“It was Perfect!”: Sixth Graders’ Reviews of Popular Media in a Media Literacy Education Initiative

• In Event: Playing Around With New Media Both in and As the Classroom

Abstract

Analyzing 33 students’ reviews of popular media content as part of a homework in a media literacy education initiative, this study investigated sixth-grade students’ reception about what they noticed from popular media characters of their choosing, and how they would adjust the storylines of the media content they picked. Qualitative textual analysis and constant comparison of students’ writings revealed the salience of entertainment value of media among students. Students’ responses suggested identification with the virtues and positive traits of media characters, and some effort to adjust the story lines in order to make it more engaging or realistic. Findings were discussed within the context of the importance as well as the challenges that media researchers and educators might encounter in using popular media content in a media literacy education program.

Authors

• Laras Sekarasih, U of Massachusetts - Amherst

• Christine Olson, U of Massachusetts - Amherst

• Erica L. Scharrer, U of Massachusetts - Amherst