The+Media+Issue

W e live in a civilization that has distanced itself from the true roots and nutritional foundations of our Neanderthal heritage. With its adherence to feeding the body in accordance with the seasons and availability of food, the physical requirements of the time, and the natural body signals for hunger and satiety, obesity was rarely an issue. I n these modern times we have discarded our sense of “natural being” for one of instant gratification and reward. It is in this mindset that we have embraced quick, “plastic” meals in favour of optimal nutrition. The increased pace of life and our oft pre-occupation with wanting more, has seen us move from common sense eating to the obsessive consumption of instant meals with little nutritional value. In addition we are bombarded with digital and static images designed to woo us into altered states of thinking where our lives will be “better”, “easier”, and more “rewarding” if we consume these delicious morsels. O ur children are the drivers of tomorrow’s economy; the entrepreneurs of the future. It is this demographic audience to which advertising gurus target their enticements with toy-accompanying meal options that are beguilingly colourful, wrapped in birthday-like promise, whilst all the time disguising their cocktails of preservatives, additives, trans-fats, saturated fats, sodium and sugar. I t is the intention of the authors of this wiki to open debate for teachers and learners to explore the possible links between fast food advertising and rising obesity rates.The wiki will provide opportunities to explore the power of persuasion, the nutritional and physical activity needs of children, and touch upon the economics and ethics of advertising.Tasks will actively engage students in a range of contextual learning experiences. Opportunities will arise to use a range of skills and ICT technologies to explore the issue. Higher order thinking skills, emotive and values based judgments, and exploration of personal attitudes towards the issue will be encouraged.



References:

//Chips.// (Photograph). (n.d.). Retrieved on May 18, 2011, from [] //Danger sign.// (Clip Art). (n.d.). Retrieved on May 18, 2011, from [|www.vegansoapbox.com/fast-food/] //Kentucky Fried.// (Photograph). (n.d.) Retrieved on May 18, 2011, from []