Ralph E. Hanson, Second Edition
HomeWeblogChaptersCh. 1: Living in a Media WorldCh. 2: The Media Business: Consolidation, Globalization, and the Long TailCh. 3: Mass Communication Effects: How Society and Media InteractCh. 4: Books: The Birth of the Mass MediaCh. 5: Magazines: The Power of Words and ImagesCh. 6: Newspapers: Reflection of a Democratic SocietyCh. 7: Sound: Music and Talk Across MediaCh. 8: Movies: Mass-Producing EntertainmentCh. 9: Television: Broadcast, Cable and BeyondCh. 10: The Internet: Mass Communication Gets PersonalCh. 11: Advertising: Selling a MessageCh. 12: Public Relations: Manufacturing the NewsCh. 13: Media Law: Free Speech and FairnessCh. 14: Media Ethics: Truthfulness, Fairness, and Standards of DecencyCh. 15: Global Media: Communication Around the WorldAbout the BookAbout the AuthorHelp
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Chapter 1: Living in a Media World

Exercises

1. In Chapter 1, we discussed in detail how interactivity is a vital component of modern communication systems. With that said, take a look back at your media usage over the last three days. How have you as a media consumer participated in the mass media you use in your everyday life? Do you find that you only play the role of the receiver, or do you also engage as an active sender of messages? Were you involved in any method of interactivity through your media usage?


2. The aesthetic dimension of media literacy involves interpreting media content from an artistic or critical point of view. Describe in detail an instance when you found a significant problem within a media message in regards to the aesthetic dimension. As an example, movies are notorious for having inconsistencies in the final cuts that makes it to the box office.

3. On February 7, 2007, New York state senator Carl Kruger announced he plans to introduce legislation that would make it illegal for pedestrians to use music devices such as iPods or cell phones while crossing the street. This initiative came after several pedestrians were struck and killed by motorists while crossing the street. Witnesses claimed that the victims were distracted by their portable gadgets at the time of the accidents.

•  Consider the Source: Consider the source of this proposal. What purpose might this proposal play for Senator Kruger? On whose behalf is he working? What outside forces might the senator be reacting to?

•  Analyze & Reflect: Will government intervention deter people from listening to their iPods or talking on their cell phones as they walk down the city streets? Do you know of other similar restrictions that have been proposed or enacted into law? Do they work? Can legislators regulate behavior?

•  Examine: Which of the Seven Truths might this demonstrate? Or is this a serious “national” problem?

•  Conclude: If you currently listen to music or talk on your cell phone during your daily walks to class or work, are you putting yourself at risk? Have you ever been in a situation where another person put you at risk by using one of these devices while he or she was walking?