Is Definition of New Literacies Necessary?
An old adage states, Define or be defined! I suppose if we do not offer a definition of new literacies, a definition will be imposed on us. For me, definitions need to be based on praxis to be meaningful. I insist that terms such as visual literacy, information literacy, or media literacy be defined by the artist, author, or producer who uses it. (I am troubled, for example, by my observation that, in the Journal of Visual Literacy, the terms visual literacy, visual communication, and media education are used interchangeably without explanation or definition). To a large extent, I am comfortable with Debes (1968) definition, which incorporates three key components of visual literacy: • Discriminate and interpret • Create • Comprehend and enjoy But because of the technologies now upon us, this 30-year-old definition is now inadequate or incomplete. I believe what is missing is the ability to evaluate, to analyze or question the motive of the creator of the visual representation, relativ
