The first post should reflect on the ‘genre’ and form of video explainers. How would you define a video explainer (can we call it a ‘genre’, or does it fit neatly into a ‘genre’)? From the examples we’ve watched in class, what are some of the aesthetics, modes or conventions that stand out to you? Choose an example (from class or your own research) and critically discuss those elements that you think work well/what you would do differently? What elements might you like to include in your individual video explainer (based on your assignment one proposal).

We could potentially call video explainers a genre, as they contain consistent elements despite differences in topics. These include lots of voice-overs, piece-to-cameras, interviews, animations, graphics, and acting. There are also genres and styles within video explainers. Some are more analytical and serious, with a target audience at adults or students. These generally don’t include too much acting or storylines and tend to have a more academic tone. These can include interviews with experts or people with an experience with the topic. Other video explainers are light-hearted or funny. These tend to be directed towards children but not always; some older people may prefer to learn through a more casual approach. These can include the use of acting, sometimes with comedic undertones to keep the audience engaged. They can also incorporate easy-to-follow animations, with characters or stories to help explain the topic. For example, we had to share a video explainer with the class, and I chose one created for children by NASA explaining what black holes in space are. This video utilised animations and graphics, most likely because real-life footage of NASA content probably would not interest children, and the animations are a better way to explain a complex idea. Moreover, real-life footage of black holes may not actually show what they are very well, or may not even be accessible. In this case, animations and simple graphics are a better way to teach kids this topic (and older people as well, as it simplified a complicated topic that may be difficult for anyone to understand). If I were to make changes to this video, I would probably speed it up a bit. The voice-over was a bit slow, which is understandable given that it was made generally for children, but from the perspective of a university student I feel like the pace of the speech could be quicker. Sometimes I found myself losing interest because it dragged on a little bit. Overall however, I found it was a helpful resource for learning the basics about black holes in space. I could potentially like to include animations and graphics in my own video explainer, because I believe it was a useful visual tool to help explain a topic. I also will most likely include voice-over because it is an efficient way to convey information with visuals on the screen.

NASA Space Place (20 December 2013) ‘What is a Black Hole?’ , NASA Space Place, accessed on 23 August 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfMExgr_vzY&list=PL9TFrgFq75565gdN1T95J91ciMk7szjiZ