We can change the world by changing the way we make it visible
Organizers: VEGA Youth Center, Belgrade, Serbia. www.vega.org.rs
1. WHY we organize this training course???
The contemporary culture is characterized by the emphasis on visual media as generators and interpreters of the world that is surrounding us. Often people are not aware of the input and the influence visual media communication has on the way they define themselves, their friends and acquaintances, and the world they live in. Visual images are an important channel through which ideologies are re/mediated and onto which ideologies are projected. Therefore, passive consuming of media can result in the reinforcement of stereotypes, emotional inertness towards social events and alienation. In order to get a critical standpoint towards the transmitted messages, it is essential to be able to understand the way they are created.
This training is designed to enable youth workers and young people from EU and neighboring countries to use critical examination of media as a tool for fighting prejudices and xenophobia as well as understanding the potential of media in promotion of youth activism, cultural diversity and social awareness. The basic concept of the workshop is that critical understanding of popular media can have a material effect on the world we live in. We can change the world by changing the way we make it visible.
2. WHO we are???
“Vega” Youth Center is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, based in Belgrade, Serbia. Vega was founded in December of 2000 to offer new perspectives and possibilities to the young people of Belgrade.
Vega’s mission is to raise social awareness among Serbian youth and to assist them in increasing their understanding of the cultures that surround them. Vega’s main goal is strengthening creative socialization among Serbian youth. Vega achieves its goal through i) promoting tolerance; ii) providing a platform for information exchange iii) organising seminars and youth exchanges iv) promoting informal education and v) developing intellectual perspectives.
In April 2008 Vega YC launched the long term Visual Culture Research Center project that will educate youngsters on media literacy and video skills and will produce, screen and promote films on cultural and social issues. The emphasis of the project is on applying a responsible attitude towards the power of media and on working with a methodological approach based on the principles of visual anthropology, that is with respect to the filming subjects and the viewers.
3. WHEN will this course be implemented???
16th / 24th November 2009.
4. WHERE will this course be implemented???
The course will be held in the extraordinary, floating Arkabarka hostel. A wooden house on the river Danube in a beautiful park in the center of Belgrade, Serbia. (www.arkabarka.net)
5. WHICH expenses will be covered ???
- 70% of travel expenses will be covered by the organizers
- Food, accommodation and visa costs (if applicable) will be covered in full by the organizers
6. WHICH methods will be used ???
The methodological approach is based on the concept of intergenerational and dialogic education. It also describes an intentional outcome, the goal of which is to enable the participants to “read,” “write,” and “rewrite” the world through making media, and to encourage them to see themselves as active agents, able to shape their own identities, experiences and histories.
Activity wise, the approach will be participatory in nature, and focused on learner-learned interaction. The phases of the project activities will be the following:
i) exploration of the interests and initial knowledge of the participants;
ii) encouragement of self managed and cooperative learning through initial assignments prior to the activity;
iii) critical questioning of what is being learned
iv) creating media with the guidance of the trainers / MA Visual Anthropologist Vasiliki Akretidou from Greece, and a film director and artist from Belgrade Milos Tomic (www.milostomic.com)
v) creating strategies for application of what is learned to participants’ environments;
vi) further exploration of the knowledge by envisaging possible follow up/ multiplier projects.
The educative approach that best suits the media literacy training is called the “inquiry process” and includes both analytical (deconstruction) skills as well as cre¬ative communications (construction / production) skills. When analysis is combined with creative production, theory unites with application, thereby allowing the participants to discover and express their learning in an interconnected and natural process. Each enriches the other, and allows for interaction that furthers knowledge and encourages participation.
We believe that learning media literacy must be understood as a social rather than individual skill and that what the participants must acquire should be understood as skills and cultural competencies. The idea is that beyond what the media art forms and technology tools allow, their application and impact on learning and identity are mediated by the social positions and community contexts that organize participation.
Our view of learning is therefore very participatory. Whenever people are engaged in activities with each other, the potential for learning is there.
7. WHO will participate in this course???
This is the list of Partner Organizations, we will send a contact list with all of the participants names after September 20th.
Country of residence - Promoter SERBIA - VEGA YOUTH CENTER
FYROM - YOUTH ASSOCIATION CREACTIVE
CROATIA - RAPLECTION
FEDERATION BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA - YOUTH CENTRE “COSMOS”
UKRAINA - CHEMIVTSI CELL OF ALLUKRANIAN ASSOCIATION PORA!
TURKEY - INTERNATIONAL RE-DE CLUB
SLOVENIA - DRUSTVO ZAVEZNIKOV MEHKEGA PRISTANKA
POLAND - GDANSK ARCHIPELAGO OF CULTURE
BULGARIA - BULGARIAN ASSOCIATION OF APPLIED PSHYCHOLOGY
LITHUANIA - LITHUANIAN GAY LEAGUE
GEORGIA - SIQA GEORGIAN ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES
GREECE - ELIX CONSERVATION VOULNTEERS
SPAIN - BARCELONA VOLUNTARIA
GERMANY - CULTURE GOES EUROPE
Skills/ Technical requirements needed from the participants
We expect curious and creative people, with genuine interest in youth work and media. Through the project cycle, the participants will actively engage in the preparation phase, as well as during the activity implementation.
We ask of the participants to bring one digital photo camera (any type) and a tripod (if available).