Reading and Discussion #8

What do you think about the concept of relocalization?

From what I have read, the concept of relocalization seems like a very logical one. I feel that this concept is giving every individual a responsibility to work together. With relocalization, you cannot just place the blame on the state or the country. Everyone has a role. As an individual, you can find ways to contribute to your community and make it a better place. All in all, creating a better community will in turn create a better state. I feel that relocalization is a bottom-up approach to building a better economy. If we work together in small communities to become positive in such a negative economy, then these outlooks may become widespread. 

Where do you stand on neoliberal policies for education reform?

I will be the first to admit that neoliberal policies seem like a foreign language to me. After some research though, I would not consider myself a fan at all. It seems as if these policies would just be an attack on our already depressing economy. Yes, there are people out there who should work instead of simply filing for welfare right off the bat. Yes, there are people who are just lazy. On the other hand, there are many families out there who do need assistance. If we supported neoliberalism 100% we would just be introducing new issues to this world. When looking at this term from a distance, an individual might see the word “free” and jump on the bandwagon. I agree with Subcomandante Marcos, that the whole world would just turn into one large mall! Total freedom may seem enticing at first, but I feel that the world would become a greater mess with these policies set in full force. 

How did using a public relations firm create tension between the goals of critical media literacy and having students create promotional videos?

The main goals of critical media literacy focus around dissecting media and truly understanding the message that is being displayed. The public relations firm flipped this whole process around. Now, the students were trained on the other side of the spectrum, the production side. Here, they were trained how to create powerful media, instead of how to interpret it. In one way, the student at the beginning of the chapter was right, the project did somewhat contradict what the class had been learning about all along. In the end though, students expanded their critical media knowledge by not only evaluating media, but also creating it. 

Do you agree with the researcher that Ellen's PV should be considered an example of critical media literacy? Why? Why not?

I completely agree with the researcher’s standpoint on Ellen’s PV. It could definitely be considered as an example of critical media literacy. “Ellen found a way to insert her interests and identities into the PV, but she did so with the intention of “selling” the school to other artistic youth like herself” (Avila & Pandya, 2013, p. 194). Critical media literacy allows individuals to use media knowledgeably and to identify the effects and uses of media. In Ellen’s promotional video, she did just that. She found a way to create media that attracted a specific target audience and “sold” the school. In my opinion, her promotional video is a great example of critical media literacy. 

Avila, J., & Pandya, J. (2013). Critical digital literacies as social praxis. (Vol. 54). New York: NY: Peter Lang Publishing Inc