Grace Nelson Blog 6

Multimodality is using multiple modes (writing, images, videos, speeches, etc.) to communicate one message. The example used in this video was of the BBC website and how it’s layout allowed for several modes to be used to communicate one general message, the daily news. These modes are arranged according to the interests (in this example the current news) of the audience (in this example the audience are those who view the BBC website). Multiple modes may be chosen depending on which ones are most affective at communicating a particular message. For example, some modes can communicate things in time like using a video to communicate live news that is happening now, or a photograph to communicate something that has happened recently. Seeing the visual makes the content more present. Writing on the other hand can be used to communicate something that has already happened. The past tense that would be used for news reporting (considering that for it to be in the news it had to have already happened) may make the news seem ever so slightly out dated. Images are also good for special communication. Although writing can create an image in the mind of the audience, an image presents that same effect immediately, which may, in some cases, be more affective for communicating a message. Going back to the example of the BBC website, the speaker in the video talks about how the layout of the website connects the viewer with space and time. Important pictures are placed on the left because as a western society, we are taught to read from left to right, therefore we will look to the left of the page first. He also points out that the headliner news stories show up on the page without us needing to scroll down to the next page. The layout designers of the website have ordered the stories in a way that places the most important stories and images where the audience will most likely look first. To go along with layout, the speaker said that the website uses coherence to effectively communicate these modes. The fact that the website has a theme, color scheme, and an organized layout helps convince the reader that the many modes being used at once are to be gathered together to understand the over arching message.