Reel Grrls (http://www.reelgrrls.org/) is a non-for-profit that provides media literacy for young girls ages 13-19 based in Seattle. Reel Grrl's mission is to "empower young women from diverse communities to realize their power, talent and influence through media production[...] to cultivate voice and leadership in girls at a vulnerable age in their development". Reel Grrls teaches young women "specific skills including animation, cinematography, script writing and more." Their programming is divided into different meeting times whether after school, on the weekend, or during day or summer camps. Current programming includes a graphic design class, a short film class based on disability justice and breaking down representations of persons with disabilities in the media, and their general class for young women to tell their own stories through video. Currently, Reel Grrl's general video editing programming appears to cost 275 dollars. However, participants unable to pay that fund are never turned away, they are asked to pay what they can and scholarships are available. Reel Grrl's staff includes women with real professional experience in the media world. Reel Grrl's programming puts an emphasis on understanding and deconstructing representations of people in the media, whether it be women, young people, racial groups, or as mentioned above, people with disabilities. Thus, it provides young people with valuable skills in literacy and critical awareness of media.
Reel Grrl's represents a particular community that has a voice pertinent to the issue of media concentration. One student film, Generation of Consolidation (discussed in another post here), specifically addresses the issue. Because one of the effects of corporate media control is a lack of diverse voices, particular those of women or minorities, Reel Grrl's is working in direct opposition to concentration through empowering young women to create independent films. Reel Grrls also gives young people professional opportunities and skills that can be used to change the media landscape and create the independent programming that challenges big media. As I continue my project, I hope to look at how Reel Grrls and other youth media empowerment programs across the nation challenge media concentration.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Generation of Consolidation
"Generation of Consolidation" is a film by Brooke Noel and Sami Muilenburg released in 2008. The film was created as part of the youth program, Reel Grrls (http://www.reelgrrls.org/). Reel Grrls is a non-for-profit that provides media literacy for young girls ages 13-19 based in Seattle. The program empowers women with media tools in a world in which much of the media is controlled by men.
"Generation of Consolidation" is one of the films created by teenagers through the Reel Grrls program. It begins by outlining the basic problems of media consolidation and how the FCC regulates the media. It then turns to a specific event that occurred in which the FCC board traveled to Seattle to hear the public's concern about a new change in media regulation. Much of the film documents the perspectives of the public that attended this hearing. Despite being given too short of a notice to organize (only one week), the event was packed with people who wished to express their discontent with the potential changes. The filmmaker's speech and personal experiences are highlighted in the film. She talks about how disturbing it was seeing the event misrepresented on her own local media. The film also includes captivating interviews with teenagers of different races, sexes, and religions and how they feel their identities are skewed by the media. The film concludes with various people's ideas on how to fix the problems with media, including a desire for more accurate reporting, broader view points, better local media, media empowerment programs such as the Reel Grrls, and more practical news.
"Generation of Consolidation" and Reel Grrls are extremely interesting in regards to the problem of media consolidation. They highlight how media consolidation leads to less opportunities for minorities and women as well as poorer content for these groups. Reel Grrls takes practical action to help rectify the sexism of the media industry by providing young women with the tools they need to generate their own media. The impressive professionalism of the film proves that young people are able to generate their own content in a world that generally ignores their ability to do so, creating an interesting argument against ageism. Although, "Generation of Consolidation" exists on the internet as an independent project it asks us to rectify the problems with for-profit media by providing opportunities for women and minorities rather than relying entirely on internet media to provide these alternative outlets.
Noel, Brooke and Muilenburg, Sami
2008 Generation of Consolidation. 11 min. Reel Grrls. Seattle.
"Generation of Consolidation" is one of the films created by teenagers through the Reel Grrls program. It begins by outlining the basic problems of media consolidation and how the FCC regulates the media. It then turns to a specific event that occurred in which the FCC board traveled to Seattle to hear the public's concern about a new change in media regulation. Much of the film documents the perspectives of the public that attended this hearing. Despite being given too short of a notice to organize (only one week), the event was packed with people who wished to express their discontent with the potential changes. The filmmaker's speech and personal experiences are highlighted in the film. She talks about how disturbing it was seeing the event misrepresented on her own local media. The film also includes captivating interviews with teenagers of different races, sexes, and religions and how they feel their identities are skewed by the media. The film concludes with various people's ideas on how to fix the problems with media, including a desire for more accurate reporting, broader view points, better local media, media empowerment programs such as the Reel Grrls, and more practical news.
"Generation of Consolidation" and Reel Grrls are extremely interesting in regards to the problem of media consolidation. They highlight how media consolidation leads to less opportunities for minorities and women as well as poorer content for these groups. Reel Grrls takes practical action to help rectify the sexism of the media industry by providing young women with the tools they need to generate their own media. The impressive professionalism of the film proves that young people are able to generate their own content in a world that generally ignores their ability to do so, creating an interesting argument against ageism. Although, "Generation of Consolidation" exists on the internet as an independent project it asks us to rectify the problems with for-profit media by providing opportunities for women and minorities rather than relying entirely on internet media to provide these alternative outlets.
Noel, Brooke and Muilenburg, Sami
2008 Generation of Consolidation. 11 min. Reel Grrls. Seattle.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Three Peer Blogs
I recently read three interesting blog posts by my peers working on new social problems through the study of folklore.
First of these was Andrew's post about the ethical issues of bioengineering and disability.
Next I read Maggie's post on the film, Another World is Possible.
Finally, I read Katie's summary of the issues involving Farmer's Rights.
I commented on each of these posts, briefly sharing my own perspective on these issues.
First of these was Andrew's post about the ethical issues of bioengineering and disability.
Next I read Maggie's post on the film, Another World is Possible.
Finally, I read Katie's summary of the issues involving Farmer's Rights.
I commented on each of these posts, briefly sharing my own perspective on these issues.
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