Animating Media Literacy (Ages 15-17)

The Fake Calendar might appear to be an amusing, stylized film that pokes fun at those of us who would rather stay home and watch Netflix than begrudgingly leave comfort for more social settings. Digging into the film a second time (easily done with animated shorts), it’s easy to see how Indigenous artist Meky Ottawa dabbles in the tension between being real and using technology to create false representations of ourselves in order to fulfill social expectations.

This film, which is part of the latest crop of shorts in the Hothouse animation apprenticeship program, sets up interesting opportunities for Grade 9–12 students to discuss “fakeness” within media and how, depending on your point of view, there may be times when it seems socially acceptable to falsify facts to protect ourselves. Little moments in the film, such as the swapping of the classic mouse pointer for something a little more edgy and the clear statement written in the sky at the end, speak volumes about the artist’s views on social norms and the power of subtle (and not-so-subtle) imagery.

As an educator, my lesson design rests heavily on the premise that literacy skills are integral to student engagement, regardless of the subject. The composition of media texts—through lines, shapes, colours, and words—is a powerful instrument for meaning-making that we (students and educators) need to be consciously aware of at all times.

I Am Here, directed by Eoin Duffy, is an incredible journey into the relationship between various forms and conventions in media texts and their role in creating meaning for the audience. Duffy takes the audience on a trek through time aboard a stylized, minimalist canvas of images, while telling a story of deep emotional despair.

Howie Shia’s BAM is a highly violent modern adaptation of the myth of Hercules that can be used to explore the relationship between composition and audience engagement. Grade 9–12 students can analyze Shia’s creative choices, such as the role of colour within the film, the implied violence versus the use of overtly violent imagery, and the impact of the voiceless soundtrack on the overall storyline.

Classroom technologies have made capturing and animating student ideas easier than ever, blending real-world photography with 2D illustration, printmaking, and/or paper cutouts. Films such as Orange by Sylvie Trouvé can help students as young as the Grade 4 level recognize that their ideas are not limited to a single mode of expression.