issue7 【FF小组】by duyuan3377 第十次模考

duyuan3377UID: 2415765

TOPIC: ISSUE7 - "The video camera provides such an accurate and convincing record of contemporary life that it has become a more important form of documentation than written records."
WORDS: 612          TIME: 00:44:42          DATE: 2008-12-16 11:03:49

The videos or written records? Which one is a better way to record contemporary life? I cannot deny that the video camera provides such an accurate and convincing record as the author asserts. However, sometimes the form of written documentation is also important, with its specific advantages to supplement the disadvantages of the video camera.

Admittedly, the video camera with digital technology makes a great contribution to record life and history in a exactly accurate and objective way. Firstly, the video camera can provide much more information than a paper of record. For example, a episode of Olympic Games video describes every specific movement of the athletes, by which you can feel the complete and real atmosphere on the playground without any effort of imagining. What is more, the video camera is more objective and fair-minded than recorders' eyes. When a recorder writers some words and sentences to describe what happened, it is too difficult for him to hold on a absolutely objective and fair-minded point of view and it is inevitable to add some ideas and opinions from his experiences and background. But the video camera does not own a brain to think and add some personal ideas. What it is able to do is to tell the story and to show you what really happened.  For example, on the same scene, different people with different professions observe it from different views. After Ben Laden organized and attacked the World Trade Center, a public official might record the military reaction, measures of government; a doctor might record the numbers and extent of victims; a economic researchers might record the economic cost and influence on the business world. But the video camera is able to show the whole process of the attack from its own objective and original view.

Moreover, another strongpoint of the video camera is that the vivid visual form of recordings is much easier to spread and to be accepted by ordinary people. Nowadays, a lot of people turn to their lift into a style called "video fast", which means in their lives, they order breakfast by clicking on pictures in their computers' screen, and they watch TV or video to know all kinds of news, and they see movies and any video as a entertainment. It is true that the visual culture brings about an impact on our life. Why? The visual form can express information and ideas without the limitation of different languages, different regions and different literal levels with the help of popular and advanced telecommunication system.

Last but not least, written materials would never be outdated with its specific advantages. Although nowadays almost everyone has a video camera in China and whether the device is available is out of question, it is still more inconvenient to take a video camera along with you at any time and places, compared with a paper and a pen. Besides, the form of written records also features its own benefit--giving us more time and space to rethink and analyze what we read. The process of writing and reading cultivates our ability of critical thinking, analyzing and imagination. I believe this form of written records would never be forgotten given the power of words and languages.

In summary, I foundationally agree with what the author asserts, given the accurate and convincing record provided by the video camera. However, what should not be ignored is that the form of written records would have its own position in the contemporary life and history. As a result, we are required to combine these two kinds of ways of recording in order to make a both accurate and well-rounded record of life and history.