Writer's Choice Grade 11

Unit 30: Viewing and Representing

Overview

Mass media not only reflects our culture, it also helps create it. By developing media literacy—the ability to interpret, analyze, and evaluate media messages—you can exert some control over the way media messages shape your own life.

The genres of media include print, broadcast, film, and the Internet. In order to better understand media messages, it is helpful to deconstruct these messages. To deconstruct a message, analyze the following: source, purpose, target audience, main idea, design elements or film techniques, cultural elements, persuasive techniques, and any missing content or viewpoint.

With the exception of radio, all mass media send visual messages. To understand the design of a visual message, examine its composition, or the arrangement of visual elements. When creating still images such as photographs or illustrations, producers think about the following visual elements: shape, line, color, tone, texture, positioning, light, and space. When creating moving images, either film or video, the producer carefully considers camera angles, camera shots, lighting, movement, editing, special effects, and background music or other sounds.

You may want to create a video or Web page for yourself. By producing your own visual message, you will increase your understanding of media production and become more media literate. To make a video you will need to take on or assign some or all of the following roles: director, researcher, scriptwriter, storyboard designer, camera operator, actor, interviewer, and narrator. Once these roles have been assigned, begin by brainstorming about the video. For example, ask questions such as: “What is the purpose?” and “Who is the audience?” Use storyboards as an outline or blueprint for shooting your video. When you are shooting, remember to vary your shots and work with good lighting; always shoot with editing in mind. Carefully edit your footage, and ask for viewer feedback once you have presented your video.

You can incorporate video into a Web page as well as sound, text, photographs, and other graphics. Good Web sites are attractive, informative, and easy to use and navigate. To create a good Web site, begin with a clear purpose. Plan extensively. Remember to keep the design simple and consistent. Make sure the site downloads quickly or viewers might give up. Keep text short and easy to read. Finally, test your site and revise as needed.