Our Faculty has recently licensed two new and excellent resources from the Media Awareness Network (MNet). MNet is a non-profit organization based in Ottawa and it boasts “one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of media education and Internet literacy resources” (more info here). Their materials are really top-notch.

The two newest additions to the MNet catalog include “Exploring Media and Race” and “Deconstructing Online Hate“. Each resource includes a workshop (slides, speaking notes, handouts, etc.), a self-directed tutorial and a resource guide. This is a great resource as it’s easy-to-follow, and packed with information for students of all ages. I would consider myself very knowledgeable this subject area, but there were still several items that surprised me.

On a related note, I have been a bit of a collector of disinformation/propaganda videos, and especially those that relate to discrimination or racism. A few weeks ago, I came across a shocking anti-homosexual video published in 1961. Here is a link to the short version of the video, and the longer version with some background information can be found at the Internet Archive. In short, the video depicts homosexuality as a sickness and homosexuals as pedophiles. It’s really sad.

What’s even more sad and unfortunate are the views of people commenting on this video at the Internet Archive, and my realization that for many, such views haven’t changed in over 40 years. In this, it’s obvious that the MNet resources I mention above (and others like it) are ones that need exposure in our schools and communities. Certainly, resources like this alone won’t solve all of our ills, but it’s a step in the right direction.