LEN MASTERMAN
DATE OF INTERVIEW: NOV. 3, 2010
INTERVIEWER: DEE MORGENTHALER
(QUOTE)
…Representation is the key concept of all the concepts, I think, because in media we’re dealing with representational systems or a representational system, and therefore, the key questions there are the key questions in relation to questions of identity and race and culture and so on…What is being represented, how are my views being represented, who is representing and speaking for me, and which are the voices which never get represented? And you’ve got there the basic key questions for any of the most important areas of study, new areas of study, in the school and university curriculum….
It seemed to me that I had what first looked like, first of all, a reasonably coherent field to study, which is a sort of first requirement of any sort of discipline. You’ve got to be able to say what stands inside and outside of the field. Any discipline worth its salt has got to have a set of key questions and issues that it thinks are important. It has got to have some key ideas and key concepts…and it’s got to have a particular and characteristic mode of inquiry…
.
BIOGRAPHY OF LEN MASTERMAN
Known as the originator of the idea of media representation and the Key Concepts of Media Literacy, Len Masterman started his career as a teacher. He became an international sensation with the 1980 publication of his book, “Teaching about Television,” which sold out twice on its print run in the first six months of publication and ultimately sold 100,000 copies worldwide after five years of rejection by many publishers. His subsequent book, “Teaching the Media,” applies the systematic framework he developed to media as a whole; this book was published in 1985. Masterman is now retired.
INTERVIEW TEXT
Selected Questions:
How did you become involved in the field or in the movement of media education…what inspired the beginning of your journey?
How old were your students?
And how did they receive your material?
DM: How did you become involved in the field or in the movement of media education…what inspired the beginning of your journey?
For complete text of interview go to PDF.