Saskatchewan – Media Studies 20

MS20.1 Investigate the history of mass media and its role in society.

Indicators

a. Differentiate between media, media texts and mass media.

b. Explore the historic and evolving purposes and principles behind mass media.

c. Examine the evolution of mass media as a means of communicating issues related to:

• identity (e.g., experiences, traditions, worldviews);

• social responsibility (e.g., environmental sustainability, human rights and treaty rights); and,

• social action (e.g., advocacy, stewardship and volunteerism).

d. Analyze and discuss the impact of technology on the production and consumption of, and interaction with, media texts.

e. Research the economic, social, political and environmental influences on and of mass media.

f. Consider how historical, cultural, political and social contexts influence the presentation of ideas, themes and issues in media.

g. Examine the power and influence of mass media and popular culture on personal identity.

h. Assess the impact and influence of mass media and popular culture on society.

i. Investigate the opportunities and challenges associated with the production and consumption of, and interaction with, mass media.

MediaSmarts Resources

MS20.2 Examine the use of language conventions, text forms and style in media texts.

Indicators

a. Identify the language cues and conventions used in a variety of media texts.

b. Explore mentor texts to analyze the use of language cues and conventions, considering the personal, cultural, political and historical contexts in which they were created.

c. Describe the distinctive characteristics of media genres and text forms.

d. Discuss strategies and techniques that producers of media texts employ to develop their ideas and present them in fresh and interesting ways.

e. Examine different media styles to explore how similar ideas, information or issues are communicated in a variety of media texts.

f. Analyze and discuss how language, text forms and style create meaning and influence the interpretation of messages in media texts.

g. Assess the quality, inclusivity and authenticity of the message in various media texts.

MediaSmarts Resources

MS20.3 Critically interpret a variety of media texts for message and meaning.

Indicators

a. Examine the purposes and audiences of a variety of media texts (e.g., news articles, poems, films, television shows, songs, advertisements, games, emails, packaging, clothing and blogs).

b. Examine traditional and contemporary media texts that present different viewpoints and perspectives on issues related to:

• identity (e.g., experiences, traditions and worldview);

• social responsibility (e.g., environmental sustainability, relationships and treaty rights); and,

• social action (e.g., advocacy, stewardship and volunteerism).

c. Explain ways that individuals, society and culture shape and are shaped by the language, text forms and content of media texts.

d. Interpret the interrelationship between the message, the audience and the medium.

e. Analyze media texts for explicit and implicit messages, concepts, viewpoints, themes and tone.

f. Discuss consumer responsibilities (e.g., think critically, ask questions and verify information) when engaging with media texts.

g. Consider how historical, cultural, political and social contexts influence the presentation and interpretation of ideas, information and issues in texts.

h. Analyze and compare different media texts to explore how similar ideas, information or issues are communicated.

i. Examine representation (e.g., language, culture, ability, mobility, sexual diversity and gender) in media texts, including the perspectives, beliefs and biases that are evident in the texts.

j. Interpret and discuss the use of language and techniques in a variety of media texts, considering the personal, cultural, political and historical contexts in which they were created.

k. Discuss legal and ethical issues (e.g., authorship, copyright, ownership, public domain and cultural appropriation) associated with media texts.

MediaSmarts Resources

MS20.4 Examine the role of ethics, rights and responsibilities in the production and consumption of, and interaction with, mass media.

Indicators

a. Discuss the relationships between rights and responsibilities.

b. Examine the need for societal standards (e.g., legal, ethical and community norms and values) and cultural awareness in media.

c. Describe the elements (e.g., digital etiquette, digital literacy, and digital safety and security) of digital citizenship.

d. Analyze the rights and responsibilities of a digital citizen in the production and consumption of, and interaction with, digital media.

e. Differentiate between digital literacy and media literacy.

f. Research key concepts of media literacy (e.g., audiences negotiate meaning, and media have commercial, social and political implications) to analyze mass media and popular culture.

g. Investigate and discuss ethical and legal issues (e.g., authorship, copyright, privacy, public domain, consent and cultural appropriation) related to the production and consumption of, and interaction with, mass media.

h. Explain how industry codes and government regulations impact the media industry.

MediaSmarts Resources

MS20.5 Investigate the role and power of marketing and advertising in mass media.

Indicators

a. Explain the purposes and functions of marketing and advertising.

b. Research the history of advertising as a force behind mass media.

c. Examine how production, marketing and advertising influence the media industry.

d. Research how industry codes and government regulations impact advertising and marketing of mass media.

e. Analyze and discuss advertising techniques, claims and appeals used to target and influence consumers of mass media.

f. Interpret and discuss the use of language and techniques in a variety of advertisements, considering the personal, cultural, political and historical contexts in which they were created.

g. Critically analyze the impact of advertising on personal values and behaviours.

h. Explore how a media text or personality is marketed to an audience across a variety of media.

i. Evaluate representation (e.g., language, culture, ability, mobility, sexual diversity and gender) in advertisements and marketing campaigns.

j. Discuss consumer rights and responsibilities (e.g., to compliment, to complain or to advocate), related to advertisements and marketing of mass media.

MediaSmarts Resources

MS20.6 Analyze the influence and impact of social media on individuals and society.

Indicators

a. Examine the purpose and functions of digital communication, including social media.

b. Discuss etiquette, rules and responsibilities (e.g., digital citizenship) related to the production and consumption of, and interaction with, social media.

c. Analyze the influences (e.g., financial, cultural, political, environmental and technological) of social media on society.

d. Investigate the opportunities, challenges and risks associated with personal production and consumption of, and interaction with, social media.

e. Analyze the influences of social media on personal wellness (e.g., intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual).

f. Investigate a variety of social media platforms and their impact on personal rights and privacy.

g. Discuss strategies and supports for safe, responsible and ethical online behaviour.

h. Manage online communication to align with personal goals and values, recognizing the permanent nature of online actions and communications.

MediaSmarts Resources

MS20.7 Design and create media texts that explore identity, social responsibility and social action.

Indicators

a. Create media texts (e.g., song, advertisement, comic strip, sports story,

food packaging, feature story, travel blog, commercial, interview, podcast and video game) to explore issues related to:

• identity (e.g., experiences, traditions and worldview);

• social responsibility (e.g., environmental sustainability, relationships and treaty rights); and,

• social action (e.g., advocacy, stewardship and volunteerism).

b. Select, use and evaluate critically a variety of before, during and after strategies to construct and communicate meaning.

c. Understand and apply the language cues and conventions to construct and communicate meaning.

d. Select appropriate language to suit audiences and purposes (e.g., to describe, to inform, to persuade and to entertain).

e. Explore a variety of mentor texts to examine creative processes (e.g., pre-production, production and post-production), language conventions and style.

f. Use planning techniques (e.g., research, interviews and storyboards) appropriate to audience, purpose and format.

g. Experiment with language conventions, artistic devices, digital tools and production techniques to develop own creative processes, style, writing skills and habits.

i. Design and create texts that present an objective perspective and accurate details.

j. Examine responsible and ethical ways of using sources of inspiration and information in personal and public communications, compositions and productions.

k. Discuss legal and ethical issues (e.g., authorship, copyright, ownership and cultural appropriation) associated with designing and creating media texts.

MediaSmarts Resources