Abstract of

Media Literacy
Representations of Critical Media Literacy in the Film Pump Up the Volume

James Trier

One of the main aspects of critical media literacy is taking as objects of critique both the mass media (television, film, music) and the commodities they produce. The purpose of engaging students in this activity is to develop within them an awareness of the social, political, and economic messages emanating from popular fiction, music, movies, and so on. Along with critically examining media systems and popular culture texts, two other main aspects of critical media literacy involve producing media texts and taking up (using, consuming) media texts for critical purposes. An excellent text about the production and use of media texts for critical purposes is the school film Pump Up the Volume, which is the focus of this article.

Abstract from Trier, J. (2006, April). Representations of Critical Media Literacy in the Film Pump Up the Volume. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 49(7), 622–625. doi: 10.1598/JAAL.49.7.7