TftF Ep. 62: Media Literacy of the Saddam Execution
Disclaimer: This podcast reflects my impressions and my opinions based on my own research. If you disagree I urge you to leave a comment and tell me what I missed. I don't want to edit anything out, but it's my name all over this website and anything offensive is subject to removal. Anything offensive can be emailed to me at teachingforthefuture@gmail.com.
We are all very aware that the media is an important part of our everyday lives. In our face or in our ears the media is everywhere. As the media becomes more invasive, it becomes a large part of how we interpret our world. Even for those of us whole pride themselves to think for themselves, are influence by the media constantly. The media is a powerful not only for its reach, but for how it sets the agenda for information and frames the discussion. The key to being a free and critical thinker is not tuning out the media, it's tuning in. We need to take the message head on and look at it carefully and critically.
There is a great deal of debate surrounding the Iraq War. Most recently this debate has dealt with the recent video of the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. What I want to do is take a step away from the debate over the execution, and look more closely at the video. There are many people talking about the brutality of the video, and the copycat effect that has claimed the life of dozens. We could try to ignore the video because of it's brutal depiction, but I think we are responsible to look at this issue carefully.
In an effort to be fair to all sides of this issue I want to take an analytical approach. I'm going to be looking at the video using the Five Key Questions that were developed by the Center for Media Literacy. The questions were developed as an easy way to break down media messages based on Five Key Concepts. These concepts are important assumptions that can be made about any message.
- Five Core Concepts
Media messages are not plucked from the ether. They are ideas and concepts that come from people who formulate or construct them. Even a message that contains nothing but facts was put together by someone before you received it.
2. Media messages are constructed using a creative language with its own rules.
Like any language the media has it's own vocabulary and syntax. This language allows the media to communicate ideas. Just as with English, the language of the media can carry multiple layers of meaning that is not always evident at first listen. The more we pay attention, the better we can understand the media and all of the layers of meaning.
3. Different people experience the same media message differently.
The same message can be understood in dozens of ways because everyone has a different perspective. Their perspective can create a completely separate context for these messages. Context is an important part of how people interpret the media. Any message is always interpreted twice, by the author and by the audience. A person's life experience, background, and ideals are in important part of context.
4. Media have embedded values and points of view.
Media messages are like any idea and have to be formulated by people. These ideas are created by people and are a product of their biases and experience. This is not to say that all messages from the media are deliberately misleading, but many are slanted by the people who create or interpret them. Even the most impartial observation will be peppered with a person's experience and personal knowledge.
5. Most media messages are organized to gain profit and/or power.
There are laws, ethical guidelines, and policies in place that weigh in on how a news outlet reports. However, the end of the day the media is a business like any other business and need to produce a profit to survive. The media is in the business of delivering information and a lot of this information is paid for. Even if a media entity does not profit directly from their message, information can be used to gain and leverage power.
- Five Key Questions
There is little information on who the person was who took this video. What we do know is that they were present at the execution and were probably some sort of government official or state employee. There does not seem to be an explicit point of view, but I think there are a few possibilities of which group this person may be from.
Depending on who this person is can greatly effect the intended meaning of the video. Some people speculate that this was taken by a Shiite who wanted to document Saddam's execution for posterity or as evidence.
Because Saddam was a Sunni himself, this could make sense. Groups in Iraq will often tap executions and attacks for propaganda. This video maybe a way to sent a message or a warning to their enemy groups. There is still a possibility that the person behind the camera is a Sunni. If that is the case this video might be used to give Saddam a final platform. The video includes Saddam's last words and a person who was more hostile to Saddam may have edited this out. This may have also been taken to memorialize the former Iraqi dictator. Just as suicide bombers will record videos of themselves before dying, this may be a way to create a similar video on Sadam's behalf. This is probably an effort to cast Hussein as a martyr.
2. What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?
There does not seem like a lot of work production wise was done to this video. Despite that there are many elements that were used to commmunicate a message. The quality of the video is grainy, probably due to the lack of light and the low quality of the camera. (More in the Podcast)
3. How might different people understand this message differently than me?
This question is posed to push people to look for bias in the media. It asks you to step out from your point of view and try to see how this message would effect someone of a different race, ethnicity, nationality, or perspective than your own. (More in the Podcast)
4. What values, lifestyles and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message?
This question is also used to searching for bias in the media. This question is posed to allow the audience to try to to figure out what the message is trying to sell them. In main stream American media this could be products, lifestyles, or political perspectives. (More in the Podcast)
5. Why is this message being sent?
Well I think this may be the 64 million dollar question. With out know who sent this video it is really hard to understand their motives.
I hoped this may have helped you to better understand how to breakdown the media piece by piece. More information can be found at the Center for Media Literacy's website. There you can find a treasure trove of information and ideas on teaching and learning more about Media Literacy.
"If you have an emotional reaction, you need to question the information."
-David Warlick (Connect Learning Episode 79)
Tags: Dave LaMorte, teaching for the future, technology, education, podcast, teaching, media literacy, visual literacy, new media literacy, warlick
Labels: dave lamorte, david warlick, education, iraq, media literacy, mobile technology, new media literacy, podcast, teaching
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