Andreas Thesis Outline

[Andreas: work still in progress – I'm not satisfied with my statement]

Thesis Outline Second Draft

I. Introduction

Background:
Many people of the western first world state that they do not want to talk about nowadays news/politics because they know too little about it. A study conducted 2016 by NORC claims that it actually is easier to find information, but one is quickly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information one has to cope with. Does society really have a lower attention span because they are exposed to much more information? Would the concept of brevity – properly applied to the moving image– help the viewer regain attention for information that matters?

Thesis Statement:
I want to research how the brevity discourse can be applied to the moving image.

II. Body

First Topic: The history of the brevity discourse
Different kinds of historical accounts shape our understandings and assumptions about technology.

1. Cicero vs Quintilian: boring the audience vs keeping something from the audience
2. Aristotle: brevity in an appropriate manner
3. Scientific communication

Second Topic: How the human brain processes information
The Science of Gaining Focus 1) The two brain systems (according to Daniel Kahneman)
The central argument of Kahneman is that there are two types of thinking: System 1 that is fast, intuitive and emotional and System 2 that is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. Kahneman is describing a series of experiments, that show the differences between the two thought processes and is showing how both systems often end up in different results. 2) How distraction works (according to Daniel Goleman)
There are two varieties of distractions: sensory and emotional. Sensory distractions are popups on the computer screen or the loud construction work outside. Sensory distraction can be avoided by paying attention. William James, a founder of America psychology, wrote a century or so ago that attention comes down to the mind’s eye noticing clearly ‘one of what seems several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought.’ Emotional distractions are much harder to avoid. If something triggers a strong reaction – annoyance or anger, anxiety or even fearfulness – that distraction will instantly become the focus of your thoughts, no matter what you’re trying to focus on. 3) is distraction necessarily a bad thing?
The process of feeling bad about distraction is something that became more present through the optimization of work life in the capitalist world. Whether you call it procrastination or laziness: it is interesting to take a look on why the brain is getting easily distracted and how to purposely encourage distraction. 4) Regaining focus (Autonomy, Resources, Time, Meditation, Nature and Joy)

Third Topic: Applying the brevity discourse to the moving image
How do changing parameters in the moving image affect communication 1) The fast Image in Advertising
2) Density of information in news programs
3) The moving image in social media

III. Conclusion

From ancient times to the modern era the rhetoric has been the binding and constant guideline of communication. Nowadays there is less new in the rhetoric, even though the complexity of content has increased. Also, there seems to be a dominance of the visual in the ‘screen-’ or ‘display culture’.
There is a need for tools, methods and infrastructures to ensure that we can regain focus and fully take part again in a political discourse

Thesis Outline First Draft

I. Introduction

Background:
Many people of the western first world state that they do not want to talk about nowadays news/politics because they know too little about it. [<Steve asks: is this anecdotal or is empirical data informing this statement?] They are overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information that they cope with. Does society really have a lower attention span because they are exposed to much more information? [This is a good question. can we assume this? is there empirical evidence? If so what is it? If not, why do we assume it to be so?] And how does this affect the movie?

Thesis Statement:
The acceleration of society is affecting the movie. Properly applied to the moving image, the concept of brevity can help the viewer regain attention for information that matters.[<Steve: is this a modernist solution? (See, in the early 20th century, Otto Neurath on the use of visual information or gestalt theory) in which we consider an 'economic use of information' against an 'overabundance' of information'. You need to be clear about what you know and where you stand on it.]

II. Body

First Topic: The history of the brevity discourse
Different kinds of historical accounts shape our understandings and assumptions about technology.

1. Cicero vs Quintilian: boring the audience vs keeping something from the audience
2. Aristotle: brevity in an appropriate manner
3. Scientific communication

Second Topic: How the human brain processes information
The Science of Gaining Focus

1. The two brain systems (according to Daniel Kahneman)
2. How distraction works (according to Daniel Goleman)
3. Regaining focus (Meditation, Nature and Joy)

Third Topic: Applying the brevity discourse to the moving image
How do changing parameters in the moving image affect communication

1. The fast image in advertising
2. Density of information in news programs
3. The moving image in social media

III. Conclusion

From ancient times to the modern era the rhetoric has been the binding and constant guideline of communication. Nowadays there is less new in the rhetoric, even though the complexity of content has increased. Also, there seems to be a dominance of the visual in the „screen-“ or „display culture“.
There is a need for tools, methods and infrastructures to ensure that we can regain focus and fully take part again in a political discourse