Program Length: 1/2 hour
Produced: 2002

The following questions and activities are based on the order in which information is presented in the video.  The activities included here cover three different types of questions and assignments: basic review questions on information that is presented in the video; questions which deal with issues or events requiring further research; and assignments which require personal reflection on the issues being explored.  You may wish to view the video, or sections of it, more than once. 

The activities included here are only suggestions.  You may wish to adapt these for the students in your class.  Some of the questions might be best addressed in small group discussions or in a form of classroom debate; you may wish to extend others to include specific actions or participation in a campaign.  Obviously, it is important to use those activities that best suit the students and the curriculum. 

I – MUSICIANS AND THEIR MUSIC

The video begins with the host, George Stroumboulopoulos, talking about the events of September 11th and the images that will remain in our minds forever.  He says that after the tragedy occurred, many people talked about the need to put things into perspective and the need to turn to music for support and inspiration.  He interviews several musicians about their reactions to the tragedy, their music, its role, and the impact September 11th has had on them. 

1.      Several musicians share their reactions to the tragedy of September 11th.  Which ones can you relate to?  Why?  What was your reaction when you first heard or saw the news coverage?  What is your reaction to the images of the tragedy now?  Has your reaction changed over time?  Why or why not?

2.      Tyler Stewart of the Barenaked Ladies comments that the images of September 11th were like special effects scenes from a movie.  Independence Day and Air Force One, for example, are films that make use of special effects and have plots that contain terrorist attacks on America.

a)   What are the key ingredients that make up the formula for films such as these?
b)   What messages and values are conveyed through these films? 
c)   What are the conventions for dramatic or action adventure films that include violence?  (Consider special effects, sound effects, choreography and music.)  Do these conventions ‘glamourize’ violence in any way?  Do they lessen the impact of real life images from tragedies such as the events of September 11th?

3.  The video contains a written statement from several artists, including Alanis Morissette, Madonna, Common, U2 and Moby.  Comment on the importance of one or more of these statements.  Which ones “speak” to you, or communicate a message that you believe is particularly important for our time?  Explain your answer fully.

4.  Several artists comment on how the events of September 11th will effect their work and the way music in general will be made in the future.  Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip explains that the “filter” he sees things through is different now.  Stephen Page of the Barenaked Ladies said that everything will be marked by September 11th and referred to  now as having been created “before” the tragedy and “after” the tragedy.

a)      Is there a clear distinction between music that was created before September 11th, and what was created after?  If so, what makes the music created after September 11th unique? 
b)      Is there evidence of such a distinction in other forms of entertainment such as television programming and feature films?  Explain your answer with examples. 

5.      The last section of the video continues the discussion of the role of music in a time of tragedy.  Common states that music now “needs to go back to [Bob] Dylan, when…the subject mattered.”  Other musicians state that “fluffy” music won’t last; people need music that has depth and provides inspiration.   Several artists state that the role of music is to provide perspective, insight and healing. 

a)      Do you think the events of September 11th will affect the kind of music that becomes popular today?  Explain with examples.  What role do you believe music plays during times of tragedy?  Discuss specific songs that you think are effective examples of the roles described above.  What qualities do these songs have that affect their listeners in particular ways?

6.      “Music is one of the most powerful mediums we’ve got.  I think everyone associates with songs and art more than they associate with some politician…on a TV.”  (Fran Healy)

a)      Do you agree with this statement?  Explain why some people might relate to music more than politics.  What songs do you have a strong association with?  Why? 
b)      Are there any political figures that you identify with?  What qualities do you think a political leader needs today in order for people to identify with him/her?  What impression did you receive of the political leaders involved in the September 11th tragedy?  How were President Bush and Mayor Giuliani portrayed in the media?

7.  Many artists talk about the power of music to provide comfort and the opportunity for reflection and healing.  The music of John Lennon, Bob Marley and U2 is discussed as being especially appropriate during these times.   

a)  Listen to the music, read the lyrics, and if possible watch the videos of several of the artists who are interviewed or discussed in this video.  Explain the ways in which these artists might provide inspiration and comfort to their audiences today.  Discuss whether or not you personally find their music inspiring or healing.     

8.  George Stroumboulopoulos talks about the fact that during the September 11th crisis, freedom of speech was called into question.  Some artists received very negative feedback if they tried to comment on the cause of the events, and many songs were banned from playlists because they were seen as “problematic.”  Some of the songs removed from Toronto playlists included: “It’s Raining Men” – Geri Halliwell; “Burning Down the House” – Talking Heads; “Beds are Burning” – Midnight Oil; and several songs by Rage Against the Machine.  A Britney Spears soft drink commercial was pulled by U.S. networks because “it wasn’t appropriate for the times.”

a)  Add to the list any other songs you know of that were dropped from radio playlists.  What is your opinion of this kind of censorship?   Can it be justified?  Do you think these songs are truly problematic for listeners, or were networks and radio stations overreacting?  What would you do if you were making a decision about appropriate content for radio or television during the September 11th crisis?  What guidelines would you put in place?      

9.  On September 23rd, MuchMusic  hosted Music Without Borders.  This telethon raised  money for the victims of the September 11th tragedy and raised awareness about the issues and events of that day.  Many musicians performed during the telethon, and experts were brought in to talk about various aspects of the tragedy with a studio audience.

a)      What does an event such as Music Without Borders provide for the MuchMusic audience? 
b)      What role can musicians play in this kind of context? 
c)      Do you think it is important to include experts and discussion in this kind of event rather than just holding a concert?  Do you think the discussion would be effective for  viewers in this context?  Why or why not?

II – MEDIA COVERAGE

The musicians interviewed provide a number of perspectives on the media coverage of September 11th.  Some of their comments include the following: the media provided information on a government and a terrorist situation we didn’t know much about prior to this day;  the internet played an important role in connecting us to what was going on; comparing news coverage revealed discrepancies in information, and so it was, and still is, important to check the facts presented.  Other musicians reminded us of the need to investigate alternative media sources in order to be exposed to opinions and perspectives different than those covered by the mainstream media.  This became especially important for some when “after the shock of the initial images, like a director working an actor, the media  worked the American public.”  Others said that the mainstream media pushed approval for war, and did not provide any space or airtime for opposing views.

1.  Which of these comments about the media coverage of September 11th do you agree with?  Explain your opinion of the media coverage with examples of what you saw or heard, or what you think was missing from the coverage.

Explore the media coverage of September 11th more closely by completing the questions and activities which appear below.

FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE THE NEWS:

2.  Most people working in the news industry would agree that there are six factors which determine what stories will make the news of the day.  These factors include: timeliness, proximity, consequence, human interest, prominence, and relevant visuals.

a)  Using these factors, explain why the events of September 11th were, and still are, particularly newsworthy.  Are there some factors that seem to be more important in this case than others?  Explain.

THE POWER OF THE IMAGE:

3.   The images of the events which took place on September 11th were extremely powerful and dominated news coverage for several days. 

a)      What were some of the images that appeared on television and in newspaper coverage?  What images were presented most often?  What impact did these selected images have on you as a viewer?  Did this impact change over time?  Why or why not? 
b)      Do you think we will remember much information from this day that doesn’t exist in images?  Why or why not? If an image is extremely powerful, what happens to other information that is not contained in visual form?  What are the implications of this for becoming informed about the events of September 11th?
c)      Some of the most memorable images came from coverage of those people who were personally affected by this tragedy.  While these images were, and still are, very moving, many people were concerned that publishing or broadcasting these images was invasive, and did not respect people’s need for privacy during a time of suffering and mourning.  i)                   What is your reaction to images of people personally affected by this tragedy?
ii)                 What advice would you give crews about what they should and should not photograph when reporting on a disaster or tragedy?    Is it possible to depict the emotional impact of such events without taking away people’s privacy or dignity? 
d)  What images would you select to represent September 11th ?  How would you decide what is important to show?

 COMPASSION FATIGUE:

4.  Many journalists have expressed concern about compassion fatigue, or the fact that people can often grow tired of caring about events that deserve our attention and compassion.  Media critics have suggested that those working in the media are partly to blame for compassion fatigue, because the kind of coverage we receive causes us to grow tired of caring.  Others caution that the media give us the kind of coverage we demand and accept. 

Critics suggest that compassion fatigue can influence the kinds of stories that make up the news as journalists attempt to reach and maintain their audiences.   Factors such as the  timeliness of an event, its proximity to the audience, and the visual quality of a story all affect whether or not a story will make the news, and how audiences respond to it.

a)  Do you think that compassion fatigue is a problem related to news coverage and audiences today? Why or why not?  Do you agree that compassion fatigue can affect the kinds of stories that make the news?  Did you experience any compassion fatigue  in relation to the coverage of September 11th?  If so, explain what elements of the coverage contributed to this experience for you. 
b)  Is there any kind of reporting which would combat compassion fatigue?  For example, did personal stories of those who died affect you differently than stories about mass numbers of casualties? 
c)  How might compassion fatigue explain why we received “fragmentary” coverage about Afghanistan and Pakistan prior to these events?  How much did you know about Bin Laden before September 11th?  How might this fragmentary coverage make it difficult for us to understand the events surrounding September 11th, or make a meaningful decision about what should happen next?
d)      Do you think compassion fatigue will have an impact on the stories of September 11th  over time?  Explain.
e)      Imagine that the terrorist attacks had occurred in a country other than the U.S.  What kind of coverage do you think these events would have received?  Do you think compassion fatigue would have affected our response to them? 

(based on questions and information from “Re:constructions”:  http://web.mit.edu/cms/reconstructions/interpretations/compassion.html)

ANALYSING THE NEWS – Manufacturing Consent:

The voices licensed to follow the event seem to have joined together to infantilize the public.  Where is the acknowledgement that this was no “cowardly” attack on “civilization” or “liberty” or humanity of “the free world” but an attack on the world’s self-proclaimed superpower, undertaken as a consequence of specific American alliances and actions? 
Susan Sontag

Americans don’t get daily coverage on CNN of the ongoing bombings in Iraq, nor are they treated to human-interest stories on the devastating effects of economic sanctions on that country’s children.  After the 1998 bombing of a pharmaceutical factory in Sudan, there weren’t too many follow up reports about what the loss of vaccine manufacturing did to disease prevention in the region.
The United States has become expert in the art of sanitizing and dehumanizing acts of war committed elsewhere.  Domestically, war is no longer a national obsession, it’s a business that is now largely out-sourced to experts.  This is one of the country’s many paradoxes: through the engine of globalization around the world, the nation has never been more inward looking, less worldly.
Naomi Klein

5.      Many media critics agree that the coverage of September 11th provides an excellent case study of the “manufacture of consent” in the mainstream press for the U.S. government and the war against Afghanistan. The following quote explains why media analysis is  important during these times:

“What media analysis tries to do is both locate and explain the meanings that seem to dominate our discussions of a particular event—in this case issues of nationalism, security, morality, mourning, militarism—and at the same time locate or describe those meanings which are being pushed aside or forgotten—in this case perhaps multiculturalism, civil liberties, international cooperation, the humanity of the enemy.

Media analysis can thus be the tool that can help us understand how the culture is responding to a catastrophe, as well as a tool that can help us recover important ideas and values that need to be heard, as the society deliberates about subsequent actions.”  (Source: http://web.mit.edu/cms/reconstructions/introduction.html)

Investigate the media coverage closely using the questions below as a guide. Following your investigation, discuss the ways in which the statements by Susan Sontag and Naomi Klein apply to your findings. 

-Who is quoted?  Who is left out?  What perspectives are missing? 

-What is the main message?  What facts are present to support it?  Who benefits if this message is accepted?  Who loses?

-What events received coverage?  How much information is available?  What information do you need that is missing?

b)  If possible, compare radio, newspaper and television coverage of the events.  Does the medium affect the message we receive? How much is this based on the characteristics unique to each medium?  Consider the ways in which information is presented in each medium, including the function of words, images, sound, etc. What kind of information is communicated in each experience?

ALTERNATIVE MEDIA:

6.  As well as examining mainstream or corporate media for information about September 11th, we also need to be able to identify and access alternative sources of news and information. Mainstream and alternative media are different in several important ways. Mainstream media generally consists of media outlets owned by major corporations and are strongly influenced by their commercial interests. The degree to which a text might be considered alternative usually depends on a number of key factors. The more independent of commercial interests the media are, the more likely they are to be considered alternative.

Alternative media tend to express alternative values, points of view and lifestyles to what is commonly found in mainstream media.  Alternative texts are often challenging in content and tone, and are often described as “activist,” “oppositional,” and “progressive” and characteristically are small, independent, and non-profit. 

There is a respected historical tradition associated with alternative media.  Often during times of conflict or injustice, these media attempt to document stories in such a way as to expose us to perspectives that might not be covered in the mainstream press. People such as Noam Chomsky and Naomi Klein are associated with this tradition.

a)      Explore a number of websites such as www.indymedia.org, www.fair.org,  www.zmag.org, www.hrw.org, www.amnesty.org.  What can you learn from alternative media sources about the events of September 11th that you do not learn from mainstream media coverage?  Comment on the topics covered, the experts consulted, the issues addressed, background information provided, and the alternatives to war that are put forth here.  You may wish to look at the Amnesty International site and the section titled “Justice Not Revenge,” and the Human Rights Watch site for the section titled “September 11th: The Aftermath of the Attacks.” Compare your findings with the information you gathered from the mainstream media.
b)      Summarize the insights you have gained from your research.  What advice would you give to people who want to become more informed about the events of September 11th?  Prepare a report in which you outline your recommendations for becoming media literate about these events.

7.  Several artists in the video express their opinion about what actions should be taken in response to the events of September 11th, and how they feel about the U.S. attacks on Afghanistan.  Some of the artists say that the people responsible for the attacks on the U.S. should be punished, and we need to make sure that this never happens again.  Others express concern about choosing war as a solution, stating that if we take this action, we too are killing innocent people, and there is no difference, then, between “us and them.” 

a)      Which of these comments do you agree with?  What do you believe the response of the U.S. government should be?  Explain your answer, drawing on the insights you have gained from your research into the media coverage of September 11th. 

III  FINAL FOOTAGE   

1.  a)  The footage in the final section of the video comes from CameraPlanet.com and is based on the conventions of documentary filmmaking.  What effect is created through the presentation of the images in this sequence?  How does this footage convey a sense of  reality about September 11th?  Are there certain elements that are more powerful for you than others?  Why?   Compare your interpretation of this sequence with that of your peers.  
b)  Discuss the effect of the hand-held camera as the videographer walks down the street in New York, near the World Trade Centre.  What effect does this have on our perspective as viewers?  Discuss the power of the images we see, including the McDonalds sign in neon lights.  What message is conveyed to you through the images presented here?
c)  Compare this footage to any network news coverage you remember seeing.  What are the similarities and differences?  Which footage do you think is more effective in conveying a message to viewers about this tragedy?
d)  The song “Overcome” by Live provides the soundtrack for this segment of the video.  Examine the lyrics of this song.  How do they comment on the tragedy of September 11th?  What other songs do you think would provide an effective soundtrack?  What images would you consider including in a documentary about the tragedy? 

Biography:

Carolyn Wilson is a teacher, author, consultant and President of the Association for Media Literacy in Ontario, Canada. Carolyn has represented the AML at conferences in Austria, Brazil, Costa Rica, Greece, the U.S., and Canada. Carolyn teaches Media Literacy and English at St. Michael Secondary School in Stratford, Ontario and is the co-author of the best selling text book, Mass Media and Popular Culture, Version 2. She has developed an interdisciplinary global education program that includes a billeting experience in the Dominican Republic and a volunteer placement with a local social service agency. She has written about and given workshops on such topics as global studies and the media, corporate sponsorship in education, gender representation in the media and communications technology.

For more information about MuchMusic's educational programming -- or to give us your feedback -- please contact:

Calla Dewdney
Public Affairs Coordinator
CHUM Television
416-591-7400 x2786
callad@chumtv.com