Connecting learning and making
Missed this short, thought-provoking film by David Gauntlett of theory.org, from back in January.
(I’m not sure I accept – if I understand the argument correctly – that the professionalism and specialism embodied by television, and by implication radio and film, belong in the trough of human creativity merely because they oblige ordinary people to adopt the role of an audience. Audiences are only lethargic if the programme is bad. On the other hand, good programmes foment ideas.)
Learning Technology jottings at Goldsmiths 
I agree with you, Mira – the simplistic dismissal of TV (and Radio and film) requires the watcher or listener to accept the role of passive consumer. If we choose not to accept that role, and bring our critical faculties to our watching and listening, then these activities can be every bit as creative as any others.
It is interesting that few of whose who agree with this simplistic dismissal are willing to throw the same accusation at book reading, and yet the relationship between author and reader is not so very different from that between television (or radio or movie) producer and watcher/listener.
Ron Burnett, President of Emily Carr University of Art and Design, in Canada, is very good on this broad issue – his blog is at:
http://www.ecuad.ca/~rburnett/Weblog/
John Connell
June 5, 2010 at 10:49
I’ve never heard anybody make the same charge that book reading in general involves suppressing your creative parts. Thanks for the Burnett link – he’s in my reader now. Earmarked the ‘Are social media, social’ series.
Mira Vogel
June 7, 2010 at 11:37