A Model For Shifting Presentational Constructs Based On Varied Media Filtering Paradigms

The supposedly Spokane-based mockumentary newsdolts of Comedy Channel's new show "Dog Bites Man" may be useful idiots after all, if the reaction from deconstructionist commissars of "media literacy" at Portland State University and their allies is any indication. Three days after the original story ran in L.A. and a day after it hit the global news hub of Fort Wayne, Indiana, one of Seattle's papers is ready to run with it today.

The Oregon attorney general's office last week fired off its second letter to the network reiterating its protest of the TV crew filming under the guise of making a documentary at a real-life media literacy class at Portland State University. The first letter, sent May 30, saw no humor in the situation: "We represent the state of Oregon and Portland State University in the dispute involving the fake news crew that visited PSU under false pretenses on May 16, 2006," wrote Christine A. Chute with the office's government services and education section. "Please provide me with written assurances that none of the footage filmed at PSU will be aired for any purpose whatsoever."

What exactly goes on in media literacy classes at places like PSU, and why is it something to hide, anyway? The institutional narrative tends toward incomprehensibility, I daresay. But media studies instructor Jil Freeman, quoted in the story, inspired PSU students to stage their own media education day on campus last year, replete with play-acting workshops about "racism, sexism and homophobia." Hmmm. I'd really like to see what "Dog Bites Man" filmed last month in the media studies class at PSU.

I guess the show will keep getting in trouble for not admitting they're really a Comedy Channel crew, and true disclosure is admittedly incumbent on producers, reporters and bloggers collecting material for use. But why do subjects who are willing to be profiled by supposed nobodies from a Spokane TV station get unhinged when the nobodies turn out to be network somebodies? Are there different "realities" they present, based on the media present? That sounds worth a PSU media studies doctoral thesis, at least. Here is the basic premise: media subjects at risk of looking absurd by being honest about who they are and what they do will let it all hang out in front of cable TV public access crews and supposed newsdolts from Spokane. But when a network (even the Comedy Channel) or a major metro daily is in the house, it's time to conceal, not reveal.

TECHNORATI TAGS: PORTLAND, OREGON, PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY, DOG BITES MAN, COMEDY CHANNEL, MEDIA LITERACY, FILM CREW, WARNING, DECONSTRUCTIONISM