Content Versus Form

You gain an understanding of things by asking questions. The more questions you ask, the more questions you will discover you need the answers to. Sometimes, just understanding what questions you need to ask is what matters most. The questions you ask will ultimately define the answer you get.

Let’s ask a significant question:

What is something really important to you?

Perhaps the more interesting question is:

Why is this important to you?

One more question:

What would you want to convey to others about what’s important to you?

Let’s say that skydiving, specifically octogenarian skydiving, is extremely important to you. (If you don’t know what that is, take a moment to look it up.) For you, it is the ultimate expression of freedom at any age and a reminder that life must be lived to the fullest. Octogenarian skydiving is so important to you that you are compelled to share your passion for it with others. Specifically, you want to share the emotion that it generates in you. How do you do this?

It’s time for a distinction.

There is a difference between what you want to say and how you are going to say it. This is referred to as content versus form.

Let’s take the idea of octogenarian skydivers. The content is the message you want to convey (e.g., freedom) and the story you weave in order to express it. In contrast, every decision you make about the look of your project, from the lighting and camera work to the editing and sound design, is all part of your form. Having a good understanding of what you want to say will invariably help you make decisions about how you want to say it.

Let’s take stock. So far, we have discussed what you have to say and how you are going to say it. But we’re missing a third piece of the puzzle: Whom are you going to say it to?

Remember that while you sometimes create purely for your own enjoyment, things get really interesting when you want to share your ideas with others.

With whom are you sharing?

An audience.

Who is your audience?

Knowing this will help inform the decisions you make as you realize your idea.

Are you making a piece as a birthday gift for your grandmother? Is it for the eyes of a small group of friends? How about the local art scene? What about all children between the ages of 12 and 14 living in a suburb of Omaha, Nebraska? Or is it just for you?

Which element goes where? Drag the text to the right box. Remember, content is the what. Form is the how. Audience is the who.

At times you may find that one of these questions is easier to answer than the others, but that’s all part of the process. Keep working—the answers are within reach.