Introduction: The Way We Communicate
Communication has never been one-sided; in fact, its multilateral nature is the key reason for the numerous controversies of the communicational process. Despite the seeming simplicity of the conversational process, the textual and the visual messages match each other quite seldom, which leads to numerous misconceptions and even conflicts. Tracking the shapes that the communication process takes, one can find the solution for many issues.
Putting Two and Two Together: The Article and the Video
Although the article and the video were chosen might seem somewhat distanced from each other, after certain analyses, they prove quite close to each other. Telling the readers about the experience of a school student in communicating with the groupmates, the article by Rezska reveals a certain conflict between the visual and the textual shape of people’s messages. Meanwhile, the video deals with the typical situation –communication between two students, offering a similar situation.
However, one of the key peculiarities of the video is that it is accompanied by a message box typical for most of the chat rooms, with each phrase and emotion of the students in the video shaped like an instant message symbol. Touching upon one and the same issue of the textual and the visual form of conversation, the two sources mentioned above offer deep insight into the essence of communication.
Watch the Picture Changing: The Two Viewpoints, Compared
Comparing the two pieces to each other, one can see distinctly that the means used in the text are quite different from the ones used in the video. It is obvious that Rezska uses the method of audience involvement (Support Resources 2009) to draw the attention of her readers. She is at times even somewhat sarcastic, which makes her essay even more impressive. On the contrary, the visual source uses quite a different strategy based on emotional appeal. This proves most effective since the author sets a funny contrast between live communication and communication online.
In the Eye of the Audience
It seems that the argument presented in the text is more impressive since it allows us to communicate the idea more precisely. While the video makes the audience complete the missing parts of the message themselves and figure out the idea behind the video on their own, the text explains the author’s point more or less clearly.
However, it must be taken into account that the text cannot reveal the emotional palette of the conversation infill. Brilliantly demonstrated in the video by unlimitedlumpia (2009), this is the key distinction between the visual and the textual information. Where even the most emotional and expressive words sound rather pale, the visual message can reveal a palette of ideas. Thus, what is hidden in the phrase “When she waves, the car keys looped around her fingers jingle in the air” (Rezska 2009, p. 552), stirs the imagination of the audience much less than the voiced “How are you?”
Conclusion: Where the Visual Merges with the Textual
Despite the differences in the means used in the textual and the visual messages, the two sources mentioned both manage to convey the key idea quite successfully. However, it must be kept in mind that, due to their peculiarities, each has its advantages and drawbacks. However, despite the smaller number of strategies, the visual one proves more effective than the textual one.
Reference List
Rezska, K. (2009) The holy land. The composition of everyday life: A guide to writing. Ed. John Mauk (pp. 552-554). Thousand Oaks, CA: Cengage Learning.
The principles of communication (2009) Support Resources. Web.
Unlimitedlumpia (2009) Instant Mess… YouTube. Web.