Blog Post 6

Multimodality in its most basic form is the use of multiple modes together. It is an assumption of communication and social symbolism. Multimodality uses modes such as textual, spatial and visual resources (for a specific reason) to create a specific message.

Modes refer to the conventions, variety and purpose of writing, which one needs to produce a message. Modes allow us to escape from using language for everything. Modes are resources where about we can make meaningful material that is evident. Different modes contribute different elements such as sound, feeling and even smell to keep from making language too general.

According to Kress, modes are used for different kinds of things. He asks which mode is carrying the most informational load. Which mode has been specialised for what kinds of purposes? Modes can be stationary or of moving imagery and come together in a certain way to best exemplify a certain meaning. Modes should also be arranged according to interest, for example which is most informative and/or according to formality. There is a reason for spacing, in agreement with Kress, and must be attended to according to which is most prominent.

Wysocki agrees with Kress on the need to encourage a rhetorical focus in our teachings. Kress’ approach helps people work within disciplines or materials to successfully create and convey a message, but Wysocki stresses or expands this approach. Kress questions what is available when word and imagery is used, as bound reasonably and honourably with time and space. Space between words has developed over time. How we use space on a pages affect how we read and understand.

Wysocki views some of Kress’ statements as incomplete. We need to consider how we use the spaces and not just one time that can be shaped on pages. We need to question how we comprehend the spaces, to use different or more powerful spaces. Wysocki wants to understand all the possibilities- not just what is gained and lost through communication. According to him, we should also think of what might not be expected by a particular audience in a particular context when composing a message.

Da'Vante Phillips

3/3/15

ENC1101





“What do you see as the relationship between multimodality and genre?”

Multimodality is an inter-disciplinary approach that understands communication and representation to be more than about language. Genre is a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. Between the two the relationship I see is that both have their own style, multimodal and genre want people to see things with a different approach not just language. Both subjects are relating to more than one branch of knowledge give people a ideology to think outside the box.

“What is Multimodality? How would you define Modes? What is the tension between Kress and Wysocki’s view of multimodality?

Multimodality is using multiple modes to express your opinion and get your ideas out through differents mediums such as news, videos, and other versions of media it gives the opportunity to see things a from a different perspective. I would define modes as being a different outlet to get things out through videos, books,documentaries. It's pretty a different way to communicate different ways to express yourself. The tension between Kress and Wysocki is that keeps believes in using one or more modes to get the point out and to express yourself a lot easier but Wysocki believes that it doesn't matter how many modes you use as long as you use it the right way and that it lines up with the Multimodality. Using different modes is a great way to catch the readers eye. The reader is probably tired of pen and paper and using modes is a way to change the readers mind on things. This gets the reader out of the boring stage and able to interact and see things differently.

Remediation Idea: Ryan McCormick

My Genealogy Essay was an analysis on how the entire Harry Potter series is a remix of the Bible. For my remediation, I do not think a movie or a poster would do the justice in portraying my points made in my essay in a different medium. I think the best way to say the same points in a different medium would be post cards written from Harry and Jesus. I am still unsure whether Harry and Jesus would be writing to one another (of course in a fantasy world) or if they would be writing to other people. Either way, a collection of post cards from each of these characters discussing their life story, their friends, their similarities, etc. I could ring together their post cards to form a flipbook. It would really show the audience the connection between these two works of literature and how they remix one another. The ideal audience for this remediation would be adults (due to the complexity of Harry Potter and the Bible) both younger and older as well as very big Harry Potter fans.  

Ideas for remediation

In my essay I argued the Disney cartoon Snow White and the Seven dwarfs and Once Upon a Time were remixes of the Little Snow-White Grimm tale. I think for the remediation project I want to portray the differences along with the similarities between the three through fashion. I want to create a "Grimm" look, a cartoon statement, and a modern day outfit of Snow White and display them in a fashion show. My main audience would clearly be 1. Girls and women as Snow White is a girl, 2. Disney fans and Once Upon a Time fans, and 3. Fashion bloggers. I think it could be a really cool way to incorporate Snow White, but also the audience I am appealing to because the idea behind it would be to "dress like your favorite Snow".

Blog Post #5

To remediate my genealogy essay into a medium that would be more suitable and appealing to a younger audience I would transform it into a BuzzFeed list. BuzzFeed lists normally include short numbered headlines above a corresponding photo, followed by a more detailed caption. This medium would allow me to show screen caps from “The Lady Vanishes” and “Flightplan,” juxtaposed in order to compare and contrast certain elements from the two films. Under the screen captures of the films I could describe, in detail, how “Flightplan” copied and transformed this element from “The Lady Vanishes.” For example, one headline could be, “The Protagonists” with a still image of each films protagonist, followed by an explanation of how “Flightplan” based this character off the main character of “The Lady Vanishes.” BuzzFeed is popular among the younger, information-age generation and would be much more appealing than an essay.  Alternatively, I could turn my genealogy essay into a video, using actual footage from both films to better express how element were copied and transformed. A video, while also appealing to a younger audience, would be the best medium to demonstrate to an audience that favors stricter copyright laws that these laws can stifle creativity. This would allow me to exemplify how “Flightplan” can take elements from “The Lady Vanishes” and transform them in order to create a completely new film. Even with some elements that have only been changed slightly from one film to another, a video would be the best way to show how and why “Flightplan” transformed elements in such a way that the film does not lack originality. This medium would have much more of an impact on an audience that disagrees with the underlying notion of my genealogy essay, which is that everything is a remix.

REMEDIATION IDEAS

For my Genealogy paper I chose to focus on the progression of the Cinderella story from the 1800's to the famous Walt Disney version. For this "Remediation" project I think I would like to do something interactive and engaging that will further explain my feelings on the 1950 Disney remake. If I create a song or music video that expresses the changes through time and why they occurred I think I will be able to convey my point to various audiences.

The 3 audiences I am interested in reaching are:
1. Young Adults (Who are Disney fans that may need to know the truth behind the film)
2. Older people who may know the stories that exceeded the Disney Cinderellas
3. Anyone who likes music.

I believe that a song or video with catchy lyrics that are enjoyable but direct will transpire positively to any of the 3 audiences mentioned above, and relay the message of my original paper clearly.