Environmental Literacy and New Digital Audiences PDF
Preview Environmental Literacy and New Digital Audiences
‘The study is informed by Brereton’s vast expertise and continuing interest in environmental ethics and the public sphere. Consequently, the questions about audience-h ood and environmentalism that he tackles are not limited to merely how media audiences consume and understand environmental messages, but rather how those audiences might actually be motivated to take social action. This makes his examination of the role of media in the formation of environ- mental citizenship, understood as civic participation in an age of ecological crisis, a crucial resource for those of us who are committed to confronting the challenge of climate change.’ Patrick D. Murphy, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Klein College of Media and Communication, Temple University, USA Environmental Literacy and New Digital Audiences Environmental literacy and education is not simply a top- down process of dis- seminating correct attitudes, values and beliefs. Rather, it is one that incorpor- ates and facilitates a dialogue with audiences of different persuasions and at all levels of engagement, to help highlight and co- produce consensual solutions to the major eco-c hallenges of our time. Exploring the growing power and influence of media formats and outlets like YouTube and gaming, alongside fictional and documentary film, this book con- siders new modes of environmental literacy to ascertain the effectiveness of digital and filmic stimuli on an audience’s perception of environmental issues, and its specific impact on environmental action. Drawing on extensive research across a broad range of media formats, Brereton establishes how environmental narratives and meanings are created and being received by contemporary audiences. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of environmental communication and media, eco-c riticism and environmental humanities more broadly. Pat Brereton is a Professor at Dublin City University, Ireland, and has taught and published extensively around environmental communications and all forms of new media. Routledge Studies in Environmental Communication and Media Environmental Communication and Critical Coastal Policy Communities, Culture and Nature Kerrie Foxwell-N orton Climate Change and Post- Political Communication Media, Emotion and Environmental Advocacy Philip Hammond The Discourses of Environmental Collapse Imagining the end Edited by Alison E. Vogelaar, Brack W. Hale and Alexandra Peat Environmental Management of the Media Policy, Industry, Practice Pietari Kääpä Participatory Networks and the Environment The BGreen Project in the US and Bangladesh Fadia Hasan Participatory Media in Environmental Communication Engaging Communities in the Periphery Usha Harris Journalism, Politics, and the Dakota Access Pipeline Standing Rock and the Framing of Injustice Ellen Moore Environmental Literacy and New Digital Audiences Pat Brereton For more information about this series, please visit: www.routledge.com/ Routledge-S tudies-in- Environmental-Communication-a nd-Media/book-s eries/ RSECM Environmental Literacy and New Digital Audiences Pat Brereton First published 2019 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2019 Pat Brereton The right of Pat Brereton to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing-i n-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-i n-Publication Data A catalog record has been requested for this book ISBN: 978-1-138-04925-3 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-315-16968-2 (ebk) Typeset in Times New Roman by Wearset Ltd, Boldon, Tyne and Wear To my youngest son Conor, who first told me about environmental YouTube videos, together with Rita and Robert who kept me grounded and gave me lots of ideas and criticism. Most sincerely to my wife Angela, for her constant support and consideration. Finally, to our dear colleague Louise McDermott who was the soul of Dublin City University (DCU) and left this life far too soon. Contents Acknowledgements xi 1 Environmental literacy: an introduction 1 2 Understanding audience psychology and trigger points for promoting environmental literacy 20 3 Promoting new media literacy: engagement with sustainable environmental literacy 37 4 Food documentaries and green anxieties: actively promoting environmental literacy 57 5 Eco- documentaries: old problems, new aesthetic opportunities 76 6 Contemporary Hollywood blockbusters and environmental narratives 96 7 An environmental analysis of post 9/11 Ameri can televisual series 115 8 Netflix and emerging streaming networks: new forms of immersive and addictive narratives and characterisation 131 9 Video games and environmental learning: new modes of audience engagement 151 10 Going viral: YouTube and new forms of environmental literacy 172
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