After reading Chapter 2 in Beyond Words, particularly the section “Choosing a Medium,” I knew I wanted to discuss our usage of different media individually and together. We also read Miles, by Jami Lin, and discussed the photo that accompanied the writing. For our first paper in this class, we have to include an image for each snapshot we write. Each of these examples shows the value of using different types of media.
Beyond Words explains the different purposes and effects of using the spoken word, written words, fine arts, graphic arts, photography, film, video, world wide web, or multimedia. The spoken word is considered to be a very powerful medium because it “involves direct human contact.” Written words can be more detailed and planned out, giving a reader more information and organization than spoken words. The fine arts, graphic arts, and photography are all great types of medium because they encourage interpretation. They allow a person to visualize and use different senses than just simply reading. I personally believe that the addition of different media to one’s writing adds to the effect and increases the reader’s interest.
After reading Miles, by Jami Lin, we discussed the story in class. Although we had slightly different opinions and feelings towards the story, we all understood what had happened. However, as we looked at the photo accompanying Miles, many of us had extremely different ideas of what the photo was meant to represent. While I thought the boy looking at the tree symbolized looking ahead, being optimistic, and having faith that things would get better, many of my classmates saw the dead tree as a symbol of lost hope. To me, the fact that we all were able to see the photo in relation to the story in so many different ways is not a bad thing but, on the contrary, it is a great thing that we, as readers, are able to experience. Do you think it is important to use multiple forms of media? Do you think by doing so, the experience for the reader is improved or does it take away from the overall experience?
Another prominent example of adding images to writing is in our snapshots paper. I can guess that many of us have never done a paper like this; I know I have not! However, adding photos, drawings, and pictures to these individual stories has proved to be a very beneficial thing for me. Do you think that adding images to your snapshots has helped you with inspiration in writing or made it more difficult?
While forming each snapshot from the interviews, I was able to think of different choices for images. Thinking of the images while writing the stories allowed me to have better and more diverse ideas. Some of our images for the snapshots will be abstract and require interpretation, like the photo from Miles, but some will be straight forward and direct. Some will have many possibilities for what they symbolize, while others will clearly portray something from our snapshots. Do you think one is more beneficial than the other? Which do you prefer to include with your snapshots? Which do you prefer when you are reading someone's work?
Sources:
http://www.escapeintolife.com/creative-nonfiction/miles-by-jami-nakamura-lin/
Beyond Words: Ruszkiewicz, Anderson, Friend
I believe including media is important and depending on how it is portrayed can really influence the reader. I believe adding some media helps to pull in or attract the reader. However I believe in a limit, most people read so they can visualize the story in their own way. Too much media may limit the creativeness of the writing.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy having images in readings because it helps to understand what the author is trying to portray and it also allows the reader to have a little creativity in the interpretation of the works. Having images in a work might help people really think about the meaning of the work. They really take the time to see how the picture relates to the work, and many times it helps the reader fully understand what the author is trying to say. I, myself, however, have been having a lot of difficulty in choosing pictures for my writing. I have no clue where to begin to choose a picture for my snapshots. I want to pick a picture that people will understand why i chose it and help them to understand my snapshots. I think that choosing the perfect picture is easier said than done.
ReplyDeleteWhen I am reading a work it doesn’t really matter to me what kind of picture it is. For my snapshots I chose to include pictures that were actually taken during that time period in my life. But I also think that you have more variability when it comes to choosing abstract pictures. People can interpret them in many different ways and it adds more meaning to your story. I don’t necessarily believe that one picture is more beneficial than the other. I think that when writing your snapshot you should determine whether or not the picture your thinking about choosing fits the story more appropriately. When I am reading someone else’s work I prefer to look at pictures that were taken by the individual. It gives me a better understanding of the setting and story outline and makes it more real for me.
ReplyDeleteI am a visual learner, so I love reading something that has pictures. Pictures can help the reader understand what the author is trying to show/say. Also pictures make the reading not so boring, because I don't know about other people but for me, reading black and white for multiple pages makes me want to rip my hair out! However, too many pictures can be annoying. With my snapshots I picked out a picture that matched my title for each snapshot.
ReplyDeletei think it is best to have a good medium. some literal photos can be beneficial to the reader to really get into the scene or snapshot that your trying to portray. also photos that symbolize can get the reader thinking, and hopefully they will pick up on the theme of your paper.
ReplyDeleteI learn or understand things when it is paired with pictures that is why I like literal pictures rather than the ones you need to figure out a deeper meaning to. Pictures do help though because they help express what the writer is trying to portray. Pictures are better than none!
ReplyDeleteI think that using multiple forms of media is helpful when portraying an author's idea. It allows for an author to manipulate the reader to view their writing in whichever way they prefer see it. I think that it improves the reader's experience when writing is paired with a picture.
ReplyDeleteIn doing this snapshot project, I think it is exciting to match pictures to my writing. I love taking pictures and I think pictures enhance someone's work by giving it another dimension either by having the reader to interpret the picture or provide insight into the author's mind.
I prefer to use obvious pictures paired with my work because I would prefer to see obvious pictures in another work. I think it allows for an easy interpretation of the author's ideas.
I think that media is important in a work, but it should only be an accessory to a piece of work. The literature piece should not completely rely on media to do their convincing; rather the media should be used for a more in depth analysis and to promote thoughtful questions among the reader. I think that having supplementary material is beneficial as a reader, but I don’t want to be overwhelmed with many different interpretations. I want something to lead me to the right direction, but I want the freedom to interpret it myself, without the dangers of media suffocation. Page after page of black and white text makes me see spots and my brain gets fuzzy. I do like having photos there as a bit of a breather and a change of atmosphere. I chose my snapshots more for me and the readers to interpret their own way. I like to explain my point of view clearly, but I don’t like to convince people that my interpretation is the correct one. I think media is important and it can really put a piece of literature in perspective. For example, people say never judge a book by its cover, but I do that on a daily basis. If the cover of the book doesn’t interest me, then I don’t read the informational flap on the inside, and if I don’t read the flap, then I am not going to read that book. We may say covers don’t matter, but they really do. The media that is used sets the mood of the piece and I feel like bad media can leave a sour taste in my mouth and it can ruin a really good book. So I think people have to be really careful with media, but if they use it properly, it can really add something unique to a piece of literature.
ReplyDeleteOkay having pictures in some books is good. This might sound weird but if there are pictures I like them to be thumbnail size. In every comment I reference back to Harry Potter and I will in this case too. At the beginning of every chapter there is a little image, the images help me see what the characters look like. However if there were more pictures I wouldn't be able to imagine the book. Books are interpreted by every reader differently, what I might imagine a "room with desks in" is different than what the next person may visualize. This is why each book is unique to every person.
ReplyDeleteI adore photographs and painting, be they abstract or not. But for me, if they are to be paired up with a written work, I prefer both pieces to be the same. Meaning, the writing was based off of the other media, or the media was based off of the writing. I do not believe that pictures should just be added to the work unless done exactly for that specific piece. Though they may have similar messages, pieces were created for their own purposes and not to enhance someone else's work.
ReplyDeleteI like as a reader and as the creator to use multi-media in an abstract approach. I think a huge benefit of text only work is that it gives the reader the opportunity to imagine for themselves what is happening. I think that if the media used gives too much away, it inhibits on the readers ability to interpret the meaning, message or interrupts the picture they have formed in their head about the story. Multi-media is a good thing, but I don't think it should represent the text too literally.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to use pictures that are more straight forward when I am writing because it helps paint a clear picture of what is happening in the writing. I think that using pictures that are more abstract can sometimes be confusing and can mislead readers. All of the snapshots that I am using for my paper are pictures that show me doing something that has to do with each writing. This gives the reader something to look at instead of making them imagine what something looks like.
ReplyDeleteI think it is more beneficial to have a healthy balance of both. Having a certain type of media can only add to what the writer has to offer. I think abstract pictures are a great way to get some one thinking and take more interest in the subject, however, it may also lead people in different directions or just skip over it all together. If it is possible to have a straightforward yet interesting picture it would be a great addition to a piece of writing.
ReplyDeletePutting a graphic or multimedia attachment to written work adds another dimension to the work. This can help convey the story or message the author is trying to get across to the reader. I enjoy additional media with text because it helps me grasp the work better.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say that adding media is a necessity, but it certainly helps bring a paper or story together. Whether it is an abstract photograph that is left open for interpretation such as the one from "Mile's", or a picture taken in the story you are describing, a picture gives the reader an more realistic image of what the writer is describing. In my opinion, an actual picture is more effective than an abstract simply because it ties the events that you are describing leaving a clear image of events in the readers mind. When not available however, an abstract photo serves the same purpose and if apply properly came have the same effect.
ReplyDeleteIt can be very helpful to use different forms or media, but at the same time it can also confuse the reader. If i read a passage and then see an abstract photo it can be confusing, and i hate when an author isn't clear with what they are trying to portray. Adding the snapshots has helped me now that I understand how we are using them. I prefer for the snapshots or pictures to be fairly straightforward. Everyone sees things differently, so i can see the exact opposite of what the author sees in an abstract photo.
ReplyDeleteThe image in Miles is a perfect example of different interpretations of the same thing. I think that images should be used in combination with spoken and written word. It always the reader to be creative and develop their own conclusions. It provides for a more interesting piece of work that more and different readers would be able to appreciate your work.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading someone's paper, I don't mind seeing a picture that makes you think occasionally but when I'm writing a paper, I like to have a more straight forward picture. That way the ready doesn't misinterpret the meaning of the picture and the topic that was written.
ReplyDeleteI think using media can be helpful for some mediums, but distracting or pointless for some others. Example of helpful: adding a picture to a paper or adding audio/video to a powerpoint can show the reader something they might have not seen through just ext. Example of distracting: adding a bunch of pictures to a book can distract the reader from the actual content.
ReplyDeleteMedia is helpful for some people and for others it could be bad. I think that if you have a confusing picture it could make the reader think more about it and not understand it, or just totally disregard it. If your going to use an image or video make sure it gets right to the point.
ReplyDeleteI think media can be helpfull. however I think thas sometimes it can confuse the reader a bit. When you read something you imagine what everything would be like, and if you look at the media and it's completely different from how you portrayed the story maybe it would change your opinion about the text
ReplyDeleteIn most cases, I think adding pictures or video can help not only bring the reader into the work, but provides them with the authors view. Sometimes it can be difficult to picture the image an author wishes to convey. There are some instances though when I wish to create my own image of the story, mostly for books. The best is when a movie is made about the book, then it just saves time.
ReplyDeleteThough media can help convey understand from a text, I don't think it creates a more lasting effect.
ReplyDeleteIf someone walked up to you and told you a life lesson without any further explanation, would you remember? This may sound like a strange example but how many quotes do you remember by heart? How many fortune cookies have you read and forgotten? How many bible verses have escaped your mind? When I'm reading something, I would much rather have the theme or message conveyed to be a subtle as possible. Subtle is the greatest compliment an author can give their reader. So unless the picture itself is extremely vague or requires heavy interpretation, I would rather it just be the text.
I think that media is a nice extra thing to have but I dont feel that it's necessary or leaves a longer impression on something. I also think that it can confuse a reader if its a picture that doesnt clearly show what the story says in the text. If media is done right thought it can be a nice extra but thats about it.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is absolutely necessary or really important to use media in any form of Literature, since I believe it can stand on its own. However, I can only speak for myself when I say that it does improve my experience when reading stories. It’s also another way for the author to express himself in a more visual perspective aside from his writing. By looking at pictures whether it be directly relating to the piece or more abstract, it makes the reading more enjoyable. For example, when reading "Miles" in class, I admired that the picture was not just a boy in rehab, but more of a deeper interpretation of the boys thoughts and feelings. I liked the fact how we all saw something different within the same photo.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I would like to incorporate some abstract photos into my paper, I don't have enough time to take a photo that will give others that significant meaning. For this paper, I prefer to use obvious pictures with my work because it gives the reader a chance to see more clearly what I’ve been describing in my snapshots.
Personally, I think that there should be either a picture, video, or some song in everything. It brings out the subject of the written text. Also, when there is a second source of information, it may bring a reader to understand the idea better. I also think if a writer wants to include any media in his or her work, it should be presented straight-forward and to the point. I understand that some writers want the readers to think, but sometimes additional media may throw off the reader.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read someone's work I prefer the graphic used to be straight forward. For example, if the writer is describing something in detail, I would like to see how this would look like in real life. I think using pictures in this essay is pretty interesting because I will be able to show what I am talking about in my writing. Sometimes I wish I could send pictures of me volunteering when I apply to graduate school, because they really do help. They are supporting evidence of what one is talking about. In my essays, most of the pictures used will be real pictures, of real things that have been part of my life. I think this is a great opportunity to engage with the reader a little better.
ReplyDeleteI think picking the images all depends on the message the person is trying to portray in their writing. Sometimes a straight forward picture does not allow the reader to really think more about the topic and maybe have an epiphany or thought that sparks some kind of thought. Sometimes, a straight forward picture is good because the text may have all that needs to be said and an abstract picture may just deviate the reader from the main points and lead them to making false assumptions. With my snapshots I prefer straight forward pictures. When reading others’ work I think it all depends the content of the writing.
ReplyDeleteAn abstract picture is not necessarily better than a more direct image and vice versa. Maybe one works better in a certain situation in your opinion but I think that a story or paper needs to be able to carry itself. If I read a terrible book, the picture on the cover or at the beginning of each chapter isn’t going to save the crappiness of the story. If I’m reading a story I want to be able to clearly identify right away what your picture is trying to convey. Abstract pictures can evoke so many different thoughts and emotions which is sometimes the goal but if I’m reading, chances are I just want to read. I don’t want to try to get in your head and understand why there’s a picture of an elephant eating a salad with a nice steak before a story about your fifth grade camping trip…
ReplyDeleteNaturally, I’m not using abstract pictures for the snapshots paper.
i like it a lot when my readings have some sort of media to go along with them. This is because it helps me to understand and think about the reading in a different light. That is the ultimate goal of the media is to help the reader see the work in a different way. I prefer a more abstract picture then something taken directly from the story. This is because then my mind can be more creative with what I take away from the media.
ReplyDeleteI think that different forms of media can be good and bad in a story. Sometimes the pictures that go along with a story can be confusing and may even change how you feel about the story. I personally dont need to see a photo to understand what the author is trying to portray in the story. As long as they can describe things clearly a picture isnt needed. In my snapshots i would personally rather have no pictures. I think that words can be very descriptive and can paint a picture in your mind and whatever picture you have in your mind is that one that should stay there. The author shouldnt tell you what to picture. Being able to find pictures that convey the message i want my readers to see is a little difficult. I want my pictures to be straight forward but i dont want to force the reader into thinking one thing.
ReplyDeleteHaving a variety of mediums to choose from when doing a report is alays a great way to see what your talent in projects are. Many like to do power points because it is an easy way to get an "A", but others may do a power point, but add a little of their own "creative ideas" into it. Having many types of medium makes it easier for people who may have a different way of presenting something to a class, or displaying what their creative mind decides to reveal.
ReplyDeleteI think using multiple forms of media helps writers get their point across better. It is a great way to add another layer to your material so readers can get another level of understanding of your work. But, some authors might prefer to just have the writing so the words can speak for themselves. With my snapshots, I tried to choose mostly straight forward pictures, but I still haven't chosen all of them. Most of my snapshots are about specific events so its tough to choose an abstract photo and not just choose a photo from that day.
ReplyDeleteThe use of media in literature can go either way. Honestly I love picture books like comics and such. At the same time though I do like reading a story and filing in the visuals within my own head. I believe that if the writer is good enough he can create world far more vivid than that on an image. In my snapshots I just chose images I had from the events in which I wrote about, not to lame, but because that is a snapshot from my snapshot.
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