Abstract

DAS, Biswajit. Media education as a development project: Connecting emancipatory interests and governance in India. Comunicar [online]. 2009, vol.16, n.32, pp.65-82. ISSN 1988-3293.

The recent explosion of communication tools and services within last two decades has posed new questions that are beyond the comprehension of existing pedagogy in Indian communication studies. Indian society has witnessed a widespread proliferation of media technologies to such an extent that they have become ubiquitous in society. However, media education, in India, remains an almost unexplored area of studies. This contribution analyzes the reasons for this lack of interest in light of the international research debate. It also considers alternatives to a Western view of media literacy, based on Sen’s concepts of «capabilities» and «functionings». It shows the advantages of articulating emancipatory interests and media governance but considers also the local limitations of such an enterprise, if media education is not recast in new pedagogies and profound educational reform, that extends beyond the child to the whole of society.

Keywords : Media Technologies; Media Education; Research; Social Responsibility; Capability; Development.

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