In Class Assignment- Week 6 Discuss Reactive Measure of the Media

In chapter 6 of the textbook Media Literacy, we learn that "we need to be proactive-rather than reactive-in understanding how the media affect us" (Media Literacy 73). In order to become media literate, it is necessary to understand how to control the effects the media has on us, and how we can change the way we perceive things and react to them. If we are proactive instead of reactive, it will be much easier to become a more media literate individual.

There are constantly reactive measures occurring in media, once one witnesses these reactive pieces of media, they need to comprehend it and know how to react appropriately. An example from the textbook describes a scene from a movie where two characters are playing Russian Roulette, a game that involves shooting guns at peoples heads and in hope that the gun is not loaded. Two young boys watched this movie and decided to play out or react on the scene of Russian roulette, one of the young boys died from this. In this example from the Media Literacy text, These boys reacted to what they saw instead of being proactive and thinking about the ramifications and damage that could occur if they play the game. These boys did not have the experiences or maturity to prevent them from acting on what they saw in the movie.

There is always media surrounding us, we are constantly being emotionally and physically affected by media. The effects that we easily notice are called manifested effects, these effects are visibly noticeable on a person (Media Literacy 74). But when it comes to being media literate, one must go above and beyond the manifested effects. Another reactive measure of the media is when you see a political commercial or campaign on television, you don't just say oh I'm a democrat or republican or sure I like this person, you need to dig deeper and not just look at how perfect that person is portrayed in the commercial and do research about who they are, what their opinions are and what they are about. You need to make your own decisions when viewing things and opinions about people in the media. If you aren't forming your own opinions then you are not fully media literate.

Everyone has a baseline, which is what is socially acceptable in society and what developmental maturity level one is at. People who have lower developmental maturities, like young children, they won't be able to comprehend and thoughtfully analyze a commercial for a fast food chain, they would just enjoy watching the commercial because it is about food. They aren't able to comprehend the message that the commercial is giving at a more matured level, but once children mature "they are less influenced by a central, salient feature of a message and can process many elements in that message" (Media literacy 77). That is just one aspect that can fluctuate a persons baseline.

Once one is media literate, they are able to fully have and create their own baseline, of course there are things that can make their baseline fluctuate. But once one is able to think more critically and create their own opinions and beliefs they will become more media literate and knowledgeable and then in turn be able to control their reactionary and proactive responses.

Potter, W. James. Media Literacy. 4th ed. Minneapolis: Sage Publications, Inc, 2007. Print.