Thinking About Multimodality

Takayoshi and Selfe's main argument in the piece "Thinking about Multimodality" is the idea of the importance of not only being media literate, but also being a conscious creator of media. In this piece the authors argue that as technology grows it is extremely important for teachers to be able to teach students to enter online communities, such as the community we will enter by taking the class interactive media production. Takayoshi and Selfe point out, that along with the need for students to be taught to become media literate another need must also be addressed. This is the need for students to be taught how to create media, as well as, the ability to enter this created media into emerging communities on the internet. I agree with Takoyoshi and Selfe's main argument, however, I can't help but wonder if the newly born generation will reject online communities, and turn once again towards actual human interaction. This is a valid concern that needs to be addressed, because the past has an awful habit of repeating itself. For instance look at television, In the 50's television was the newest coolest thing much like the internet is today. However, as time has passed more and more people are turning away from watching television. Granted the internet is more powerful than television has ever been, but just because websites like Facebook, MySpace, and Blogger are popular communities today doesn’t mean that they won’t become less popular as the internet’s popularity grows. Therefore, for me it is more important to teach young children to be media literate rather than for them to be able to create media. It is true that it’s important for people to learn to create media, but media literacy is needed as the first step to make this possible. Author Daley’s piece which I wrote about a few days ago fits in with Takayoshi and Selfe’s piece. Both pieces argue for the importance of creating a media literate culture that can adapt to technology and use it as a form of not only information, but also a way for people to be connected, entertained, read news, watch television and many more. Nothing is more evident from these pieces than the power of newly found technology and human’s ability to adjust to it. As Humans we have been able to adapt and change to are surroundings and we must adapt and change to use media and internet 2.0 as well.

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