Week 2 Reading Part 3

Are we, as educators teaching "messy" history? According to Cornelia Brunner and Bill Tally we are. in their book, The New Media Literacy Handbook: An Educator’s Guide to Bringing New Media Into the Classroom, Brunner and Tally theorize that education has transitioned from neat history to messy history. How true! The teachers I had taught from a textbook with a preset curriculum that moved in a straight line. There were few deviations and little student input, just output in the form of worksheets and questions answered. Today all of the media teachers and students are exposed to lends content, vision, and doubt to the facts presented. Messy is not bad or incorrect - it is just - messy!

I love messy. Jenkins in his book Convergence Culture leads his readers full circle from the creation of the "spoiling" fascination of Survivor to the "spoiling" fascination of the 2004 election. I am the most non-confrontational person I know. I hate getting into verbal debates or arguments. I would never make it as a debate teacher. One of the ways I avoid being put in those positions is to stay away from two areas of discussion - religion and politics. So what does Jenkins open his analysis to? Both! Harry Potter is one of my addictions. I get squeamish reading about it. Jenkins does a good job of using the criticisms as a misunderstanding of the media culture.

Ah politics...I guess should speak up and support my beliefs...but I'm as chicken as Colonel Sanders. I vote - and that's that. Jenkins discusses "spin," but does present a rather liberal view. Of course the liberal campaigns did embrace the new media and did an excellent job of involving young Americans. Teachers often comment about how natural technology comes to students and marketing specialists are not blind to that fact either. The lightening speed at which news can spread is also part of the messiness of history in 2009. As a journalism teacher I push my students to verify everything - this is so difficult when hitting "enter" is so much easier than researching.

Brunner, C. & Tally, B. (2006, June 23). New Media Literacy: An interview with Bill Tally and Cornelia Brunner. EDC: Improving Education and Health Worldwide. Retrieved from http://main.edc.org/newsroom/articles/new_media_literacy

Election 2004 image is taken from http://danfingerman.com/dtm/archives/cat_politics.html

Harry Potter image is taken from http://www.freeclipartnow.com/cartoons-comics/harry-potter/

Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence culture where old and new media collide. New York: New York University Press.