My last blog...

Now, in all the blogs I've read from classes prior and even blogs within my own class, the cliché for this blog is to talk about how excited you are about ending blogging as well as tie in helpful ideas from the semester. I wanted to diverge from this, but realized that its cliché for a reason, it works.

My overall sense of media literacy has developed throughout this semester. I have to thank careful observation and helpful principles in developing my skills as a media literate individual. The branch of media literacy that I became most interested with this semester is the Politics of Production. I am fascinated at the integral roles each player has. Vertical integration has to be one of the most intelligent and useful tools that gets people by in the media industry. The ability to unite the different levels of production under one company name is incredible. This tool expedites efficiency.

I feel as though I have a better understanding of intention in cinematography now from our brief overview of cinema tools. The idea that the director can associate good feelings with a particular character based off of all the other objects that show up on one side of the screen is incredible.

I believe that this course has strengthened my understanding of the relationship between today’s global community and the media that governs it. I have made changes in my life based off of information I have learned in class.

Here is where some great summarizing statement should go. Unfortunately, I have nothing profound to say, except I am now a producer of media.

The Sinful Compass

A dear friend of mine is joining a campaign to discourage Christians from viewing the film The Golden Compass. His talking points consist of misquoted scripture and murky premises. However, his passion on this subject would make you believe that if this movie gained enough popularity, it would bring about the demise of Christianity as we know it. According to him, neither children nor adults are capable of identifying truth from fiction when it comes to serious spiritual issues like these. He claims that his current studies toward a bachelor's degree in youth ministry gives him the background needed to critique this film.

I would like to disagree. Based off of what we discussed in class in regards to the book Eyes Wide Open, to shelter a child’s mind would be to put them at a severe disadvantage when it comes time to expose them to the real world. I must say, ‘protecting’ our kids by refusing to expose them to movies like this only hurts them later on when parents are not there to provide a truthful outlook on the media text. Also, I have a hard time believing that children will be won over to the Atheist side through this movie. Even young children are capable of deciphering truth from fiction. Children are going to see this movie because it’s an adventure movie with cute furry computer generated animals, not to examine the potential deep-rooted symbolism regarding religion and truth.

In the end, I believe that fearing this movie is equivalent to having weak faith. If you are shaken by the notion of a movie stealing believers away from the church, then your idea of the power of truth is miniscule. I do not believe that we should continue to limit our children’s exposure to all types of media supplemented with a biblical worldview.