What is a video essay?

What is a 'video essay'?

A video essay is 'a video work that explores a topic using various sources of information and that experiments with form and content. This genre combines various art forms (painting, music, opera, etc.) and disciplines (sociology, history, philosophy, etc.)'.   (Find reference here)

So that is the official definition.  Video History Today uses the same expression but it can mean many things. 

A video essay is an essay made using video.

• It could be an essay made in the form of a television style news report. 
  
• It could be a video made using on screen text and music. 
  
• It could be a technical exercise using the video editing software and creating a piece of art.

In other words, it is the imagination and creativity of the teacher (in setting the exercise) and the motivation and confidence of the student that decides what the content of Video History Today is used to produce. 

        But I am not very technical.  (More help)

The content of Video History Today is aimed at the end user, the students.  It goes without saying that the current generation of young people are more technically minded then the average adult: look at any form of modern communication technology such as mobile/cell phones, Ipods and computers or internet applications such as YouTube, MySpace and Facebook. 

Video History Today is however marketed at the very 'non-techie' adults who will have to be able to easily access the site and download the video files.  The site has therefore been designed to be easy for anybody to operate,  (here is a useful article on using video to teach History).

Any subject can be searched and the applicable articles (files) found.  Clicking on the article subject-line opens the article. 

Each article will contain one or more files which can be downloaded simply by following the screen instructions, (to open, double left-click on the small photos).  

Each article will consist of the file ('behind' the photo), a small contents box, some notes, some web links and a list of related articles.

The files are packaged using something called a Zip program (think of it as a suitcase into which you place all your holiday clothes and accessories so that you only have one item to carry to your destination). 

When the Zip file (the 'suitcase') is opened it automatically loads the video and photograph files into the correct area of the main Video History Today file on your hard drive, (The UnZip programme will ask the user where it wants to UnZip the file, just select 'C:\' if this is your main hard drive)  (HELP!! pdf file).

In other words, when the Video History Today file is unzipped, it automatically places the contents into the correct part of your Video History Today file (as long as the user selects the correct Hard Drive!).

If you have any other queries take a look at the 'FAQ's' section or the 'Technical Help' section.