Religious Education Reviewer
MEDIA LITERACY
Media Literacy – responsibility to be mindful of media because, like any form of communication,
media tends to promote certain values, some that support the Christian life of discipleship and
others that do not.
Mass Media – the heart of our culture, the primary means by which people communicate and
interpret what matters.
Media Literacy Education – become more common in the United States in the last few decades.
Media Mindfulness – adds Gospel values to the media literacy approach, discerning God’s
presence in media and discovering what this reflection process means for us as disciples.
Media (plural) – each of its forms is a Medium (singular)
English-speaking countries, the mass outlets for information and news are usually referred to
collectively as “the media.”
The term media can be thus misleading.
In reality it embraces all technological forms of communication that “mediate” a message.
There are many genres within each medium as well.
Media mindfulness can be employed to focus on any medium and its production.
To build the foundation for a good understanding of media mindfulness, we begin with
communication, the process by which values are shared.
Communication – creates relationships between people.
Through these relationships, we share our values with one another.
The verb to communicate comes from the Latin communicare, meaning “to participate, share,
or hold in common.”
SENDER – MESSAGE – LISTENER
How will you know that – that value is true to you (TRUE VALUE)?
Chosen Freely – from all other alternatives.
Public Affirmation
Prized/Cherish
SEVERAL FORMS OF COMMUNICATION:
1. Intrapersonal Communication – “inner speech”
2. Interpersonal Communication – characterized by a mutual exchange of information between
two people.
3. Group Communication – usually involves people gathered for a specific purpose with specific
goals in mind – perhaps to make a decision, carry out a task, resolve a situation, study a topic,
celebrate, or pray.
4. Organizational Communication – is an absolute necessity for an association such as a business,
government, nonprofit organization, or parish to resolve conflicts and thrive.
Information must flow continually from the top down, the bottom up, and across all
departments or sections as well.
5. Media, or Cultural and Social Communication – differ from the other forms. Note that the four
forms above imply a back-and-forth dialogue.
Media are delivery systems, and they generally deliver their content one-way
A single source, such as a television station or network, transmits to millions of sets at
one time.
The audience can receive the programming, but individuals cannot respond on an equal
footing. Mass media, mediate through technology are often called “mass
communications.”
6. Extrapersonal Communication – it includes machines operated by individuals and groups.
Examples include emails, instant messages and etc. It has the potential to empower every
person and give everyone a voice.
7. Values Inform Communication – our values are implicitly present because we communicate
about what is important to us.
Values – overarching ideals and ideas that guide our lives.
We grow up immersed in our national culture and also, perhaps, in a more regional subculture.
We soak in the values, attitudes, and beliefs of those around us and of the people we encounter
through media. No matter how much a Mexican couple in the United States might want to raise
their child as a Mexican, it just cannot happen. Such children will be influenced by both their
Mexican parents and the American culture in which they live. Without other external influences
such as faith, this local environmental culture can become a person's entire worldview, greatly
influencing one's thoughts and actions.
Popular Culture – Every country has many subcultures. For example, U.S. military families have a
unique culture, because they move frequently around the country and the world through their
service. A larger subculture is the popular culture-the shared, everyday experiences of ordinary
people.
Though we cannot avoid the influence of this "pop culture," we can increase our awareness of
its pervasive messages.
Awareness – enables us to identify which aspects of popular culture support Gospel values, and
which do not, which helps us to escape the lure of the negative aspects. As Christians our
Baptisms call us not only to avoid but also to challenge values that do not promote human
dignity.
Media Literacy Education – teaching and learning about media, values, and the critical skills
necessary for living in the twenty-first century.
The media literate person – is aware of the boundaries between reality and the constructed
reality of the media and knows how to navigate them in meaningful ways.
Media literacy education has taken shape primarily in the last forty to fifty years.
In 1964, John Culkin, SJ (1928-1993), wrote a curriculum on film study for his doctorate from
Harvard; today he is known as the founder of the media literacy field in the United States.
The Media Action Resource Center, formed by representatives from the national offices of
Protestant denominations – developed the first comprehensive course about television in the
United States in the late 1970s. This course, Television Awareness Training (TAT), has greatly
influenced the media literacy movement.
The Center for Media Literacy (CML) was founded in 1977 with the publication of Media &
Values magazine. Beginning in about 1990, the media literacy education movement in the
United States began to grow. Several international conferences were held in Canada and the
United States during the next decade.
In 2001, the Alliance for a Media Literate America was founded, which includes an affinity group
for faith communities. People have become increasingly aware that they need skills to
intentionally navigate the culture. Now all fifty states have standards that include media literacy
topics, either as part of a standard subject such as English or social studies or as a stand-alone
curriculum unit.
Two Lenses. We can use two lenses to look at the media culture-the lens of faith and the lens of
mindfulness.
1. The belief that all of creation can reveal God to us is the first lens.
Priest and geologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ, illustrates this Catholic teaching
when he says, "By virtue of the Creation and still more, of the Incarnation, nothing here
below is profane for those who know how to see" (The Divine Milieu, 66). This
perspective encourages believers to see the world as a place full of wonder and awe,
and the media as a potential locus for discovering the presence of God in all manner of
unlikely places. Using our eyes of faith on a daily basis keeps us rooted in the values of
the Gospel, so that we may live the spiritual values of Jesus in everyday life and therein
find meaning.
2. Mindfulness is the second lens, offering a reflective life strategy that questions and
discerns. This lens allows us to study each medium in the context of its own structure
and language. Using both of these lenses, believers can deepen their faith life in a
mediated world in ways that are both faithful and relevant to twenty-first-century living.
The Church and Media – The Church teaches that media are gifts of God that can be used to
promote humanity as well as to lead people away from God. Pope John Paul Il's last written
document was about the mass media. He released The Rapid Development on January 24,
2005.
NOTES FROM THE DISCUSSION YESTERDAY:
Encyclical and Apostolic Letters – addressed issues about our morality/faith. They are written by the
Holy Father/Popes.
Encyclical Letter (Litterae encyclicae) –
Encyclicals are the second most important papal documents, exhorting the faithful on a doctrinal issue.
Its title taken from its first few words in Latin, an encyclical is typically addressed to the bishops but
intended for instruction of Catholics at large. Recent examples include: John Paul II’s Ecclesia De
Eucharistia on the Eucharist in Its Relationship to the Church Francis’ Laudato Si’ on Care for Our
Common Home.
Apostolic Letter (Litterae apostolicae) –
Apostolic letters are issued by popes to address administrative questions, such as approving religious
institutes, but have also been used exhort the faithful on doctrinal issues. Apostolic letters do not
typically establish laws, but rather should be thought of an exercise of the Pope’s office as ruler and
head of the Church. Francis issued Misericordia Et Misera at the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee
of Mercy.
Despite the similarities, apostolic letters carry less authority than encyclicals, and are not considered
legislative. Encyclicals carry particular weight because they are formal documents.
Magisterum – official teaching of the Church.
CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) – universal teachings
Vatican II – 16 documents, pertaining to Dignitatis humanae and specific concern or movement
of the Church. This is written by the 2nd Vatican Council in June 1962.
CFC (Catechism for Filipino Catholics ) – inculturation of teachings
2nd Vatican Council – Gathering of the Church leaders, most of which talks about or faith and morals
Jerusalem Council – First ever council. This was first led by Jesus, it was then succeeded to His apostles,
one of which is Peter who was the leader. Several teachings and councils were now handed down to
different popes all over the world. There are a total of 260 popes.
CORPORAL AND SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY (dili na discuss sa atong section but na discuss sa pikas
so please memorize and familiarize it nalang)
CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY:
To feed the hungry
To give drink to the thirsty
To clothe the naked
To give shelter to homeless
To visit the sick
To visit the imprisoned
To bury the dead
SPIRTUAL WORKS OF MERCY:
To instruct the ignorant
To counsel the doubtful
To admonish sinners
To bear wrongs patiently
To forgive offenses willingly
To comfort the sorrowful
To pray for the living and the dead
KRISHA ANNE CALUMPANG | REVIEWER | 12 OLG
