21 Multimodality: To Reimagine and Remix
Sunayani Bhattacharya
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to
- Define multimodal revision
- Revise one of your own pieces of writing, transferring it from one medium into another
Defining Multimodal Revision
We hear the terms repurpose, upcycle, reuse, and recycle in myriad contexts of our lives. Sometimes it is a video of a person taking an old piece of clothing and turning it into something new, and at others it is a discussion of how do we put used plastic items to different uses to extend their life and save them from the landfill. In all these cases, we are asked to creatively reimagine a new life for an object that seems to have already served its purpose. In this reimagining, we often take an object in one form and recast it into another. Thus, the old pillow cover becomes a handy tea towel, and the plastic bottle turns into art.
Multimodal revision is a similar process where we take a text written in one medium of communication and recast it into another. In doing so, we emphasize different aspects of the original text to suit the new medium, and often change its structure. As we revise for another medium, we also think about who our new real and imagined audience might be. Keeping them in mind requires us to creatively think about tone and register as well. Finally, we also have to think about the genre of the old and new versions and make decisions to incorporate elements accordingly.
How to Pick a Medium
The choice of medium will depend on the rhetorical situation. Think about what the original text’s purpose is, and who its target audience might be. Based on this, consider what aspects of this rhetorical situation (purpose, audience, rhetor, constraints) you wish to preserve and highlight. For example, is it more important to keep the content of the message the same, or reach the same audience but in a different medium? Answering these questions will give you an idea as to which medium might be best suited for your revision process. Remember, at the end of the day, you have to create a text in your medium of choice that is
- A revision of an original text, and
- Effectively communicates its message to the audience of its choice.
Exercise 1
Working in small groups, identify one product that is sold commercially. Pick one online video ad and one still image or photo ad for the product. Review each ad and list the tools that they use (e.g., color, gesture, composition, etc.) to convey their message.
Once you have the list of tools, consider how they work together for each ad. How do they keep the audience engaged effectively? What emotions do they evoke? What are the similarities and differences between the tools and their effects across the ads?
Multimodality as a Rhetorical Tool
As you revise your text into a new medium, remember that your focus should be on rhetorical effectiveness. Who is your audience, and how can you effectively communicate your message to them in the medium of your choice? To achieve this goal, consider the following questions:
- Who is the intended audience?
- What are the conventions or rules of the genre you are revising into?
- What rhetorical tools do you need in the medium you have chosen?
- Can these tools be easily implemented in the medium?
- What kinds of resources do you have available?
Remixing an Essay
Works Cited
Cara Miller, Writing for Digital Media, PALNI Open Press, 2024, CC 4.0
