To Read or Not to Read: The Problems with Movies and Their Effect on the Student

Ever heard of the phrase: "The book was better than the movie"? How about: "I won't read the book, I'll just watch the movie."

Well, whether you've heard or said them, at one point or another, you have experienced them.

As a student, you have probably at one point or another decided to watch the movie, or thought the movie would give you the same information as the book. Maybe you still think that now. It doesn't matter how old you are, what you're studying in school, or even if your whole life is dedicated to reading. I am a 21-year-old English Education Major who reads every day, and I STILL sometimes have an urge to just watch the movie.

It is very difficult for some English majors to admit that at one point or another they wanted to watch the movie. Whether or not they acted on it is on their own consciences (I keep telling mine to leave me alone). In any case, it is generally known to society that the movies, while most of the time displaying decent adaptations, leave out some crucial moments in the book.

Now that is exactly what people get angry about when they see a movie based on a book, right? They say, "I can't believe they left this part out! It was so important!" While I myself get a little annoyed at these things, I keep reminding myself that there is a time limit in film and television that does not exist in books. At most, moviemakers have 3 hours to make the movie attempt to measure up to the glorified entity that is the book. When reading the book, you have all the time in the world to finish it, and even re-read some parts if you wanted. To go even further, why not read the whole thing again (I mean, there's no way I read The Other Boleyn Girl 7 times, what are you talking about?)?

While I am defending the movie industry, I am also attempting to make a point that movies are not the only thing to be relied on, especially when studying a piece of literature in school. The movies will be enjoyable, I'm sure, but books hold the key to the themes and symbolism that must be absorbed in order to understand the entirety of the text. In fact, the movies can be used in the classroom, but AFTER the book is read, discussed, and throughly comprehended. For example, after completing Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre (Happy Belated Anniversary!) in my British Literature class, we watched the BBC mini series in order to get the visual effect. 

Here is another side to this argument: Shakespeare. William Shakespeare wrote his plays with the intention of them being performed. While it is important and crucial to read and understand his plays in textual form, seeing them performed is just as necessary and helpful to reinforce our understanding of the text. Back in the 16th century, audiences had to watch the plays because most of them were illiterate, but those who were studied Shakespeare's plays when they appeared in print, shortly after their composition.

To close, I would like to thank you all for reading this post. As English, History, Math, Science, Health/Phys Ed., Music, Dance, and Art Teachers (if I forgot your major, my apologies!) there will come a time where you have to make the big choice: To Read or Not to Read?

P.S. Here's a funny cartoon for your enjoyment!

Interactivity #2: History of Technology in Schools

“I’ll just watch the movie”—The Future for Books Looks Grim

the eReader vs. the real thing

When I first saw the Barnes & Noble "nook" being advertised, I wanted it: bad. Reading is my passion, and I wanted to be able to read three books at the same time. However, I was conflicted. The nook was perfect for me: you can hold thousands of books, go on the Internet, and even play some games (if you had the nook color)! It was perfect. 

But then again, who doesn't love the touch, feel, and smell of a good tangible book, even if it's for a class in school. I can tell you, I love the smell of books. Don't judge, I know you all do too. There's nothing like the feel of the pages between my fingers as I turn the pages, and the satisfaction I feel when I reach the back cover. And yes, I might have smelled the pages as I was turning them--there's nothing wrong with that though...

So I weighed the pros and cons:

-I can take an eReader with me anywhere. Mind you, I could take a book as well, but I love the thought  of having options. 

-eReaders are very difficult to use textbooks on (at least for me). I like to write and highlight, and I cannot really do that on a tablet and really absorb the information. I know a lot of students also are better able to learn that way.

-eReaders are a tad more expensive than one book, I'll admit. But going back to the options, buying one eReader is equivalent to buying probably about 30 books. And you can hold so much more than that!

Needless to say, I did end up with a nook and I love it. I do read real books as well, because we all need the best of both worlds. But whether it is on an eReader or a "real" book, reading is the most essential part of any student's life, whether they like English, Math, or Science. 

Interactivity #1: Technology Autobiography

The three most influential communication technologies in my life are my cell phone, iPad, and my laptop. Like the kids in the two videos, I am obsessed and do not go anywhere without my cell phone. If I happen to forget it one day, I feel like my right arm is missing. My cell phone is a great device for academic reasons as well as for personal and recreational. Just a few hours ago, I called to set up an observation meeting for one of my classes. In this case, making these phone calls helps me with my professionalism when I talk to people who have control over my future career, as well as authority figures that demand respect.

Oddly enough, my iPad is a great device for my education as well as for my own personal use. Whenever my grandmother would see me on my iPad, she would look at me and ask, “What can you possibly do with that thing that you can’t do with your computer?” Well, the answer I gave her can be summed up in one word: Applications, or Apps.

Now of course I have the apps provided with the iPad, along with Skee Ball, “DrawSomething”, “SongPop”, and Netflix, but I also have some educational apps as well. I have my Nook app because I love to read all of the time; that is, when I am not bombarded with schoolwork and my job. Reading is a very important part of my life, not just because I am an English Education major, but because of the influence it has had on my imagination, creativity, and not to mention my current extensive vocabulary. Whenever I can, I read anything from Pride & Prejudice to one of the books in the Harry Potter series. I also have a King Henry VIII App—yes, that exists—don’t tell your professors or they might make you get it. But for me, it’s perfect and valuable because I study that time period recreationally due to my love for Elizabethan literature, specifically Shakespeare. Of course, I have the ever so helpful and informative Blackboard App. It has everything that a student could get on their computer. Even better than that, students can access documents and PDFs that their professors post on Blackboard. And apparently, professors can tell when their students go on the website. According to one of my professors, when she posted an article for us to read, she was able to identify who did not read it (is that really true? I think that’s a myth).  So, despite my grandmother’s objections, my iPad is a great form of technology that can be used very differently from my laptop.

While my iPad is very influential and convenient for me to have, my laptop is just as good. While my iPad can access the Internet, email, and Blackboard, I couldn’t possibly write a paper on it. Writing papers is a huge part of my major, especially when I am aware that I will be assigning the same kind of assignments to my students when I start teaching.

“Olivia’s Story” really made me think even more about the benefits and importance of technology, not just for teens’ schooling, but also for their own lives. Olivia was able to teach her “big sister” all about texting and MySpace, something that most students Olivia’s age have mastery in. Because of this new need for technological resources, students are motivated more to do their schoolwork because it becomes familiar, and even fun. In the video with the students from the Technology High Schools, it was clear they understood more than anyone how technology not only is familiar to them, but also improves their educational endeavors. It helps them think in new and creative ways, and also helps them with communication and teamwork skills that will help them in school and in their future careers. Even the young girl who made the websites already had a firm grasp on the uses of technology, and how it will help her with her academic career.

While technology is a great tool for students, it can also be a little bit dangerous to use too much of it, at least without teacher supervision. They can get too caught up in those social networking sites when they need to be doing an assignment for class or for homework. As was said in “Olivia’s Story”, even though a student may not have access to a computer at home, there are always ways to use one. All in all, in the future, technology will be a tremendous part of the education system, and while it will be beneficial for students, it should be used for academic purposes only in school, saving their Tweets and Facebook statuses for home.