequences of communication events, speech acts, etc. Media is nothing but a series of coordinated sequences of various communications events operating semiotically. Therefore, media discourse analysis is a worthwhile linguistic research endeavor. The hypothesis of the research contends that media discourse analysis, as part of media…...
mlaReferences:
Chen, L. (2004) Evaluation in Media Texts: A Cross-Cultural Linguistic Investigation. Language in Society, 33(5), 673 -- 702.
Chigana, A., & Chigana, W. (2008) Mxit It Up in the Media: Media Discourse Analysis on a Mobile Instant Messaging System. The South African Journal of Information and Communication, 9, 42 -- 57.
Constantinou, O. (2005) Multimodal Discourse Analysis: Media, modes and technologies. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 9(4), 602 -- 618.
Gamson, W.A., Croteau, D., Hoynes, W., & Sasson, T. (1992) Media Images and the Social Construction of Reality. Annual Review of Sociology, 18, 373 -- 393.
Arguably, the raw data at ikiLeaks is far more powerful than anything that can be found in traditional media or satire news. The audience here must also acquire the tools necessary to properly digest the information, as an audience accustomed to uncritical digestion of mainstream media will be challenged by the raw information presented devoid of spin and context.
orks Cited:
Feldman, L. (2007). The news about comedy. Journalism. Vol 8 (4) 406-427.
Ludlow, P. (2010). ikiLeaks and hacktivist culture. The Nation. Retrieved November 27, 2011 from http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/7669895/771113000/name/ikileaks.pdf
McCue, D. (2009). hen news breaks, "the Daily Show" fixes it: Exposing social values through satire. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Retrieved November 27, 2011 from http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl%3furl_ver=Z39.88-2004%26res_dat=xri:pqdiss%26rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation%26rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:1456354
Postman, N. & Power, S. (2008) How to watch TV news. Penguin Books.
Reilly, I. (2011). Satirical fake news and the politics of the fifth estate. University of Guelph. Retrieved November 27, 2011 from http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl%3furl_ver=Z39.88-2004%26res_dat=xri:pqdiss%26rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation%26rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NR71829...
mlaWorks Cited:
Feldman, L. (2007). The news about comedy. Journalism. Vol 8 (4) 406-427.
Ludlow, P. (2010). WikiLeaks and hacktivist culture. The Nation. Retrieved November 27, 2011 from http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/7669895/771113000/name/Wikileaks.pdf
McCue, D. (2009). When news breaks, "the Daily Show" fixes it: Exposing social values through satire. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Retrieved November 27, 2011 from http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl%3furl_ver=Z39.88-2004%26res_dat=xri:pqdiss%26rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation%26rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:1456354
Postman, N. & Power, S. (2008) How to watch TV news. Penguin Books.
A in millions)
Current in millions)
Provided by Federal ureau of Investigation as of September 18, 2006. www.whitehouse.gov/goodbye/3ae6b1ac94aa97e6650780f280890a7c81100e47.html"
CHART: National Correctional Populations
National Correctional Populations
The number of adults in correctional population has been increasing.
A in millions)
Current million in millions)
Provided by ureau of Justice Statistics as of November 30, 2006. (Social Statistics riefing Room, 2006)
More Statistics
Violence in the Media
Huston and colleagues have estimated that the average 18-year-old will have viewed 200,000 acts of violence on television (Huston, a.C., Donnerstein, E., Fairchild, H. et al. ig World, Small Screen: The Role of Television in American Society. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1992.)
41% percent of American households have three or more televisions (Nielsen Media Research, 2000).
56% of children ages 8-16 have a television in their rooms (Annenberg Public Policy Center, 2000. Media in the Home 2000)
Percentage of television-time children ages 2-7 spend watching alone and unsupervised: 81 (Kaiser Family Foundation, 1999. "Kids and Media @ the…...
mlaBibliography
Alter, Jonathan. "Moving Beyond the Blame Game. (Panel Discussion)," Newsweek, May 17, 1999.
Beyer, John. "PERSPECTIVE: How movie and TV violence hits children; Is there too much violence on television and is it time to curb it? John Beyer, director of the organization mediawatch-uk argues that media viol," Birmingham Post, March 21, 2007.
Chatfield, Joanne E.. "Influence of Media Violence on Children." American Family Physician, February 15, 2002.
Children's Hospital Boston. "Teen-Rated Video Games Loaded With Violence;
Gender stereotyping is a pernicious and pervasive practice. The media reinforces already existing gender norms, thereby perpetuating structural inequalities and gender inequity. However, the media can also be instrumental in transforming gender norms by combatting stereotypes and depicting gender in unconventional ways. Gender stereotypes can confirm unconscious biases and beliefs about the role and status of men and women. Likewise, the portrayals of gender in the media reinforce behavioral norms. Research shows that “constant exposure to the same dated concepts in the media” can lead to adverse effects that can “last a lifetime,” (Knorr, 2017, p. 1). Therefore, it is critical to become active, engaged consumers of media and to increase media literacy throughout the society. Gender portrayals in the media will differ according to media type, such as news media versus advertisements, or children’s programming versus programming for adults. Similarly, gender stereotypes vary from culture to culture. Although gender stereotypes…...
Also stated in their findings was that exposure in the laboratory of video games that were 'graphically violent...increased aggressive thoughts and behavior (2000:1) Also stated in this report is that other studies conducted by Anderson and Gentile give indication that videogames "have a strong effect on aggression..." particularly in children.
3. Coleman, Loren (2004) The Copycat Effect Paraview Publishing. Online available at http://www.paraview.com/coleman/index4.htm.
According to Coleman, the copycat effect has been a result of media coverage of events such as school shootings. Coleman brings to light how media affects culture within a society.
4. The Culture of Commercialism (2006) Media Awareness Network Online available at http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/educational/handouts/ethics/rr_culture_commercialism.cfm.
This work states that "advertising projects false images commercialism distorts our culture by turning every event into a reason to consume.... [and that]...advertising perpetuates stereotypes..."
5. Digital Beginnings: Young Children's Use of Popular Culture, Media and New Technologies Popular Culture and Media Literacy: Research Reports, Reviews Etc. National…...
Media
The age of typography began with the Enlightenment and flourished in the New World, and coincided with significant social, political, and economic changes. As Postman (2005) points out in Amusing Ourselves to Death, Protestants with a predilection toward intellectualism made books and reading integral to American life. "The influence of the printed word in every arena of public discourse was insistent and powerful not merely because of the quantity of printed matter but because of its monopoly," (Postman, 2005, p. 41). In other words, print had a monopoly on information, communication, and the exchange of ideas. Print became endowed with a level of political and social significance that it does not have in the digital age, as there are now multiple modes of information exchange. When printed matter was all there was, the very ideals of democracy depended on it.
During the typographic age, content was meaningful as well as rational.…...
mlaReferences
Dewey, C. (2014). What makes some internet memes immortal. The Washington Post. 10 Nov, 2014. Retrieved online: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/11/10/what-makes-some-internet-memes-immortal/
Postman, N. (2005). Amusing Ourselves to Death. New York: Penguin.
Sternberg, J. (2013). Technology today: What would Neil Postman think? Retrieved online: http://www.spinedu.com/technology-today-neil-postman-think/#.VGGC9_Q49oA
New media can seem threatening at first, as it signals deep and meaningful changes in the ways information is created and shared in the society. In "Mind Over Mass Media," Steven Pinker (2010) argues that new technologies are typically perceived as threatening until they become commonplace. Early hysteria and fear about new media soon subsides, as the actual effects of the new media are not as adverse as was initially believed. Even the printing press was considered evil in its day, according to Pinker (2010). New media has improved scientific research and has made vast amounts of quality information available more quickly to more people. One of the reasons why new media is not threatening is that the brain tends to keep information fragmented. Learning how to condense one's thoughts into a PowerPoint presentation does not imply that the same person will consistently condense his or her thoughts in other,…...
..now requires understanding and manipulating the processes used to create messages in the modern world" (Adams & Hamm, 2000, p. 22) in fact the student is expected to be able to decode the information from various types of media. However the equally important point is also made that this expanding definition of what literacy comprises does not "...diminish the importance of traditional reading and writing skills; rather, it recognizes the increasing importance of information and communication technology" (Adams & Hamm, 2000, p. 22).
This is an important caveat to the enthusiastic embrace of modern technology and visual aspects of modern teaching. In other words, while visual literacy has become more important and while this aspect is closely linked to the use of modern technological tools such as computer, yet the basics of teaching and education should not be forgotten. Of equal importance however is the view that; "Today's students live in…...
mlaReferences www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002377227
Adams, D., & Hamm, M. (2000, Winter). Literacy, Learning and Media. Technos: Quarterly for Education and Technology, 9, 22. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002377227
Bleed R. (2005) Visual Literacy in Higher Education. Retrieved August 6, 2007, at www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5010939928http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI4001.pdf
Brumberger, E.R. (2005). Visual Rhetoric in the Curriculum: Pedagogy for a Multimodal Workplace. Business Communication Quarterly, 68(3), 318+. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from Questia database: www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5005970729http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5010939928
Bustle, L.S. (2004). The Role of Visual Representation in the Assessment of Learning. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 47(5), 416+. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from Questia database: www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5011600259http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5005970729
Additional research showed that those who were frequently exposed to these movies were also inclined to develop risk-taking behavior (Greene and Kromar).
Vulnerable young women who had long-term exposure to sexually objectifying media could suffer from decreased self-esteem, according to another study (Aubrey 2006). A group of 149 female undergraduates in a big mid-Western university was surveyed for their responses after having been exposed to such media. The study revealed that the exposure could dent their global self-esteem if they already possessed the vulnerability to these media materials. An example is Seventeen Magazine, which is an example of a sexually objectifying medium (Aubrey).
The media are an effective instrument of war (Payne 2005). Recent conflicts clearly demonstrate that the transmission of information plays a significant part in warfare. Winning a war is considered as decisive as actually beating the enemy at the battlefield. Winning the medial war is, therefore, a main…...
mlaBibliography
Aubrey, J. S, (2006). Exposure to Sexually Objectifying Media and Body Self-Perceptions Among College Women.16 pages. Sex Roles: a Journal of Research: Springer
Greene, K.and Kromar, M. (2005). Predicting Exposure to, and Liking of, Media Violence. 17 pages. Communication Studies: Central States Speech Association
Holts, S. (2005). Establishing Connections. 2 pages. Communication World: International Association of Business Communicators
Kariithi, N. (2007). Connecting the Continent. 4 pages. Communication World: International Association of Business Communicators
Literacy is more than knowing how to read and write in a given language. At the level of college education, literacy pertains to mastering the means of communication for different subjects. Literacy therefore may entail understanding specific jargon of a chosen field, but it may also mean being literate in the modes of inquiry, paradigms, assumptions, and methodologies of specific subjects. Each college major will have different literacy needs and requirements for a successful college term and for graduation. It is crucial that college students master the literacy skills that relate to their chosen major, if they hope to graduate and succeed in their future career.
One type of literacy that pertains to almost all college majors is information literacy. According to the Association of College and esearch Libraries (ACL, 2014), information literacy is defined as "the set of skills needed to find, retrieve, analyze, and use information," (p. 1).…...
mlaReferences
Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL, 2014). Introduction to information literacy. Retrieved online: http://www.ala.org/acrl/issues/infolit/overview/intro
"The Many Forms of Literacy," (n.d.). National Writing Project. Retrieved online:
Topic 1: The Evolving Definition of Literacy in a Digital Age
In the 21st century, the concept of literacy has undergone a significant transformation due to the advent of digital technologies. Explore how the definition of literacy has expanded in the digital age to encompass digital literacy, information literacy, and transmedia literacy. Discuss the implications of this evolving definition for education and society as a whole.
Topic 2: The Literacy Divide: Access, Opportunity, and Equity
Examine the persistent literacy gap and its impact on individuals and communities, particularly in marginalized and underserved areas. Analyze the factors that contribute to the literacy divide, such....
Stereotypes and Societal Impacts
1. The Perpetuation of Stereotypes in the Media: Exploring the Influence of Film, Television, and News on Public Perception
2. Stereotyping in Education: How Biased Curricula and Teacher Expectations Can Shape Student Identity and Achievement
3. The Impact of Stereotypes on Employment: Examining the Barriers and Opportunities for Minorities in the Job Market
4. Stereotypes and Health Disparities: Exploring the Role of Cultural Assumptions in Access to Healthcare and Medical Treatment
5. The Intersectionality of Stereotypes: Examining the Overlapping Impacts of Race, Gender, and Class on Individuals and Groups
The Formation and Consequences of Stereotypes
6. The Cognitive Roots of Stereotyping: Exploring the....
Informative Titles:
The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Development: A Comprehensive Examination
Social Media and Teenagers: Exploring the Complex Relationships
Social Media and Teen Mental Health: Unveiling the Psychological Impacts
Cyberbullying and Social Media: A Growing Threat to Teenagers
Digital Natives and Social Media: Shaping Teen Identity and Relationships
Analytical Titles:
The Pros and Cons of Social Media for Teenagers: A Critical Evaluation
Social Media and Teenage Vulnerability: Exploring the Risks and Protective Factors
The Role of Parents and Educators in Navigating Social Media for Teenagers
Social Media Regulation and Teenage Protection: Balancing Freedom and Safety
The Future of Social....
1. The Impact of Social Media on Pop Culture Consumption
Analyze the role of social media in shaping cultural trends, influencer marketing, and fan communities.
Explore the influence of algorithms and personalized content on the consumption of pop culture media.
Discuss the ethical implications of social media surveillance and data collection in relation to pop culture.
2. The Evolution of Fandom in the Digital Age
Trace the historical development of fan communities from traditional fan clubs to online spaces and social media groups.
Examine the impact of technology on fan engagement, participation, and creativity.
Analyze the role of fan fiction, cosplay,....
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