1. Describe at least two ways in which you think the “medium” (the audio, the video, the two combined) affects how you make sense of the content? Be sure to provide evidence from the videos to support the meaning carried by the medium.

I believe that the “medium” affects the way that we are able to make sense of content because the technologies that help us transfer our messages change social norms and the ways we interact with one another. For example when stories were told orally there was a higher chance of the story being changed through time and being inaccurate. Now that content can be recorded in so many other ways it is easier to keep track and make sense of the information. Having so many ways to receive information also makes it very convenient and time efficient. From the Middle Ages to the 1800s, carrier pigeons were used for communication and a message that used to take a pigeon a couple of days to deliver now takes a matter of seconds and is at the tap of a button. Having so many different mediums also makes it more enjoyable for consumers because people take in information differently and some things work better for other people. Like for me I found it difficult to follow along when I put the videos on and just listened to the audio and I generally would rather watch a video about something than listen to a podcast about it which I think has to do with attention span and learning style.   

2. Let’s consider podcasting with the two videos and the podcast “complete” history in mind. Write 250-400 words to explain what you take to be the “message” in the medium of audio storytelling, or podcasting.

I believe that the message of audio storytelling is to bring people together and to raise awareness about important issues and information  by educating people about different cultures and perspectives in an entertaining and engaging method. When I think about audio storytelling I think about how audio is meant to evoke emotion, establish a setting, develop characters, and advance a story’s plot. Listening to audio stories is beneficial because it promotes listening skills, improves attention, stimulates the imagination and helps in the learning of a new language. I never realized the importance of audio until I started editing my own videos. If you take the same scene and put different kinds of music and audio on the scene it changes everything. In my opinion Audio is the best way to help form context in a scene. For example a scene zooming in on a woman’s face can feel completely different. Based on the music viewers can guess what her facial expression could mean. I think when we are thinking about the message of podcasting we must remember why they were created. Before podcasting the main form of audio storytelling was the radio. The problem with the radio is that it is aimed towards mass audiences and does not focus on niche audiences and individual topics. Another reason why podcasts were created is because the radio was live so it is difficult to make modifications. Therefore the message of podcasts is to learn more about specific topics in a more controlled setting.