Popular Culture & Media Pedagogy Response -- Blog Post #7
The presence of social media and pop culture in the lives of children have influenced them over the decades in both good ways and bad. They play a large role in the African American community due to being relatable and often unify or divide today's youth. I agree that the media is far from neutral and that all sorts of media have their biases. What it means for students and how it impacts their learning varies though it's not a presence that's fading out anytime soon. It's important for students to be able to sort through news and social media in order to determine accurate conclusions. Literacy and critical reading and thinking are fundamental parts to a whole, tools that can be utilized by students to understand and interpret the messages and media that's always around them.
Still, social media and pop culture can still be used as a force of good. Students relate and identify with both on a daily basis and teachers can use them to engage their students in the classroom setting. Helping them improve their literacy and problem-solving skills by simply meeting them on the subject and giving them tools to aid in their success. Identifying and defining different concepts can be a struggle for students without these tools, especially those of different ethnic backgrounds and incomes.
I support the idea of using media in the classroom if it's done correctly. As long as it doesn't overtake the course and is used in moderation. For students to have experienced with mixed media as well as traditional teaching to help them further adapt and overcome future obstacles. Allowing students to take the initiative and nurturing their study habits and academic path allows them learn instead of acquire. Student generated research in particular is a concept that lets students determine their own conclusions on issues and analyses on topics that engage them. Thus allowing them to learn and understand instead of simply memorizing and acquiring.
I understand the idea of oppressed vs the oppressors in this article though I disagree that everyone considered part of the elite is an oppressor though they're often marked as such. Still, the influence of a selected force over a less fortunate one does play a huge role in social media and pop culture. They don't necessarily call all the shots, however. Connecting media to real life issues is also something I agree with. Oppression isn't something that can be fixed over night nor is it something only select groups are privy to. It can affect people of walks of life and change is always possible. Every generation there are new issues that are coupled with prejudice that further divide us as a people. In response, the general population come up with solutions in hopes changing these issues and further advance as a culture and as people. Teachers are able to do that on a smaller scale as they were once students themselves and can be the change they wish to see in the world.
Also, the addition of the Media Filter in the second set of students' research was also pertinent in my opinion. Just like in literature, media has it's own filter, a lens in which sheds light or bias in the world it portrays. For colored youths, it can be grim and limited due to feelings of inadequacies, lack of opportunities and lack of knowledge. It's true that in comparison to white culture, other cultures are not portrayed as much but work is being placed in changing that, to be more inclusive. Ultimately, I agree with Kozol's claim that being more inclusive will help future students as they come from every creed and color. Teaching is multicultural because our students are multicultural and our programs and methods of education need to reflect that.
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