OUR BLOG
UNDERSTANDING THE
POWER OF IMAGES
Understanding the Power of Images explores how images influence identity,
behavior, and democratic participation and how visual media psychologically
shapes what Americans believe, feel and value.
INSIGHTS AND STORIES
Own The Story
Forward: Let The Screen Help!
Explores the psychological design of social media platforms and how algorithmic systems influence attention, emotion, and behavior. This article introduces film media literacy as a mental health issue.
Youth As Media Makers: From Consumers To Creators
Explores how young people can transition from passive media consumption to active storytelling leadership through film, journalism, and digital production.
Mental Health Equity and Narrative Power
Rehearsal For War - By Andrew Buchanan
Images Are Never Neutral
Examines the myth of neutrality in media. Every image carries perspective, intention, framing, and cultural context. Readers learn how to identify the values ebbedded within visual storytelling.
Examines the relationship between media environments, emotional wellbeing, and community health. Connects to research on narrative influence and mental health equity.
Rebuilding The Public Square: Media As Community Infrastructure
Examines how community storytelling platforms can strengthen democracy, civic participation, and public dialogue.
This article positions media literacy as essential civic infrastructure.
Designated Driver : A Case Study
Film Media Literacy Is Workforce Literacy
Shows how storytelling, visual communication, and media analysis are essential skills in today’s creative and digital economy.
Who Owns The Story?
The Psychological Impact of American Images : The Paradox
Social Media: The Dopamine Trap
The Vision: Reclaiming Democracy Using Images
Explores how repeated media imagery influences identity formation, cultural perception, and belief systems. The article introduces the psychological frameworks used in film media literacy education.
Investigates media ownership and the concentration of power within global media corporations. This article asks the central question of the series: who controls the narratives shaping society?
This piece presents a forward-looking vision of how film media literacy can empower communities to shape narratives, strengthen democracy, and build a healthier public square.
National Call-To-Action Video Series
ECHOES OF AN ERA
Echoes of an Era brings together two video shorts that pair prophetic music from the 70's with present day images of gun violence, school shootings, climate change disasters, and the ongoing fight for Democracy. By collapsing past and present these works reveal how unresolved crisis repeat across generations - and ask what will it take to finally break the cycle.
Wholy Holy Change The Story
Wholy Holy Change The Story, refuses nostalgia and demands accountability, asking will we finally act to save a world repeatedly pushed towards collapse or will we continue to look away as if its fate is already sealed.
Who Really Cares?
Who Really Cares, is a direct moral plea about gun violence, mass shootings and hate wars and its failure to protect American people and its future generations.
Introduces the civic purpose of Film media literacy and the responsibility of citizens to understand the power of images
A brief profile highlighting Buchanan’s early recognition of cinema’s power to shape culture, influence public opinion, and foster international understanding.
How entertainment television storytelling helped reduce drunk-driving deaths, proving media narratives can influence real-world behavior.
Our 12-Part Film Media Literacy Series explores how images shape culture, influence belief, and ultimately affect the health of our democracy. Through historical insights, case studies, and contemporary analysis—the series examines the psychological power of media
and the narratives that define our times.
A National Initiative