Respond To Six Posts, 6 - 7 Sentences Each

Respond to two original responses thoroughly in a manner that invites an extension of the conversation. In other words, “I totally agree with you” is NOT a sufficient response. Each peer response should be approximately 6 – 7 sentences, or a paragraph in length. Response needs strong structure and a logical flow. You don't need to answer the original questions.

Part C

Original Questions

1. Books continue to be popular, even with so many other media choices. Why do you think the availability of television and cable has not substantially decreased the number of new book titles available each year? What do books offer that television doesn't?

2. Discuss the relationship between books and tv/film.

Student A's post

1. The availability of television and cable has not substantially decreased the number of new book titles available each year because books offer an experience that movies and television in general do not. Reading a book takes you to an alternate universe where your imagination can run wild, you get to dream of what each character looks like, where the story is taking place and more being given the limited description that the book itself provides, making the possibilities endless for you the reader. In addition, books can take longer than movies do, giving a much more time consuming and effort into anything makes you appreciate it more and overall enjoy it because it is not just given to you but you had to work for it in a sense. When watching a movie or even a TV show after the 2 hours or season ends, the story is done. Not only is it a very short amount of time and less fulfilling enjoyment, but the producers and directors tell you exactly how to envision the characters and plot of the story so your not contributing anything to the story making it much less engaging. No matter how much technology advances I don't think books will ever become useless or forgotten.

2. Books and TV films have an immediate connection that links the two to one another. Several movies are based on popular novels as well as many novels based on movies. Producing a film about a best seller novel eliminates the risk of having an idea that won't be liked by majority of the people who are movie fanatics. When books or movies are based off of an existing storyline and idea, they are more likely to be successful. An additional benefit to creating a film based on a novel is that you already have an existing target market and fan base who will surely go see the film. One downside of creating another version of an already "perfect story" in the eyes of the already existing fans is either having high expectations, thinking that they butchered the plot line, becoming disappointed, or not liking this new version created. Stories can go on forever; whereas, movies are temporary and short unable to go on with the limit of time. This is why movies aren’t always able to portray the original books as well as they should, and one of the reasons why fans of the books claim that the book was better.

Student B's post

1. Books are a classic source of escape for many people. Although the amount of television series, movies, and other forms of entertainment are continuously growing, so does the book industry. This is demonstrated in the reading by table 10.1 which shows that just from 1996-2014, there was an increase of 132,593 titles. The chart also shows that the numbers being released are increasing each year. Many celebrities and inspiring people are bringing out their own books either about themselves or about something they wish to share with the world. Along with this, people continue to buy them. There are also many book series that people obsess over. Even though the availability of television and movies are large, books are still considered a sacred source of story-telling. Books offer a variety of different uses such as textbooks, religious books, reference books, and trade books. They also offer a kind of connection that movies and television don’t. While reading a book, you are able to picture the events in your head and make it much more personal. Also, the characters in the book can tend to be more relatable than on the screen because it is almost like you are there with them. While reading, you are picturing the events in your own way and can make it much more real. Whereas with movies and television, the picture is there for you so there isn’t much room for imagination. Also, books are typically the original piece of work that movies and tv shows get inspiration from. This can lead to movies/tv not living up to the potential by cutting out characters or changing the plot.

2. Books and tv/film have many aspects in common. They both tell a story and portray characters in a type of setting. A lot of the time, books gain attention through television and film. Since movies or television shows are often based on books, people tend to be more intrigued to read it. For instance, “in national polls conducted from the 1980s through today, nearly 30 percent of respondents said they had read a book after seeing the story or promotion on television” (Media & Culture, 330). It is almost a way of advertising for more people to read the book. Also, the film industry gets many of their ideas from books, specifically, “more than 1,450 feature-length movie adaptions in the United States since 1980” (Media & Culture, 331). This brings in much more revenue both for the book industry and its authors. It has also been shown that when movies/tv are based on books, there is 53 percent more box office revenue globally, 58 percent higher viewership of “high-end” television productions, and close to three times more ticket sales for theater productions, according to the article “New Report: Publishers Association Says the Best of Film, TV, and Theater Begins With a Book”. Books are the classic inspiration for new and upcoming film/ tv and are not going anywhere anytime soon.