Like a television series, EMIsphere is organized each year around a new season, made of one-off appointments and multiple resonances. In both title roles, we find in the credits the media library Le Phénix de Colombelles (Calvados, Normandy) and « The future of pixels ”, a project founded by Timothy Duquesne.
These two structures joined forces three years ago, after the lockdown, to create ' EMIsphere – Citizen Pixels, Digital Wisdom”, a program of digital, media and image education, which received the EMI prize of the Assises de journalisme de Tours in the Library & Media Library category sponsored by the Ministry of Culture. « In 2021, we celebrated the ten years of the media library. On this occasion, we rewrote the establishment project with two strong axes: openness to the cultural world and the desire to make a factory of citizens ” says Sophie Macé, head of the Colombelles Phoenix.
An infinite ocean of pixels
Behind this ambition, there is a reality: that of Colombelles, a city of 7,000 inhabitants on the outskirts of Caen, whose city center was still at the beginning of the year classified as a priority district of the city. « The unemployment rate is quite high and the level of study quite low, hence a particular involvement in the direction of these visitors. The diversity of the public is a reality of our library, where we can meet many children who come to the library without their parents and visitors who move for our collection of comics quite complete. »
For this heterogeneous audience, it is, with EMIsphere, to use «wisely» the «super-powers» that digital confers, according to Timothy Duquesne, founder of «The future of pixels». « In fact, we are immersed in an ocean of pixels, the possibilities offered by the digital universe are endless, especially in terms of knowledge transmission. It’s about consciously choosing the tools we will use in this digital world ” he says.
After a book, written a few years ago, «The future of pixels» has become a powerful device. The first component aims to raise awareness of issues related to digital, media and information. The second, more committed, is to “ build a desirable future to allow all citizens to fully understand this digital world in a logic of emancipation Timothy Duquesne cites the concept of “pixel permaculture” in which every person contributes to the digital world on a scale that is polluted by misinformation. « The idea is to bring out what I call digital nuggets, also show beautiful and useful things for society. »
Screenings, debates, meetings and workshops
This approach seduced the Norman media library, which sought to set up within it media and information education actions after the health crisis, which saw the emergence of a resurgence of conspiracy theories. « We wanted to allow the public to have the keys to a wealth of information and to broaden their sources of information so that they can create their own opinion, explains Sophie Macé. The other idea was to promote workshops so that people learn by doing on their own. »
Each season of the system is therefore made up of one-off events that affect all audiences. First of all, there are film screenings, in the presence of the director, which open the door to debate. “'idea is to dissect information with varied topics that can echo current events ” says Sophie Macé, who cites masculinism, working in slaughterhouses and ZAD as examples this year. Then you enter the “information factory” with writing, filmmaking or podcast workshops. “ They allow everyone to make their voice heard. For example, we conducted a 280-character micro-dystopia writing workshop. Two teenagers, who did not feel legitimate, were creative. We could even see that, in the weeks that followed, they met again at the media library, they had continued to write texts individually and had them read. So there can be a long-term impact ", remembers Timothy Duquesne. "Finally, meetings with authors complete the program. In June," Simon Louvet and Guy Birenbaum For example, they will talk about their work on the Second World War.
Each of these meetings is documented and the resources produced are available in open access, for the public of the media library or any citizen, anywhere in the world. « We find everything that has been produced but also the works of people who are invited to understand all their work, continues Timothy Duquesne who continues to spin the metaphor of nature. I make "digital gardening", that is to say, I update the pages with additional, enlightening resources on certain issues that have been addressed so that they infuse at their own pace in society. »
Rewarded shares
All of these events attract a varied, highly intergenerational audience; this was one of the goals of Phoenix. “ We are in the third season, so EMIsphere is better spotted, more expected, remarks Sophie Macé. Workshops attract both seniors and teenagers, while encounters with filmmakers produce social diversity, with audiences from both Colombelles and the surrounding area. » A project that has found its place in the programming of the media library. “ Media literacy is not a big part of our programming. This gives meaning and also allows the public to participate more broadly in what we propose. »
This emulation was rewarded last March by the EMI Prize of the Assises de journalisme de Tours in the Library & Media Library category. “ This reward allows me to be sure of the quality of what we offer. It is a way to make more known what we do in Colombelles. ” And to highlight the daily role these types of institutions play in media and information literacy. “ I have a huge attachment to the world of media libraries and the people who practice in these places, stresses Timothy Duquesne. We see all the questions that cross society. They allow, in my opinion, society to stand. » And to purify, little by little, our infinite ocean of pixels.
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