"For two decades, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) prepared pedagogical materials for Canadian schools. This article reviews the role of visual media in the hundreds of publications prepared for Development Education. Samples collected by Marc Rockbrune, Distribution Clerk respon
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sible for their expedition in schools, libraries, and homes, and donated in 2016 to Carleton University Archives and Research Collections, are read with the help of the ‘psychopedagogical guides’ prepared by CIDA, and the testimonies of two workers of the agency linked to their preparation and dissemination: Mary Bramley, curator of the International Development Photo Library, and Rockbrune himself. Prepared with a large measure of autonomy by a sizeable team of visual artists, designers, and third world reformers, the program outreach was large, and its popularity strong. The expected and effective roles of visual media in the history of this short-lived institution of Development Education is explored to suggest elements of understanding of their impact on a generation of Canadian children and youth." (Abstract)
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"The documentary film Gringo Trails explores the long-term effects of tourism globalization on cultures, economies and the environment in the developing world through the lens of budget backpacker travelers and their storytelling. This chapter explores the travel narrative to tourism globalization a
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s it was visualized over a 30-year timespan through Gringo Trails and traces the effect of the film itself through it’s journey at international screenings and in press coverage. Tracking the film’s trajectory from it’s premiere in late 2013 through 2015 and the reactions to it either verbally or in print provides the catalyst for a discussion on the role of long-term, ethnographic filmic observation and research in exploring globalization processes; and, connects media practices to the scholarship on development, tourism studies, and the anthropology of tourism." (Abstract)
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"The internet is often celebrated for the abundant opportunities it appears to offer citizens to become more informed about and inspired to act on issues related to international development and distant suffering. But to what extent do users actually make use of such opportunities? And what social p
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rocesses are such decisions governed by? This article begins to answer these questions by analysing the results of a two-month study of UK internet users’ online behaviour. The results reveal, not just a general resistance to using the internet to develop a cosmopolitan consciousness, but also the dominant modes of avoidance that participants used to justify their inactivity. I conclude that the potential for digital cosmopolitanism appears to be primarily governed, not by the peculiarities of individual texts or even the properties of the technology, but by the nature and acceptability of pre-existing discursive resources and how they are deployed by users." (Abstract)
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"This report reviews and highlights some key issues in the current debate on development communication. To do so it draws on experiences and inputs from members of the Informal Network of Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Development Communicators (DevCom) [...] The report starts by looking at
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one of the fundamental elements regarding development communication: the monitoring of public support [...] the report then looks at communications strategies. Whereas only a few years ago they were somewhat rare among development ministries and agencies, they are now becoming common currency. Some are on their third or fourth generation and others have developed specific strategies (e.g. for the use of new media). This professionalisation of development communication is also seen in the next section, which covers the question of the measurement of the impact of these communications strategies and activities. Evaluation in this type of area is always challenging, and often ends up being built on the measurement of activities and output (and less on impact and effect)." (Executive summary)
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"Visual literacy is a characteristic all human beings inherently possess. Yet because of our cultural and social differences, we interpret visual symbols and representations, such as drawings, pictures, and artefacts, in different ways. How and why people use visual images to represent complex ideas
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and processes is the focus of How People use Pictures. It is the first comprehensive review of the literature on visual literacy in over a decade, and offers new insights into this complicated issue. Written for practitioners interested in communicating with local people using pictures and visual symbols and for researchers interested in gaining a deeper appreciation of the 'language of the visual', this book provides detailed annotations of over 100 key references, as well as an extensive list of useful institutions and resources." (Publisher description)
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