A Multimodal Framework for Computer Mediated Learning: The Reshaping of Curriculum Knowledge and Learning

Overall George is rarely represented on his own (2/39). The ‘disconnected nature’ of
Lennie’s character is also realised by the use of framing. The character is represented
as being alone in nearly a quarter of the screens (9/39). This draws on contemporary
visual representations of the lone male as stalker, rather than the empathetic
loneliness of the original novel.

Social Distance

As discussed earlier, social distance can be visually encoded to suggest the designers’
desired relationship between viewer and the represented participants. In the images of
Chapter One mid and long shots are used to represent the characters George and
Lennie walking or Lennie standing looking out of screen. Close-up images are
employed in four instances in Chapter One: Lennie drinking from the river; Lennie
looking frightened in the dark; George holding his head in his hands; George and
Lennie talking. Overall, the character George is more frequently shown in close up
than the character Lennie, while Lennie is most frequently shown in mid-long to long
shot. Throughout the chapter close up images of the characters are used to visually
emphasise the intense emotions that are key to the characters and to their relationship:
Lennie’s lack of control and fear and potential physical strength, George’s frustration
and guilt.

Attitude

The horizontal angle between the represented participants and the viewer encoded in
the images of Chapter One indicates the suggested level of involvement between
them. Through the use of oblique angle and mid to long distance shots in the still
images, the viewer is placed at a greater distance and more obliquely to Lennie. The
viewer is positioned to observe rather than engage with his actions and emotions. In
some screens an extreme oblique angle and long distance shot are used to visually
represent Lennie as a ‘potential danger’.

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