Active viewing
- 1. Preparing to analyze media
- 2. What is happening?Why? Summarize what is happening to understand it better
- 3. Who or what does this remind me of? Have I encountered people or situations like this? How would I react or feel if I were in this situation?
- 4. What details do I notice about the characters or people and setting?Are these details important? How do these details help me understand the work? Based on these details, what do I think might happen next?
- 5. What do I know about the characters or people, events, and setting in the work? Record details that you observe. How can those details, common sense, and my own experiences help me “read between the lines”?
- 6. How do similar media messages compare with this one? How is this movie, image, show, or work of art different from others like it?
- 7. What values an lifestyles are portrayed, or being “sold,” in this show, movie or ad?What kinds of behaviors are depicted in a positive light? In a negative light? Given the kinds of messages I’m seeing, what can I Infer about what is important to people?
- 8. What characters are featured in the movies and shows I watch?What qualities do they have? Are they based on any stereotypes or idealized images? How do these characters and media messages make me feel about myself and my life? What kinds of stories are frequently featured in the news?What picture of the world do I get from these portrayals?
- 9. What types of political ads am I seeing onTV and on the Internet? How are they affecting my impressions of the government or a politician? What does news coverage of a politician focus on? How does the coverage change the way I think about a politician?