In the Mix: Media Literacy-TV: What You Don't See

Editing. Cutaway shots. B-rolls. These are some of the tricks of the television trade which ensure that real-time continuity is disrupted and, as a result, all narrative is suspect. This edition of the PBS show for teens, In the Mix, takes a look at how television distorts, manipulates, and, ultimately "creates" its own version of truth, while alerting viewers that what passes for "truth" on TV is often no more than "image"-which, if we recall the parable of Plato's cave, is not the same thing. A trip to channel MTV offers prime examples: women are vamps, violence is endemic, all rap artists drive in limos, and so on. The program plays snippets from a rap video by The Roots which parodies the exaggerated, testosterone fantasies teens see on MTV, talks to teens about their frustration over media's portrayal of youth (armed and dangerous), and reminds viewers of television's true mission: to sell products (which is why two or three soap opera episodes can be shot in a day, but a 30-second commercial might take months to create). Peter Jennings talks to the teen hosts about how news is presented, encourages viewers to be skeptical and analytical when watching TV news, and tells teens that "it's important to watch us" (which was good for an unintentional laugh; Jennings would most likely be amazed at the number of intelligent humans able to conduct themselves well in social and political discourse without ever watching network news). A good reminder to teens to be vigilant, not passive, receivers of media, this is recommended. Aud: I, J, H, P. (R. Pitman)