Follow the adventures of Indy through the world of Media Arts

1. and the adventures of
media arts

2. Hey I’m Indy, named
after the family dog… I
know Media Arts isn't
Archeology but what
the hell… I am going
to tell you a bit about it
anyway… Be warned
the media presents
many dangers…
Now spiral out!!

3. So Media Art you say…Our
old friends at ACARA (2014)
tell me that it is a form of
communication that uses
‘communication technologies
such as television, film, radio,
newspaper video games the
internet and mobile media’.

4. So to complicate matters, it appears we have several
varieties of media, media arts, media and mass media.
If you thought our
predicament was bad. It is
about to get worse, we will
also have old and new forms
of media to get our heads
around.

5. New and old media… Lets call
this electronic and print… But I
think we might have another
kind… The other day a kid yelled
out to me “hey Indy, you on
Twitter? After investigating this I
found other similar articles like
Facebook and Instagram… Kids
these days, its all they talk
about…. I wonder if these “new
school medias” could be
implemented into my Paleolithic
Archaeology class or other
classrooms for that matter?

6. So I like where our thinking is
at with introducing new media
into classrooms. Sure beats
my school days with an old
busted video recorder and
making nature documentaries,
I hate snakes! The problem is
we have all this great
technology, but who is putting
the time in to teach me about
it? And how will the schools
get the resources?

7. Well the resource problem shouldn’t be an issue… Every
student carries some form of phone or tablet with a camera
in it, there must be a way I could create unique ways using
this visual media to reach out to my students.
Hell I could possibly use
multimedia to film myself,
and present my teaching
instructions to students on
their tablets! This way a
couple might start paying
attention!!

8. I am slightly concerned we may run into
some dangers on our Media adventure: So
my northern border colleague Pungente
(1989) provided me with 8 key concepts of
media literacy:
1. All media are construction
2. The media construct a version of reality.
3. Audiences negotiate meaning in the
media.
4. Media have commercial implications.
5. Media contain ideological and value
messages.
6. Media have social and political
implications.
7. Form and content are closely related in
the media.
8. Each medium has a unique aesthetic
form.

9. 1. All media are construction
Lets be honest this stuff isn’t falling out of
the sky. My students need to be made
aware that all media forms are
consciously made, we need to understand
the motives of the people behind these
media productions… It reminds me of my
Last Crusade where I came across that
Hitler fella, talk about just fabricating
rubbish propaganda!

10. 2. The media construct a
version of reality.
Now the students need to be careful
of the different versions of positive
and negative messages they can
consume through the media… Lets
take my old nemesis Rupert
Murdoch: Have a look at the rubbish
and false versions of reality he is
presenting through his media outlet
Fox News!! He belongs in a
MUSEUM!!
FOX and friends: Big Game Hunting

11. 3. Audiences negotiate meaning in
the media.
Ok so now my students have been warned
about the dangers associated with media
lunatics… Lets just hope I can show them how
to extract the truthful and unbiased information
from news sources! It is going to kill the kids,
when I tell them not everything you read and
watch on Facebook is real and truthful…

12. 4. Media have Commercial
Implications
If there is one thing that scares me
it is the power held by Media
Production companies who control
what is produced, distributed and
therefore, seen.
All students need to be aware of
the commercial motives of the
mass media! Ask yourself who paid
for what your watching? What’s
their business structure? Is it in
their benefit to produce and show
certain shows?

13. 5. Media contain ideological and
value messages.
Well everyone wants to give me their
opinion on a way of life. The problem with
the mainstream media is that they
produce messages to the masses, and
promote conformity about opinions that
should be followed, and we are
constantly told what constitutes a good
life!
As a teacher I need to make it known,
that the students need to use their free
thoughts and individuality to look at
narratives and stories and create their
own opinions.

14. 6. Media have social and political implications.
Students be aware as we covered above all the outlets
have motive, so ask yourself, why would a television
station focus solely on public political blunders than on
meaningful policy discussion? Are they catering to the
lowest common denominator, or are they pushing a
preferred party agenda?
7. Form and content are closely related in the
media.
Surely there is only one way to report a story. Lets
remember our key target audience, beware students
there is always a tactical approach.
8. Each medium has a unique aesthetic form.
As we covered there are many forms of media and each
try to cater for every pleasure!!

15. Well I think we have escaped this Adventure with a better
understanding of the potential pitfalls associated with the all
encompassing Media.
Hang on does Jehova start with an I or a J, The Examiner spelt it
with a J, but can I trust this source?? I am Dooooooooomed!