Textuality » 4A Interacting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krZXxtafwZE&feature=related
The title
of the video is Cambridge University Best University in the world. It anticipates the thesis the producer
wants to discuss trough the video, that is, studying at the University of Cambridge
is the best choice you can make.
The video
looks like a virtual argumentative text, because the author provides numerous
grounds for supporting his idea: first of all, the University of Cambridge is
800 years old, that is, it is really rich in tradition and history; in
addition, more than 80 Nobel Prizes graduated there; what is more, students
have got numerous opportunities: they can attend lectures and seminaries, play
music and individual or team sports. Their skills give them a good chance to be
employed after graduation and they are also eligible for a Cambridge bursary.
The
atmosphere of the video is peaceful but majestic too: the author chose a
relaxing background music and some beautiful pictures of the university from
the outside. These devices add confidence and charm to the University but, in a
way, the watcher becomes curious about its internal structure (lecture rooms,
students' accommodation, gym) and his need is not satisfied by the video.
The
producer focused his attention on the history (initial sequence of graduated Nobel
Prizes) and on some technical and specific features of Cambridge University
(statistics, bursary), leaving outside other interesting information, such as
its location, the services it offers (libraries, book shops, cinemas, common
rooms), the faculties you can attend. They are just quoted at the end of the
video, collected in a sort of slide full with words that the watcher is asked
to read in a really short time.
As a
consequence, even if he is intrigued by the physical appearance of the
University, he has got a lot of doubts about the real life in it.