Issue 7 8/8
“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.” (2:45-3:30) PM
I don’t agree with the statement. Of course a grimace and a groaning of a sufferer might have impressed an audience than the written words might have the readers, there are depth of human nature or some truth behind the picture we see that cannot be presented.
A good example involves this is a novel called “A Gesture Life” in which a veteran’s life is delicately documented concerning his life traumatized by WWII. Witnessing the cruelty of battlefield and the obliteration of human nature, his experience in the war has a crucial impact on his life, his relationship with those he loves, and his irreducible aloofness toward the community where he inhabits. This is something far beyond our imagination when seeing a troop of disciplined soldiers telling us the historical dimension and probably a little emotional comments of a war. The appearance of people can hardly bring us to their souls, and written records might do a better job.
In addition, it is not cogent at all to claim that the video camera provides a more “accurate” view than written records. When a typhoon attacks Taiwan and caused many people dwelled in the mountain area disastrous loss of properties and lives, a program televised some villagers’ complaining about governments might be misleading. First of all, within the threat, people might get emotional, sensitive and excessively subjective. Secondly, they might be wheedled to do purposive obloquies by some political reasons. The government should take part in handling the affair, those who, are probably included in the victim lists, illegally hacking trees, harming the environment and consequently enhancing the crisis should never retreat (?) the responsibilities either. A shot(?) flickering on the TV might not clear the situation but distorted the truth if in-depth investigation is not carried out.
Last but not the least, the record by video camera is not necessary split with that of written records. The combination of both can reach into a more dynamic perspective presenting an event, and avoid some voices being swept under the rug. There is no point in arguing which form of inscribing facts carries more weight, instead, an effective adoption of both methods sound more smart.
In conclusion, records done by video camera and the written ones both have their ways presenting truth and accuracy, and also their shortages. While the video might show striking appearances, the written records might bring us quite different interpretations. One must comprehend a fact not only through sights, but also through deep thinking.
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