Media Nomads Media – Education and Culture in

A Cross-Cultural Collaboration St. Michael’s College and The Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy 2010-1011 Physical

Bhutan: Some Fast Facts

= In between - China- Flight into Bhutan: Left side of the plane Highest unclimbed mountain in the world 25,000ft - Gangkhar Puensum Population: ~ 708,000 Capital of : about the size of Burlington ~ 8,000 feet elevation Monarchy: Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck + 2008: Bhutan Becomes a Democracy GNH– Gross National Happiness Last Tantric Buddhist country in the world Farming: ~79% of the Population Arable Land: 8% Hydro-Electricity—India No foreign tourists allowed in until 1975 GNH!!! Gross National Happiness 4 Pillars + 9 Domains of Happiness •Good Governance Good Governance is a considered a pillar for happiness because it determines the conditions in which Bhutanese thrive.

Sustainable Socio-economic Development A thriving GNH economy must value social and economic contributions of households and families, free time and leisure given the roles of these factors in Happiness.

•Preservation and Promotion of Culture Happiness is believed to be contributed to by the preserving the Bhutanese culture.

•Environmental Conservation •Environmental Conservation is considered a key contribution to GNH. The environment is believed to contribute to aesthetic and other stimulus that can be directly healing to people who enjoy vivid colours and light, untainted breeze and silence in nature’s sound.

1.Psychological Wellbeing 2.Standard of Living 3.Good Governance 4.Health 5.Education 6.Community Vitality 7.Cultural Diversity and Resilience 8.Time Use 9.Ecological Diversity and Resilience

Media Evolution & “Development” in Bhutan

• LARGER TRANSFORMATIONS – Compulsory Education – 58% Literacy – + Nepali + Tshangla + Engish – 1970s to Present: Electricity – Bhutan gets first stoplight – Bhutan Takes down only stoplight – 60% of population is under 25

• 21ST CENTURY Media Transformations: – 1999: Television Enters (Satellite TV 45200 Channels) – 2000: The Web/Internet – 2005: Cell Phone Telecom – 1970s to Present: Electricity to rural areas – Bhutan gets first stoplight – Bhutan Takes down only stoplight – 2010: The Credit Card arrives! • Urban/Rural Divide • Nepalize Minority • GLOBAL TOURISM!!!

Critical Media Literacy Approach Critical Analysis of media is a must for freedom of the individual w/in a consumer culture Ideological Stances: •Arguments of a CMLA: People learn more from our media than they do from most other . Literacy (reading/writing) is at the core of larger media literacy. sources in our culture (including schools, families, etc). . Critical Analysis of media is a MUST for Therefore, we need to constantly freedom of the individual w/in a consumer ask, WHAT is being taught, by culture. WHOM, and WHO benefits? . The educated “consumer” is a media literate person (with a knowledge about the language and techniques used in all different types of Media is constantly changing, media). therefore our methods of criticism need to change with the forms. • Approaches: . Consult multiple forms of media and get Identify and critically examine information from different sources. the sources of ALL media . Combine Theory, History, Practice messages.

. Production—Quality/Important Stories/Issues Don’t be a blind, single-source . Critically analyze all media/information media consumer. regardless of the source. . Age-Appropriate media.

Media Development/Evolution in Bhutan

• BCMD—The Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy • Grass roots MEDIA EDUCATION INSTITUTION • National Funding! • Media NOMADS Project K- 12 + • National Teachers College

SMC-BCMD 2011 Media Education Project MEDIA NOMADS!

• 12 month – Educational Service/Learning Project on (Cross-cultural Media Literacy) • 25 Bhutanese Students/Teachers • 4 SMC MJD Students – Kayle Schnell – Lynne Anderson – Bobby Gaglini – Alex Greene • 2 SMC Faculty (Profs. Hyde/Kusserow) • BCMD Faculty & Staff • Topics: – Global Media – Media Use/Addiction – Advertising/Consumerism/Me dia – Media & Health/Well-Being – Media Violence/Fear – Media Literacy

SMC-BCMD 2011 Media Education Project • Topics: – Media Gross National Happiness – Media Literacy/Education – Global Media – Media Use/Addiction – Advertising/Consumerism/Media – Media & Health/Well-Being – Media Violence/Fear – Media and Democracy