When creating the plot for this TV show, I struggled to determine what needed to be included and what would make sense. I decided to use a mixture of various types of emojis to represent people, feelings, and events. I felt that relying on only one type would make it difficult to convey the plot effectively. Without emojis to provide imagery, the storyline would be unclear. That said, it was still challenging to fill in gaps without being able to fully articulate them. I wrote several versions of the plot—some longer, some shorter—but I believe this final description makes the most sense without overcomplicating it.
I began with the title because titles are customary and provide essential background information to help determine the plot. Bolter’s comment, “Screen enters into a series of configurations, and that evolving series is the visual expression of a particular reader’s journey through the text” (2000), stood out to me the most. As I selected emojis and wrote the title and plot, I wanted to take the reader on a journey. It couldn’t just be a few emojis and be considered complete; it needed depth.
Reflecting on how I would use this in the classroom, I think it would be interesting to use a physical copy of the Bible and have students rewrite scenes using emojis. By having students engage directly with the biblical text while also “critically engaging with the affordances of new media rather than conflating the decline of traditional media (like books)” (Canvas ETEC 540, 6.3), they would gain a richer experience. This approach would allow them to retell biblical stories without needing to fill in every detail or rewrite passages verbatim. Instead, it would help them access the Bible in a more engaging and in-depth way while preserving the true Word of the Lord. By integrating both traditional and digital storytelling methods, students can develop a deeper appreciation of the nuances of the text and thereby use several forms of text technologies to spread this message.
Bolter, Jay, David. (2000). Writing Space : Computers, Hypertext, and the Remediation of Print: Vol. 2nd ed. Routledge.
I really like how you used a mix of emojis to make the story clearer—it makes sense that relying on just one type wouldn’t be enough. I also appreciate how you connected this to Bolter’s idea of taking the reader on a journey, showing that even with emojis, narrative structure still matters.
Your idea of using emojis to retell Bible stories in the classroom is super creative! It’s a great way to mix traditional and digital storytelling while making the text more engaging. It would be interesting to see how different students interpret the same scene using different emojis—have you thought about comparing their versions to explore different perspectives?