Reading and Discussion #1

Consider the following excerpt:

In 1969 to be exact--educational philosopher Neil Postman delivered a speech at the National Convention for the Teachers of English frankly titled “Bullshit and the Art of Crap-Detection.” In his speech, Postman stressed the need for teachers to engage students in thinking critically about the bombardment of corporate advertisements and political plugs they faced on a daily basis, underlining the reality that virtually “all human communications have deeply embedded and profound hidden agendas,” particularly messages heavy with commercial and political ideology, which are “saturated with bullshit.” Postman told educators, “As I see it, the best things schools can do for kids is to help them learn how to distinguish useful talk from bullshit. I will ask only that you agree that every day in almost every way people are exposed to more bullshit than is healthy for them to endure, and that if we can help them to recognize this fact, they might turn away from it and toward language that might do them some earthly good.”

1. To what extent do you agree with Neil Postman?

I agree with Neil Postman fully, every day is that passes by is another day where you are surrounded by companies trying to get you to buy their product. Most of the time these ads that you are, as Neil said, “saturated with bullshit.” Teaching students to be able to see through their ploys and tactics to grasp the true meaning of the “bullshit” and make their own decisions.

2. Neil Postman delivered this speech in 1969. How do you think he might feel about "the art of crap-detection" now given recent advancements in digital technologies?

I think Neil would feel an even greater need for his “crap-detection.” The amount of ads has increased to the point where it is almost impossible to escape them. The Internet has become an almost central hub for ads, along with phone games that show them constantly.

3. Then watch this video and post your reaction to your blog. What did the video make you think about or feel? How does it support Neil Postman's concerns about "crap-detection". Then, tell us how this video effects your understanding of why it is important to teach CRITICAL media literacy and not just MEDIA literacy in-and-out of school. Support your response with three quotes from the reading.

This video made me think about how everything that we see is orchestrated for how the creators want you to see them and not how they are in reality.

This video supports Neil Postman’s concerns “crap-detection” by showing that things are not always the way they seem.

Critical media literacy would help students see what the real message behind any type of media. “Critical media literacy involves cultivating skills in analysing media codes and conventions, abilities to criticize stereotypes, dominant values, and ideologies, and competencies to interpret the multiple meanings and messages generated by media texts.” (Kellner, D., & Share, J.) Students are constantly being bombarded by the media in almost everything they encounter and have become very involved with social media which has had probably the largest impact on students on a daily basis.

Social media has become the prime source for most media and product placements. Teaching students to view this media critically can help them see through the bias and misconceptions that are they are faced with everyday. “Critical media literacy builds on (…) analysing media culture as products of social production and struggle and teaching students to be critical of media representations and discourses, but also stressing the importance of learning to use the media as modes of self-expression and social activism.” (Kellner, D., & Share, J.) This is what social media can become in instead of what is currently happening. Showing students how to take the social media and turn it into more of a way of self-expression and social activism.

It is already heading in that direction, but in the past has suffered from others scrutinising the work of others. “Critical media literacy not only teaches students to learn from media, to resist media manipulation, and to use media materials in constructive ways, but is also concerned with developing skills that will help create good citizens and that will make individuals more motivated and competent participants in social life.”(Kellner, D., & Share, J.) Which is what has been a big problem in the past with cyber bullying. Students need critical media literacy so that they can not only learn how to express themselves, but to teach them the morals and ethics of media.

Kellner, D., & Share, J. (2005). Toward Critical Media Literacy: Core concepts, debates, organizations, and policy. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 26(3), 369-386.
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