Creative Remix

Repurposing Essay: Multimedia Video Project

In this repurposing project, I adapted my research essay that examines the effects of social media diet trends on teenagers' eating habits and body image into a video project. While my initial work was a formal research paper that included multiple references and was mainly based on research, creating a video version enabled me to share the same message in a much more engaging and accessible form. Considering that my target audience consists of teenagers and young adults who frequently interact with various forms of multimedia on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, I opted for a short video format. As a result, I made a number of rhetorical choices to fit both the message and delivery format to the needs of this particular audience. Overall, I sought to provide viewers with the information about the negative impacts of social media diet trends and encourage them to think critically about the content they consume daily.

Visual Elements

The inclusion of visual elements was a major rhetorical change that I made when adapting my research essay into a video project. While the original work was mainly based on descriptions, the video format provided me with the opportunity to present some examples. For instance, I incorporated clips from "what I eat in a day" videos, images of aesthetically pleasing meals that represent popular diets, and screenshots of diet-related posts published on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. These visual components allowed viewers to get a closer look at the type of content discussed in the video. In particular, I used a clip that features extremely small meals presented as normal portions. Next to this scene, I inserted a text overlay that says, "This is not always realistic." This visual element was instrumental in emphasizing the discrepancy between the content posted on social media and reality. Rather than telling viewers about misleading images and posts, I provided them with the chance to observe this phenomenon themselves. Therefore, this combination of visuals and texts helped me convey my argument in a more powerful way. Furthermore, I employed fast-paced editing techniques, such as quick cuts between clips. Such a stylistic choice enabled me to simulate the experience of scrolling through social media feeds and coming across numerous posts of the same kind. I also added a scene that includes the screen recording of scrolling feed. In addition to demonstrating how frequently users come across certain types of content, it helped me illustrate the concepts of algorithmic influence without going into details.

Rhetorical Choice 2: Tone and Language

In my initial essay, I used a formal tone and academic jargon. When preparing my video project, however, I opted for a more conversational language. This choice became necessary since my target audience is more likely to engage with the information that seems more relatable and familiar. In my video, I avoided using terms such as algorithmic influence and explained this concept in simple words. Specifically, I said, "If you watch one of these videos, your feed will start showing you more and more of the same." Instead of employing technical language, I conveyed this idea in layman terms, which was likely to be more easily understood by my target audience. Moreover, I avoided oversimplification since all claims that I made in my video were based on my research findings, although I did not cite specific sources in the video format. To discuss more complicated topics, such as social comparison, I utilized examples that would be more familiar to my audience. Namely, I pointed out that constantly viewing certain body types or eating habits can lead people to believe that they need to make changes to their appearance or diet. By explaining this phenomenon in layman terms, I managed to present the same concept without complicating the video.

Rhetorical Choice 3: Structure and Organization

While my research essay follows a traditional academic format with extensive paragraphs and detailed arguments, my video uses a much more segmented organization. Because my target audience is accustomed to consuming short-form multimedia content, I needed to organize the video into several segments that would allow them to process information efficiently.

Initially, I asked viewers whether they had ever felt the pressure to eat a particular way based on what they saw on social media. Once viewers got interested in the topic, I briefly introduced it and transitioned to examples of social media diet trends. After discussing the content itself, I proceeded to explain its effects on eating behaviors and body image. Finally, I provided viewers with a call to action by urging them to think critically about the content they consume. By following this logical structure, I ensured that viewers would perceive my message coherently while processing information quickly. Each segment of the video focuses on a single topic, which enables viewers to stay engaged and avoid information overload. Additionally, by inserting transitions between segments, I helped them process information gradually and consistently.

Adapting Evidence for a Public Audience

Since my initial work was mainly based on academic sources, I had to reconsider how I would present evidence in my video. Rather than citing studies and explaining their methods in detail, I provided viewers with a short summary of the key ideas behind these articles and books. For instance, when talking about the effects of social media usage on body image, I used text overlays with brief descriptions that highlight the relationship between these factors. Even though I referenced multiple sources in this video, viewers did not see them because I wanted to simplify the content without compromising its scientific validity. As a result, I had to determine which evidence was most crucial to incorporate into my video. Because I had to keep it under five minutes, I selected the points that were relevant to my target audience and supported my argument. Although this process took time, it allowed me to refine my message and emphasize the aspects that were the most important to discuss.

Reflection on Effectiveness and Challenges

Overall, I find that I have succeeded in my attempts to create a video that conveys the message of my initial work in an effective way. The use of visuals, fast-paced editing, and simplified language helped me prepare a video that viewers are likely to perceive positively. Nevertheless, there were also some challenges associated with the creation of this video. First of all, I had to find the right balance between being informative and engaging viewers in the discussion. Since I had to keep my video under five minutes, I needed to make sure that I included only the most important information. Additionally, I had to consider that my topic pertains to mental well-being issues. Hence, I tried to be sensitive in my language to prevent any negative emotions among viewers. If I had more time, I would improve transitions between segments, add background music, and introduce additional personal elements into my video. It might be interesting for viewers to learn about my personal experience and thoughts on this issue. Furthermore, I could develop this project further by producing a series of videos on the same topic.

Conclusion

This project helped me understand the importance of multimodal communication and the significance of making rhetorical choices during the creation of multimedia content. By converting my initial research essay into a video project, I managed to adapt it to the needs of a public audience. Through the strategic use of visuals, language, organizational structure, and evidence, I prepared a message that would encourage teenagers to think critically about the effects of social media diet trends on their eating behaviours and body image.

Link to Video