Through the looking glass. Metaphors and functions of audiovisual in Health & Media Education

This article’s aim is to focus on the function of audiovisual media in the case of a New Media Education acting in health contexts as a prevention tool, especially respect to youngsters’ behaviours. To do this, it works on four metaphors that correspond to as many functions of audiovisuals: the mirror (the modelling of values and behaviours, as in the case of eating behaviours); the place (the web as a space of new addictions, as in the case of gambling); the bridge (this is the case of online environments into which care givers can support youngsters in an informal and more confident way); the workshop (when media making becomes an opportunity for developing knowledge and self-regulation skills). Each one of these four metaphors will be analysed on the level of both theoretical conceptualization and practical experience: some cases and good practices will be analysed in this regard. The outcome is the definition of a new field of declination of Media Education: Health & Media Literacy. Audiovisual skills of the practitioners are very important at this level: this could help them to well knowing youngsters’ media practices making that care giving could be more effective. This requires a deep review of the traditional training paths.