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

The images are not illustrations to the writing; they realise a number of ‘unsaid’
meanings as a visual summary of the ‘Novel as CD-ROM’. Including the volatile and
changing nature of the relationship between the characters George and Lennie, and
the potential sexual threat of Lennie and his ‘disconnected’ nature. The designers’
desire for audience empathy and identification with George and for the objectification
of Lennie is realised visually. In addition the connection between nature and safety,
and man-made society and danger is visually made.

The Character Guide

The ‘Novel as CD-ROM’ includes a video character guide named Bindy. This guide
appears at 15 different points throughout the novel, including three times in Chapter
One. As the reader moves through the ‘Novel as CD-ROM’, the guide automatically
appears in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. He provides a spoken
commentary on different aspects of the novel. This includes the theme of the novel
(identified as loneliness), social historical information on the time of the novel, the
production of the novel as a play and films, Steinbeck’s life, influences and the
inspiration for the novel, and the effect of the novel on Steinbeck’s career.

The visual appearance of the character guide Bindy (figure 4.5), particularly his
clothes, voice and style of speaking are similar to the appearance, voice and style in
the re-presentation of the character George. Like George he is shown wearing dark
jeans, a check brown shirt, and a brown rimmed hat. Visually, Bindy’s clothes and
physical stature present him as an echo of George. In his third appearance in Chapter
One Bindy is shown shuffling a deck of cards, an activity associated with George
throughout the book as a symbol of his loneliness and ‘patience’ which is also
visually referenced and discussed in his dossier file (discussed later in this chapter).
In this way, George’s perspective is foregrounded through the embodiment of
‘parallel’ features in the character Guide Bindy.

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