Which is really better? Book vs. Movies


Now that our study of the novel The Great Gatsby is wrapping up, a great debate has broken out over whether or not we should be allowed to watch the movie version as well. While movies and books may communicate a story differently, there are definite benefits to each that, when paired together, lead to an increase in overall comprehension of the viewers.


Movies allow audiences to more easily visualize scenes from books that may have been unclear when they are being read, especially when those stories are written using complex and formal language such as in The Great Gatsby. Lines like “No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart”(Fitzgerald 96) can be hard to wrap your head around. However, hearing them spoken by an actor that has studied their meaning extensively in order to deliver them in the best way possible would make their meaning more understandable. Additionally, movies take much less time to complete so you can absorb the overall theme and main ideas quicker. The movie version of The Great Gatsby is only two hours, whereas the book took us a week to finish.


On the other hand, reading books allows for complex analysis and the breakdown of word choice and author's craft that isn’t possible when watching a movie. They include more detail about the characters and plot that isn’t able to be shown in a movie format. Much of Nick’s internal monologue grants us insight into not only the characters around him, but his reliability as a narrator. His view of the world would most likely be missing from the movie as it can be hard to translate private thoughts from book to screen. Furthermore, books allow for a greater connection to the characters and messages of the story by prolonging audiences' exposure to them. Having to read for hours about two characters' relationships would make a reader much more invested than only seeing them on screen for a half an hour.


Thus, books and movies are able to offer their audiences different experiences of the same story, allowing for greater comprehension and analysis. When questioning whether it is more beneficial to view either the movie or the book, the correct answer is both. Our class could only stand to gain by watching The Great Gatsby movie, now that we have finished reading the novel.





Comments

  1. Riley LennonNovember 21, 2021 at 1:03 PM

    I loved reading this blog!! I agree with your opinion, that our class would only benefit from watching the movie of The Great Gatsby, because it will bring the book and ideas we have talked about during class to life. I think it will be easier to understand the real meanings behind some of the irony and symbolism we have discussed during class if we got to see them play out during the movie. I really liked your blog, great job!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Leah OstrowskiNovember 21, 2021 at 6:54 PM

    I like that you chose block method for your blog because you did it really well! I remember we talked in class about how it’s the harder method to use, but your connections at the end supported the argument and pieces of evidence well. I also agree, we should definitely watch the movie in class:)

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