I don’t really play a lot of games online but I did like console games a lot in my youth. I played some single-player games like final fantasy but for the most part I loved to play games such as Mario party, Super Smash Bros., and Mario kart. My family enjoyed Mario Party in particular and we purchased all versions up until the wii came out. The thing about Mario Party was that it was multi-player and really much more fun the more people you played with. While I loved the story line and graphics of games like final fantasy, I found that after playing too much of it I tended to feel a little weird and isolated because it is an RPG and you are sort of swept up into the world. I guess it was sort of immediacy that I recoiled from and if I thought about it long enough it was also strange that I was interacting with people who were not actually people in the game, that it is essentially a solipsistic world created for you to explore alone.
However, when playing Mario Party it’s really no fun if you play alone because many of the games require partnering. Playing with my siblings was really enjoyable because I could spend time with them doing something that we all enjoyed. Also I didn’t necessarily feel that disconnect that I did with other games. I could play video games and be interacting with the screen and still be interacting with people around me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH9_bGc95Fs&feature=related
Monday, July 27, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Answer to Crystal's questions
What is your take on the notion that immediacy depends on the cultural context? (i.e. Africans v. Westerners looking at a photograph) Do you agree or disagree that immediacy to some may look like hypermediacy to others? Explain or give an example of how this applies to you.
I think that immediacy does depend on cultural context because of the way different cultures have developed relationships with media. With media I think immediacy comes from something that may seem hypermediated to others because we are constantly exposed to that media so that we may get used to looking passed the medium. For instance while watching a video online may seem by now a very immediate media for people in a highly technological society, in a culture that has little to no knowledge of computers it is hardly likely that they would be able to ignore that seemingly magical device that allows them to view video. Even if we are talking about like a film, it is pretty much understood that certain media products have more cultural relevance in one culture than it would in others, and for the other cultures to view this film it would be a reminder that this was not created for them. It is not a natural experience for them and would seem very far from real or authentic.
I think that immediacy does depend on cultural context because of the way different cultures have developed relationships with media. With media I think immediacy comes from something that may seem hypermediated to others because we are constantly exposed to that media so that we may get used to looking passed the medium. For instance while watching a video online may seem by now a very immediate media for people in a highly technological society, in a culture that has little to no knowledge of computers it is hardly likely that they would be able to ignore that seemingly magical device that allows them to view video. Even if we are talking about like a film, it is pretty much understood that certain media products have more cultural relevance in one culture than it would in others, and for the other cultures to view this film it would be a reminder that this was not created for them. It is not a natural experience for them and would seem very far from real or authentic.
1. Bolter says (with reference to Keller)that the argument in most cultural studies is that film and tv have embedded social and economic ideologies that we should learn to recognize and combat. Do you believe that we are being indoctrinated by the media we watch?
2.Bolter says that rock music does not offer anything beyond the experience, the medium and that right wing religious Americans cannot accept the music because of that...are there certain people you think that are predisposed to allowing themselves to participate in such a hypermediated experience?
3. Bolter mentions the male visual gaze. What are some instances in which you have felt that the gaze in some media has been implicitly male?
2.Bolter says that rock music does not offer anything beyond the experience, the medium and that right wing religious Americans cannot accept the music because of that...are there certain people you think that are predisposed to allowing themselves to participate in such a hypermediated experience?
3. Bolter mentions the male visual gaze. What are some instances in which you have felt that the gaze in some media has been implicitly male?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
1. Media plays a huge role in our society, would you say that media adapts to the cultures and society or is it vice versa?
I would say that both are happening, media and technology are of course hugely affected by the cultures and societies that we live in because often times they are created to fill perceived needs that our society might have. These needs are not always cross-cultural. A technological example of that might be that in Japan they have many cultural etiquettes regarding noise in public places so that they have developed pens that click softer or phones that are more accommodating. Television as well, MTV in the U.S. has different feel than MTV in other countries. And society is definitely effected by media and technology. We often pick up slang and jokes from tv and movies and use this to communicate with each other. For instance how many people have you seen doing an impression from the movie anchorman? It was everywhere when the movie had just come out and i hadn't even seen the movie so I was left out of that communicative frame as a result. If we look at technology, we have start to communicate differently as a result of texting.
I would say that both are happening, media and technology are of course hugely affected by the cultures and societies that we live in because often times they are created to fill perceived needs that our society might have. These needs are not always cross-cultural. A technological example of that might be that in Japan they have many cultural etiquettes regarding noise in public places so that they have developed pens that click softer or phones that are more accommodating. Television as well, MTV in the U.S. has different feel than MTV in other countries. And society is definitely effected by media and technology. We often pick up slang and jokes from tv and movies and use this to communicate with each other. For instance how many people have you seen doing an impression from the movie anchorman? It was everywhere when the movie had just come out and i hadn't even seen the movie so I was left out of that communicative frame as a result. If we look at technology, we have start to communicate differently as a result of texting.
1.Do you believe that a work can be so hypermediated that you will be able to see it as unmediated? What does that mean for our society if that is possible?
2.Bolter talks about how older media can remediate itself based on newer media (like tv and the internet) how have you seen this happen?
3.Bolter suggests that media cannot stand alone but requires other media because it is mediation of mediation, do you think that there is any media that can stand by itself or do you agree with Bolter?
2.Bolter talks about how older media can remediate itself based on newer media (like tv and the internet) how have you seen this happen?
3.Bolter suggests that media cannot stand alone but requires other media because it is mediation of mediation, do you think that there is any media that can stand by itself or do you agree with Bolter?
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Answer to Nick's Ede questions
1. Do you think that a more collaborative environment would be beneficial to the college educational system? Why (not)?
Personally it's hard for me to say either way because I don't think that I have been made to do that much collaborative work during my college career. I have done collaborative work with professors and I have to say that it was very educational for me just even in terms of keeping everything organized (which I am not in the least, organized that is). I think, however, it is difficult to do collaborative work with people you do not know because there is the trust issue. With many successful collaborations it is because the vision and style of the authors match so they can work together without worrying about how the other people might complete work. Also the competitive environment of college will make it harder to do more collaborative work because students will always be looking for ways to distinguish themselves.
Personally it's hard for me to say either way because I don't think that I have been made to do that much collaborative work during my college career. I have done collaborative work with professors and I have to say that it was very educational for me just even in terms of keeping everything organized (which I am not in the least, organized that is). I think, however, it is difficult to do collaborative work with people you do not know because there is the trust issue. With many successful collaborations it is because the vision and style of the authors match so they can work together without worrying about how the other people might complete work. Also the competitive environment of college will make it harder to do more collaborative work because students will always be looking for ways to distinguish themselves.
1. The article presents many different viewpoints on collaboration do you feel that collaboration is something that can produce something as good or even better than you could on your own?
2. The structure of this article is interesting as it is composed as a series of quotes. Do you think that this is an effective way to communicate what they were trying to convey? or is it just distracting to the reader?
3. More than one of the quotes brings up the issue of the honorary credit sort of given to senior professors, Do you think this is an entirely negative thing given that having an established name on your work might garner it wider readership?
2. The structure of this article is interesting as it is composed as a series of quotes. Do you think that this is an effective way to communicate what they were trying to convey? or is it just distracting to the reader?
3. More than one of the quotes brings up the issue of the honorary credit sort of given to senior professors, Do you think this is an entirely negative thing given that having an established name on your work might garner it wider readership?
Monday, July 13, 2009
Answer to Dan's Question
When Hampe speaks of Miss Darling, he says "there was no way I could use the footage we had shot to communicate to an audience what I had seen and felt." Even if one can capture this evidence and make said person once again feel what was seen and felt, how can you guarantee that an audience will have the same experience? Is there a common ground where everyone can feel a feeling or are there certain things that may be interpreted differently?
I think that to some extent that there are some films where most people feel the same as the filmmaker. As humans learn to read other humans emotions through facial changes or body language I think this sort of stuff would come through film that is well shot and edited. Most people don't need someone to tell them that someone's upset when they are frowning, that is visual evidence. We might not all have the same personal emotional response to that evidence but I think many people are able to recognize it. This also may have to do with socialization, we associate certain visual evidences with certain events in our--society Fireworks with Fourth of July, which would not work as well in Britain. I think it is the responsibility of the filmmaker to take these things into account when considering their audience but I do not think that visual evidence can be universal, at least until we have like complete globalization.
I think that to some extent that there are some films where most people feel the same as the filmmaker. As humans learn to read other humans emotions through facial changes or body language I think this sort of stuff would come through film that is well shot and edited. Most people don't need someone to tell them that someone's upset when they are frowning, that is visual evidence. We might not all have the same personal emotional response to that evidence but I think many people are able to recognize it. This also may have to do with socialization, we associate certain visual evidences with certain events in our--society Fireworks with Fourth of July, which would not work as well in Britain. I think it is the responsibility of the filmmaker to take these things into account when considering their audience but I do not think that visual evidence can be universal, at least until we have like complete globalization.
Questions Hampe
1. Hampe advises us to forget what we were trying to shoot and see what we really got, does that mean that the raw footage should determine the direction in which your argument might go?
2. According to Hampe, if you turn off the sound and can understand what's going on you have strong visual evidence, does this mean that sound evidence is unimportant or maybe even weakens your message?
3. Hampe illustrates how filmmakers can manipulate the editing of footage to convey biased messages. How might we as the audience deal with this possibility when viewing documentaries.?
2. According to Hampe, if you turn off the sound and can understand what's going on you have strong visual evidence, does this mean that sound evidence is unimportant or maybe even weakens your message?
3. Hampe illustrates how filmmakers can manipulate the editing of footage to convey biased messages. How might we as the audience deal with this possibility when viewing documentaries.?
20 things
1.The back courtyard of Busey Evans Dormitory by the back stairs and under the tree-the brick is a little broken and the stairs are a little worn down. This gives a very interesting mix of sort of natural erosion and beauty.
2.In the Back of the English Edgerow Bistro- this is a parking lot with sort of cement and asphalt paired with the cracked white paint of the building. There is a patch of really luscious beautiful purple and white flowers which is charming.
3.By the Art and Design building-there's this really nice courtyard with sculptures that is very neat and cultivated with stone benches and paths filled with rocks. The unique sculptures and the the clean aesthetic construction of the gardens give it a slightly foreign feel.
4.Behind the Art and Design building- Another coutyard garden, there are benches and tree that gives really nice shade, it has a more natural feel.
5.In the Main Library in the Education and Social Science library- In the back room where the S-Collection or Children Books are stored it's a small room that's lined with shelves and huge windows that look into a enclosed courtyard. It gives a relaxed feeling with the sunlight coming in and with the sturdy wooden tables as well as the book shelves it has a sense of history.
6.In the Main Library Lobby, it gives a very large and expansive feeling. It seems very formal with the paintings of distinguished people hanging on the walls above nice wooden benches. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling. It would be a nice place to film if you want a formal or 'academic' setting'.
7.In the courtyard behind the Architecture Buliding and David Kinley Hall—there is a really interesting geometic fountain surrounded by benches and flower beds. It's a very peaceful setting and romantic judging by the couples I have seen cuddling on the benches.
8.In the courtyard behind the Alumni center there is a huge fountain. This is a really elegant and stately setting that really gives a luxurious feeling (I have seen wedding parties taking pictures by this fountain).
9.The Architecture building- the metal stairs are very cool, they are sort of retro and edgy and elegant at the same time. I think the spiral is sweeping and gives the staircase some grand scale.
10.In the Architecture building the room with the sculpture of the gates to paradise with the wide airy space and the piano in the corner gives off a very European feeling.
11. The statues in front of the Main Library are somewhat gothic feeling, at first they blend in with the Library but as you get up closer it seems creepier because they are bent over as if in mourning. The effect is somewhat ominous especially on a sunny day.
12.Atop Krannert Art Center the amphitheater is really austere and structural. It's a blank stage but you can see the buildings across the street. It feels almost like it was plucked out of Greece or Rome and just put right on top of Krannert. I love the steepness of the seats and the view at night time.
13.On top of Krannert there are these stairs that go on top of the roof of the main level. Having those stairs there is very interesting placement to me, as if going someplace out of the way. But in the end the space on the roof is very wide and open.
14.In Smith Music Hall – The spiral staircases are amazing with the sculpted ceilings and beautiful moldings. It's also a very old european-like space. Very elegant and rich feeling.
15.The molecular Biology Building- The glass walls are very clean an simple feeling. It seems somewhat futuristic to be able to have glass walls and see the cyindrical art piece with the changing colors on the inside.
16.The huge statues in front of the Molecular Biology Building almost look like playdoh. It has a very fanciful feeling with the bright colors and strange shape and almost seems to have been designed by or for children like in an amusement park or playground something that they could climb over.
17.A house that I passed on Windsor Road (I think) – It was being sort of reconstructed and was broken down. It had an industrial feel to it with the fencing and building equipment but also a feeling of decay.
18.The small cemetery on Lincoln avenue is actually sort of strange and eye catching because it's just a small plot of land that has all these old tombstones on it. It's sort of across from and next to some buildings and you can almost miss it if you pass by quickly.
19.The inside of the Coco Mero store on Wright St. has a very fun playful retro futuristic look to it with the overwhelming white, seemingly space engineered chairs and sparse décor.
20.The outdoor seating part of the Espresso Royale on Oregon and Goodwin is very sort of earthy with the brick and the plants. It could from certain angles look like part of a European cafe maybe in france or spain,
2.In the Back of the English Edgerow Bistro- this is a parking lot with sort of cement and asphalt paired with the cracked white paint of the building. There is a patch of really luscious beautiful purple and white flowers which is charming.
3.By the Art and Design building-there's this really nice courtyard with sculptures that is very neat and cultivated with stone benches and paths filled with rocks. The unique sculptures and the the clean aesthetic construction of the gardens give it a slightly foreign feel.
4.Behind the Art and Design building- Another coutyard garden, there are benches and tree that gives really nice shade, it has a more natural feel.
5.In the Main Library in the Education and Social Science library- In the back room where the S-Collection or Children Books are stored it's a small room that's lined with shelves and huge windows that look into a enclosed courtyard. It gives a relaxed feeling with the sunlight coming in and with the sturdy wooden tables as well as the book shelves it has a sense of history.
6.In the Main Library Lobby, it gives a very large and expansive feeling. It seems very formal with the paintings of distinguished people hanging on the walls above nice wooden benches. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling. It would be a nice place to film if you want a formal or 'academic' setting'.
7.In the courtyard behind the Architecture Buliding and David Kinley Hall—there is a really interesting geometic fountain surrounded by benches and flower beds. It's a very peaceful setting and romantic judging by the couples I have seen cuddling on the benches.
8.In the courtyard behind the Alumni center there is a huge fountain. This is a really elegant and stately setting that really gives a luxurious feeling (I have seen wedding parties taking pictures by this fountain).
9.The Architecture building- the metal stairs are very cool, they are sort of retro and edgy and elegant at the same time. I think the spiral is sweeping and gives the staircase some grand scale.
10.In the Architecture building the room with the sculpture of the gates to paradise with the wide airy space and the piano in the corner gives off a very European feeling.
11. The statues in front of the Main Library are somewhat gothic feeling, at first they blend in with the Library but as you get up closer it seems creepier because they are bent over as if in mourning. The effect is somewhat ominous especially on a sunny day.
12.Atop Krannert Art Center the amphitheater is really austere and structural. It's a blank stage but you can see the buildings across the street. It feels almost like it was plucked out of Greece or Rome and just put right on top of Krannert. I love the steepness of the seats and the view at night time.
13.On top of Krannert there are these stairs that go on top of the roof of the main level. Having those stairs there is very interesting placement to me, as if going someplace out of the way. But in the end the space on the roof is very wide and open.
14.In Smith Music Hall – The spiral staircases are amazing with the sculpted ceilings and beautiful moldings. It's also a very old european-like space. Very elegant and rich feeling.
15.The molecular Biology Building- The glass walls are very clean an simple feeling. It seems somewhat futuristic to be able to have glass walls and see the cyindrical art piece with the changing colors on the inside.
16.The huge statues in front of the Molecular Biology Building almost look like playdoh. It has a very fanciful feeling with the bright colors and strange shape and almost seems to have been designed by or for children like in an amusement park or playground something that they could climb over.
17.A house that I passed on Windsor Road (I think) – It was being sort of reconstructed and was broken down. It had an industrial feel to it with the fencing and building equipment but also a feeling of decay.
18.The small cemetery on Lincoln avenue is actually sort of strange and eye catching because it's just a small plot of land that has all these old tombstones on it. It's sort of across from and next to some buildings and you can almost miss it if you pass by quickly.
19.The inside of the Coco Mero store on Wright St. has a very fun playful retro futuristic look to it with the overwhelming white, seemingly space engineered chairs and sparse décor.
20.The outdoor seating part of the Espresso Royale on Oregon and Goodwin is very sort of earthy with the brick and the plants. It could from certain angles look like part of a European cafe maybe in france or spain,
Thursday, July 9, 2009
answer to Crystal's questions
2. Have you or a friend ever gotten great footage on video for the purpose of making a point, but it didn't play back the right way or couldn't be edited without desroying the original footage altogether? What made you realize the evidence simply wasn't there?
I have definitely gotten footage that I thought was way better than it was or simply did not say what it was supposed to. i think many times it was actually because the difference between what I had shot and what I had seen was different. Working with video makes you realize how hard it is to capture a moment and feeling. I think the camera work is so important, if you are changing angles, moving around faster versus staying still or panning slowly will give the viewer a different idea of what is going on. I had a time when I took footage of interview and I realized what the interviewee's facial expression sort of didn't match up with what I thought she was saying. So I ended up cutting alot of that to avoid confusing my audience.
I have definitely gotten footage that I thought was way better than it was or simply did not say what it was supposed to. i think many times it was actually because the difference between what I had shot and what I had seen was different. Working with video makes you realize how hard it is to capture a moment and feeling. I think the camera work is so important, if you are changing angles, moving around faster versus staying still or panning slowly will give the viewer a different idea of what is going on. I had a time when I took footage of interview and I realized what the interviewee's facial expression sort of didn't match up with what I thought she was saying. So I ended up cutting alot of that to avoid confusing my audience.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
POdcast
link
For my podcast project, I actually encountered many difficulties along the way which proved to make the completion harder than I anticipated. The first problem was really the lack of a coherent idea. I had several ideas that I wanted to use but after trying each I sort of felt that none of them were working out as I would have liked. I decided to cut my losses and only have myself speaking in my podcast, which was the last thing I had wanted. For my previous ideas I had sort of similar ideas of being a fan so I kept that in and decided to build my podcast around the theme of obsession and being a fan. I rewatched the Ira Glass videos at this time to to sort of see how I might go about doing the writing. I was not sure really how to write the essay to be honest because I know my own tendency to sound stiff and freeze when I go off a scrip. I made an outline more than an essay which kept the structure and narrative of the essay as well as detailing the important points but leaving me enough freedom that I could talk freely and thus more naturally. When deciding what anecdotes to include and how to structure the project, I chose to go for a chronological approach—sorting starting in my childhood and establishing sort the foundation of my obsessive qualities and then tracing that through my life. I even had a section about how I had been influenced by my mother's own obsessive tendencies. I realized I needed a point, something to make it all meaningful so I decided to make the point about how everyone is and can be a fan and how obsession can be a positive thing. Armed with a theme and stories I went into the recording phase,which turned out to be arduous, because, as I suspected, as soon as I saw the mic I kept freezing. However even if I stuttered for a few seconds or lost my train of thought I just let the recording go on because I knew that I could edit out the bad parts. This was actually very helpful in making me more comfortable so that I could talk when I was ready rather than scrambling to fill in the silence. As for music or sound effects I was not sure how to use them without being cheesy or taking away from the tralking so I decided to use only a couple music clips and have them far apart in the clip. As I started editing, that was when I really started feeling the time constraint. I had listened to an episode of This American Life right before I started so that I might get a feel for the editing and pacing. That whole episode had been dedicated to one story and that was 51 minutes long versus 5 minutes. I really did not want the pacing of my podcast to be affected by my length of time so I decided to make it simple. I cut a lot of good stuff but I realized that I had to keep it to only a couple of points in order to keep it balanced and unrushed. I had a little difficulty with editing because I was pressed for time and there are parts where I feel the transitions could be smoother, however, all in all I think it is an interesting piece that appeals to a wide audience and has a more universal message.
For my podcast project, I actually encountered many difficulties along the way which proved to make the completion harder than I anticipated. The first problem was really the lack of a coherent idea. I had several ideas that I wanted to use but after trying each I sort of felt that none of them were working out as I would have liked. I decided to cut my losses and only have myself speaking in my podcast, which was the last thing I had wanted. For my previous ideas I had sort of similar ideas of being a fan so I kept that in and decided to build my podcast around the theme of obsession and being a fan. I rewatched the Ira Glass videos at this time to to sort of see how I might go about doing the writing. I was not sure really how to write the essay to be honest because I know my own tendency to sound stiff and freeze when I go off a scrip. I made an outline more than an essay which kept the structure and narrative of the essay as well as detailing the important points but leaving me enough freedom that I could talk freely and thus more naturally. When deciding what anecdotes to include and how to structure the project, I chose to go for a chronological approach—sorting starting in my childhood and establishing sort the foundation of my obsessive qualities and then tracing that through my life. I even had a section about how I had been influenced by my mother's own obsessive tendencies. I realized I needed a point, something to make it all meaningful so I decided to make the point about how everyone is and can be a fan and how obsession can be a positive thing. Armed with a theme and stories I went into the recording phase,which turned out to be arduous, because, as I suspected, as soon as I saw the mic I kept freezing. However even if I stuttered for a few seconds or lost my train of thought I just let the recording go on because I knew that I could edit out the bad parts. This was actually very helpful in making me more comfortable so that I could talk when I was ready rather than scrambling to fill in the silence. As for music or sound effects I was not sure how to use them without being cheesy or taking away from the tralking so I decided to use only a couple music clips and have them far apart in the clip. As I started editing, that was when I really started feeling the time constraint. I had listened to an episode of This American Life right before I started so that I might get a feel for the editing and pacing. That whole episode had been dedicated to one story and that was 51 minutes long versus 5 minutes. I really did not want the pacing of my podcast to be affected by my length of time so I decided to make it simple. I cut a lot of good stuff but I realized that I had to keep it to only a couple of points in order to keep it balanced and unrushed. I had a little difficulty with editing because I was pressed for time and there are parts where I feel the transitions could be smoother, however, all in all I think it is an interesting piece that appeals to a wide audience and has a more universal message.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
youtube conversion websites
http://www.flv2mp3.com/ (no download)
http://vixy.net/ This one converts youtube video to mp3 but also avi, mov, mp4, 3gp (no download.
http://vixy.net/ This one converts youtube video to mp3 but also avi, mov, mp4, 3gp (no download.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Shipka Questions
1. Shipka acknowledges the difficulty of many people in recognizing whether her students' works are 'academic' or play. She seems to view composition as a process not a moment. What is your idea of how composition should work?
2. Shipka seems to suggest that the final product may not be the most important component in a project but that authorial intent must be taken into account? However, many people might only see the final product and not know the authorial intent. Do you agree with Shipka? Or do you feel that without knowing about the author the audience does not get the entire experience?
3. Do you feel that multimodal composition is something that can be graded?
2. Shipka seems to suggest that the final product may not be the most important component in a project but that authorial intent must be taken into account? However, many people might only see the final product and not know the authorial intent. Do you agree with Shipka? Or do you feel that without knowing about the author the audience does not get the entire experience?
3. Do you feel that multimodal composition is something that can be graded?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Podcast Analysis
For my analysis I listened to an episode of NPR: Pop culture podcast; this podcast was originally released on May 10, 2009 and had four separate segments, two of which dealt with Star Trek. The first segment was from the point of view of a critic who seemed intent on convincing all listeners that Star Trek is indeed going to be pleasing to new and old viewers. This is interesting as the second segment turned out to also be about Star Trek but done by a reporter and is about how older fans of the original star trek feel alienated by the commercials using phrases such as 'this is not your father's star trek'. I think this is interesting in that it sort of contradicts the argument of the critic in the first segment, which shows that NPR is not necessarily averse to showing differing opinions. The third segment is a review of a stage show called 'lucha vavoom' which has lucha libre wrestlers and burlesque dancers. The fourth was about viral advertising and its impact in the recession. The interesting thing that I especially noticed was how they weaved in sound bites from the movies or from people that they interviewed. I felt like that required them to give a lot more context to the listener as opposed to if we were viewing it because we are missing the visual component. It strangely reminded me of integrating quotes in a paper.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Image Essay Critiques
Sushmita
I felt that there was a strong sense of chronology especially with the pictures of clocks and times and days. I got feeling of camaraderie in the pictures of the game as there are alot of smiling faces. Sometimes it seems to get tense as the expressions become more serious but at the end it goes back to smiling faces.
Rasheena
The essay evoked a feeling of the everyday with the couch, bed, cups normal objects. I liked that there was a strong rhythm to the piece and sort of the juxtaposition of adulthood and childhood. I was curious though as to why she used similar objects--bed and couch, plastic cup and paper cup, and wall and poster. I liked the use of color and black and white.
Raquel
I definitely got a sense of traveling over a distance especially down green st. away from Wright. I was not sure what the overarching theme was besides sort of buildings. I thought it might have something to do with construction or renovation since there were many pictures of construction signs and machines. It seemed like there was alot of pictures.
Nick
I liked the photographs especially of the construction site. The one with the sign that has graffiti on it is very compelling. I did not really see the theme as strongly as I thought I would but since we heard what Nick's point of view was I was able to see a connection. I like the sense of decay.
Hyung Kyoon
Very strong message. I thought the pictures of people starving paired with the models starving for 'fashion' really was strong. I liked that you could tell what his theme was right off the bat. I think the fact that he had picture off the internet that showed very specific situations helped with this.
Dan
I felt like the very blurry pictures were really confusing and even a little bit confrontational to the viewer, which might have been the point. Like the picture of the page with words that are just a little too blurry to read kind of reminded me of how I see the world without my glasses, a little frustrating. I am not sure about the random one because I thought the order of the second one does not have an explicit order but still the second one was better because i felt that you did get a sense of some underlying current.
Crystal:
I really liked the different signs that were in the front of the album I thought it felt really restricting and then the pictures following were very compelling. The starvation picture with the chocolate was strong because chocolate is a luxury food, but people often call it a 'necessity'.
Aaron:
I really enjoyed the pictures because they were sort of light, very pretty pictures of a beach. I almost got distracted by the prettiness of the picture. Having the shots so artistically framed did not get across to me sort of a critique of people's attitude towards the beach. I did feel like the tv and bottle were interesting but I think a couple more gritty pictures of trash on the beach might have helped cement the point.
I felt that there was a strong sense of chronology especially with the pictures of clocks and times and days. I got feeling of camaraderie in the pictures of the game as there are alot of smiling faces. Sometimes it seems to get tense as the expressions become more serious but at the end it goes back to smiling faces.
Rasheena
The essay evoked a feeling of the everyday with the couch, bed, cups normal objects. I liked that there was a strong rhythm to the piece and sort of the juxtaposition of adulthood and childhood. I was curious though as to why she used similar objects--bed and couch, plastic cup and paper cup, and wall and poster. I liked the use of color and black and white.
Raquel
I definitely got a sense of traveling over a distance especially down green st. away from Wright. I was not sure what the overarching theme was besides sort of buildings. I thought it might have something to do with construction or renovation since there were many pictures of construction signs and machines. It seemed like there was alot of pictures.
Nick
I liked the photographs especially of the construction site. The one with the sign that has graffiti on it is very compelling. I did not really see the theme as strongly as I thought I would but since we heard what Nick's point of view was I was able to see a connection. I like the sense of decay.
Hyung Kyoon
Very strong message. I thought the pictures of people starving paired with the models starving for 'fashion' really was strong. I liked that you could tell what his theme was right off the bat. I think the fact that he had picture off the internet that showed very specific situations helped with this.
Dan
I felt like the very blurry pictures were really confusing and even a little bit confrontational to the viewer, which might have been the point. Like the picture of the page with words that are just a little too blurry to read kind of reminded me of how I see the world without my glasses, a little frustrating. I am not sure about the random one because I thought the order of the second one does not have an explicit order but still the second one was better because i felt that you did get a sense of some underlying current.
Crystal:
I really liked the different signs that were in the front of the album I thought it felt really restricting and then the pictures following were very compelling. The starvation picture with the chocolate was strong because chocolate is a luxury food, but people often call it a 'necessity'.
Aaron:
I really enjoyed the pictures because they were sort of light, very pretty pictures of a beach. I almost got distracted by the prettiness of the picture. Having the shots so artistically framed did not get across to me sort of a critique of people's attitude towards the beach. I did feel like the tv and bottle were interesting but I think a couple more gritty pictures of trash on the beach might have helped cement the point.
Response to Crystal's Questions
1. What does the author mean by describing silence as a 'present absence?' Would you agree or disagree that silence is a presence and not an absence?
I think the author means that silence just doesn't mean that you are not hearing any sounds but itself is a significant aural experience. I think the idea that silence is a presence not an absence is absolutely valid. It reminds the listener that in silence you should not just focus on the sound that surrounds it but the 'sound' of silence as well. Silence is not always the default state. in fact, in this day and age think about what it takes to get absolute silence, it's definitely harder than making noise. We are constantly bombarded with ambient noise and go to great lengths purchasing sound canceling headphones or soundproofing our walls just to get what everyone views as 'default' or natural. In music, silence can be the most profound thing that you hear in a piece, after a cacophonous roar of instruments a measure or two of silence can 'sound' just as 'loud'.
I think the author means that silence just doesn't mean that you are not hearing any sounds but itself is a significant aural experience. I think the idea that silence is a presence not an absence is absolutely valid. It reminds the listener that in silence you should not just focus on the sound that surrounds it but the 'sound' of silence as well. Silence is not always the default state. in fact, in this day and age think about what it takes to get absolute silence, it's definitely harder than making noise. We are constantly bombarded with ambient noise and go to great lengths purchasing sound canceling headphones or soundproofing our walls just to get what everyone views as 'default' or natural. In music, silence can be the most profound thing that you hear in a piece, after a cacophonous roar of instruments a measure or two of silence can 'sound' just as 'loud'.
Questions
1. Do you agree with Copland's idea that there are three planes on which a listener hears music? Do you find yourself listening to certain kinds of music in different ways?
2. McKee expresses her own frustration at describing sound and music through the medium of writing, this reminds me of the phrase, 'a picture is worth a thousand words' Do you think that words could ever equal a picture or a sound? If so, how many words would that take?
3. McKee touches on the new meanings attached to silence? Can you think of a time when you have really noticed silence being intentionally or unintentionally in a significant way?
2. McKee expresses her own frustration at describing sound and music through the medium of writing, this reminds me of the phrase, 'a picture is worth a thousand words' Do you think that words could ever equal a picture or a sound? If so, how many words would that take?
3. McKee touches on the new meanings attached to silence? Can you think of a time when you have really noticed silence being intentionally or unintentionally in a significant way?
Picture ESsay
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| Picture Essay |
Picture Essay
When I first began this project I was at a loss for an argument that I felt I strongly wanted to convey so I started from the pictures that I wanted to use. I was looking through some pictures that I had taken before and stumbled across some beautiful photos that I had taken last month at Allerton Park. I felt that those pictures really showed the irreplaceable beauty of nature. From that sprang my idea I wanted to express a juxtaposition between the indoors and the outdoors emphasizing the juxtaposition between nature and man-made structures. I looked through my pictures and found a couple from the architecture building that I thought were fitting and went took out my camera to take more pictures. I really did not know what I was looking for as I went along because I only really had a sort of theme rather than a narrative that I was looking to tell. So I just took pictures as I walked around my apartment building
. As I took the pictures I realized that I was taking a lot of photographs of doorways and exit signs. I came up with a story as I was going along and also reviewing the pictures I was taking. Generally I wanted to express a sense of confinement in the man-made structure, my apartment building, and of the freedom of being in nature. For a narrative I decided to go with a bit of the fantastic to connect the two parts of my essay, in and out, so I decided since I was photographing so many doorways, that one of those doorways would be a sort of magical door that would lead to a sort of nature paradise. I really felt it was important to not just take pictures that suited the story but learn how to use pictures to make the story, so the only purposeful picture I took was the one of my hand on the door slightly pushing it open. I did not want to use the pictures in some chronological order so I l put together pictures from different angles and from various distances. I wanted close up shots juxtaposed with distance shots. I thought that my pictures of the camera and the temperature control were really interesting and indicated really the controlled nature of the building—we are being watched and our environment is being controlled. I realize that we are not supposed to show any text and I really did not mean to include exit signs in so many shots, but in reviewing my film I realized that they are everywhere in my building and seeing them really promotes this feeling of being trapped having to find a way to get out so I felt it was important to my story. I tried compose my slide show in a way that moved forward, such as putting the photos with exits signs closer together so that at one feels like they need to escape and then having the allerton pictures come up.
For the Allerton pictures I must admit I did not really know how to put them in order so I just tried to put different shots together so that statues might be followed by trees. I included the statue photographs because even though they are man-made, they are outside and more integrated with nature, sort of a happy balance. I do not believe altogether that people might get a strong sense of the story from my picture essay but that they might understand the general feeling of the theme. I cannot help but think that including a soundtrack might help express my story in a clearer way.
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