Video: The Date Rape Backlash: Media & the Denial of Rape

How did date rape shift from a "shockingly frequent... outrage," as Newsweek once called it, to a controversy over "crying rape," as New York magazine later labeled it? Susan Faludi, bell hooks, Mary Koss, Katha Pollitt, Neil Malamuth, and ohters, analyze a classical case study in media "backlash."

By the early 1990s, solid research and overwhelming evidence had prompted a growing awareness of the epidemic nature of date rape, especially on college campuses. But, starting in 1993, the media used the anecdotal comments of one young woman, Katie Roiphe, to undermine efforts to stop this continuing crime against women. How did this happen? Academy Award Winning- screenwriter Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise) hosts a lively discussion by researchers, journalists, and authors.

One in 5 college women will be subjected to rape or attempted rape.

In 78% of rape cases, the victim knew the assailant.

In acquaintance rape, alcohol or drugs were involved with 55% of the women and 75% of the men.

Revista Media & Values realizada por el Center for Media Literacy

Enlace directo a la revista que publica el Center for Media Literacy y algunos de sus principales documentos

For over 15 years — 1977–1993 — Media&Values magazine plowed the field for planting the media literacy movement in the United States. Begun as a graduate school project by CML founder Elizabeth Thoman, a former high school English and journalism teacher, the magazine grew over the years to become the "smartest magazine about the media published in the United States" according to the London Sunday Telegraph.

Originally a newsletter for teachers and leaders in the religious community, it evolved over time into a non-commercial, non-sectarian publication with a circulation of over 5,000. Each issue explored a single topic through articles by scholars, interviews, excerpts from new books, and action ideas for teachers, youth workers, family counselors and others.

Media&Values Archive: Issues 1 – 63
Acclaimed for its ability to interpret complex issues without watering down their significance, it served for many as a low-cost accessible "reader" on core media topics facing our society in the last quarter of the 20th century. The publication was discontinued in late 1993 but many articles in its 63 issues continue to be relevant to the ongoing conversation about the function and future of media and technology in our lives.

Thanks to grants and contributions from many longtime supporters of the magazine, including former staff, writers, photographers and artists, CML is pleased to provide this archive of articles from Media&Values as the foundation for our online "Reading Room."

Founding Inspiration

Top 20 Articles

The Heart of the Matter: Reflection / Action

History and SignificanceEvolving a Foundation for Media Literacy

Behind the Scenes: People with Passion

Historia de la Media Literacy en EUA por el Center for Media Literacy

Otros enlaces a recursos interesantes del Center for Media Literacy

CML's online reference center for background articles, core research studies and timely reports as well as an historical archive documenting the development of media literacy in the United States.

Media&Values Archive
Published from 1977 to 1993, Media&Values magazine served for many as the charcoal to ignite the flame of media literacy in the United States. Over 350 articles from 63 issues are now online.

Media Literacy in the USAOriginal source documents, reflection articles, papers and reports trace events and influences on the development of media literacy in the USA.
• History of US Media Literacy-Decade by Decade
• Why Media Literacy is Important
• Media Literacy: A Definition...and More
• Issues in the Development of Media Literacy
• CML Contributions to the Conversation

On Media and Living in a Media Culture
• Useful Articles, Reports and References
• Justice Issues in the Media
• Impact of Technology

Media Literacy and Education
• Education for the 21st Century: Issues and Trends
• Integrating Media Literacy Across the Curriculum
• Media Literacy Works! Case Studies and Success Stories
• How to Teach Media Literacy
• Lesson Plan Library
Five Key Questions of Media Literacy
Media Literacy in the Home
Media Literacy in Faith Communities
Media Literacy and Public Health
CML News and Publications

Recursos valiosos ofrecidos por el Center for Media Literacy

Les comparto una serie de recursos valiosos que ofrece el Center for Media Literacy. Encontrarán el enlace directo al Centro y su zona de descargas.

CML Completes MediaLit Kit™ Framework for K-12 Media Literacy Now all together in one place, the components of inquiry-based media literacy using the Five Core Concepts and CML's Five Key Questions of Media Literacy.

I. Theory: Literacy for 21st Century: An Overview & Orientation Guide
Explains media literacy pedagogy in plain language. Also: En Español! I

I. Practice: Five Key Questions That Can Change the World
Cornerstone lesson plans for K-12 across the curriculum

III. Implementation: Project SMARTArt: A Road to Follow
Discover innovative strategies for implementing media literacy and the arts while meeting state education standards in this comprehensive case study.

Media Literacy on Menu in Middle School Pilot Project

CML's "Media Literacy, A Recipe for Action," taught students media literacy skills as they learned about the key ingredients of a healthy diet.

CML CONNECT Newsletter - Read our latest Issue!


ALL NEW!Lesson Library: HIghlights from CML's Growing Collection

• We Tell Stories - In four sessions, students learn about Elements of Storytelling and skills to originate a reenactment of a story that contains a Community concept. (Grades K-5)

• Maps and the Pictures in our Head - Are maps media? Of course, and they're a perfect way to explore the 'constructedness' that is a building block of media literacy. Hidden Treasures: From CML's Reading Room Archive

• The First TV Studio in an Elementary School

• Screen-Agers...and the Decline of the "Wasteland"

• From Savers to Spenders: How Children Became a Consumer Market This is only one of 22 media topic pages linking you to selected articles and reports from our Reading Room plus recommended resources for teaching and learning.