No, how about an essay is an essay, no matter if you film yourself reading it or not. The content of the message is what is important, not the medium it's presented in.

[–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 13 points 10 months ago (1 children)

As true as that is, video essays may reach a wider audience due to their visual component that can keep people interested. Most people would rather watch a video than read an essay or listen to one.

Most people who make video essay videos include relevant footage, graphs/charts and diagrams, not just them sitting there and reading.

[–] 9point6@lemmy.world 22 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Was gonna say, a video essay is almost an entirely distinct form of media from a written essay. And to conflate the two really disregards and diminishes a lot of the creative process that goes behind both.

A good written essay might make a terrible video essay, and vice versa.

[–] dmonzel@lemmy.ml 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Do you think a video essay is just someone reading off of a piece of paper in front of a camera?

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 10 months ago

Marshall McLuhan might disagree.

The medium is the message.

[–] ook_the_librarian@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago

Are you upset that the Oscars only consider films and not books?

[–] wolfshadowheart@slrpnk.net 2 points 10 months ago

Producing a video and writing an essay are two very different forms of work.

But because there is a similar end result does not mean the process is remotely the same.