by Lily
Most of us have experienced the disappointment of a truly terrible book-to-movie adaptation that totally misses the entire point of the original. The main reason these films or TV shows fail to carry over the core themes of the books they intend to visually translate typically boils down to small changes made to make the story more appealing to general audiences or a lack of adequate synthesization and analysis from the majority of viewers. In short, a lack of media literacy tends to kill whatever messages these adaptations are attempting to convey and could even go so far as to have an impact on the way people interact with politics and the news.
Take The Hunger Games franchise. In the recent film adaptation of the prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, there were many minor changes made to the characters and story in order to make the movie more marketable. One of these changes was to make the character of Coriolanus Snow more likable. By removing many of his wrongs and betrayals and portraying his relationship with the other protagonist as significantly more romantic than it is in the book, Snow’s internal possessiveness, manipulation, and eventual descent into paranoia and madness are lost (Wang). For many watching the movie without having read the book, this makes the ending extremely jarring, especially if one is not viewing the movie with a critical eye. Likely, these changes were made to cater to an audience less willing to fully digest the story or an audience that hasn’t yet learned proper media literacy skills. Ultimately, these changes compile to the point where the book’s strong themes of morality, propaganda, privilege, and power are lost within a shallow teen romance.
The clear solution to this problem is to incorporate media literacy into school curricula. Media literacy teaches critical and analytical viewing skills to people to help them understand the 'message' behind visual images like TV shows, movies, advertisements, newsletters, infographics, and more. It fosters an ability to question what went into creating this message, what biases were involved, and the intended effect (Pack). This aids children in understanding the fictional content they consume and empowers them to better understand the world around them. Additionally, teaching these skills from a young age will bring on a new generation of powerful producers of media using not only words but also visuals and sound (Pack). As it becomes increasingly important that young adults are able to process the endless news articles and pseudo-news TikToks they see on a daily basis, it also becomes increasingly important that media literacy be just as prevalent in education as learning how to read and write.
Some may question the real-world ramifications of a lack of media literacy. However, during an election year, the need for media literacy education becomes scarily real. In the United States, many people regularly get news from social media or potentially biased sources such as CNN or Fox News. Many political campaigns have begun to use artificial intelligence in their advertisements, and voters are becoming increasingly misinformed (Stockwell). It is extremely important to democracy that voters are able to form a logical opinion of political candidates, and without access to comprehensive news and critical opinions, people cannot properly fulfill their role in our democracy. Without media literacy, people will not be able to evaluate the quality of the news they are receiving or be able to ask their own questions about current events, which makes them very susceptible to propaganda and false information (Stockwell). The impacts of misinformation go far beyond personal choices and voting habits, threatening the public’s trust in government institutions and leading to intense polarization and division. Thus, the possible effects of a lack of media literacy are endless and grim, ultimately undermining freedom of the press and the democratic process.
Whether we’re referring to book-movie adaptations like The Hunger Games or misinformation in a presidential election, media literacy is the only way to put a stop to misinterpretation and misinformation. To help Hollywood create more meaningful movies and hold politicians accountable, we must embed learning strong media literacy skills into English class curriculums for all ages to ensure that generations to come have the tools they need to consume and create any form of media and are able to navigate a complex digital landscape. Empowering them to spot misinformation in the news or subplots in films from a mile away—and to make well informed decisions in all areas of their lives.
Works Cited
Al-Nasser, Nassir Abdulaziz. "Media and Information Literacy As a Means of Preventing Violent Extremism." UN Chronicle, vol. 54, no. 3, Oct. 2017, pp. 30+. Gale OneFile: High SchoolEdition, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A522063187/GPSu=nysl_sc_campsav&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=42ea2367. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Pack, Thomas. "Media literacy: educational organizations advocate enlightened media consumption." Link-Up, vol. 19, no. 3, May 2002, p. 10. Gale OneFile: High School Edition, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A86650242/GPS?u=nysl_sc_campsav&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=bafedb78. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Stockwell, Norman. "MEDIA LITERACY IN A POLITICAL YEAR." The Progressive, vol. 88, no. 3, June-July 2024, pp. 6+. Gale OneFile: High School Edition, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A801441946/GPS?u=nysl_sc_campsav&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=0e0b7009. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Wang, Jessica. “A complex villain story, turned to film: a review of ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’” The Daily Princetonian, 3 Dec. 2023, https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2023/12/princeton-prospect-entertainment-hunger-games-snow-katniss-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes, Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
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