Media Literacy Activity: The Evolving Meaning of Television

Introduction

Activity Objective

In this activity, you will apply the critical process to explore the evolving meaning of television in the 21st century.

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Reviewing the Critical Process

Developing a media-literate critical perspective involves mastering five overlapping stages that build on one another. Let’s review the critical process you’ll be using below:

  1. 1. Description: paying close attention, taking notes, and researching the subject under study
  2. 2. Analysis: discovering and focusing on significant patterns that emerge from the description stage
  3. 3. Interpretation: asking and answering “What does that mean?” and “So what?” questions about one’s findings
  4. 4. Evaluation: arriving at a judgment about whether something is good, bad, or mediocre, which involves subordinating one’s personal taste to the critical “bigger picture” resulting from the first three stages
  5. 5. Engagement: taking some action that connects our critical perspective with our role as citizens to question our media institutions, adding our own voice to the process of shaping the cultural environment

Description

Use the following prompts to gather information about the different types of television:

  1. List ways that television programming and technologies (both delivery and access to content) have changed over time.
  2. List ways that your television viewing has changed over time.
  3. Identify as many types of television as you can. Include any video/screen programming that anyone might possibly lump into the category of television.

Use the text box provided to answer the following question.

Analysis

Using the list you have created, find patterns in screen and video content, devices, delivery, payment models, etc.

Use the text boxes provided to answer the following questions.

Interpretation

Through the following questions, interpret the meaning of the patterns you found.

Use the text boxes provided to answer the following questions.

Evaluation

Next, we’ll identify what your view is as you assess whether changes in television are good or bad.

Use the text boxes provided to answer the following questions.

Engagement

Let’s take action! Read the industry trade sources to learn about the latest developments in the evolution of television. Here are a few suggestions:

Use the text box provided to answer the following question.