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LinearLinear text is usually seen the same way as any other form of writing. It's just letters and words typed into a coherent sentence so that one can get the gist of whatever the subject matter happens to be about. Or at least, that's how most people see it. Linear text is just as much a viable form of communication as talking on the phone or having an up front, personal conversation with someone. Words are exchanged all the through linear text every time an instant message sent or mail is delivered. It's really one of the many ways humans are able to independently share their thoughts with each other. The digital text video by Michael Wesch tries to explain the link it establishes between people in terms of communication and sharing. The video focuses mainly on how common people all over the world contribute to the web every time a new program or video is created or any time a sentence is even typed. The video starts out with a hand writing a sentence from which then shifts to that same person typing text. Then it goes through a code and video editing montage all the while explaining how it all relates to people on a social level. In the video the presentation is neat, yet spontaneous. It consists of slides zooming in and out of each other before progressing like a regular video just after slight pauses every now and then. One thing of note is the familiar websites that happen to be showcased in the video. Sites such as You Tube, Flickr, and Google Maps are a few of many seen through out the video. The video is not purely showcasing though. A little bit is to be learned from it specifically when it comes to things like "form" and "content". In the video Wesch gives the idea that there is a systematic "form" to it which piques one's social curiosity. This leads to the "content" part which explains that once that social curiosity has been sparked, one delves into the subject matter at hand. It gives a sort of explanation as to why websites such as the aforementioned Youtube and Flickr are so popular. It is the need to communicate and the want to socialize that leads to more and more people exploring such things that make so much use of linear text. Nevertheless, there is still a sense for part of the video that humans are losing grasp of individuality to the ever growing technology that so aptly supports linear text. That, however, simply is not true. We are the ones responsible for linear text's evolution and the reason we as people have taken it as far as we have is so we can come together with those far, far away. Again, it dates back to the need to communicate. The want to socialize has driven us to push linear text as far as we have.
tito12234@yahoo.com
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