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The key to media's hidden codes - Ben Beaton

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50,560 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

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Colors, camera angles and logos in the media can all prompt immediate associations with emotions, activities and memories. Learn to decode the intricate system of symbols that are a part of everyday life -- from advertising messages to traffic signs.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

TED's Ads Worth Spreading initiative finds ads that communicate interesting ideas with consumers. Think about how an idea can reset someone’s worldview and even begin a domino effect as they pass it on to friends. http://www.ted.com/initiatives/aws
This article by AdAge lists the top 10 most viewed advertisements on YouTube in 2011. http://adage.com/article/digital/ads-entertain-youtube-s-top-spots-2011/231701/
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is the world's biggest celebration of creativity in communications. As the most prestigious international creative communications awards, more than 28,000 entries from all over the world are showcased and judged at the Festival. It's a truly global meeting place for advertisers, advertising and communication professionals. . http://www.canneslions.com/about/
Visit the Center for Media Literacy, an educational organization that is dedicated to promoting and supporting media literacy education as a framework for accessing, analyzing, evaluating, creating and participating with media content, CML works to help citizens, especially the young, develop critical thinking and media production skills needed to live fully in the 21st century media culture. http://www.medialit.org/
Project Look Sharp is a media literacy initiative of Ithaca College that develops and provides lesson plans, media materials, training, and support for the effective integration of media literacy with critical thinking into classroom curricula at all education levels. http://www.ithaca.edu/looksharp/

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Ben Beaton
  • Artist Celeste Lai
  • Director Jeremiah Dickey
  • Animator Lisa LaBracio
  • Narrator Ben Beaton

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