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Amy Patterson

Media Education: Fostering Enjoyment in Critical Engagement

• profile

grade: 9
subject: English
number of lessons: 14
duration of lessons: 80 minutes

• unit rationale

The goal of the unit is to help students learn to enjoy critically engaging with the media. The focus of the unit is on critical thinking and pleasure. The former involves examining and critiquing stereotypes in the media. Grappling with stereotypes requires asking how and why the media promotes and challenges which stereotypes. This unit queries stereotypes concerned with gender, “race” or ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and global/“3rd world” issues. The objective of questioning stereotypes is to promoted social justice. In an attempt to ensure relevancy and enjoyment, the substantive content of the unit is based on short and informal media surveys, which students completed prior to the planning of the unit. The unit also incorporates the development of writing, reading, presenting (oral and visual), and viewing skills. The unit positions students as cultural critics and media makers.

• unit overview

#1 introduction
#2 gender in advertising
#3 racism and representation
#4 heterosexism and homophobia
#5 magazine ads and class
#6 culture jamming
#7 bias in news
#8 global and “third world” issues
#9 reality TV
#10 cartoons
#11 corporations in schools
#12 violence and video games
#13 music and music videos
#14 conclusion