What is your favorite medium of expression?

[Jtolj]

Music (this includes stories told through opera)
Books
Television
Movies
Videogames
Traditional Plays

(movies and traditional plays are different because they follow very different patterns of setting and momentum)

Of course, many things work best in their entertainment medium, but surely out of all these, there must be one medium for telling stories that really just strikes you as being your favorite?

I have to say without a doubt, television. Television is more than just extremely long movies. Television is epic storytelling told through the concept of episodes. Episodes are a brilliant concept for they allow for highly developed explorations to occur on the side of a grand scheme, while still relating to it. Basically, television has potential for both large scope and small scope and for it all to be in one amazing and beautiful story.

[cuppajoe_9]

Well, given that this is the Literature Network, I think I can tell you what the majority of respondants will vote for right now.

For me, however, music has produced the closest thing to a religious expereince I have ever had.

I stopped watching television years ago. I don't think I could read a novel if there was a full-colour advertisement on every third page either.

[Jtolj]

Well, given that this is the Literature Network, I think I can tell you what the majority of respondants will vote for right now.

For me, however, music has produced the closest thing to a religious expereince I have ever had.

I stopped watching television years ago. I don't think I could read a novel if there was a full-colour advertisement on every third page either.I got television on DVD. The argument for commericials is that it gives a sense of pacing. Commericials give you a break to discuss it in an immediate setting as well as give you space to reflect. I actually like commericials.

[ShoutGrace]

Television is my favorite if I feel like turning my brain off for the night. Sometimes, after reading/studying for a few hours, my brain is tired from the calisthenics . . . the tele is a good way to waste time and reduce my brain activity to near nothingness . . .

The written word communicates more than television ever could. Ever hear the quote "A picture is worth a thousand words?" Literature allows you to create your own picture, and the act of doing so is more pleasant than being slammed with images left and right.

[Jtolj]

Television is my favorite if I feel like turning my brain off for the night. Sometimes, after reading/studying for a few hours, my brain is tired from the calisthenics . . . the tele is a good way to waste time and reduce my brain activity to near nothingness . . .

The written word communicates more than television ever could. Ever hear the quote "A picture is worth a thousand words?" Literature allows you to create your own picture, and the act of doing so is more pleasant than being slammed with images left and right.
What if the written word was spoken?

[ShoutGrace]

What if the written word was spoken?


As long as I'm reading it at the same time, I don't care.

[higley]

What about art? ;) That can express too. Sometimes images can express what words couldn't possibly.

[0bliv!on]

I actually find books a better way of relaxing than television. TV forces all its sounds and images upon you, whether you want them or not, while books allow you to go at your own pace. Also, i find that episodes force plot developments into set lengths, or at least lengths divisible into episodes. I cant but feel that this must detract from the creative potential of the story or plot.

[ShoutGrace]

What are chapters? :confused:

[0bliv!on]

I have to say that TV episodes and chapters are different things. Chapters divide up the book into manageable pieces, and gives structure to the entire plot. They are in no way forced to any particular length, or to have any set characteristic. TV episodes on the other hand almost always, for commercial reasons, end in a cliffhanger, and are also forced to conform to the 30 or 60 minute time-slot.

[Mark F.]

I don't really think I have a favourite but music, literature and film would be above the others for me.

[Dr Eep]

For me, it's poetry put to music - I suppose verse then!! Nothing can contend with epic words intertwined with epic music in the spinetingling, gooseflesh stakes. I point to "The Killers" soul wrenching beautiful tragic song, 'when we were young' as an example of what can really move me.

[Taliesin]

What about role-playing games? They're a medium of expression too, although you can't really reach the masses with it.

[Kaltrina]

For me the favourite ones are television, movies and books...
When I read a book or watch a good movie I totally forget about this world, I involve on the world, the circumstances and the time when things are happening inside there, and then I feel so sonfused for a while, but I really love that confusion... and telly is something I cannot live without, all those documentaries, lovely shows, series... they are just great... :D

[OZEED]

What about art? ;) That can express too. Sometimes images can express what words couldn't possibly.

Art is an amazing medium of expression and certainly my favorite *THE NOD*
TV is my least favorite, THE ONE EYED MONSTER THAT FRIES YOUR BRAIN.

[Pensive]

I will say that anything that comes in the form of writing/drawing is my favourite medium of expression. I just feel more comfortable and get more affected by written stuff.

[ennison]

Semaphore is fun. It combines the thrill of the outdoor experience with codification and colour. Takes a while to read War and Peace in semaphore though.

[Nightshade]

I guess this will come as no suprise, SMILIES!!!!


umm tv isnt technically a medium of expression is it, I just did it today at uni so forgive me for being technical but they say explaining is the best rode to understanding... umm yeah where was I oh yes tv is a form of point-manypoint comunication that allows evil controllers to brain wash and control the masses...:rolleyes:

:D :lol:

[Shannanigan]

Hehe, my first thought when I read the title of the thread was CLOTHING, because that was a HUGE form of expression for me in high school, though not so much now. And, no, it definitely was not all about having the expensive clothing, or the popular clothing, or the gothic/punk/emo clothing...for me it was JC Penny clothing that was at least 3 years old, lol...but I loved wearing it because it felt so ME and I loved inspecting other people's clothing to try and figure out what they were like...

Anyways, definitely books, or essays, short stories, blogs, etc. for me. I'm such a Lit Geek. Plays are definitely a close second along with movies...

[TEND]

I can't decide, I love movies, I constantly watch movies and love them. I also love literature of all forms too though...and art surrealist art I just am amazed by it, I cannot look away, and of course music...Theres just no perfect artform. Or rather they're all perfect and none is better or less than the other in the right hands. So, I can't choose:lol: .

[ennison]

Seriously I think songs are the most striking medium of expression (for me) since they combine words with music. Some cultures are very fortunate in the number of genuinely able songsmiths they have produced. English despite the huge number of speakers is poorly served in this respect. Perhaps because the more creative artists in the English-speaking world choose either literature or music but seldom both. This is not to say that there are no great songs in English but the best songs in other cultures tend to come from stable peasant societies and most English speakers live in urban socities or societies dominated by urban based cultures. So when one thinks of say the great Scots ballads and others collected by Child one is thinking of a time long spent. Modern pop and 'folk' on either side of the Atlantic contains mainly forgettable dross. Rather a lot of time, money, energy being spent by both the 'creators' of these rhinestones and the unfotunate audience to find a very rare worthwhile song. Having said all that I have a confession: I like Dido - oh dear!

[underground]

What about role-playing games? They're a medium of expression too, although you can't really reach the masses with it.

ah, yes. i like to get myself tangled in various role-playing games, only to disappear a few weeks later. i think other participants have decided that i'm dead.

[IamMissingaLink]

verbal communication

[Arethusa]

Since grunts and animated gestures isn't on the list, I'm going to have to say the written word is my favorite form of expression. That's expression, not communication. My favorite form of communication remains aforementioned grunts and gestures.

[stlukesguild]

Speaking of "grunts" I'm surprised SEX hasn't been mentioned.:D

[ennison]

Well it has now. What's the difference between an 'ooh' and an 'ah'?
Answers not required.

[jon1jt]

kissing, hands down. ;)