Reflection
This was a tough challenge! I had to explore the different emoji options prior to deciding which movie, show or book I would ‘write’ about. Translating text-based thoughts into emoji was tremendously challenging for me: clearly my brain prefers words over images when I’m trying to convey meaning or tell a story. Is that because I grew up as computers were becoming a thing rather than being immersed in all-things digital as a child?
Creating the Story
I first examined the emoji available to represent the title of my potential artifact. Immediately, I had to discard one option because the Scottish flag wasn’t available. Once I found suitable emoji that could describe one potential option, I was able to make my selection.
….I did NOT choose my artifact based on whether this task would be easy (or not). In keeping with the spirit of the task, I selected the work I’d most recently ‘interacted with’ and settled in to create my emoji story. (I should also add that since this course seems to have become a family affair, my selection was closely monitored by my two kids).
….I did NOT choose my artifact based on whether this task would be easy (or not). In keeping with the spirit of the task, I selected the work I’d most recently ‘interacted with’ and settled in to create my emoji story. (I should also add that since this course seems to have become a family affair, my selection was closely monitored by my two kids).
I started thinking about the message I wanted to convey to my audience. How would I take the words I was imagining in my mind and display them as emoji on my screen? I quickly dismissed syllables and words as options on their own: there simply aren’t enough emoji to make a perfect word-for-word translation. However, I was able to combine ideas and words together; it took some thought, creativity, and quite a lot of time, but I think I got there in the end!
After building the title, I attempted to record the overall plot of my artifact using emoji, whilst simultaneously translating those images back into words in my head to make sure I designed the story correctly. Did the translation from emoji back to words make sense? Can my ‘reader’ make the same translation? And, is it necessary for others to make this translation at all (or is it just me)?
This week, Bolter (2001) discusses the shift in prominence of image over text. Where once images were surrounded by text, (suggesting Text was keeping Image in its place), with our shift toward online and digital media consumption, images (and videos) have become quite ubiquitous (Bolter, 2001). However, will images ever completely replace text? I don’t think so. At least, if it does, it will take some time. I don’t think I’m alone in my reliance on text to convey meaning (though of course a great image can sometimes convey meaning more effectively than words); however, I can certainly see the shift we’ve made in my lifetime from mainly text-based websites to more image-based sites that capture your interest and hold your attention.
What this task has shown me though, is that emoji alone cannot adequately tell the whole story; emoji are the visual/image equivalent to bullet-point notes: quick and to the point.
Reference
Chapter 4. Bolter, J. D. (2001). Writing space: Computers, hypertext, and the remediation of print (2nd ed.). Mahwah, N.J: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. doi:10.4324/9781410600110
Tamara, I completely agree that when trying to translate from written text to emojis, the emojis cannot tell the whole story. However, for those that have been immersed in an online world where emojis always existed, they may have a better idea of how to tell stories through these images. Bolter (2001) concedes that speakers of different languages could all understand and share in the same language using images and that is what we are capable of today. My in-laws first language is not English and sometimes when communicating with them I use emojis to enhance what I am saying. I am not able to create a complete story they can understand without using words, but I am able to use emojis so they understand what I am feeling.
Do you think if we thought less of how we would summarize the story in English that this task would have been easier for us? I also wonder if this task would be easier for a teenager who seem to have their own language using emojis.
I love that you’re able to “speak” with your in-laws using images (emoji), Allison! What a fantastic way of reaching out and subverting language barriers.
I think for me, because my brain seems to preferentially process the world through words and language, this task would probably always be challenging. However, I think if you were to have asked me to attempt this task prior to me owning a smartphone, I would’ve skipped Task #6 entirely.
I remember initially avoiding emoji because I thought they were “silly”. I now use them far more often now because I honestly believe they can often convey through image what I can’t convey through text without having someone right in front of me watching my face expressions. Emoji are great for conveying tone and emotion where sometimes I find words may fall short.
My two kids (8 and 11) are already quite proficient in using emoji and images to convey meaning. I think they would be far more adept at this task than me-and they don’t have smartphones (yet)!
Hi Tamara,
If I had to guess what your TV show was I would guess the Amazing Race? It looks like some sort of reality competition show where pairs are eliminated and sent home.
I also agree that emojis will never show the whole picture but that they should also not be expected to. Emojis started as a way to express emotion that were difficult to express in words (or maybe awkward as a sad face versus writing “I am sad” undercuts some of the seriousness) and many of these new emojis are intended to subtly represent other words. I think of the use of emojis similar to that of the use of inside jokes as a few words can represent a whole story to certain people. Only some people may get it, but that is ok.
Hi Aaron,
I suppose mentioning the fact that attempting to use emoji to create a word-for-word translation of the artifact I was discussing, perhaps wasn’t the best way to articulate what I meant. Really, I felt that I needed to convey the overall structure or summary of the show I was watching rather than trying to use emoji to perfectly match syllables or individual words.
I appreciate your suggestion that emoji are used to convey emotion when perhaps words fall short (and of course that we now use them as quick ways of sharing inside jokes or reminiscing about humorous or perhaps somber events of the past).
I do think that overall, we’re moving toward a more image-based communication structure. I see it in my own progression from I-will-always-use-proper-sentence-structure-when-texting to adopting the use of emoji, acronyms and other short-form modes of communication that all allow me to quickly and efficiently get my point across. (Depending on my audience, of course. I’m thinking of more informal conversation as I type this). But you’re right: at the moment, emoji aren’t used to paint an entire picture (this task demonstrated that for sure), but I wonder if, over the course of our lives, we will see some form of image-based communication slowly creep in and merge with text?
Thanks for your insights.
Oh! I should also add: You are really close with your Amazing Race guess. It’s a Netflix show called, “Win the Wilderness” that my kids LOVE to watch.
Well, you’ve shown me up. What a great job with your emoji work. I found it curious that we’d have to translate emojis at all . . . since they’re image-based. But I think, in part, what that tells us is that images don’t always tell the whole story, but particularly, that emojis aren’t likely to soon replace text.
I also think that translations suffer from more than just the usual gap in meaning caused by the instability of all words. Some words in some languages realize their meaning differently and simply cannot translate.
Thanks Margaret. I haven’t yet had a chance to wander around and look at others’ sites yet, though I do love your posts!
It IS interesting that (at least for me), we needed to ‘translate’ words or thoughts into emoji for this exercise. Again, perhaps that’s just the way I interpreted the assignment, but, I find descriptive processes (regardless of the task) to be a text-based activity rather than image-based. So with this exercise, I thought of the words and meaning I wanted to convey (literally thinking of the word: “couple”) and tried to find a suitable set of emoji to convey the overall meaning of the show I’d been watching.
I love your assertion concerning words in different languages (that simply cannot be translated). In this case, I think emoji (or images) might be far more effective at conveying meaning, but then again, I suspect there is more complexity to image as well. (As I was preparing to complete this task I was reading about emoji and the meaning of different symbols in different places around the world. I certainly wouldn’t want to send a thumbs up emoji unless I knew the recipient understood I was encouraging them rather than telling them where to go….).
Thanks for posting!
Hi Tamara,
I loved that you brought up combinations. I think that, for me at least, has been the key component in this week. We’ve had to combine text and ideas into pictures, and at times combine pictures so that they can accurately reflect an idea or text! I also like your closing note, which leaves me thinking that combining emojis into text helps to make it a lot richer and more nuanced than text alone sometimes allows.
Great reflection. Thanks!