J. M. V. Reading Club!
Comparing Reading; Listening; Watching
Our Reading Club needs guidelines to use in deciding what to read or not to read. We also would do well to look into the subject of video; movies, TV, and computer video. Is watching a story in a movie the same as reading a book? What about audio stories where we listen to someone reading a book to us? Let's find out!
In this age of ignorance and entertainment, people seem to think that there is no difference between watching a movie, reading a book, or even listening to a plain Audio file. But the surprising thing is that our brains react altogether differently with these different forms of communication!
Granny has learned a lot about this both by study and experience over the years. You will find that Temcat websites do not have any YouTubes on them. Is that because all Youtubes are bad? Not completely, no, but the proven fact is that to actually learn something well and have it be understood well and remembered, video is not as effective as reading or audio.
Also when any book is made into a movie, it is greatly changed because they can’t actually film things in a movie the same as in the book. Stop and think: how long does it take you to read a large book? Well even a good reader takes quite a few hours, sometimes even days. How long is a movie? 1-2 hours. So how much of the material from the book is going to be in the movie even IF they followed the book, [and they never do]? Not much!
Consider the case of history, same thing applies. There is no way they can film things the same as they happened, the same as it really was. So even history movies, end up being fiction. Do you want to be knowledgeable? Then books and not movies are your wise choice. This is only one aspect of this subject, there is a lot more to it!
Take the famous animal story, Black Beauty. the book accomplished a lot of good long ago when it was written, as it helped wake up people to the cruel treatment of horses, when they were still being used like we use cars.
There have been many movies made of that book but none really follow the book and some don't even come close. If you want to get the real story as Miss Sewell wrote it, then read the book but forget the movies.Today we know we need to use our time wisely to get our characters ready for Jesus soon coming, so even the best animal stories may not be worth our time.
The book Pilgrim’s Progress is an allegory, that is the same as a parable. It is a story used to teach real spiritual lessons about the Christian life. Paul Bunyan wrote it during the long years he spent in Bedford Jail for preaching the Bible. Because it has real lessons, it requires us to think and meditate on them to get the point. Certainly video form is not as efficient as to hear it or read it. WHY? Because when we watch a video, the brain tends to get hypnotized and sort of fall asleep on the job.
Making
that parable into a movie would tend to change it from a
spiritual lesson-book to just cartoon entertainment, it would be
fiction.
These folk have put out a big set of documentaries in DVD called 'Media on the Brain' You can learn so much from them about how video affects our minds, Truly, it is shocking.
I do watch documentaries and some non-fiction video but tend to listen to it rather than look at it.
I am assuming Pathlightsjr readers are deep thinkers and really want to see the truth of things in this nutty world we live in just before Jesus returns; So I try to explain young folk's questions with the depth they deserve, rather than just list some 'do's and don'ts!
Audio Books of someone reading a good and worthwhile book are helpful, but reading ourselves is beneficial because that way your reading skills improve, then, when you are a good reader, you can read to others and you might wish to make your own audio books!
Some categories of books that can be beneficial:
Books that teach useful and practical skills: carpentry; home repairs; mechanics; practical crafts; sewing; knotting; cooking; knitting; gardening; camp-craft and many others.
True Mission Stories: The brave men and women who in the past went into the darkest areas of the world to carry the gospel. Biographies of people who made a difference in the world through self sacrificing service.
True History: This is sometimes worth while, but detailed accounts of cruel deeds and blood-thirsty men, or such are something we need to avoid.
Nature Stories: Books that help us learn of the lives of animals and birds can help us appreciate our Creator's handiwork. Books on plants, flowers, trees, gardening, and the uses of various herbs and plants can be profitable.
True stories of pets, and also how to care for them can be useful. Sadly many books on nature promote the ideas of evolution which can make them not worth reading. Books on animals that show them dressed in clothes, driving cars, and serving tea to one another are not desirable.
For younger children, books on birds and animals that do have them talking to each other, but do not have them acting like people, can still be helpful, especially if they teach worth while lessons.