The Power of Multimodal Storytelling (Blog Post #4)

Welcome baaack peeps! 🎹

Today, I'll be talking about my experiences with digital storytelling and other multimodal compositions!! Have I gone against the wills of being an English education major? And by that I mean composing other forms of storytelling, and not just writing essays until the end of time. Or have I actually used the creative freedom that professors sometimes give me, and composed cool book trailers or news announcements? Well, that's what we'll figure out in my jumble of ideas today. 

At first glance of the questions above, I thought man, I'm really not creative and have always been boooringgg with writing essays 24/7. But as I thought backwards in time, allllll the way to elementary school, I realized that I have actually created other forms of storytelling/multimodal compositions. And I had to scroll wayyy way wayy back in my thousands of videos and photos JUST to expose myself in this blog post 😔✋. So you're welcome seriously to whoever reads this because I watched this video that I'm about to link in this post. Cringed so hard that my face got red. Closed my laptop. Thought about all the decisions that led me to this post. Then, thought basically you only live once, and while I cringed the entire time watching the like 20 seconds of this video, I'm still going to link it just for the sake of showing my multimodal compositions in life and revealing more of my personality on here. So again you're soo welcome, and please enjoy this small moment of me thinking I was cool for showing how to play a song on the keyboard. But keep in mind, I was like 8 years old and at the time I loved watching videos of how to play songs on the keyboard and thought I should join that bandwagon. At this point, I think I'm just rambling on and on so that I don't have to show this video, but here it is... 

Anywaysss, now that that's over 😭💀 I never want to think about that video ever again, buttt I do have another form of multimodal composing that I created for a class about 2 years ago. This one is still cringe to me, but it's not as bad as that keyboard video. And with me being absolutely obsessed with horror books and movies, you already know that I created a book trailer with somewhat scary vibes.

On the same topic, I wanted to include the opening of a Mötley Crüe concert that I went to back in 2022. This opening included a news announcement, and while I would love to explain more, I think there's more enjoyment in watching it. (Please ignore the way I kept moving my phone back and forth- I thought the smoke was cool. Also ignore how you can't even see what the screens are showing by the stage, since the lights were bright and yes, I have a Samsung ✋). 

Again, you're welcome for the cringe moments! Even though that was honestly like hell for me, but as long as someone out there enjoyed it, then that makes all the suffering worth it. But on the topic of my experience in digital storytelling and other forms of multimodal compositions, those are the only forms that I've ever really created. (At least that's all I can think of at the moment). Those moments in my past allowed me, as "the writer to experience the power of personal expression" (Chisholm and Trent). I believe that these forms of writing are great ways to show the personalities of some of the more introverted students. And I can say that because I am more introverted a lot of times, and never really raise my hand in class or talk to other people, so these multimodal compositions really allow me to show more of my personality, since it's more so people just viewing what you made on your own time. There's no pressure to these forms whatsoever. No judgements from staring eyes in class. You just feel comfortable being able to turn an assignment related to writing, into something that you enjoy and connect to in your own way. 

With that being said, I looked through a variety of forms of multimodal composition and storytelling. Here, I found 2 specific videos that I absolutely loved, even if one was made by a child. The first one was under the category of Counter-Narratives & Critical Media Literacy. Through this category, I found a YouTube story centered around Youth Media, titled Thomas Pushes Back. This is a lovely retelling of a Thomas the Tank Engine (or Thomas the Train) story where Thomas "pushes back" at the big engines who tease him. I honestly appreciated this take on Thomas the Train since it kind of put Thomas in a more "fight back" energy, rather than just turning away and ignoring anything bad that happens to him, and acting like everything is jolly and good. The second example of multimodal composition that I enjoyed was a book trailer about The Hunger Games. This one is self explanatory really. I love The Hunger Games series and also love watching any movie or book trailer. 

After viewing these different forms of storytelling and multimodal compositions, I think the forms above show how digital storytelling can use visual and auditory elements to communicate meaning. Like yes Emily, it doesn't have to be just writing essays constantly, even though you love a good research paper with actual facts. (Yes, I was talking to myself because who else is gonna listen to my rambling). Overall though, that can connect to the idea that the "visual nature of digital stories invites authors to situate themselves in places" (Chisholm and Trent). This just highlights the idea on how digital storytelling allows creators to present personal experiences, perspectives, and environments through visual media. All of which are important ways that have either shaped who you are as an individual or are going to shape you, since multimodal composition is mostly all about you as a person. 

These forms of digital media examples inspire me both as a writer and as a future educator because they show how storytelling can extend beyond the old and sometimes boring traditional essays. (Even though, like I said before, I loveee a good, boring essay). Multimodal composition allows students to
communicate their ideas through a variety of modes like visual design, audio, text, and video. Students can create digital stories about their own experience, communities, or identities, by combining images, narration, and sometimes music. All of these allow students to explore topics in ways that feel more personal and engaging, just like what I'm doing anytime I yap and yap and yappp in these posts. 

Overall, I would absolutely love to use multimodal composition projects to promote writing as a future educator because it encourages students to create digital stories, short videos, or multimedia presentations. All of which can improve writing skills like planning, scripting, organizing ideas, and developing a clear message. 

That's all for todayyy! I hope you enjoyed my suffering in those cringe videos. 😃