A true miracle occurred when first moving pictures appeared back in 1878. It was hard to believe that later the whole words would be created by means of movie industry, and the characters of favorite novels will live their lives on the cinema screens, depicted by movie creators’ imagination. But was the character reflected correctly, just like in the reader’s mind? The issue of developing imagination through books and films is the topic of the present discussion.
According to Karen Hanson, “Imagination is what allows us to envision possibilities in or beyond the actualities in which we are immersed” (Norman 1). It means that imagination is human’s inner vision, generator of the personal reality, events of the present and the past. People evoke their imagination every day, sometimes even not realizing it. “What is going to happen if I will act this way?” “What will she think when she will meet me?” “What will I see during the upcoming journey?” People always think of probable results and reactions unless they live their life according to some kind of boring protocol that anticipates repeating same actions every day.
Books and narrative stories are the best sources of imagination-training activity. The imagination is aroused unconsciously as soon as you open the book and read first few paragraphs. Characters and the surrounding might just pop up in the reader’s mind or can form slowly, gradually adding essential features as the story goes. Modern film industry develops fast, constantly attempting to win the majority of the audience. The most of movie screenplays are book adaptations according to the data of 2004-2013 (Follows par. 2). The fact raises the important and frequently asked question: “What is preferable book or the video content?” I know people who avoid watching a popular movie or the TV show just because they prefer reading book first and imagine characters by themselves. On one hand, I am on their side, but on another hand, I can watch movie if the references are good before reading the book, or in case I am not going to read the book at all.
Movie and game industries provide the audience with a ready-made picture. Though in the majority of cases it is a vivid and well-thought-out piece of modern art it leaves comparatively narrow space for imagination unless the movie is of a complex concept or has an open final. However, basically you just have to relax and consume the picture provided by the director and crew. Books and narrative stories definitely leave your imagination within wider area, as you have to build the situation basing on a partial description, phrases, actions, etc. You complete the picture the author drafted for you. As noted by The Guardian “Films let you observe everything. Books? Books let you feel everything” (“The Guardian” par. 8), developing your imagination to its highest level.
Developing imagination is an important skill that provides an individual with a possibility to live bright and interesting life. Books and stories are considered to be important helpers in this attempt as they, unlike movies, do not provide the audience with a picture, they make the audience create the picture by itself.
Works Cited
Follows, Stephen 2014. What are the highest-grossing movie adaptations? Web.
Norman, Ron 2000. Cultivating Imagination in Adult Education Proceedings. Web.
The Guardian: Are books better than films? 2013. Web.