In modern times, we get lots of information and knowledge through a variety of electronic visual media such as videos, films and tv as well as books. Some people say that since today's people prefer visual media in getting information, books are not necessary anymore. However, others argue that books still play an important role in obtaining information and knowledge. In this essay, I will discuss both views before presenting my own opinion.
No one can deny that we not only have fun and but also get some useful information from videos, films and tv. We enjoy watching interesting visual images with sound while getting information. Moreover, people, especially young generations, already are accustomed to watching moving pictures rather than reading letters. This is because we can easily meet tv programmes giving educational information and documentary films on tv. Also, it is very valuable for kindergarten pupils to use entertaining and instructional visual media. However, information obtained from this way could be superficial knowledge. We usually watch video clips once or twice and get informatinn very passively, so they do not remain in our memory for a long time. Furthermore, children who depend on video footage greatly may refuse to read books.
On the other hand, we can collect more in-depth knowledge from books. They make us think more and more. We can repeat some parts that we do not understand many times. This activity leads us to have profounder knowledge. In addition, books give us secondhand experience and make us be creative. Books having no moving visual screen help excercise our imagination. For example, we feel like that we are traveling places in the book when reading a travel book. It could be impossible to have creative thinking from the images which others made.
To sum up, both book and visual media have advantages but I personally think that books are more attractive and uniqe tools because we get information and knowledge more actively and creatively from books.