Like me, you probably have no recollection of this word or what it means, so allow me to explain
Multimodality is the incorporation of multiple modes into one final product.
"ok well what the heck is a mode?" Yeah...I hear you.
A mode is just the term used for modes of communication in the context of media, and there are five of them.
"jeez, first seven chat terms, now five modes? I don't think I can keep up with this"
shut up inner conflict, no one likes you.
Anyways, the five modes of communication consist of alphanumeric, visual, aural, oral, and symbolic. It is honestly a pretty easy concept
did I know anything about it before this class?
lol no
However, that is the beauty of learning and acquiring knowledge...I guess.
The biggest factor of confusion, for me, is just how the heck the brain can pick up on so many things just based off of single modes. It is absolutely insane.
I mean I know this isn't a psychology class, but I want answers!
Humans are so weird and gross and smart. Ugh.
Take this Fleet Foxes song for example. Based off of this song I can pick up that this is one of the most beautifully poetic songs on the face of the Earth.
Ok maybe I am a little biased.
Let me explain.
Montezuma is a beautiful song, even just looking at the album cover, I can see that this is a wonderful combination of mourning, the lure of generations passed, the beauty of nature, and ultimately, humanity
this song is so much deeper than that. The lyrics are vague, and they leave a lot to be interpreted, but this is what I adore about "Montezuma". It expresses the mourning of one's youth, wishing to go back and change the decisions you have made, yearning for someone to love and not just possessions to be coveted. It is a devastating display of the contribution that decisions play in the life that we create. It is a wonderful warning, as if to say "true riches lie within your loved ones, not in your material assets. So love." The overarching theme being that we all will run out of time. Love while you can, for being buried with a heart full of love is significantly more valuable than being buried with a crown of solid gold.
Overall, this song is a wonderful example of the power of multimodality. It's poetic "alphanumeric" expression is powerful on its own, but the composition of the instrumentals to form a magnificent aural experience leaves the listener in awe.
I feel like before this class, I had a very good grasp of what the word genre meant.
It is simply a form of categorization of media...right?
Well...kind of
when you think of the word genre, you specifically think of literature or movies or music
but if I told you that "genre" wasn't just limited to those things, but it is a spectrum of the forms of literature, symbols, and many other types of media we consume regularly, would you think I'm crazy?
I mean, heck, I thought it was crazy when we talked about it in class, it is at least a little crazy, but as I think about it more, it really starts to make sense.
As I have learned more throughout this class and put my antecedent knowledge of genre behind me, it has given me a new understanding of what genre truly is, and how the world thrives off of literacy.
To put it simply, I would say genre is any form of media that serves a purpose, such as a map, a menu, a street sign, or even a stupid meme online for that matter. It is all a genre in its own right.
The reality is, we interact with genres on a daily basis. I mean, seriously, they help us to navigate life and even decide right from wrong.
That sign in the movie theater telling you "hey! put your phone away you attention deficit freak of nature!" Well...It sets the standard for the environment, and as good abiding citizens, we conform to this genre. We conform to the purpose it serves.
Or, even those Pokémon cards you collected as a kid but inevitably shoved in a box and stored under your bed...even those are a genre! They serve a purpose! I mean, maybe not anymore, but they once were the height of excitement in your childhood, the feeling of possessing that one rare card, it just couldn't be beat.
This is what genre is, it is personalized and it is flexible, and overall it is a part of anything and everything you can think of.
