Digital Technology and Storytelling – Stephanie Hunter

Scientific studies have been conducted to determine the effect the development of language has upon the visual perception of color. One particular study analyzed pre and post-language infants’ neurological approach to color recognition. Results of the study concluded that pre-language infants typically process color in the creative, artistic right-hemisphere of the brain. While post-language children, with learned color terms, process color in the traditionally analytical, language centered left-hemisphere. Dr. Anna Franklin, of the University of Surrey, conductor of the study, suggests, “learning language or learning color terms can actually change the way in which your brain is actually categorizing the visual world, the way in which your brain is deriving structure from the world in which it is seeing.” (http://www.boreme.com/posting.php?id=30670#.VMBnsUfF–0)

So what? What does this have to do with digital technology’s effect upon story telling? If cognitive function rewiring can be manipulated by matching the shade of blue with the word “blue” why couldn’t technology change the way we think and compose as Dr. Walter Ong theorized? And does that make technology beneficial? Or a hindrance to cognitive processing?

Technology is powerful and vast. As was said on the clip we viewed in class today, technology is affording everyone the opportunity to create. But that doesn’t mean that everything that will be created will be great, or even good. I believe that technology has a place in story creation. That it should be appreciated and true digitality skill, in any form, gaming, sound, visual, video, should undoubtedly be respected. But the traditionalist in me believes that story alone has no bounds. It is infinite and beautiful. Digital technology may be able to enhance a story but it can just as likely stunt its growth, dull it, and break down imagination, creativity, even basic understanding and comprehension. A story can be great without digital technology but digital technology without a great story is just noise and distraction.