The Internet is full of resources for teaching media (The Center for Teaching Media Literacy being one). It is in fact odd to search for ways to teach media using the very media you would presumably teach students how to navigate. The process is one that requires you to recheck what you know about the Internet and secondary sources and makes you question whether you are reading an "authority" or some two bit hack from Scranton, OH.
I just finished watching yesterday's episode of The Daily Show while consuming an unnecessary amount of chicken quesadillas (we'll see if I can make it through this) - and I was intrigued by the segment correspondent Jason Jones is currently doing in Iran. He is there currently during their election upheaval - and is trying to create some comedy amidst the unrest. He did a version of Jay Leno's popular skit, "Jaywalking," only his is aptly titled "Jihad Walking." What follows in the skit is a display of at once America's profound ignorance towards world events and the "rest of the planet's" seemingly in-step with the comings and goings of the USA.
What I think is happening here has (a whole lot of) something to do with our media. The current headline of popular site Yahoo! is: "Depp leaves $4000.00 tip," over at CNN you can find up to the second information on "Jon & Kate" or South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's crazy affair. These sites mirror the hundreds or thousands of other sites bringing the USA its "news." The attention to scandal and celebrity non-stories is not an anomaly of this Wednesday night in June - rather it is an ongoing occurrence that has been permeating our news media for decades.
On some Iranian sites I looked at (like INN) there is much more of a focus on actual news and the issues facing the everyday lives of Iranians. Sure, they are in an upheaval - so there is no question as to why their news would focus on that. My question is: why are we not in an upheaval? (Possible) Answer: our media soaked minds have been made mushy.
Assignment One: Does Anybody Care?
Rationale: Recent statistics show American ignorance at an all-time high (I made that up, but I am sure I could find sources to prove it). The purpose of this lesson is to continue the ongoing critical discussion of the media as well as zoom in on some specifics about what we consume, why we consume it and what it does to our collective intelligence regarding real issues facing any nation besides the United States.
Part One: Pick three news websites that are actually supposed to cover the news (CNN, New York Times, Star Tribune, etc.) and every time you go onto the Internet this week, keep an Internet journal and write down the main headline of each of your three sites.
Part Two: Write one page about everything you know about Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq. Watch any film or documentary (Persepolis, The Hurt Locker, etc.) about one of these three countries and then write another page about what you know about either Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Part Three: Find an Iranian, Afghan or Iraqi native either online or in person and speak with them about their home country and ask them the following questions: What is [your country] like? What is it like growing up there? What do you love about it? What do you dislike about it? What is the view of Americans? How do you think Americans view your country and why? Be SUPER respectful and gracious and thank them for talking with you. ***This part of the assignment may seem unrealistic or perhaps uncouth, but what the hell, it sounds cool to me***
Part Four: Ask your parents what they think about Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan and why. Write down their answers. Ask them where they learned about these three countries and what their experiences with these three countries and their citizens has been.
Part Five: Time to think metacognitively: you are going to look over these four things you did and you are going to ask yourself this: what factors are at play when it comes to my understanding of other regions of the world? With so much of our government's time and energy going into Iran, Iraq and Afghanastan - consider and write answers to the following questions: Where/how did I develop my knowledge or beliefs about Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan? What does the media tell me about these three nations? Why is it (or is it not) important to have a good understanding of these nations? Why should I care? Does the media care? Why or why not?
Part Six: Come up a cool set of visual aids either on a poster or power point presentation and develop a 7 to 10 minute presentation on either Iran, Iraq or Afghanastan. Go through what you learned about the nation in the process of these six assignments and how your thinking has either strengthened in one direction or changed altogether. Make sure to incorporate elements from all five of your previous assignment parts.
Part One: Pick three news websites that are actually supposed to cover the news (CNN, New York Times, Star Tribune, etc.) and every time you go onto the Internet this week, keep an Internet journal and write down the main headline of each of your three sites.
Part Two: Write one page about everything you know about Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq. Watch any film or documentary (Persepolis, The Hurt Locker, etc.) about one of these three countries and then write another page about what you know about either Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Part Three: Find an Iranian, Afghan or Iraqi native either online or in person and speak with them about their home country and ask them the following questions: What is [your country] like? What is it like growing up there? What do you love about it? What do you dislike about it? What is the view of Americans? How do you think Americans view your country and why? Be SUPER respectful and gracious and thank them for talking with you. ***This part of the assignment may seem unrealistic or perhaps uncouth, but what the hell, it sounds cool to me***
Part Four: Ask your parents what they think about Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan and why. Write down their answers. Ask them where they learned about these three countries and what their experiences with these three countries and their citizens has been.
Part Five: Time to think metacognitively: you are going to look over these four things you did and you are going to ask yourself this: what factors are at play when it comes to my understanding of other regions of the world? With so much of our government's time and energy going into Iran, Iraq and Afghanastan - consider and write answers to the following questions: Where/how did I develop my knowledge or beliefs about Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan? What does the media tell me about these three nations? Why is it (or is it not) important to have a good understanding of these nations? Why should I care? Does the media care? Why or why not?
Part Six: Come up a cool set of visual aids either on a poster or power point presentation and develop a 7 to 10 minute presentation on either Iran, Iraq or Afghanastan. Go through what you learned about the nation in the process of these six assignments and how your thinking has either strengthened in one direction or changed altogether. Make sure to incorporate elements from all five of your previous assignment parts.
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