Robyn Seglem and Shelbie Witte's article "You Gotta See It to Believe It" is an excellent summary and rationale for teaching visual literacy in the classroom. Being able to read an advertisement and understand how the visual images work with rhetorical devices is particularly important.
Looking over Graphic Novels the other day in class has invited me to a return to a personal value question that I thought I had previously resolved. I'm a little more liberal in what questionable or objectionable material I permit in the literature I read. I'm more strict about movies because images stick with me. I was fine with some violence/sexual content in books because I couldn't see it and I could easily move past it. Blake shared a Batman graphic novel. Suddenly I was approached by scenes that I could have read about but felt uncomfortable looking at.
As a person, I realize I am more sensitive than some, but how do I reach out to students who may so easily attach to things that I may not only feel uncomfortable but dislike?
I really dislike scary stories- zombies and the like- I wouldn't want them in my own home library. But does that mean I should keep them from my school library? I tend to think that no, but there is a part of my morals that needs to be worked out. Especially since I think learning and understanding visual literacy is important.
What a good point to bring up. My husband was able to see some violence in war movies movies that I couldn't tolerate and I had to explain that to him as we first dated. My point is that each of us has a line of demarcation of what we will and will not tolerate in books, visual media, and more. And these things are not necessarily the same for every person. So our task as teachers is to figure out our students and what they might be sensitive to. I really think that for me, the spirit has a lot to do with what I will share with my students. Personally, my standards are pretty sensitive and I think that you need to stand up for what you find appropriate. Your students will at times write using profanity or express themselves in what I find are increasingly inappropriate ways, but your job is to teach them what is socially appropriate. That worries me as the world's standards continue to erode. I would advise you to always choose the higher road in what you teach. :) You will never have regrets if you do that.
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