5076.0: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 9:45 AM

Abstract #25599

Using critical thinking to help deconstruct advertising messages and promote media literacy

Dawn Larsen, PhD, CHES and Margaret Murray-Davis, PhD. Health Science Department, Minnesota State University, Mankato, 213 Highland Center North, Mankato, MN 56001, 507.389.2113, dawn.larsen@mankato.msus.edu

Participants will be presented with ways of integrating disciplined thinking and writing into their health curricula. The elements of reasoning and the critical thinking model will be reviewed as the framework for logical, disciplined analysis of media images. Examples from current, popular media will be used to demonstrate strategies for fostering analysis and discussion about media images through use of the critical thinking strategy. The discussion will explore implicit and explicit messages that encourage consumers to make specific assumptions and draw certain conclusions. Specific images related to sexuality, tobacco, alcohol will be emphasized. Strategies for "deconstructing" these media messages will be presented in order to help students dissect the logic of advertising and apply the logic of consumers. This discussion will stress the importance of media literacy as a fundamental health concept in schools because of its powerful influence on the values and attitudes that influence health behaviors.

Learning Objectives: 1. Learners will describe advertising strategies designed to manipulate consumer behavior. 2. Learners will describe the logic of advertising from a critical thinking perspective. 3. Learners will describe the critical thinking steps designed to deconstruct media messages 4. Learners will define the concept of media literacy.

Keywords: Health Education Strategies, Media Literacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA