I have always known that the media plays a big role in determining how we think, feel, and react to things. However, I was not always sure how it shaped these aspects of ours lives. These past few months in our Writing Across Media class have introduced me to concepts that I have never thought about before.
One of the concepts that really stood out to me is our most recent lesson on: sound. I have never given much thought to the sound in movies and videos. Honestly, I would watch entertaining videos on how sounds were made by folly artists, but I never thought about the impact that sound has had on me as a viewer. After learning about sound and how it is amplified, changed, and selected in videos, I am surprised by the impact that it has on the way viewer’s understand or react to a video or movie.
After watching Fresh Guacamole by PES, a short-film on Youtube, I was surprised at the juxtaposition between what you hear and what you see. It made me realize that I subconsciously soak in sound and react to it, without giving conscious thought to how it makes me feel or think. For example: when the hand in the video cut the avocado, it makes a sort of loud, scraping/slicing sound that is not close to what a real avocado sounds like. However, the sound makes me focus on the avocado and how it looks like a grenade, not an actual avocado. Therefore, the sound used forces me to focus on what the creator wants me to pay attention to.
My thinking about media has developed from the beginning of the semester until now because I have become more critical. Now, when I watch videos, movies, or even read any articles, I question the motive, intent, or planning behind them. Our lessons, particularly the one about sound, has made me wonder about the impact different forms of media have on us, without us even knowing it.
Words Beyond Writing 