Is a Picture Really Worth 1,000 Words?

Is a Picture Really Worth 1,000 Words?

The phrase a picture is worth a thousand words became popular in America when Frederick R. Bernard entitled one of his published articles, “One look is worth a thousand words.” The idea that a still picture is more capable than actual words of conveying a complicated and meaningful message is quite remarkable. Writers will spend hours upon hours trying to construct perfectly flowing sentences that will stir up some deep emotion inside of the reader, while a simple picture can stimulate that same emotion, possibly even stronger. This belief that a picture can get a message across better than even the best verbal descriptions is very frustrating to those who disagree with the phrase. They believe that when using the right words, descriptors, and other important text, you can become more revealing than even a picture. In the following paragraphs I will discuss the different viewpoints of each side, whether a picture really is worth one thousand words or whether it is not.

Dr. Mark Clayson disagrees with this statement and argues that, “Words have a way of conjuring up hidden meanings, thoughts, and feelings that pictures alone cannot do so.” Why else would people cry in books? The words you read on a page can evoke feelings inside of you that you wouldn’t normally encounter, bringing you to tears in some cases. It is only through the words in a book that you can experience the extravagant lives of characters and feel like your apart of them. The Lord of the Rings series is a perfect example of words forming characters that people become absolutely obsessed with. You never hear of millions of people becoming obsessed with a single picture- a picture could never create the feelings of pleasure and excitement young readers of The Lord of the Rings receive every time they read one of those books. Dr. Elizabeth Loftus explained in “The New Positioning” by Jack Trout that, “The brain registers words in echoic memory and visuals in iconic memory. Iconic fades in a second, echoic lasts much longer.” Words that we’ve read are going to be more memorable to us than pictures simply because that is how our memories work.

Those who support the idea that a picture is worth one thousand words hold that a picture can provoke thoughtful emotions as well as or even better than one thousand words. The iconic photo from the Great Depression of a migrant mother with her children burying their faces in her shoulder exemplifies this idea exceptionally. With one glance at this picture, you can almost feel the mother’s pain and shame. This picture helps everyone who wasn’t alive during the Great Depression understand how hard times were, people were starving and ashamed of themselves for failing to provide. It is much more convenient to come to this understanding through a picture, rather than come to it by reading a long and possibly boring book. People against abortion, also called pro-lifers, promoted the idea that a picture is worth more than words by showing a video called Harder Truth to a legislative committee during debate on the bill. These images in the video showed the horrors of abortion far better than any prepared speech could have done. People tend to think and learn visually, and sometimes, no matter how well crafted a sentence is, it doesn’t get the point across like a picture does.

It is hard to say if a picture really is worth a thousand words. While I could never be satisfied with Lord of the Rings through just pictures, the photo of the migrant mother during the Great Depression stimulates an understanding in me about that time period that I have never felt before. Clearly both literature and imagery can be used to effectively evoke deep emotion inside someone. Not all, but some pictures really are worth even more than a thousand words. An image can guide you in perceiving your own feelings, ideas, and interpretations. It can be just as thought provoking as any book, and can convey a meaningful message extremely well.

Animoto!

Animoto, Week 13 Preclass Activity

Usage of Wikipedia by Students

Usage of Wikipedia by Students


Most colleges do not allow students to cite Wikipedia in their papers because it is a sum of public human knowledge, and not a guaranteed reliable source. The idea behind Wikipedia is the “wisdom of crowds,” meaning that even if a couple of people wrote false information in the encyclopedia, the majority of other’s wisdom would correct their mistakes. Unfortunately though, the mistakes are not always corrected and can go unnoticed, leaving false information in this encyclopedia. Colleges aren’t accepting of false information being cited, and therefore cannot trust Wikipedia’s articles. There are people who disagree with this though, and believe students should be able to cite Wikipedia as a source. It is a more convenient go-to site, and can alleviate the frustrations that come along with research. In this essay I will explain the reasons why students should not cite Wikipedia, and discuss the opposing view point that they should be able to cite it as well.

Not many would argue against the statement that Wikipedia is not 100% accurate. Even Sandra Ordonez, a spokesperson from Wikipedia said, “"Wikipedia is the ideal place to start your research and get a global picture of a topic, however, it is not an authoritative source. In fact, we recommend that students check the facts they find in Wikipedia against other sources.” Wikipedia officials agree with the decision to not let students use their encyclopedia as a source, there is no denying the chance of inaccuracy when using it. Another argument against Wiki is that any person at any time can write an article for it. There is no experience or knowledge of the subject necessary, and the writer remains anonymous. This makes it very difficult to track the editor of the article, as seen in the John Seigenthaler case. In his Wikipedia biography, Seigenthaler was wrongly accused of having a role in the assassinations of both John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. This is an example of how Wikipedia can be used nastily. It has the potential to alter history, which makes it unacceptable to be used by students.

Those who are for the usage of Wikipedia by students argue that it provides an impressive overview of many different subjects, making it a very appealing option. Research can be extremely time consuming and baffling, but with this easy to use encyclopedia, the task becomes much more manageable. They also reason that the accuracy of Wikipedia is comparable to other encyclopedias, like the Encyclopedia Britannica. Nature, the international journal of weekly science, reported that, “The accuracy of science in Wikipedia is surprisingly good: the number of errors in a typical Wikipedia science article is not substantially more than in Encyclopaedia Britannica, often considered the gold-standard entry-level reference work.” If Wikipedia is as accurate as other encyclopedias, why not be able to use it? The idea of Wikipedia is that with time and editing, the article will eventually become accurate. The official policy says, “Those who edit in good faith, show civility, seek consensus, and work towards the goal of creating an impartial encyclopedia, should find a welcoming environment.” Wikipedia supporters believe we should be able to trust our fellows wisdom, and that the mistakes will become less and less with editing.

In conclusion, there are clearly two opposing views on the use of Wikipedia; one side believing it cannot be used confidently, and the other believing it is a reliable source. Currently, the majority of students are not allowed to cite Wikipedia, for the risk of unreliable information is too great. Evidently when using Wikipedia there is a high chance of you jeopardizing the accuracy of your research, a risk that many students aren’t willing to take. Yet, if Wikipedia were to become more efficient in their ability to find the false information, I believe it could be used as a good source. There are obvious improvements that need to be made to this encyclopedia, but with more through editing of the Wikipedia team themselves, it could become a useful researching tool.

The Reality of Problems

Many people are uncomfortable with the idea that not all problems have a single solution. This is because people can be very close-minded towards other’s ideas and solutions, and have the attitude of “My way is the only way!” Choosing to have that adamant mindset can start aggressive debates. People desire to have concrete answers and solutions to life’s questions, and frustration occurs when they are thwarted from accomplishing this. Abortion is an example of a debate that has no single solution. In the next three paragraphs I will explain the two opposing side’s view points on abortion, and how even though a single solution is desired, the reality is one will never be concluded.

People who are anti-abortion argue that life begins at conception, and abortion is the act of taking life. Sarah Palin, an avid supporter of pro-life, wrote , “I believe that no matter what mistakes we make as a society, we cannot condone ending an innocent’s life.” Pro-lifers believe that a constitutional amendment should be passed that gives equal protection to all living humans, including the unborn. Another argument of people who are against abortion is that even in cases of rape, abortion should still not be available. While rape is a terrible and cruel crime, the innocent unborn should not be punished for the criminal’s actions. Rebecca Kiessling, a Pro-Life speaker, was the product of rape and points out how insulting it is to have someone believe her mother should have had the right to abort her. She says, “It’s like saying, if I had my way, you’d be dead right now.” Pro-Lifers believe that there is no excuse for abortion, and it is murder, regardless of the circumstances. According to the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, 93% of all abortions occur for social reasons (i.e. the child is unwanted or inconvenient). Statistics like this anger those who are against abortion.

Those who are for abortion argue that women should have the freedom to choose whether they wish to continue or terminate their pregnancy. Dr. Kenneth Conklin writes that,"A woman should have an absolute right to choose what happens to her own body, provided she pays for her choice with her own money and her own pain." It is the civil right of a women to choose what she wants to do with her body. Pro-Choice advocate Hilary Clinton said, “But for me, it is also not only about a potential life; it is about the other lives involved. And, therefore, I have concluded, after great concern and searching my own mind and heart over many years, that our task should be in this pluralistic, diverse life of ours in this nation that individuals must be entrusted to make this profound decision, because the alternative would be such an intrusion of government authority that it would be very difficult to sustain in our kind of open society.” People who are for abortion especially insist that in cases of rape, and potential harm to the mother, abortion should be an option. A women has rights to her on body, and can decide if she wants to put her body through the pains of pregnancy.

Both sides of abortion, Pro-Life and Pro-Choice, have legitimate opinions on this issue. Unfortunately, there will never be an obvious solution to this dilemma, for it is an issue of individual judgment. Our desire to have concrete answers to our problems often results in uncomfortable feelings when we are presented another viewpoint. The reality is, however, that there are some questions in life that we will not all be in agreement on no matter how much one single solution is desired.

Confusion on the hyperlinks

When i copy and paste my paper into the blog, the hyperlinks don't show up and they won't work. Does anyone know why that is, and how to fix it?

Change in American Popular Culture

Changes in American Popular Culture


America has the potential to greatly improve its society by making practical and ethical adjustments to its pop culture. People in America have become so focused on materialistic things and money, that our values have diminished as a society. On a daily basis we encounter negative media images, the desire for unhealthy fast food, and a total reliance on electronics for our means of communication. By simply having less of all of these things, I believe America could improve itself as a society and regain it’s morals, health, and relationships.

Both the youth and adults in America tend to have unnatural obsessions with celebrities and body image. The media has distorted the minds of America into believing their definition of beautiful is the only type of beautiful. Thoughts like this can emotionally and physically harm girls and boys of all ages. Deirdre Wilson argues that, “an obsession with body image can lead to anorexia.” The media should be held responsible for the increasing amount of people that are diagnosed with eating disorders every year. By displaying pictures of girls that are unrealistically thin and fake, wearing provocative and revealing clothing, were impelling people (especially girls) to have a low self esteem and many insecurities. The media should change it’s emphasis on beauty to an emphasis on character and values. Just this minor innovation could better advance America’s morals and dignity.

American pop culture’s attention to the fast food industry is causing serious health issues in America. Fast food and junk food advertisements are constantly being broadcasted on the television and radio, telling people they are hungry and need to eat their food in order to be satisfied. And by believing their deceitful and untruthful advertisements, America now has another national epidemic that is crossing the nation: obesity. The obesity rate did not decrease in a single state last year, despite all the new obesity policies and weight watchers programs that came into effect. Fast food is extremely convenient when life becomes hectic and the quality of food isn’t important. Healthy alternatives should become more accessible when people are busy, and this starts with advertising. More advertisements need to made for healthy food in order to restore a fit America.

Electronics like cell phones and iPods are negatively effecting the way Americans interact and communicate. People can instantly check out of the world and what’s going on around them when they engage in one of these activities. While this may seem like a desirable alternative to dealing with reality, it’s teaching people to not face their problems but rather ignore them. Instead of confronting someone about an issue face to face, people are beginning to text or talk on the phone to work things out. Americans are having less meaningful relationships because of pop culture’s obsession with electronics. We need to take the focus off of technology, and remember to build relationships with people in a personal way again.

If we ever want to see significant change in society, we must first modify America’s pop culture. Our minds have become warped by it, and preoccupied with things that aren’t truly important in life. We as individuals need to take a stand against the stereotypical pop culture ideals, and choose to make our decisions based on our own values. These decisions will begin to make a positive impact on American society, and promote needed change.