Southwest Alternate Media Project

In today’s fast-paced world of instant media consumption, understanding exactly what we’re seeing can be an afterthought. Television, movies, viral videos and other sensory stimuli enter our senses too quickly to be properly digested before being replaced with another show, movie or program. What gets lost is the message of the person who created the experience in the first place.

The Houston-based Southwest Alternate Media Project is committed to nurturing regional film and video artists’ projects, encouraging multicultural and alternative media works and growing a savvy audience. To this end, SWAMP focuses much of its attention on educational programs, including workshops, moviemaking camps and the Media Literacy Institute. Through these projects, SWAMP slows down the light-speed-fast flow of media, highlighting why, for example, a director made certain decisions in lighting or acting. “The more aware we, the public, are of the way these (and other elements) are used to influence us, the better we can understand exactly what is being said and choose our own response,” says SWAMP’s executive director, Mary Lampe.

As SWAMP sees it: A knowledgeable audience leads to informed decision-making, which leads to new, varied works being created. “Instead of merely being passive recipients,” Lampe says, “media literacy awareness encourages us to become thoughtful viewers and active participants—both of which are important aspects of a healthy democracy.”

For more information, visit http://www.swamp.org.

Sound Off: Texas is rapidly becoming a state with a rich, textured culture of visual and alternative arts. Where do you go to find new and interesting visual works? Let us know in the comments section!

—Dante A. Ciampaglia