R2 – Response to Readings

On the X,Y,Z of Digital Storytelling:

It is interesting how Samis attempts to create a formula for the effective creation of stories in the digital medium. X,Y, and Z is used for the Cartesian coordinate system and it can be directly measured, however Samis uses it as an analog for the qualitative aspects of dramaturgy, directionality, and design. Can these also be measured, and if so, can these measurements be repeated from person to person? Regardless of whether it measurements can be consistent, it is true that focus on these three “dimensions” of storytelling can be used to profound effect on viewers.

On How Stories Deceive:

Facts are designed to inform; stories are designed to influence. For example, if we were simply given a set of statistics directly comparing the amount of sleep to academic performance, we would be able to draw some linear conclusion. However, if we were given a story of how band of students slept a miserable four hours per night while desperately attempting to keep up with grades, we would have a very different outlook indeed. The main difference between plain facts and stories is empathy. Stories fill us with emotion, while facts give us correlation. Both are forms of knowledge; one is towards understanding the outwards aspects of the world and the other is focused towards understanding the inwards aspects of the world. Is one more reliable than the other? Perhaps, and perhaps not. Going only with emotion can lead to irrational and impulsive decision making, while sticking only to the facts can lead to heartless decisions. The question then becomes – which one is worse?