How can we empower preteens to become active cultural creators in the current media environment?
What if children could be the creators of their own culture, would they simply be passive consumers in the current culture?
The notion of “active culture creators” extends beyond the creation of digital content; we need to look at a broader, more inclusive understanding of culture. It could be forms of expression, traditions, community activities, and other related areas. Here are several cultural aspects that preteens can engage with and contribute to, such as performing arts – fostering an appreciation of the arts and providing a medium for self-expression; visual arts – tangible expressions of culture that help them communicate their perspectives and identities; literary arts – not only promoting literacy but also allowing preteens to share their stories and learn from the stories of others, fostering empathy and a deeper understanding of diverse life experiences.
Encouraging preteens to participate in cultural activities can foster a strong sense of identity, promote diversity, develop social skills and contribute positively to their communities. This can be achieved by providing them with opportunities and spaces to express themselves, learn about their community and that of others, and impact the world around them.
The meaning of the word ‘creator’ has been compromised?”
The term “creator” has indeed undergone significant changes over time. With the advent of social media and content-sharing platforms, the term “creator” has broadened to include various activities. Today, anyone who produces content for digital platforms can be termed a “creator,” whether posting videos, blogs, podcasts, or simply social media updates. While this democratization has opened up content creation to a broader audience, it also means the word “creator” now encompasses a wide range of quality and originality, from unique artistic contributions to everyday social media posts.
This broadened usage dilutes the term’s original meaning, as it no longer necessarily implies a significant creative process or original output. However, this might be seen as an evolution of the term, reflecting the new and diverse ways people can express themselves and share their work in the digital age.