Lesson 4
Key Question:
What values, lifestyles, and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message?
Vocabulary
Embedded – Hidden within or built into something.
Worldview – A person’s overall perspective on life and the world.
Values – The beliefs or principles that guide characters or creators.
Bias – Primarily defined as preference in favor of or against one thing, person, or group–even if it's not totally accurate
Stereotypes – Oversimplified and generalized beliefs about a group of people.
Generalizations – Broad claims made about a group, often lacking nuance.
Ideologies – Systems of ideas, especially those that form political or cultural beliefs.
Media Have Embedded Values and
Points of View
by the end of this lesson:
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I will be able to investigate and analyze the values, worldviews, and ideologies embedded in media.
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I will be able to identify whose perspectives are included or excluded from a media message.
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I will be able to reflect on the impact of those inclusions/omissions on how stories are understood.
Icebreaker:
“ME-dia Decoder”
Lesson:
Rewriting the Narrative
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Ask students to select a piece of media they’ve recently consumed (or use a short story/media clip provided).
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Introduce the prompt: “Imagine a character with a very different background, identity, or belief system suddenly appeared in this story"
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Students create a new character using the worksheet below.
Media Literacy Questions:
What was Embedded & Encoded?
(Optional Pair Work) Have students pair up and discuss their new characters:
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What worldviews are represented by your character?
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What stereotypes might others assume about them?
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How does your character’s presence challenge the original story?
If you’d prefer to use a visual clip:
Show a 2–3 minute scene from a well-known film, TV show, or commercial and ask students to design a character who interrupts or reshapes the message.
Students complete a brief reflection + drawing:
“Describe your new character. What values do they bring to the story? What perspective do they represent that wasn’t originally there? How does their inclusion change the story’s meaning?”
Alternate Prompts (for different learners):
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“Whose perspective was missing in the original story?”
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“Was this story biased toward a certain idea or group?”
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“Does your character reinforce or challenge the story’s original message?”