Media Literacy Questions

1.       What is the difference between hearing and listening? [K 2]

You can hear a conversation without actually listening.

2.       What is the difference between seeing and viewing? [K 2]

The difference between seeing and viewing is seeing something so many times and memorizing the detail, and viewing it is thoughtfully looking more into what you’re viewing to understand the significance of it.

3.       Define “thinking critically”. [T 1]

The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.

4.       What does mass media include? [T 2]

Mass media includes the internet, television (news), newspaper, and social media.

5.       Define popular culture (pop culture). [K 1]

Pop culture is ideas, images, entertainments, and products that appeal to large groups. Pop culture often tends to influence the way people dress, talk, the electronics they own, and the food they eat.

6.       What does popular culture include? [K 2]

Pop culture includes all the products of human work, such as books, music, technology, and architecture.

. Think about what would be considered popular culture right now. Make a list of five (5) things (new fashions, hair styles, new slang expressions, new toys, new film, new TV shows, TV and film stars…) that you consider part of pop culture right now. [T 5]

·         Netflix

·         Wearing your hair in two buns

·         Flannels

·         Ipads

·         Nike shoes

1.       What is media literacy? [K 1]

Media literacy means you know how the media both reflect and influence our culture, and how to deconstruct media texts.

2.       What does deconstruct mean? [K 1]

Deconstruct means you break down something, like a text and break it down to its components to see what messages and assumptions it carries.

3.       The texts states that all media texts are constructions. What does this mean, to be constructed? [K 2]

To be constructed means that every element of the production has been carefully planned to create an intended effect.

4.       What is the difference between technical codes and symbolic codes? Provide examples of each. [K 2]

Technical codes relate to the way the media text is made, they include TV show close ups, pans, and high angle shots. Symbolic codes relate to the way images communicate meaning.

5.       Define connotation. [K 1]

Connotation is the association a word or image evokes.

6.       What connotations do you associate with the word house, versus the word home? [T 2]

When I hear someone saying they’re going home I assume that they’re much more comfortable with where they live and are happy to call it their home, and when I hear someone say they’re going to their house I assume they aren’t as comfortable with where they live and they may not be as happy.

7.       The text states that media texts usually have a commercial agenda. What does this mean? [K 1]

This means that the media is creating images the will appeal to the viewers and the image is usually used for commercial purposes and trying to sell something to the audience that appeals to the image.

8.       As a viewer, what message do you get when looking at the Buick LeSabre advertisement on page 193? [T 2]

The message I get when looking at the Buick LeSabre advertisement is that the sellers are telling the viewers that it’s a vehicle you can feel safe in, while being secure.

9.       Define target audience. [K 1]

Target audience is what companies/businesses tend to do when selling one of their products. They make the advertisements aim towards a specific group, age, and gender.

1.   How can you identify the target audience after viewing a commercial? Provide one example. [T 2]

I can identify the target audience after viewing a commercial by what the commercial is about. If the commercial is about Hot Wheels cars I’d assume the commercial is being aimed at younger children, mainly boys around the age of 4-10.

1.   The text states that media texts express values. Explain what this means. [T 2]

This means that when the media makes a post its expressing values, and those values mean something to the people that the media are making the post about.

1.   The text states that media texts contain representations. What is meant by the word “representation”? [T 1]

The word “representation” means that the media can change the way they represent something. They can have a perfectly fine picture of someone, but if the media is going to advertise it they have to make it their way of perfect, which means they alter the image and change it from natural, to the media’s way of natural.

1.   Define stereotype. [K 1]

Stereotype is the way people see others and without knowing them, they assume that they’re all the same.  

1.   Describe a stereotypical teenager. [T 2]

A lot of people think that every teenager is the same. Which usually means that everyone thinks every teenager is loud, does bad things, is rude to their parents, skips class, and disrespectful of their surroundings.