issue7[desperado] 第十四次作业 by Grace

grace040802UID: 2348819

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: 533                DATE: 2007-12-26 16:02:59
  
有保留的反对

提纲：
1 人们生活似乎已经离不开video cameras。新闻记者通过摄像机给我们报道事件的真实过程，满足人们有独立思索的需求；录像纪录我们生活中美好的回忆；用于提供法律证据。
2 但是video 只是客观的反映事实本身，而书面纪录可以传达思想和推理。用生病拿药方去买药的例子，和艺术家用文字表达创作经历。
3进一步说video不能在某些场合下纪录瞬间的想法和灵感。用开会时大家一起讨论会产生很多新颖的主意，如果没有用纸纪录下来，要回头通过看录像回放在找寻这些灵感是效率很低的。



The speaker claims that written records pale in importance compared to the video documentation in recording contemporary life. In my point of view, I agree with the speaker insofar as that the video camera become more and more important in documenting the detailed facts of our everyday life. Yet, the speaker overlooks the critical role written documentation serves as in some other respects.

Admittedly, people might not live without video records, which are widely applied in modern society. For example, with the help of video cameras, the journalists report events as directly and accurately as a mirror. And these video recording reports satisfy the mass's needs that most people would like to think about the events independently without critics according to what actually happened. Another use of video cameras is that video records can replay the perfect memories in one's life, such as wedding reception, pleasant journey, or surprise birthday party or the like. Besides, video surveillance cameras are definitely objective witnesses providing stubborn evidence, when it comes to the legal proceedings-such as those involving robbery or steal, motor vehicle violations and police misconduct and so on. In short, video records are widespread through our life.

Nonetheless, video records are limited to illustrate the world with facts as it is, while written records advance in convey one's thoughts and reasoning. When a patient goes to buy some medicine after the doctor's examination, if he or she presents the pharmacist a video record about the process of how the doctor operates on him or her rather than a prescription, will the pharmacist know what medicine the patient should take? Of course not, or the career of doctors might not exist sooner or later. The written words on the description , saying what drugs are suitable for this patient, are wrote down after the doctor diagnoses what  disease he or she suffers in the way of reasoning, while the video record cannot display the doctor's inner state of mind but only the outer process. Again, consider the paintings. Without the instructive words on the margin by the artist, it is hardly to capturing the feeling that the artist experiences while painting. Indeed, to the extent that personal interpretation adds instruction and understanding to the record, written records are actually more important than video.

Moreover, a video record is of little use in documenting instant ideas and inspiration in certain occassions, at least less effective than written words. Take the conferences for example. Lots of ideas might come up during the interaction between various participants. If not be written down, perhaps a great idea will be lost forever. It might be tempting to argue that reviewing the recording of the conference time and time again would bring back such brilliance. Yet, most of the time, it helps little without the ambiance at that time. Although the inspiration comes back eventually, that would be low-efficiency.

In sum, the speaker's claim overstates the importance of video records at least to some extent. Without doubt, video cameras play a more and more important role in recording what are happening around us precisely. However, written records are inherently superior to video records in documenting a person's interpretation and critical thinking.