--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just as we would not traditionally assume…" description: "\"Just as we would not traditionally assume that someone is literate if they can read but not write, we should not assume that someone possesses media li..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/henry-jenkins-21632_assuming_just-as-we-would-not-traditionally-assum_2692777.png" --- # Just as we would not traditionally assume that someone is… ![“Just as we would not traditionally assume that someone is literate if they can read but not write, we should not assume that someone possesses media literacy if they can consume but not express themselves” quote by Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/henry-jenkins-21632_assuming_just-as-we-would-not-traditionally-assum_2692777.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/henry-jenkins-21632_assuming_just-as-we-would-not-traditionally-assum_2692777.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/henry-jenkins-21632_assuming_just-as-we-would-not-traditionally-assum_2692777.png) > “Just as we would not traditionally assume that someone is literate if they can read but not write, we should not assume that someone possesses media literacy if they can consume but not express themselves” [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Media literacy requires both consumption and creation; passive reading isn’t enough. **In simple terms:** Being media literate means creating, not just consuming. Key Takeaway Practice both media consumption and production. Themes media literacy creation critical thinking Mood educational thought‑provoking Type academic inspirational When to use this quote - education - journalism - content creation Key Concepts digital culture participatory media Questions to Reflect On - What can you create to test your media skills? - How does creation deepen understanding? A Different Perspective Creating content can be resource‑intensive and intimidating. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Literacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literacy/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Media literacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media-literacy/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [No one is truly literate who cannot read his own heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/no-one-is-truly-literate-who-cannot-read-his-own-heart/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A democracy depends on its people, the literate and the well read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dev-anand/a-democracy-depends-on-its-people-the-literate-and-the-well-read/) [Dev Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dev-anand/) > [We don't have media literacy in America in any kind of substantive way. If we did, I think that (A) more of us would've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-pozner/we-don-t-have-media-literacy-in-america-in-any-kind-of-substantive/) [Jennifer Pozner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-pozner/) > [Media literacy is not just important, it's absolutely critical. It's going to make the difference between whether kids are a tool of the mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/media-literacy-is-not-just-important-it-s-absolutely-critical-it-s/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [I think visual literacy and media literacy is not without value, but I think plain old-fashioned text literacy and mathematical literacy are much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-think-visual-literacy-and-media-literacy-is-not-without-value-but-i/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [I'm really grateful I grew up in a house in which media literacy was a survival skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-clinton/i-m-really-grateful-i-grew-up-in-a-house-in-which-media-literacy-was/) [Chelsea Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-clinton/) > [All this stuff - about the materiality of the network, what it's made of, and how it works - should be part of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astra-taylor/all-this-stuff-about-the-materiality-of-the-network-what-it-s-made-of/) [Astra Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astra-taylor/) > [“I hope that as a totally literate human being that you don't even know what "illiteracy" is because it simply doesn't exist in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-davis/i-hope-that-as-a-totally-literate-human-being-that-you-don-t-even/) [Peter Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-davis/) > [Part of what it is to be scientifically-literate, it's not simply, 'Do you know what DNA is? Or what the Big Bang is?' That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/part-of-what-it-is-to-be-scientifically-literate-it-s-not-simply-do/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [At the turn of the 20th century, the disparity in literacy here in the U.S. largely came down to race. Nearly half of minorities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/at-the-turn-of-the-20th-century-the-disparity-in-literacy-here-in-the/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [A literate world is a possible and desirable one. There are enough resources. What is now needed is the collective will of the international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koichiro-matsuura/a-literate-world-is-a-possible-and-desirable-one-there-are-enough/) [Koichiro Matsuura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koichiro-matsuura/) > [“All the old houses that I knew when I was a child were full of books, bought generation after generation by members of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ann-porter/all-the-old-houses-that-i-knew-when-i-was-a-child-were-full-of-books/) Katherine Ann Porter > [Just write your name does not become literate but learning a literacy campaign in India to receive the entirety of the logo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/just-write-your-name-does-not-become-literate-but-learning-a-literacy/) Mak\_786 > [School made us 'literate' but did not teach us to read for pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/school-made-us-literate-but-did-not-teach-us-to-read-for-pleasure/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Huxley grasped, as Orwell did not, that it is not necessary to conceal anything from a public insensible to contradiction and narcotized by technological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/huxley-grasped-as-orwell-did-not-that-it-is-not-necessary-to-conceal/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) ## More by Henry Jenkins > [“Digital Youth Project by Mizuko”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/digital-youth-project-by-mizuko/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [...Fan fiction is a way of the culture repairing the damage done in a system where contemporary myths are owned by corporations instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/fan-fiction-is-a-way-of-the-culture-repairing-the-damage-done-in-a/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [The worst thing a kid can say about homework is that it is too hard. The worst thing a kid can say about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/the-worst-thing-a-kid-can-say-about-homework-is-that-it-is-too-hard/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [When I first started you would pitch a story because without a good story, you didn't really have a film. Later, once sequels started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/when-i-first-started-you-would-pitch-a-story-because-without-a-good/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [“Anthropologist Mary Douglas (1991) examines the very thin line separating a joke from an insult: a joke expresses something a community is ready to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/anthropologist-mary-douglas-1991-examines-the-very-thin-line/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [If old consumers were assumed to be passive, then new consumers are active. If old consumers were predictable and stayed where you told them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/if-old-consumers-were-assumed-to-be-passive-then-new-consumers-are/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [Although we've used the concept brand communities a couple of times, it's important to reiterate that communities aren't created, they are courted. Most brands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/although-we-ve-used-the-concept-brand-communities-a-couple-of-times/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [Hello. My name is Henry. I am a fan. Somewhere in the late 1980s’, I got tired of people telling me to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/hello-my-name-is-henry-i-am-a-fan-somewhere-in-the-late-1980s-i-got/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [Transmedia storytelling represents a process where integral elements of a fiction get dispersed systematically across multiple delivery channels for the purpose of creating a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/transmedia-storytelling-represents-a-process-where-integral-elements/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [We want to raise a generation of kids who have a mouse in one hand and a book in the other,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/we-want-to-raise-a-generation-of-kids-who-have-a-mouse-in-one-hand/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [“thousands of people. She debated her opponent on National Public Radio and found herself in the center”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/thousands-of-people-she-debated-her-opponent-on-national-public-radio/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [“The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Reports on Digital Media and Learning, published by the MIT Press, present findings from current research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/the-john-d-and-catherine-t-macarthur-foundation-reports-on-digital-2/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [Participatory culture shifts the focus of literacy from one of individual expression to community involvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/participatory-culture-shifts-the-focus-of-literacy-from-one-of/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [“Learning, published by the MIT Press, present findings from current research on how young people learn, play, socialize, and participate in civic life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/learning-published-by-the-mit-press-present-findings-from-current-2/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [“When politicians like Sen. Joseph Lieberman target video game violence, perhaps it is to distract attention from the material conditions that give rise to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/when-politicians-like-sen-joseph-lieberman-target-video-game-violence/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) [Explore all 29 Henry Jenkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Just as we would not traditionally assume that someone is literate if they can read but not write, we should not assume that someone possesses media literacy if they can consume but not express themselves", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Jenkins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/just-as-we-would-not-traditionally-assume-that-someone-is-literate-if/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assuming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/just-as-we-would-not-traditionally-assume-that-someone-is-literate-if/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/henry-jenkins-21632_assuming_just-as-we-would-not-traditionally-assum_2692777.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/henry-jenkins-21632_assuming_just-as-we-would-not-traditionally-assum_2692777.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/henry-jenkins-21632_assuming_just-as-we-would-not-traditionally-assum_2692777.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Just as we would not traditionally assume that someone is literate if they can read but not write, we should…” — Henry Jenkins", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry Jenkins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Just as we would not traditionally...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/just-as-we-would-not-traditionally-assume-that-someone-is-literate-if/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/just-as-we-would-not-traditionally-assume-that-someone-is-literate-if/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```