What is imagination? Why do we do it? Is imagination an important skill to have? The answer to all of these questions can be found in Media Representations and the Global Imagination. In this book, Shani Orgad explains why imagination is vital to understanding our world today. Orgad defines imagination as “the capacity to see in and think about something that which it is not, to represent ‘the absent as present with all thoughts and feelings it would bring if it were present.’” (Orgad, 2012) Through in-depth critiques of seemingly common parts of our world, Orgad proves how vital imagination is to us. After reading this book, the way one imagines will forever be different, which is why Media Representations and the Global Imagination is a must
…show more content…
“(Hall, 1997) Orgad goes on to explain that media representations refers to “texts (in the broad sense, which include images) that circulate in the media space and carry symbolic content: news photographs and articles, advertisements, radio programs, YouTube videos, blogs, Facebook pages, etc.” (Orgad, 2012) Meanings of these representations are explained through two theories, the reflectionist approach and the constructionist approach. The reflectionist approach is “epitomized by the notion of the historical truth vales of photography.” (Orgad, 2012) Essentially this approach comes back to having proof that some thing happened. This approach also assumes that it is possible to reflect the world without bias. Orgad goes on to argue that while it is the duty and belief of the media that they will be able to reflect the world through the news, it remains imperfect. The reason being, no matter what, every news outlet will have a slightly varied way of reporting the news. The second approach to define representations’ meaning is the constructionist approach. “The …show more content…
By seeing what “life is like” though representations, we can play an endless game of imagining what it would be like for us to live in those circumstances. In order for representations to have meaning, we must be able to imagine them. News, for example is a constant link of representations and imagination going back and forth from the media to their audiences. Imagination is more complex than just thinking about what life would be like on the other side of the world. “Imagination is a process of negotiation and interaction between personal and collective thinking and feeling.” (Orgad, 2012) Orgad goes on to explain that while we have commonly seen imagination as something that is personal and private, it is just the opposite. We do it everyday. Imagination is something that is constantly around us. With everyone nowadays holding the capacity to have a phone that shoots video, there is few little that cannot be represented. A video shows us representation of somewhere we have never been and immediately we see that and start to imagine what visiting that place would be like. What the culture would be like, what the food would taste like, what we would do, where would go, the list goes on and on. Imagination is dependent on representations. Orgad explains, “this capacity is intimately intertwined with the act of representation: the capacity to imagine relies on a repertoire of symbolic resources (representations)
“(Hall, 1997) Orgad goes on to explain that media representations refers to “texts (in the broad sense, which include images) that circulate in the media space and carry symbolic content: news photographs and articles, advertisements, radio programs, YouTube videos, blogs, Facebook pages, etc.” (Orgad, 2012) Meanings of these representations are explained through two theories, the reflectionist approach and the constructionist approach. The reflectionist approach is “epitomized by the notion of the historical truth vales of photography.” (Orgad, 2012) Essentially this approach comes back to having proof that some thing happened. This approach also assumes that it is possible to reflect the world without bias. Orgad goes on to argue that while it is the duty and belief of the media that they will be able to reflect the world through the news, it remains imperfect. The reason being, no matter what, every news outlet will have a slightly varied way of reporting the news. The second approach to define representations’ meaning is the constructionist approach. “The …show more content…
By seeing what “life is like” though representations, we can play an endless game of imagining what it would be like for us to live in those circumstances. In order for representations to have meaning, we must be able to imagine them. News, for example is a constant link of representations and imagination going back and forth from the media to their audiences. Imagination is more complex than just thinking about what life would be like on the other side of the world. “Imagination is a process of negotiation and interaction between personal and collective thinking and feeling.” (Orgad, 2012) Orgad goes on to explain that while we have commonly seen imagination as something that is personal and private, it is just the opposite. We do it everyday. Imagination is something that is constantly around us. With everyone nowadays holding the capacity to have a phone that shoots video, there is few little that cannot be represented. A video shows us representation of somewhere we have never been and immediately we see that and start to imagine what visiting that place would be like. What the culture would be like, what the food would taste like, what we would do, where would go, the list goes on and on. Imagination is dependent on representations. Orgad explains, “this capacity is intimately intertwined with the act of representation: the capacity to imagine relies on a repertoire of symbolic resources (representations)