In the beginning, we had books. We had words which formed into sentences, which formed into paragraphs, and so on. It all came together to form a story in which we could neither see nor hear. But somehow we managed to both see, hear, and even remember what had happened as if we had been there to witness it. But when we tried to share this experience with others who had read the book, there was a break in the connection. They did not seem to see it the same way.
The reason this happens is because books require that we used a very large amount of imagination for us to actually get anything out of them. The book tells us what we should see and hear, but it is entirely up to us to decide how we see and hear it. For example, if the book states that a sword is hung up on a wall, it does not tell you anything else about the wall other than a sword is capable of being mounted there. You have to fill in those details.
Audio dramas (or radio dramas) are a medium in which a story is told by allowing you to hear what it happening without being able to see anything at all. All the details and dialog are presented in a coherent way, but there are no visuals included. For this reason, your imagination needs to fill in the rest. This is much easier when you close your eyes and let it wander. Unlike a book which tells you everything, the audio drama has taken care of the audio side for you, but leaves you to decide things like color and design yourself. Still much imagination needed, but not as much as with a book.
Movies (or television shows) go out of their way to show you every detail aside from spoiling the plot. You see the characters and hear them speak. It is very easy to follow and your imagination does not need to work very hard. The movie is acting in place of your imagination. Although the design scheme of the film can be done in a way that promotes imagination, that is the exception and not the rule. Movies simply do not promote the use of imagination during the viewing; although, it can inspire imaginative ideas after the fact.
Of these three, the book causes the human imagination to work overtime in a very healthy way. We are creating while we read someone else's work. Our minds draw, design, and color the invisible world of the book. We cannot help it. It is an automatic process. Human curiosity powers the imagination to fill in the blanks. It is a healthy part of human existence.
I hope this gave you something to think about!
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You bring up a lot of great points for each of these three creative mediums. Indeed the written word is superior in the fact that it leaves more to the imagination. I actually prefer books to the other two. If i'm going to spend time in the world I enjoy, I would rather be immersed in the story and personally know the characters through the word. Movies and audio dramas are condensed because more is revealed through sight and sound.
ReplyDeleteIt comes down to if you want to be told everything or if you want to be a true part of what is going on.
DeleteTHE LEAST IS THE GREATEST AND THE GREATEST LEAST. A book is LEAST because all it gives you is the ideas. A movie is GREATEST because it gives you everything. Alas, because the movie gives you EVERYTHING, it requires NOTHING from its audience. Because the book gives you NOTHING, it requires EVERYTHING from its reader. This is why minds shrink when all they do is watch movies but grow when they read books.
ReplyDeleteYes, actually. That principle greatly applies to this. I like that you brought that up!
DeleteReading a book is definitely an exercise of the imagination. Listening to an audio drama will give you a feel for the sounds of what is happening, but your mind provides the visuals. Movies use the least imagination, but they fill the mind with possibilities.
ReplyDeleteMovies are only good for inspiring. That's it. You haven't done any work whatsoever. When I hear people say, "Most of my writing is inspired by movies I like," I assume they are watching way too many movies. Also, I am sure that the quality of these stories are more derivative of camera angles and expression rather than the heart of the characters.
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