The Art of VJ-ing [ PSYCHOLOGY ]
In the context of a message (whether it be a song, sermon, etc.), visual media can be either directly or indirectly related to that message, as well as can cause a cognitive or emotional response within you. Visual media that is directly related is more or less a literal translation of what is being sung or talked about. Indirectly-related media is more of a “cousin” to the message; there’s no direct correlation but there is a link that can support the message. When a visual causes a cognitive response, it activates something in your head; you see text or an image and it causes you think. Or the visual can cause any type of emotional response…excitement, energy, reverence, adoration, awe…this list goes on an on. Text-based media tends to lean more on the cognitive, while image-based media usually stirs up your emotions; however, it can go both ways.
(A) Direct/Cognitive: A great example here would be lyrics to a worship song. Projected lyrics are directly related to the song itself…I mean, how more literal can you get? And when you see lyrics on a screen, it triggers a cognitive reaction; you see the words and sing along. Another example of this would be keywords from the lyrics that fly across the screen.
(B) Indirect/Cognitive: Have you ever decided not to project lyrics because everyone knows the song by heart? I do this with “Breathe”, “Awesome God”, and “Agnus Dei” all the time. Instead of lyrics, I’ll scroll through various scriptures that support what is being sung about. Or I’ll play a video that has the names of God (“Names of God” from Highway Video’s Vibe Vol. 4).
(C) Direct/Emotional: Try singing “Draw Me Close” and using a silhouette of someone kneeling down and praying. There is a direct and literal translation, and the image can stir something in you. Maybe you aren’t in a position to kneel down yourself in worship, but you can wrap your heart around the image on the screen, letting it express what is in your heart. In concert settings, an example of dir/emo would be singing along with a music video.
(D) Indirect/Emotional (‘indie/emo’ as I like to call it): here is where most of us lie in using visuals, especially as backgrounds for lyrics. These visuals have little or nothing to do with the song itself, but evokes emotions that are appropriate. Using colorful, abstract animations to an upbeat song can support an energetic and celebratory atmosphere. For many, candles can represent a closeness and intimacy with our Creator. The use of creation/nature imagery or a video of a galaxy or nebula that stretches 15 million light years while singing “How Great is Our God” is another great example. You’re obviously not singing “How great is our galaxy, sing with me…”, but being reminded how big God is and how small we are sure does echo the anthem of God’s glory louder than a blue background.
Knowing why and how visual media affects us will help us in selecting visuals that will speak truth to us on multiple levels and help us to engage our people in a purposeful way.
~proctor
Great stuff bro…
Thanks for putting all that into an organized way for us to ’see’. I’ve always wondered how exactly to categorize all the different visual elements…and there it is.
During one of those rare opportunities recently when I was NOT running the video, I spent time observing people in their worship. All of these direct and indirect responses could be seen in how people reacted to certain video elements. It was easy to tell who was engaged and who was disconnected. When all of the pieces of the worship experience were working together, I could feel the difference in the spirit of the room. It reinforced the importance of not taking the video for granted or minimizing the importance. Being sensitive to how and why people respond is key to our job. Thanks for the concise way this defines it.
I know some wow gold in wow.