10/13

Q: What have you learned from the last two MTN presentations? What clip do you plan on using for your visual communications critique? Why is media literacy important?

A: John and Alex have been pretty straightforward with their last two presentations. The first was mostly showing examples of successful PSAs and showing us what makes a good PSA - shot selection, message, and composition being a few key things to consider. I learned what shots work and what shots don't, and how the central message of the PSA is probably the most important part of the entire project. The PSA must have a point or message to be a true PSA. On their second visit, John and Alex gave us an activity to complete in class: make a storyboard for a PSA about one of our class norms. This activity was good practice for our own PSAs to come, I learned how to successfully make a storyboard with synopsis and planned-out shots.
     I plan on using an existing PSA about drug use, probably from The Anti-Drug campaign. I feel that their PSAs are extremely effective and at times can be very graphic, which I think is why they work so well. Using one of their pieces would provide me with a good opportunity to seriously critique and think about what they are trying to say and how they are saying it.
    Media literacy is imporant because a lot of media would not be possible without it. Without media literacy, PSAs would not carry the same weight and message that they do now. Being able to design and create a PSA that effectively does the job is the definition of media literacy.