Video Description
Navigational Aid: This video uses a minimalist design and includes content that is only presented visually. As such, the text is featured in its entirety, and descriptions are provided in parentheses whenever the visual content is deemed to complement the written content.
Overview: In this video, colourful hand-drawn illustrations are brought to life against a dark backdrop, inviting us to reflect upon the power of words, the meanings they convey, and their effects on us and the world around us.
Audio Content A soft, piano melody is playing in the background throughout the entire video.
Text
“Words are chameleons, which reflect the colour of their environment.” —Learned Hand
Everyday, people communicate with an average of 16,000 words. (Close-up on a human head. Inside, an empty dialogue bubble. Zoom in onto the bubble, which fills up with a succession of words, hashtags and social media icons of different shades and sizes; they eventually form a word cloud.)
What do they say?
(The following words and expressions make up the word cloud): Hello, #MeToo, I like, I love, How are you?, #RespectYourself, What’s for dinner?, Are we there yet?, Did you see that?, What’s happening, LOL, I’m hungry, It happened so fast, He’s my friend, I loved that book, Yo, Hurry up! Oups, Who are you?, Welcome, Goodbye, Wow, So angry right now, See you later!, She’s strange!, Where?, Nice hair!, I need a job, When did that happen?
Sometimes, words collide and disagree. (The words “collide” and “disagree” collide in a graphic animation. Sound effects akin to building blocks collapsing can be heard.)
Some words are facts, others are fiction.
Some words build relationships, others break them.
Some words are hopeful, others are full of despair. (A decorative flower with a tall, straight stem is sketched on the screen. The flower is then seen drooping.)
Words are spoken, written, sung, and signed. (A sketched hand is shaping “I love you” in American Sign Language, with the thumb extended to the side, the index and pinkie fingers sticking out straight, and the two middle fingers bent down.)
They take the shape and intent that you give them.
They can create a mood, defend an argument, spark an idea, build a career. (A pair of sketched hands is shown in an arm-wrestling position. A light bulb appears. Then, we see three mountains with a flag on top of the highest one.)
Texts are arrangements of words and create entire worlds of ideas. (A hand-drawn illustration of a book is shown here.)
Some novels use pictures to communicate.
Is an image worth a thousand words?
"Don't ever diminish the power of words. Words move hearts and hearts move limbs." —Hamza Yusuf
How will your words ignite your vision of the world?
Fin de la description.
Indian Horse : The Healing Power of Storytelling
You must be enrolled in the course to access this module.
In this module you learn how a poem can convey our deepest thoughts. You explore what is most central to our identity: our names, our legends or the knowledge of our ancestors. You question whether there is a recipe for resilience and whether a sport or a passion can serve as salvation. You will write a poem that expresses your thoughts on a theme or social issue presented in the novel Indian Horse.
Looking to the Future
You must be enrolled in the course to access this module.
In this module you will explore the main elements of an effective business portfolio. You look for the three essential qualities that a young entrepreneur needs to succeed. You discover what makes a compelling advertisement, whether a picture is more powerful than words or the impact of our social media footprint. You will develop an innovative product or service and a professional business portfolio.
Theories of Relativity
You must be enrolled in the course to access this module.
In this module you explore whether it is human nature to judge others, or whether we are programmed by society to do so. You explore the most effective way to help a homeless person and the tools and devices that authors can use to add deeper meaning to their stories. You will create a blog to record your thoughts as you read Theories of Relativity.
Stories We Read, Stories We Tell
You must be enrolled in the course to access this module.
In this module you will explore whether pictures are more powerful than words in telling a story. You will discover the added value of a relationship between images and words and three strategies used by an effective speaker. You will prepare a seminar that focuses on key aspects of a theme explored in a graphic novel of your choice.