Over the past year I have been exposed more and more to the world of streaming. There are video streamers for games, movies, music, fashion, and even books. You name a topic, you can find someone who has a streaming channel through a growing list of platforms. Admittedly, I even have a YouTube channel that I typically only use for random creative endeavors or instruction materials to help my students. With all this and more one has to ask has video killed the written word?So, their is song Video Killed the Radio Star. Well I honestly think it only helped the radio, as it is another platform for individuals to begin their conversations, but how about the written word. Even prestigious papers, such as the New York Times and Washington Post have video available on their website. In that last year and a half of working at the library, I've noticed my student patrons leaning towards what has been turned into a movie more than books that aren't movies, yet. It is only a matter of time that more books are made into movies, as I'm seeing more remakes and sequels than anything else, unless you go to the indie film circuit.
I've also seen an increase in our audiobook requests and check outs. Some of it I do believe stems from students struggle to comprehend what they are reading, but at the same time when provided the option of being able to read a novel that provides insight into the character's inner thoughts and a film that really only touches on the surface of the novel, they choose the film. Do to less time, more action, less need for practicing comprehension and imagination skills.
Individuals who find that I have a blog dedicated to trying to share about different novels out there, they are cynical and comment that I would get more individuals participating if I made it a vlog on YouTube than the written word. Why don't I? Well, one I don't like the idea of filming myself and just talking, I'm not a graphic design genius who can make videos that have the razzle dazzle a lot of people have access to, and I'm in love with the written word.
This is why I ask my fellow beings on the internet, has video killed the written word?
