Remediation! Context Part 2: Study Hall Writing Composition #13: ASU + Crash Course

Summary

This video script from Study Hall: Composition explores the complexities of communication through different media, challenging the traditional transmissionary model. It introduces McLuhan's theory that 'the medium is the message,' suggesting media shapes the message's interpretation. The script discusses 'remediation,' the process of adapting messages across media, using Sasha's YouTube channel as an example. It also encourages Comparative Media Analysis to optimize message delivery, emphasizing the importance of understanding media's affordances and constraints.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The word 'fine' can have different meanings depending on the context in which it's used.
• 💻 Technology provides various contexts that can affect how our messages are interpreted.
• 🎨 We are all cross-media composers, adapting to the needs and benefits of different media.
• 📚 The concept of remediation is about improving our message crafting across different media.
• 📡 The transmissionary model suggests direct communication of ideas, but it's often not that simple.
• 🌐 Marshall McLuhan's famous quote, 'the medium is the message,' implies that the medium influences the message's interpretation.
• 📸 McLuhan argues that the medium can alter the message, similar to how a physical photograph's meaning can change over time.
• 📝 Writing is an interpretive process, and our original message can change even as we write it down.
• 🌐 All communication is mediated, and different media have their own affordances and limitations.
• 🐱 A Writer in Action example: Sasha starts a YouTube channel to communicate about deforestation in a more accessible way.
• 🔍 Comparative Media Analysis is a technique to find the best medium for a message by understanding its affordances and constraints.

Q & A

What does the word 'fine' often lack in communication?

The word 'fine' often lacks context and can be ambiguous without an introduction or sign-off, potentially causing confusion.

What is remediation in the context of media communication?

Remediation refers to the process of adapting messages across different media to better suit the needs and benefits of each medium.

What is the transmissionary model of communication?

The transmissionary model of communication is a theory that suggests ideas are directly transmitted from the sender to the receiver without change.

Who is Marshall McLuhan and what is his famous quote mentioned in the script?

Marshall McLuhan was a media theorist known for the quote 'the medium is the message,' suggesting that the medium through which a message is conveyed shapes the message itself.

How does McLuhan's perspective differ from the transmissionary model?

McLuhan's perspective differs from the transmissionary model by asserting that the medium significantly influences and alters the message received by the audience.

What is an affordance in media communication?

An affordance in media communication refers to the possibilities and constraints inherent in a medium that enable or limit how a message can be conveyed.

Why does the script mention that communication is complicated and subjective?

The script mentions that communication is complicated and subjective because the medium shapes the message and the audience's interpretation is influenced by their experiences and expectations.

What is Comparative Media Analysis and how does it help with remediation?

Comparative Media Analysis is a technique where one compares different media platforms to find the most suitable way to convey a message by understanding the limitations, affordances, and expectations of each medium.

What is the example given in the script of someone remediating a message?

The script provides the example of Sasha, who starts a YouTube channel using a cute cat singing catchy songs to teach people about deforestation and environmental preservation.

What is the importance of understanding the medium's affordances and constraints?

Understanding the medium's affordances and constraints is important for effectively communicating a message to a specific audience by leveraging the medium's strengths and mitigating its weaknesses.

How does the script suggest improving one's remediation skills?

The script suggests improving remediation skills by practicing Comparative Media Analysis and being aware of the medium's limitations, affordances, and audience expectations.

Outlines

00:00

📨 The Complexity of Communication and the Role of Media

This paragraph introduces the complexity of communication, particularly the use of the word 'fine' in various contexts. It discusses how technology influences the way we communicate and the concept of remediation, which is the process of adapting messages across different media. The narrator, Yumna Samie, sets the stage for the video's exploration of how media shapes our messages, referencing Marshall McLuhan's famous quote, 'the medium is the message.' The paragraph also delves into the limitations of the transmissionary model of communication, suggesting that media significantly alter the way messages are perceived and understood.

05:01

🌳 Sasha's Remediation: From Academic Journals to YouTube Cat Songs

The second paragraph presents a case study of Sasha, who aims to share her knowledge of climate science with a wider audience. Recognizing the limitations and affordances of academic journals, Sasha decides to start a YouTube channel featuring a cat singing about environmental issues. This creative approach leverages the platform's affordances, such as the ability to use catchy songs and visuals to engage viewers. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of understanding media's constraints and opportunities when communicating a message effectively. It also introduces the concept of Comparative Media Analysis, a technique to help writers choose the most suitable medium for their message by considering the medium's limitations, expectations, and affordances.

Keywords

💡fine

The term 'fine' is a versatile word that can convey a range of emotions, from being well to being barely okay. In the video, it's used to illustrate how the same word can have different impacts based on the context in which it's used. The script points out that saying 'fine' in an email without additional context might confuse the recipient, highlighting the importance of context in communication.

💡remediation

Remediation refers to the process of adapting messages to different media to enhance their effectiveness. The video discusses how writers can improve their communication by understanding and leveraging the unique characteristics of various media platforms. An example given is Sasha starting a YouTube channel to convey scientific information about deforestation in a more accessible way.

💡transmissionary model

The transmissionary model of communication is a theory that suggests communication is a direct process where the sender's idea is transmitted unchanged to the receiver. The video critiques this model by arguing that the medium through which a message is sent can alter the message's interpretation, as opposed to the model's assumption of direct transmission.

💡medium

In the context of the video, a 'medium' is the channel or platform through which a message is conveyed, such as email, Twitter, or a physical photograph. The video emphasizes that the medium is not just a passive carrier of the message but actively shapes the message's reception, as illustrated by Marshall McLuhan's quote 'the medium is the message.'

💡affordances

Affordances are the possibilities for action offered by a particular medium. The video explains that different media provide different opportunities for communication, such as the use of emojis in text messages to convey emotions or the ability to include footnotes in academic writing. Understanding affordances helps in choosing the most effective medium for a message.

💡context

Context refers to the circumstances or setting in which communication occurs, which can greatly influence the interpretation of a message. The video uses the example of the word 'fine' to show how the same message can be perceived differently in various contexts, such as in an email to a boss or in a casual conversation.

💡interpretation

Interpretation is the process of assigning meaning to a message. The video discusses how both the sender and the receiver interpret messages, which can lead to changes in the message's meaning. It contrasts this with the transmissionary model, which assumes messages are received as intended without interpretation.

💡Comparative Media Analysis

Comparative Media Analysis is a technique for evaluating different media platforms to find the most effective way to communicate a message. The video suggests writing out a message and then considering how various media's limitations, affordances, and audience expectations would affect its传达. It is exemplified by considering how a message might be conveyed in a school newspaper versus on Instagram.

💡message

A 'message' in the video refers to the content or idea that a sender aims to communicate. It is discussed in the context of how the message is not just the words but also how it is shaped by the medium and the interpretation of both the sender and receiver, as in the example of a photograph's meaning changing over time.

💡limitations

Limitations are the constraints that a medium places on communication, such as the character limit on Twitter or the lack of non-verbal cues in written communication. The video discusses how understanding these limitations is crucial for effective communication and can guide the choice of medium for a message.

💡Writer in Action

A 'Writer in Action' is a term used in the video to describe someone who actively adapts their writing to different media to achieve their communication goals. Sasha, who starts a YouTube channel to educate people about deforestation, is an example of a Writer in Action, as she chooses a medium that best suits her message and audience.

Highlights

The word 'fine' can have various meanings depending on the context in which it is used.

The use of 'fine' without context can lead to confusion, especially in professional communications like emails.

Technology provides different contexts that can influence the interpretation of messages.

Writers are cross-media composers, adapting to the needs and benefits of various media.

Remediation is the process of improving message crafting across different media.

The transmissionary model of communication suggests a direct transfer of ideas from sender to receiver.

Marshall McLuhan's famous quote, 'the medium is the message,' challenges the transmissionary model.

McLuhan argues that the medium through which a message is sent shapes the audience's perception of the message.

The process of communication is complex and subjective, involving interpretation by both the sender and receiver.

Media are not the only factors that change messages; the messages themselves are open to interpretation.

The concept of affordances in media refers to the possibilities and limitations that a medium offers for communication.

Sasha's example demonstrates how remediation can be used to adapt scientific information for a broader audience.

Comparative Media Analysis is a technique to improve remediation by understanding the strengths of different media platforms.

When choosing a medium, consider its affordances, limitations, and audience expectations.

Remediation is an ongoing process that involves continuous adaptation and experimentation with different media.

Understanding media contexts and remediation can lead to more precise and effective communication.

The importance of the medium in communication is emphasized, as it significantly impacts how messages are received.

Transcripts

There are so many ways to answer the question “How are you?,”

but a lot of us default to a word that can mean a ton of different things: “fine.”

You can say “I’m fine,” or “I’m fine,” or even “I’m fine.”

You can say it in an email to your boss.

But firing off that word without an introduction or sign-off might totally confuse them.

Wait, that’s not what you’re supposed to say--there should be other things before

and after the “fine!”

All of these contexts change and influence and even sometimes determine the impact of

this ‘f-word.’

Technology, in particular, offers a ton of contexts that affect our messages, from email

to Twitter to comments in a Google doc.

No wonder it can get overwhelming to send an email!

But we’re already cross-media composers,

writers who constantly respond to the different needs and benefits of the media we use.

And, with practice, we can get better at crafting messages across different media, a move known

as remediation.

By the end of this video you’ll hopefully be feeling, well, if not fine, at least a

little better!

We’re talking about remediation today in Study Hall: Composition, presented by Arizona

State University and Crash Course.

I’m Yumna Samie, let’s get started.

The transmissionary model of communication is the theory that when we write,

we share an idea, and the audience receives the same idea.

Think about Airdrop and other technology for sharing photos between phones.

You can tap one button on your phone, and your picture appears on the other person’s screen.

That’s a direct transmission.

But in our previous video, we began discussing a famous quote from media theorist

Marshall McLuhan, “the medium is the message.”

A medium is anywhere we compose or share a text.

It’s like the string between two tin cans when kids play telephone.

Your message has to travel through the medium before the other person receives it,

and the medium affects what does and doesn’t show up on the other side.

McLuhan’s point goes against the transmissionary model of communication.

He says that our ideas don’t go straight from our minds to our readers’ minds unchanged.

In fact, to him, the medium completely shapes/ what our audience gets from our message.

In contrast to something like Airdrop, McLuhan would argue communication is more like

someone saving a photograph that they treasure and want to hand down to their descendants.

They have special memories attached to it that aren’t automatically visible in the picture.

Over the years, it gets dropped in a puddle, and squished in the pages of a book,

and the old-timey ink on it gets faded.

At the end, the photographer’s great-great-great grandchild briefly sees the photo,

with the portrait now totally changed and distorted.

The great-great-great grandchild probably thinks “what a weird collar” or “was

the world black-and-white back then?”

rather than thinking about the fond memories that the original person saw in the photo.

The medium of ‘physical photograph’ completely changes the way the photo is perceived down the line.

Our own writing experiences can further disprove the transmissionary model.

Most of us have tried to write something at some point and said,

“ugh, I can’t say what I really mean!”

Even translating from our heads to our writing is an interpretation and a way our original

message can change.

Plus, the medium shapes what we can say, and then the reader further interprets the message

based on their experiences and expectations of that medium.

The whole process is complicated and subjective, and it’s kind of a miracle we can communicate at all!

So while the transmissionary model is oversimplified,

McLuhan’s model isn’t perfect either.

Media aren’t the only things that change messages.

The messages themselves are up for interpretation, by the writer and the audience.

So it’s not as straightforward as either theory.

Both the medium and the idea matter:

we pay careful attention to the words of our messages, but also to the way they’re shaped

by the medium we choose.

We’ve already talked a lot about how to compose words in this series

and different ways audiences might perceive our words, so in this video I want to really

focus on media.

Because all communication is mediated--you know, expressed through a medium.

And especially these days, there are tons of digital media…

like how emails and text messages and social media are all examples of mediated communication.

Even if we write with a quill and ink on parchment paper, that medium still shapes what we can

convey to others.

I mean, I write way less words total when I’m writing with a quill because it takes

a truly tedious amount of time.

I can really get going when it comes to blog posts because I can type super-fast.

And I’m really passionate about my recipes for vegan birthday cake.

All media come with limitations, but they also create opportunities and options.

We call the things you can do within a medium affordances.

For example, an affordance of text messages is the ability to use emojis to convey how

you feel about a particular conversation,

which can be very useful.

Face-to-face communication may lack things like the ability to cite our sources in footnotes,

but it does include inflection, facial expressions, and body language,

all of which communicate extra complexity.

These are affordances of face-to-face speech.

The more we focus on the affordances and limitations, the benefits and drawbacks, of a particular medium,

the more informed we can be about which medium to choose for our own messages.

Let’s look at a Writer in Action who chooses a new medium because she thinks it will have

a better effect on her overall message.

Sasha loves reading about climate science in academic journals.

Her friends, however, haven’t taken as many classes on things like the effects of deforestation

on Earth’s atmosphere.

They find the scientific studies tough to read, so they just… don’t

Sasha sees the affordances of scientific journal articles.

For people who are trying to learn more about environmental science, like she is,

these journal articles include as much specific info as needed to push their knowledge forward.

On the other hand, she sees the constraints of an academic journal article,

like how it doesn’t have a lot of eye-catching pictures, and uses language that not everyone

understands.

So to share her knowledge with her friends and others, instead of just writing her own

scientific studies,

Sasha remediates some important messages about the bad consequences of deforestation.

She decides to start a YouTube channel where a cute cat will sing catchy songs

to teach people about how and why they should preserve forests.

Kind of like Smokey the Bear, but for Gen Z.

In this case, YouTube is a great place to reach a wider audience,

use some funny and adorable cat pictures, and share the key takeaways of the scientific

research.

If she’s lucky, they’ll even get stuck in people’s heads, another affordance of

catchy songs.

That might make people think twice before buying unsustainably harvested products.

As with any remediation, Sasha has to be careful that she’s not interpreting the original

articles incorrectly,

and there’s a chance for losing some important stuff in translation.

But knowing the affordances and constraints of each medium

can help her address her specific audience and communicate the best way she can.

Sasha is a Writer in Action!

One way to become better at remediation is to practice a technique called Comparative

Media Analysis.

When you know the core of your message,

comparing potential media platforms can help you find a particularly useful or appropriate

way to share it.

First, write out your message without thinking about the medium too much.

Yes, technically “a sheet of paper” is a medium with constraints and affordances,

but work with me here.

Write down your first thoughts on how you want to share this idea: an Instagram caption

on a photo, for instance,

or a podcast interview with an expert, or a splashy advertisement in your school’s

print newspaper.

Write out the limitations the medium imposes: some media restrict length, style,

or number of photos you can use with your message.

Some require people to read, while others let them listen.

Next, write some of the expectations of the medium,

which can be limitations or affordances.

Audiences expect a certain type of message to get into a school newspaper, for instance,

and they expect that an Instagram caption will be connected to its photo in some way.

Then think about all the special positives, or affordances, of the medium.

Academic writing, for instance, lets you carefully share all your sources.

So if part of your goal is for people to read more on the topic, an academic article with

some hyperlinked sources might be really useful.

Finally, rewrite your message the way that would work best given these limitations, affordances,

and expectations.

If it hasn’t changed at all, try to think a little deeper about what makes this medium unique.

When you try writing out the limitations, expectations, and affordances for a few different media,

you might see where your message could shine the brightest, and where it would be awkward

or ineffective.

In the process, you might even change your own interpretation of your message.

Maybe you find some core point that you hadn’t anticipated:

imagine if Sasha realized that she wants to address all kinds of air pollution, not just

the impact of deforestation.

Maybe it’s harder to make a song about air pollution, but she could make some infographics

to share alongside her videos.

We never really arrive at a perfect medium for a message,

so we keep trying things and attempting new remediations over time.

Sure, sometimes you’ll have to stick with the medium given to you.

Your boss may not let you deliver the weekly report as an interpretative dance,

even if you think you’ve perfected your message in that form.

Still, comparing multiple media can help you understand what your audience will see in

the message

when they view it through your particular medium.

As we’ve discovered, media contexts and remediation are both messy and complicated.

We can use our understanding to be more precise and effective as we think critically about contexts.

The medium is much more important to how we compose and communicate than we might have

assumed, so the limitations, affordances,

and expectations of the medium play a big role in the message that our audience receives.

So don’t overanalyze it, but do pay attention--be aware of your media,

and beware of how people tell you that they’re ‘fine.’

Join us for our next video, where we’ll talk about how strategies

and ways of appealing to our audience can help us achieve our purposes for writing.

Thanks for watching Study Hall: Composition, which is produced by Arizona State University

and the Crash Course team at Complexly.

If you liked this video and want to keep learning with us here in Study Hall, be sure to subscribe.

You can learn more about ASU and the videos produced by Crash Course

in the links in the description.

See you next time!