Writer's Guide 101 (Wattpad Edition)

LXXVIII. Why Media Literacy Matters?

If you've been on the Internet for a while now, you may have heard about the term "media literacy." Media literacy, as I'd like to put it, is the ability to understand a certain piece of media and its message. For example, people often remember "Squid Game" as a show where people get mass-murdered in a children's game.
   However, it's actually a social commentary about capitalism and how people are willing to throw away their morals just to get money. It is about the dark reality of living in South Korea especially low-income workers.
  There are many people who'd be so dismissive towards anyone they think are over-analytical and tend to take things seriously like "It ain't that deep, bro!" instead of trying to approach them in a respectful way.
To me, the habit of hyperfixating and rambling on about how a certain show is an important part of my personality. It's important we talk about it. After all, everyone of us get to interact with the stuff we love differently. What may seem like a silly cartoon to you could have a deeper meaning to someone else.
    Media literacy helps you develop critical thinking skill and see the author's vision. You get to understand the characters in a nuanced manner, its message and who its target audience are.
   Without it, you end up dealing with these whiny parents who complain to social media about how "Squid Game" has messed up their kids when it should be obvious that the show isn't made for them.
    The show explores certain themes which will not only fly over little Timmy's head, but also get any impressionable kid to try out the exact scenes from the show without any idea just how dangerous it is.
    You end up hurting the author behind them because of the misinformation you've been spreading about their work. You don't wanna be that person who ends up thinking a song is about Jesus when it's actually about someone's anger towards the Church.
    You also certainly don't wanna be that guy who worships The Joker all because he happens to be relatable instead of knowing he's a mentally-deranged person who needed serious help.
    I get to share my initial thoughts on the subject at hand and show my appreciation to that person's work. Sure, when you're little, you may not consider just how dark some of your favorite movies, shows, books and video games can be.
I believe media literacy can help us guess the story's main audience and context. What kind of message do you think it's trying to send its audience? Is it pro-feminism or anti-Marxism?
    It gets to show you how that thing can improve in the future. For example, there are words and expressions which might be offensive to certain groups of people.
    I have read books from when I was younger and only come to realize how the words I end up using were dated and culturally insensitive. It's because most of them were written by Western authors who were raised by either European or American sensibilities during a different time.
    It kind of reminds me of those ol' "Mr. Peabody's Improbable History" shorts where it's rife with racial stereotypes. I swear they referred to the Chinese currency as "yen" and Africa as a whole country (plus they included blackface).
   Meanwhile, the titular character has a pompous British accent and acts very sophisticated. Considering this was made in the late 1950's, I doubt you could make something like these today.
   In conclusion, media literacy helps you understand and analyze a piece of media in a meaningful manner. It can encourage us to learn more about the author's perspective as well as the world around us.