https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQKnrUMNZD4
1. How does the addition of the characters' movement from the video add to the written dialogue?
Before watching the video, you can sort of sense what tones are being used and what is being meant. You read and comprehend the conversation. However, after watching the video, you seem to understand more. The characters’ movement adds depth to the conversation. The movements help when deciphering the tones and attitudes being used. For example, Edna’s exaggerated hand movements, and facial expressions help to determine her character’s personality. She is a busy star and thinks that she lives on a pedestal above everyone else.
2. What type of communicator style is Edna displaying?
I think that Edna is displaying a mix between the Dramatic communicator style and the Animated communicator style. According to the textbook, individuals that display the dramatic style, “are usually masters at exaggeration, tell the most fascinating stories, and often have a rhythm to their voices.” (Richmond et al.,2012). Also, “it is usually not enough for the dramatist to say something in an interesting way. He or she generally relies on a wide range of illustrative behaviors.” (Richmond et al.,2012). On the other hand, “the animated communicator engages in exaggerated bodily motions and gestures actively while speaking.” (Richmond et al.,2012). There are multiple examples from the video clip of why I think Edna is displaying these particular communicator styles. For example, in the beginning of the video, Edna is dusting lint off of her shirt and walking in a sort of sassy way (with her arm bent at the elbow and hand held out to the side). She is also walking a bit in front of Bob, so whenever she speaks she turns her head over her shoulder a bit to speak to him. Then, after descending the stairs, Edna talks about how she used to design for the gods and exaggeratedly holds her fist to the sky. She also sticks her hand right through the hole in the suit while simultaneously widening her eyes so they appear very large (like she is surprised or shocked). She then narrows her eyes and furrows her eyebrows while looking at Bob in a questioning way. She then holds the old suit as far away from her as possible and throws it in the trash. After throwing the suit in the trash, she then holds her hands up (with her arms facing towards the sky and her palms facing outwards away from her face) and points her nose in the air in disgust. Towards the end, Edna is sitting in a chair. She has her arms crossed, and her body is turned away from Bob. While she is not facing Bob, she is still side-eyeing him and sort of pursing/pouting her lips as if she is waiting on him to say/ask something. All of Edna’s gestures are very exaggerated. She gestures wildly when speaking. Her character has a very “the world is my stage” attitude.
3. What type of communicator style is Bob displaying?
I think that Bob is displaying the Attentive communicator style. According to the textbook, “the attentive style of communication more adequately characterizes a style of listening to or receiving messages from others than a style of speaking.” (Richmond et al.,2012). This communicator style is “characterized by a more immediate posture, forward leaning, head nods that indicate agreement, a direct body orientation, and gestures that encourage the speaker to continue.” (Richmond et al.,2012).There are multiple examples from the video clip of why I think Bob is displaying this particular communicator styles. For example, in the beginning of the video, he looks at her as she speaks, even when he is walking behind her and cannot see her face. He doesn’t make many exaggerated movements, or many movements at all. He raises his eyebrows to show that he is interested and listening to what Edna is saying. He picks his suit up out of the trash and holds outstretched it in his hands towards Edna while speaking. Then, in response to something she says. His shoulders kind of droop/thrust downwards like he is huffing or accepting defeat. He then sits down across from Edna and leans forward as she speaks. He cocks his eyebrows and makes eye contact. The gestures that Bob makes show that he is interested in the conversation and is actively listening.
4. Based on this scene alone, do you believe their communicator styles are affected by the context? Why or why not?
Based on this scene alone, I do think that their communicator styles are based on the context. The reason for this being that their communicator styles differ from scene to scene, much like how our communicator styles differ based on the conversation we are participating in and who are conversing with. For example, if it is a conversation about something that interests you or with someone that you are friendly with, then more than likely you will exhibit the friendly or attentive communicator style. On the other hand, if you are the one telling the story to someone else, you may exhibit the dramatic communicator style. For example, there is a conversation between two people. The first person is the one telling the story. She is telling a story about her drive to work. She was running late that day and someone pulled out in front of her and drove really slow. As she is telling the story, she is gesturing wildly, and her facial expressions are showing how upset/angry she feels at this driver. The second person is a friend of the first and is the one listening to the story. She is making eye contact, nodding along, leaning forward, etc. However, the first girl could tell her story to a random stranger going about their day. The random stranger more than likely wouldn’t exhibit the same attentive communicator style as the friend.
Sources Richmond, V. P., McCroskey, J. C., & Hickson, M. (2012). Nonverbal behavior in interpersonal relations. Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.
Opmerkingen