I completely agree. Cinematographers spend huge effort to frame things in a scene in a certain way. Shots that only last 2s are thought about for hours to figure out exactly how to frame things, where the actors should be standing, where they should be looking, what’s in the background, what’s in the foreground, etc. When there are words on screen it messes all that up. Even if you don’t read the words, they interfere with the picture. If you do read the words you’re looking away from the picture.
When you’re reading the words, you’re also not reading the actors’ expressions. Sometimes you miss key things that way, because a subtle glance or gesture from an actor can indicate they’re lying, or they’re nervous, or they’re hiding something.
I really think that people who use subtitles should try to learn to develop their listening skills so they don’t need them. They’re really missing out on a lot by having those subtitles on. Sure, some people have hearing problems or other disabilities. But, people who don’t should learn to do without them because it will enhance the experience greatly.
I hear what you’re saying, but it’s a different problem for me. If the dialog is in English, then I’m hearing it and reading it. In fact, I’m usually reading it right before hearing it. I can’t ignore/tune out either the written or spoken dialog. This completely breaks immersion for me. If the spoken language is something I don’t understand, then I have no trouble tuning it out in favor if the subtitles. Dubbed English is actually more immersion-breaking for me (non-animated media).
I don’t mind subtitles when watching non-English media, but I find they ruin English language media for me.
I completely agree. Cinematographers spend huge effort to frame things in a scene in a certain way. Shots that only last 2s are thought about for hours to figure out exactly how to frame things, where the actors should be standing, where they should be looking, what’s in the background, what’s in the foreground, etc. When there are words on screen it messes all that up. Even if you don’t read the words, they interfere with the picture. If you do read the words you’re looking away from the picture.
When you’re reading the words, you’re also not reading the actors’ expressions. Sometimes you miss key things that way, because a subtle glance or gesture from an actor can indicate they’re lying, or they’re nervous, or they’re hiding something.
I really think that people who use subtitles should try to learn to develop their listening skills so they don’t need them. They’re really missing out on a lot by having those subtitles on. Sure, some people have hearing problems or other disabilities. But, people who don’t should learn to do without them because it will enhance the experience greatly.
I hear what you’re saying, but it’s a different problem for me. If the dialog is in English, then I’m hearing it and reading it. In fact, I’m usually reading it right before hearing it. I can’t ignore/tune out either the written or spoken dialog. This completely breaks immersion for me. If the spoken language is something I don’t understand, then I have no trouble tuning it out in favor if the subtitles. Dubbed English is actually more immersion-breaking for me (non-animated media).
I find it enhances it for me, since it’s easy to miss what people are saying.
Unless the subtitles don’t match the audio in which case I become enraged and I have to shum to calm down.
Oh yeah, that’s unbearable! Better to have them off than deal with that!
Exactly! Shumming is the only thing that calms me down when that happens.
googles “shumming,” wishes he hadn’t
Another kind stranger taught me that word.
Im going to use it until it stops being funny to me.