KUCHING — The Committee for Social Communication organised a media awareness talk for Sunday School students on Sunday 7 March, held at St Peter’s College AVA hall. More than 50 secondary school students from Form 1-2 attended the 1-hour talk, accompanied by their Sunday School teachers.
The speaker, Stella Chin, Chairperson of the Social Communications Committee, began the talk by showing the students a video clip, followed by the introduction on the various types of media, and focusing on the influence of television and movies. Students interacted actively with Stella as she exposed them to the disadvantages of TV and movies by raising interesting questions and scenarios.
After the talk, 6 Form 2 students were asked to share their opinion on the talk and how media has affected them personally. The interview turned into a group discussion on various issues that surfaced due to media influence, ranging from dating to video gaming.
Lois Gwyn Peter from SMK Green Road agreed that media is very influential, as she has witnessed other teenagers who imitated the romantic relationships portrayed in movies. Kimberly-Ann De Rozario, who is also from SMK Green Road, disapproved of the intimacy shown in movies and felt that those were “over the limit”. Both of them also shared that media has also influenced the way they communicate with their family and friends especially when they find themselves being rude and aggressive to their parents and teachers.
Walter Tay from SMK Batu Lintang said that media encouraged a person to live in a fantasy world, such as being able to fly and having supernatural powers. He shared how he used to have a phobia of heights after watching a movie. Gordon Loi from SMK DPHA Gapor Stampin, however, expressed that he was able to differentiate reality and fantasy, and the violence he encountered in movies and games has no influence over him.
Stella Laurance and Isabel Hazel, from SMK Muara Tuang and SMK St Mary respectively, added that too much TV affects their studies and their behaviour towards people around them.
All the 6 of them agreed unanimously that the talk was important and useful as it made them aware and be more cautious in the future when they watch movies and use media in general.
A media session focussing on movie analysis will be organised for the Form 3 and 4 Sunday school students of St Joseph’s Parish on the 25 April and 2 May respectively. The Social Communications Committee hopes that this will make a difference in facing challenges brought by today’s media.
