Questions & Responses on Chapter 4:
This chapter seemed to be a bit clearer in getting its point across. This chapter also brought up some interesting points as well as others that I did not particularly agree with. One such observation was the fact that our society is indeed a visually oriented one. The interesting quirk about this though is the fact that our ancestors were basically part of just as much of a visual revolution as we are today. Think back to the Middle Ages, where most people were illiterate and simple pictures were used often used in place of texts to tell stories. The few texts that were available throughout those times were often embroidered with early forms of graphic design in the margins of the pages. The fear, however, that we are going to become a totally visual society that forgets its textual origins seems hardly sensible. Text and print will remain in its various forms for ages to come. Another interesting notion is the question of where one draws the line on what is still considered text and what is considered graphic. Do some popular mediums go too far in their "graphical representations" of concepts that could be just as easily expressed in a few well placed words to establish imagery? Overall, this chapter provided some engaging thoughts about dominant presences of visuals in our culture.—Doug
As for Ch. 4 is concerned, I agree that we live in a more visual society. But in retrospect, it may be too visual for own good. At least when it comes to novels, the reader is challenged to use their imaginations to visualize the events taking place. I don't think it helps our imaginations if we are spoon fed visuals at every turn -- it makes us -- creatively wise -- lazy. The mind is like a muscle too -- and like a muscle it must get constant exercise or it will get soft with inactivity. Do we want to lose that creative spark that leads to true originality? I'm afraid we're already losing it.—Farad
“The breakout of the Visual” was my chapter to discuss, so it held a very special place in my heart. After discussing hypertext, visual websites have really taken off in terms of linking, and visually representing things. Pictures on the web are a super powerful tool, and arguably the most important thing we have in terms of website creation. I am a huge advocate of Adobe Photoshop and even Adobe Dreamweaver. I include Dreamweaver because it allows you to see a preview of what it is you’re creating, before it is put onto the web. This is very important because some programs don’t allow this. Visuals are a unified way for everyone to understand something. Cavemen, Egyptians, and other archaic groups of people used drawings and hieroglyphics to communicate, because pictures are understandable by all people. The incorporation of flash within websites is another astounding way of visually representing something. I love visuals and cant wait to see what another 20 years brings.—Jim
Graphics and visual aids are the way of the future. It makes sense for them to be incorporated more and more. As we advance in our processes we can more easily create images. Images and media are easier to learn from, so why not? I think there is still an excersice of the mind that people miss out on with traditional reading but I think that media can be just as effective in communicating information. It even has an advantage because it can set a tone or mood to the text. The writers and designers have more control over that mood. When it is just text your imagination is free to create your own mood or feelings. This is also an excersise we might be missing out on as media in writing advances. —Jae
i agree with bolters statement that picture writing is becoming more accpeted to readers because it is easier than reading normal spoken language. however, we are losing a few values in turning towards picture writing... were losing the narrative power that authors used to posess, and writers are too dependent on using a picture to describe a scenario, leaving ambiguity to the reader. i also believe that picture writing is so powerful now because of the advancement of technology, including the use of sound in literature. —Justin
xxxxx —Katy
In this chapter we learn about visual hypertexts. Bolter says that the relationship between word and image is becoming increasingly unstable. Could this be because everything is feed to us and we never use are imaginations anymore? I thought its was really interesting when he said that "the signs in picture writing, stylized images, seem to constitute their own silent language. Although the writer and reader may use words to describe and interpret the pictorial message, two readers could explain the same message in different words, and speakers of different languages could share the same system of picture writing." Therefore, picture writing could possibly be the new universal language.—Krista
Chapter 4 was The Breakout of the Visual in which when a writer can see something as an image, it can play a big role in their writing. All of a sudden their writing comes to life and is represented in picture form. As it states printed books, magazines, and newspapers are changing typographically and visually by incorporating more elaborate graphics, while at the same time prose is attempting to remake itself in order to reflect and rival the cultural power of the image. Elaborate graphics are what grasp the readers attention when they are paying close attention to an article or section of reading. Visually stimulating their minds keep their attention longer then reading thousands of words without stopping.—Laura
Chapter four was very interesting. This chapter made me think a little more then usual. Visual is becoming more important to us. When we use graphics with text is give is a whole new meaning / story. Therefore i think graphics can hurt or hinder. We have always used visuals since back in time. Other cultures and tribes have been using or used pictoal chacters since way back when. Also a statment made in class that was true is that pictures are universal unlike language. A tree is a tree is a tree. People want more graphics with their text!! I know I do. —Lorin
xxxxx —Matt
I believe that writing as technology is a fast, efficient way to get work done, however I really hope it doesn't eventually erase the use of the pencil or pen later on. I believe that writing is an art. Your handwriting defines, in a way, who you are as a person. You can't capture someone's handwriting on a computer or a typewriter. In many ancient books, the calligraphy adds to the sacredness of the text. The calligraphy makes the book! It's amazing how this text can be printed by a computer as well. Another thing about this chapter is it's crazy to think about writing a "rough draft" in pencil only to write your "final draft" in ink back in fifth grade. Now, editing a paper is simple and easy with a computer! I feel that this technology has come a long way and changed the way the world works and functions, in some weird, far-off way!—Nicole
How does visual metaphors affect children? I think that children are seeing visual metaphors more than ever and they don't know it. All the new children learning games are letting the kids have fun but at the same time they are learning and developing skills that they will use later in life and all they care about is playing the video game because its fun. Its not learning to them. The older children are affected due to the fact that they play violent video games and they think its okay to steal things and kill people or even think that its okay to be violent. There are good and bad to visual metaphors; its great that children can learn and have fun at the same time and considering it learning but they also need to understand what it right and wrong and when it is just a game. —Rachael
xxxxx —Rob
Chapter 4 presents the idea of electronic digital media overtaking at times the use of text and the instability caused by the association between text and picture. In some cases, as seen present today many times over in various forms of media, the pictures do not always correlate with the text, or the images may try to spur a pre-conceived, author appropriate response from the targeted audience. Digital imagery at times also tries to take over the messages that text is trying to get across, by providing a more sensual experience for the audience through new innovations such as video clips, virtual tours, etc. In having taken a Children's Lit course here at Millikin, I see a parallel in comparing the web/media to children's picture books. Many authors are now writing picture books meant for adolescents or adults. In our class, even college students are choosing many times over to read picture books rather than regular novels. And in reading picture books, the text tells one story, while the pictures tell a completely different story; however, authors find some association or correlation that makes the lack of association unapparent to the reader, unless you are analyzing the book. It is interested how media and webpages at times can also conspicuously/esoterically hide the same lack of associations within a simple combination of picture and text.—Sarah J.
xxxxx —Sarah S.
I thought the thoughts on picture writing were interesting. Bolter says that picture writing extends over too broad a range of descriptions and lacks the precision that modern day writing now achieves. Through text we are able to convey precisely what we are thinking. I also thought it was interesting to note that in serious, documentary type texts that pictures are not included except in the form of graphs and/or charts that act to reiterate what was stated in the text.—Stephanie
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