“Media violence is made to attract and entertain people”: Responses to Media Literacy Lessons on the Effects of and Institutional Motives behind Media Violence

Popular Culture as an Educative Teaching Tool in the Elementary Classroom

“…Researchers estimate that youth ages 2-11 are exposed to 25,600 TV ads yearly (Rideout, 2014). This daily exposure has significantly influenced their lives and shaped their attitudes (Sandlin & Garlen, 2017;Saunders & Wong, 2020;Sekarasih et al, 2015). Although many adults have learned to evaluate information, many children have not learned these skills.…”

“…Given how influential popular culture is in the lives of children, researchers of education and cultural studies have been interested in popular culture's inclusion within the classroom to promote engagement and build critical literacy (Robertson & Scheidler-Benns, 2016;Saunders & Wong, 2020). However, incorporating popular culture within the classroom has faced some opposition (Mueller et al, 2018;Naumovska & Milenkovska, 2017;Rets, 2016;Sekarasih et al, 2015). Some teachers have disliked using popular culture because of their biases (Adams, 2011).…”

“…Some educators and parents have argued that popular culture texts often reinforce dimensions of violence, racism, sexism, and commercialization. However, scholars have argued that critical pedagogy offers teachers and their students the opportunities to explore how popular texts can be used to subvert these dimensions and challenge oppressive power structures (Galligan & Miller, 2022;Ivashkevich, 2009;Jenkins, 2009;Jewitt, 2008;Lee, 2009;Lindstrand et al, 2016;Mueller et al, 2018;Sandlin & Garlen, 2017;Sekarasih et al, 2015).…”

“…Children's popular culture contains images of violence (Marsh & Millard, 2000;Sekarasih et al, 2015;Sfeir, 2014). Violence is in both digital media as well as many traditional narratives, such as fairy tales, sports, and interactions within families and among nations (Arthur, 2001).…”

“…Critical pedagogy-centred curricula can help students "develop comprehension, critical thinking, and critical attitudes toward media violence and the ethical issues involved" (Sekarasih et al, 2015, p. 4). As a result, teachers should be helping their students cultivate an awareness of how popular messages promote violence and are ingrained in society's values (Alvermann et al, 1999;Sekarasih et al, 2015).…”