Standards

With the technology movement really charging forward right now it is inevitable that media is going to have a major say in what will in years become history. I think the media possibly has the largest input with the English Education community. Media really opens up brand new avenues to each student who may or may not have really gotten into the subject of English by text-based means only. I was always given supplementary supplies to accompany my education in both high school and here in college. I was able to listen to Jimi Hendrix wail out the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock because it heavily influenced a writer to write about their experiences with their father after his life was changed after the incident. I was granted the chance to almost lull myself back to sleep (no offense Johnny L and Co.) in an 830 poetry class freshman year to Eleanor Rigby which is so celebrated as a work of a poetry it finds itself in this university's textbook of choice.


Once again, the media is huge in and for English. Let's think about it for just a second. Your favorite movie is probably inspired by a book, usually the book is better (inspiration for a student to maybe try it out). On the other hand if the movie isn't based on a book it was built from a screenplay and without a good basis of knowledge of English how could that have been made possible. Movies aren't the only answer to providing more of an open universe to those interested and those not interested in the subject itself. Music is such a great transmitter for creating interest in English. Songs are in essence poetry put to music and with a great boom in spoken word poetry in the middle of songs it's artistic revival is thriving.


Also students should truly be encouraged to explore these other avenues and perhaps keep a blog of their reviews of various films and music promoting their creativity and opinions in an educational atmosphere.