Media Deconstruction

 

Authors and Audience

Who produced this document and for what purpose?
A magazine called The Blaze that can be found at blaze.com which has many ties to Glen Beck.  The purpose of this magazine as is says on the cover is that "truth lives here".  I take this as the reader should blindly trust the content. 

When was this produced, and what was it's historical context?

This particular edition was released in May 2014.  This was just months after the implementation of common core and would have fueled to mistrust of a new system.   

Who is the target audience?

The main target audience is likely to be parents of children that are currently in the school system and will be learning by the common core.

Messages and Meanings

What are the messages communicated?

It is a fairly straightforward message that the common core is a threat to the American way of life and the education of our youth.

What techniques are used to attract and hold attention?

This picture of the students with the thought bubbles like they are actually thinking this.  The different use of fonts and colors direct the reader's attention to the main reading points. 

 How might people interpret this message differently?

When looking into this article- one can see which side of the fence they are on and so those who are against common core from the get go will use this "source" to push their side of the coin.  Those who are in favor will probably not even read this article. 

Who might benefit from (and who might be harmed by) this message?

My fear is that none will benefit from this kind of one sided point of view.  Only those who like to make readers fear the unknown.  I also feel that it is the students who will be harmed from articles such as these.  

Representation and Reality

What information or perspective is left out of this message?

The prospective of the one that sees positive light in the common core seems to be left out of the message. Judging from this cover, common core has no chance to be of benefit to our society. 

Is this an accurate and credible representation?

There are many different views of common core and I am sure there will be many more to come, however by the article only stating the negative and then playing on the fears of others I feel this makes the article less credible in my eyes. 
  
How does this reflect the perspective or bias of its creator?

The creator is a very right sided political point of view. 

Text and Subtext

Text: 

The cover is focused on a group of children in a classroom, facing forward towards a chalkboard. Coming from the children are several "thought clouds" turning into the thought "Common core's threat to our kids, our freedom and our future."  The cover also has the tagline "Truth Lives Here." 

Subtext:

First, if a news source has a tagline similar to "the truth lives here," I typically am skeptical of how truthful it really is. This article immediately has me afraid of its content simply due to the fact that it is using common core to suggest a political attack on our country and children.

Children are at risk due to the common core. The common core is taking away freedom.  The common core does not teach children.

Language of Persuasion

1: Timing

2. Fear

3. Intensive

4. Plain Folks

5. Charisma

6. Extrapolation

7. Glittering generalities

8. Name-calling

9. Nostalgia

10. Slippery Slope

11. Diversion
12.  Experts