It can be extremely difficult to tell a story in less than a minute, but I think my classmate Laura Ammermie actually tells a story in her Soundslides 1 assignment “Bowling at the Reitz Union.” The audio in her project is edited in a very neat and succinct manner. The best thing about the story is that it is easy to listen to and that the photos are very clear. Lately we’ve been discussing what components make up a real story. Laura’s Soundslides project has a definite beginning, middle and end, which is one way to identify a story.
We also discussed how stories introduce a character who is balanced at the beginning and then tells of a conflict or climatic event that takes the character out of his or her comfort zone before a resolution at the end. Laura introduces us to bowling-aficionado Abby, who talks about why she likes bowling and how it is a regular activity in her life. Then the conflict comes when Abby has to get used to bowling at the Reitz Union, which is different from the alleys she’s accustomed to in her hometown. And the resolution is when Alley concludes she has to change her bowling technique and accept the lower scores she earns at the Reitz Union.
The sound of a bowling ball knocking down pins automatically lets the audience know what Laura’s story is about, and the first picture of Abby walking into the game room got me a little interested in the story. I think the audio helps make the beginning interesting more than the photography. I also think the sencerity in Abby’s voice when she says she loves bowling drew me in and made me want to hear more about the topic. But there was a lack of photos showing Abby’s excitement or enthusiasm about the topic. This could have made the beginning a little more interesting.
The soundslides has an ending, but I don’t think it was a firm conclusion. The resolution would be more complete if Abby would not only acknowledge that her score will always be lower at the Reitz , but also tell how she feels about this or give some kind of personal reaction to the conflict.
Although the game room at the Reitz Union is a major part of campus life, I think Laura’s project contains about 20 percent of the “campus life” aspect of the assignment and about 80 percent profile of Abby. Many students rely on the game room for convenient entertainment. Laura captures how much Abby enjoys bowling for the social aspect of meeting people, but we only see photos of Abby and one of her friends.
I would improve this story by trying to show other students bowling so that the “campus life” aspect of the activity will be supported. For example, I wondered if Abby had other friends she met bowling or met up with regularly to play. I think there could have been more discussion about emotions she feels when she plays the game or is dissappointed in her lower scores at the Reitz. The story could have shown how much fun she had bowling with other students.
