Five Forms of Text

Billboards

I suppose the only way Billboards could be considered alive according to Bazerman and Russel is when being read by drivers. Although some billboards do guide drivers to certain exits for food or lodging, so in that sentiment would the writing be alive because the driver is following said writing to the destination? Sure, why not?

Vehicle Advertisements

This one is a bit tricky. Would driving an ad-plastered car or truck be considered part of human activity? The individual is indeed driving around, hopefully, with the knowledge that their vehicle does have writing on it. They can control where that writing is to go and who sees it. At the very least, it is alive when people read it out of their car window.

Books (Storybook)

                                                                                    by hero-108-amy

Probably the simplest to explain, the text within a book is brought to life within a reader’s imagination. The writing is internally converted to thriving, and possibly, colorful images, thus animating the words. It, of course, can be considered alive when it is being written.

Labels

Bazerman and Russel explain writing is alive when “it is part of human activity,” including remembrance. The purpose of a label is to be eye-catching enough to be memorable to market, so when an individual goes grocery shopping, they’ll remember the label of that new cheese, for instance, had red font and a blue background. The same aspect could be applied to those IPod/IPad apps where one must remember the brand based on a picture or partial picture of a label.

Clothes

I do not think writing could be more alive than when it is being worn. Not only is the act of wearing the word(s) a continual aspect of human activity, but it is being read by any whom happen to view the clothing. And, I would hope, the meaning of said article of clothing was contemplated before wearing it.