7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Channel One (and its ads in the classroom) analyzed well., September 5, 1999
Fox's book is a field researcher's report about the effects of Channel One on kids. Using a tape recorder to document the words, the author collects convincing anecdotal evidence, then offers a good analysis of it. Kids today may well know the glittering surfaces and superficialities of ads -- the slogans and the celebrities -- but this book reminds us that kids are still kids: very naive, uncritical, and innocent about the ways of the world of persuasion. Fox elicits and records the comments of children as they talk about the ads they've seen on Channel One as part of this nationwide captive audience of over 8 million kids in classrooms, in a valuable locale and "day-part." Of special interest is the author's analysis of the kids' deep involvement in these ads, and of the many ways they incorporate and "replay" these ad messages. This book should be required reading -- and reflection --for every teacher, administrator, and school board member who is responsible for allowing Channel One into their classrooms.
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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Why are you reading this book?, December 24, 2008
This review is from: Harvesting Minds: How TV Commercials Control Kids (Paperback)
Hey.. maybe if I took Amazon up on their "Video Review", added a lot of quick shots, catching fast paced music, and attractive undergrads. The "Teachers" thinking about buying this book would... do what ever I tell them to do!! Cool Huh? Read this book and I'm sure you will come to the same conclusion. ;)
The author is a "Teacher".. which means he has absolutely no clue. None what so ever.
But hey.. it is not written in PhD speak. Meaning us little people that can read "English" can grasp most of what the author is yammering about.
Instead of making "Channel One" out to be the bad guy.. He should have at least "Wondered" why these poor rural students had no critical thinking skills. As parents. Do you sit down with your kid and explain "Pepsi" is a big company trying its best to sell you over priced sugar water? Apparently nearly all of these "Lab Rats"- "Childrens" parents never explained what a "Commercial" is. Duh? Aww but then.. the fine college educated "Teachers" (The people that should know better) NEVER EVER explained that commercials are all fake. Here lets all do it now.. "Attention Kids! Those commercials you just saw.. they are fake!" See I was able to do it.
I'm reading this book as a follow up to reading a Wiki Search on Propaganda. "Propaganda" the word and the evil it represents was thought up by this fine old chap Edward L. Bernays. Further down the wiki page was a whole lot of links between Propaganda and Childhood development. This led me to begin study on.. you guessed it. The media manipulation of children.
Call me strange. I was born and raised in Las Vegas Nevada. A place where Gaggles of rich old folks retire. Where we accept them and not tax them all that much for education. Hey they educated their kinds back East with real schools. It would be "Stupid" to pay to raise somebody else's kids.. right?
Luckily (or maybe not) I got a full dose of the 1960's. Critical thinking.. not taking mr/ms. Media's word as gospel. Sad to say it kicked in when I decided not to bend what was left of my will to a College Degree. Which in my case is UNLV. A college that continues to have buildings. Clark County has a great Library system. In fact we pay our librarians more than any other city in America. Buildings? Yup.. they are large and wonderful. Books? Well that really is not part of how things work here. Great for "Cook Books".. Not a whole lot for people that need to understand the world around them.
Oh and another thing. Critical thinking or more simply, questioning authority? Since 9/11.. ALL major media have made a concerned effort to erase those concepts.
Are you a teacher? I'm sorry that creative writing or "Sand Box" 4 year degree doesn't pay. Teaching is an easy gig.. (that's why you are reading this) and if you sell out right away, a cool admin job is right around the corner. Maybe even a seat on the school board.
If you love your fellow man and his children... Go to Adbusters.org. Order their media teaching kit. But if you do.. you might succeed in doing GOOD. People get fired or nailed up on a cross for such acts of kindness and love.
Heak.. you most likely sold out when you were 5. You are taking this stupid grad school course and your Hippie instructor told you to read this junk. Throw it away. I assure you big money and success.
GENE
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