Emerging Media Storytelling
JRMC 7012E
In an effort to understand more about the impact and purpose that different media outlets provide, this course presented an in-depth look into the power that each individual media holds, ranging from the written word to social media, video games, film, and more. As an online writing-intensive class, most of the work explored was meant to provide an analysis of how certain elements of various stories are more effectively presented depending on what media is chosen for their tale. Additionally, I loved being able to learn about the historical implications that written media, film, and digital media have brought to the table, especially when it came to the implications of the impact of access.
Access was pivotal to writing letters since it was a semi-universal way for individuals to communicate, allowing for more personality to be injected into a given form through the pressure of a pen, the paper chosen, the spacing of each word and the emphasis of the pen on the paper. However, literacy posed a barrier to entry, in which the judgement of a “good” letter depended on a person’s ability to read and write properly, or to afford postage and the time to bring their letters to be mailed. On the other hand, access in film had multiple barriers created along the basis of race, gender, and even political implication, in which the push and pull between artistic intention and the financial model and control that the theatre industry was held over the masses as a method of control and censorship. Lastly, as the world continues to develop the digital world, the newest problems involve an overabundance of access, in which each individual is constantly bombarded with a variety of stories at all times of the day.
Two of my favorite projects in this class involved analyzing modern media, particularly when it came to music videos and video games. The music industry as a whole has always been one that relied on the exploitation of their stars, and in the essay I had chosen, being able to speak about Marina and the Diamond’s Primadonna Girl tackled this particular topic and how women in particular constantly struggle between the persona that they must portray in their given media and the artist they wish to be in actuality. With an emphasis on editorial flow, lighting techniques, costuming, and lyricism, I really enjoyed delving more into the nuances of music video editing and the use of a persona amongst the famous or artistically inclined, and how this separation of the self acts as a reflection of what society expects or reflects in turn. I also greatly enjoyed being able to examine how video games are able to comment on the state of the world as well, often offering a subtle commentary on real-world issues through a fantastical universe. Learning how not only the narrative of the game, but the very structure of the rules within the game system influence its world-building and realism was fascinating, and it allowed me to discover how much gamification makes sense as a surprisingly complex and effective storytelling device in our fast paced world.
After partaking in this class, I feel enlightened to expand my horizons to consider the true variety that media provides, depending on the story that is trying to be told and the implications that each of these choices brings with them. Additionally, using this information has made me realize the potential that gamification has to furthering education and adventure alike while also gaining a new appreciation for the written word. In doing so, the importance of multi-media offerings — and by extension, multi-media utility — has truly changed my perspective and biases against certain types of media, allowing me to incorporate the benefits of each of these resources in future creative endeavors, social media postings, campaigns, and more.