Final Critique Response

I was happy to see everyone in the class go out with a bang. I think a lot of us learned to work through and around a large amount of technical issues and I can definitely see the growth from the first project to where we ended up. We had such a great group of people and I'm so glad to have been around you guys! Each of you gives amazing advice and you're 80% of the reason I made an improvement in video art. I know we all have different majors but I hope we'll have a class or two in the future.

In Progress Report

I forgot to post my progress over the weekend!

I've modified my project a little so that I could capture as much footage within the limited amount of time I had. If you don't remember, mine was on the subject of bodily decay, only I ran into some major obstacles because THE ANTS WOULD NOT EAT THE DEAD ANIMALS. So after many hours of sitting like a proper creeper in the parking lot, filming ants not-eat the dead animals, I called it a day and took a different approach.

I was really fascinated by the way Danse Macabre was filmed, so I did something similar with the animals. It's less about the corrosive process and more about the stillness versus movement of the body in death using the two animal corpses I found. After much sloshing through a questionable canal, I got what footage I wanted!

Reading Response - Video Installation Art

This article touched on some very important things my art teacher stressed in high school. She would go on for ages about how different it was to look at an enormous painting in real life versus on the internet. For a while while I was in high school I always found that strange because I thought "well I know what paint looks like. It's not that hard to imagine what it looks like in person." Then I found the Google Art Project which shows these beautiful closeups of paintings where you can see everything down to the canvas fibers like you're looking through a magnifying glass and I began to understand that there's so much more texture and color happening that we don't get to see from an image.

Experiencing artwork is important in understanding what the artist meant for the viewer to feel. Looking at something not in it's physical space is like playing the game Telephone and getting secondhand information. This is especially important in relation to this project where we have to enter the space of the piece. A lot of great information to think about.

Final Project Proposal

For my final project I still want to use the birds to film their decay, and I've looked at a couple of videos, including the ones Dreezy posted. I'm considering changing the angle of the camera as the animals decompose, and setting up the installation with a video accompanying the result of the decomposition process and some related illustrations.

Final Project Ideation

     Unfortunately my inspirational videos aren't available for download so I've just linked them here.
     I'm interested in working with time lapse photography for this project whether exclusively in photographs or with video. Going off of the last project where the subject was the body after death, I'm interested in recording the decomposition of birds. Earlier I found a small dead bird and have been wanting to work with the bones, but would have to let it decompose first before being able to use it.
      I think this project is a good opportunity to get started on that while also using the process of decay to my advantage. I'm thinking of comparing it to the decomposition of another object, maybe a leaf or food item since as we consume we also destroy.

Earth

 I absolutely loved this video. It's obviously not something I can really strive to do for this project since it uses footage shot by NASA, but I love how intriguing it was. I kept wanting to find out more, to have the planet keep turning, and show what auroras and thunderstorms look like from a distance. It's interesting because it's something we know happens and have seen from one angle, but the change in perspective and distance makes a huge impact.

Melancholia

This video mostly focuses on environments, but the periodic panning of the camera is intriguing and well handled. Although I know special equipment is needed to move the camera that way while still maintaining a steady image, I'm interested in the process nonetheless since it may be possible to improvise using makeshift gear.




Requiem

Manipulation of time and music are useful to reference in this video since I've previously had issues with joining sound and visuals cohesively. I think for this project I really need to sit down and explore my options in terms of audio and end on a strong note.

Artist Is Present response

     It's going to be difficult to keep this response short because I'm so in awe of Marina Abromovic's work.

     One of the things I appreciate most about her is her bravery. I don't mean because she's exposed herself completely to an audience of people ranging from art connaiseurs to visitors with little to no background knowledge of art, let alone performance art, but because her performance pieces often run a risk of severe injury, require a high threshhold for pain, and sometimes leave her at the mercy of her audience. The one that impressed me the most wasn't discussed in the video, but I remember she performed one where she essentially gave strangers complete permission to do whatever they wanted to her by providing them with objects from flowers to knives to condoms. What I love about it is that, yes, it sounds insane to open yourself up to harm, but Marina is clearly someone with full control of her faculties and that performance showed what people are capable of when repercussions are removed from the equation. Every performance she creates has a purpose, and while some artists strive to do the same, I feel that sometimes they come across as pretentious and barely scratch the surface of what they're intending to say. I really get what Marina does. The ideas are immediate even if subtle because she's not injecting the piece with a meaning of her choosing; the piece contains all the meaning in and of itself. For example, the one where visitors have to pass through two nude bodies to see the rest of the museum challanges people to confront the paradigm that nudity is shameful; that bodies are to be hidden.It really brings you to question why things are the way they are. On the same note, her stamina is incredible. To sit completely immobile not only for one performance but every day for 92 days is amazing and speaks volumes to how passionate she is about her work. She really does captivate with her commitment to her work and her ability to connect with people because she pours every bit of herself into it. I could watch films on her for ages and write whole essays on her for days.

Critique Response

I loved all the different directions everyone took to assemble their videos. I think we were all pretty enthusiastic to talk about each others' process for this one and now that we have a better grasp of Final Cut Pro, have been getting a little fancy with the transitions and effects. The videos have begun to feel a lot more complete and polished altogether and there's a certain consistency with everyone's specific style that's showing through.
I really enjoyed Tara's choice of audio and how it was all stitched together. It looks like it took days or at least many many long hours of searching and editing to get it all arranged in such a thoughtful way as she did. Dreezy's was also pretty funny, although I think it would have been even better if she went with the dry humor of the friend with the crazy mug. I loved it! Next time, let me know, and I'll volunteer to complain about things on your videos! Madeleine, I'm still baffled by how you did the leggings. I'm so impressed with how much work everyone puts into their videos.

I'll be updating this post on Wednesday when I present. If you didn't hear, I went to add clips to my project on Movie Maker early this morning and some of the clips began to disappear, saying they were visiting. So after putting in an extra 2 hours to redo the entire video, it's finally posting to Vimeo to be shown next class! I can't wait to hear everyone's feedback and suggestions.

Click here for Project 4: Monday Mornings

Project 4 Statement

Scarlett Correa

Project 4

Due: 11/6/13

Statement

After rehashing my ideas multiple times, I went from wanting to film illogical actions like pouring water into rain boots, but decided to shoot a humorous take on the trials we go through in the mornings to get ready for class.

I was inspired by Pitch Films’ video in which people were videotaped going through normal actions, but one or more objects were replaced by objects that had no place in the shot (a man eating a plate of spaghetti, but the spaghetti is a pile of shoelaces). I compiled a list of actions over the course of a few hours on the bus ride home and ran through them with my brother who agreed to help me. The video ended up being a very entertaining process to complete, though we ran into issues with being able to shoot a whole scene without laughing. It definitely gave me a better appreciation for comedy filming.

One of the problems I ran into was when I transferred my video from Final Cut Pro to my computer to finish editing. The files began disappearing and I continually received a notification saying the files were missing or corrupt. Other than that I found the project really enjoyable.

Project 4 in progress report

I'm feeling a lot better about the project now that I discussed it with the class. I'm definitely broadening it from just shoes, I just have to come up with enough ideas )along the lines of pouring water into rainboots) to fulfill the time requirement. Right now I'm keeping a list as I come up with it to film after class, but I can't say what they are because you, as the audience, are supposed to be caught off guard.

Practice Video: Project 4

Practice Video: Project 4

The Death of The Author

From what I got out of the article, the purpose was to point out that after a work of art is produced, its power stems from the viewer, not the artist or author. I think this relates to everyone's work in that, yes, we are trying to convey an idea or a feeling, but ultimately the viewer is the final decider regardless of what explanation we give them. We, the creators, give up our rights once we present our work to the public.

Progress Report: Project 4

At first I was a little concerned about camera angles and perspective, but once I started filming, it didn't seem like such a huge obstacle. My only issue, I realize, will be filming from a low perspective to capture wet grass or puddles (which considering the great weather will have to be manmade) so as not to get the camera wet. but so far so good!

I did some more research on Fluxus and found better visual references.




Fluxkit, by George Maciunas 
 representative selection of these objects, and encompasses the range of forms in which Fluxus editions were issued: graphical scores for events, interactive boxes and games, journals and films. 


LED throwies are considered and example of Fluxus art.

Project 4: Fluxus and Ideation

The Fluxus movement is an "anti-art" movement dealing in areas from literature to urban planning that created an international network of artists from various fields and combined their disciplines in order to open up the definition of art. It combined the work of the revolutionaries from culture to politics.

     "Under the leadership of George Maciunas. Fluxus staged a series of festivals in Paris, Copenhagen,
     Amsterdam, London and New York, with avant-garde performances often spilling out into the street."

Fluxus came about through a series of concepts explored by John Cage, a composer of experimental music in the 50s. It was also hugely influenced by French artist, Marcel Duchamp, who had previously been active in the Dada movement. With his work made of found objects, he eliminated the need for artistic ability in order to create what we qualify as art.

For this project I'm interested in working on the idea of shoes and how we dress for the weather. Recently forecast will say there's a chance of rain, so you'll wear boots (like me today!), but the day is entirely clear and cloudless. The same thing goes for the opposite where it will appear sunny but then you have to slosh through puddles and walk through wet grass. The idea is entirely relatable but can also be comical as the Fluxus video was today, especially if it includes some audio of the subject protesting about the weather. So I'll most likely take shots of someone walking in wet shoes, walking in shoes with dirt in them, etc.

Critique response

I enjoyed last class's critique, as always, and was very happy that everyone responded to my video the way they did. Everyone seems to have grown in how they compose their projects in order to evoke a particular response and I think everyone was spot on, including Dreezy, who I know had trouble with her footage. It still turned out great! That just goes to show how well we've learned to work around our problems.

Project 3 Statement

Scarlett Correa

Sound project

Due: 10/16/13

Artist Statement

     The premise of my concept, after many reevaluations, was to create a video based on sounds that many people, including me, find frustrating. The sounds I focused on are all incredibly bothersome to me: heavy breathing, vibrating alarm clocks, sniffles, coughing, loud chewing, and scratching, recorded with the help of my roommates who are incredibly loud when eating no matter what they do.

     In order to emphasize how these sounds can elevate blood pressure, I began the video with the softest sounds - breathing - so the audience would have to strain to listen at first. I then increased the intensity and frequency of the noises throughout the video. All layered over each other, they should grate the audience's nerves by the end of the three minutes.

Transitions, Filters, and Titles Response

Transitions:

• Cross dissolve: extended it and layered another cross dissolve on top of it.
• Fade in from and Fade out to black: used on the second clip after the cross dissolve.
• Modified transition: elongated the fade out to black transition to connect the two clips I trimmed more smoothly.

Filters:

• Flip and vignette.
• Sepia: altered filter by changing the intensity of its color.
• Animate: I used the kaleidoscope animation because it worked best with the movements of my video.
• Three way color correct: I used this on the same clip I made sepia in order to change the color intensity.
• Smooth cam footage: I used this one at the end and start of clips 5 & 6 (?) because the times at which I cropped them caused a discrepancy in the transition of images which made it seem like it was filmed bumpy.

Titles

• Haiku: included in the last bit of the video and adjusted the text in 3 different sizes.
• Title motion: I chose the second one on the list (I don't remember what it's called) so that the lines of the poem came in at at least 4 different times from various sides.
• Scrolling text: Added to the very last line of the haiku at the end of the video.

In-Progress Report

I've made some adjustments to my original theme of focusing on sounds that people make that can be frustrating or unnerving and moved on to include some common environmental sounds that are bothersome. Two that are pertinent to me specifically are the toilet tank making that hissing/whispering sound, and the shower head which NEVER stops dripping no matter what.

So far the sound has been pretty clear even though I'm using an earphone mic but everything is coming together a lot more quickly and smoothly than I thought it would!

Movie Response: Blue

This was easily my favorite movie we've seen in the class so far. It was so creatively made. I enjoyed immersing myself in the sound which made every action poignant and haunting. The most memorable instance for me was the scene in which the family is pulled over on the side of the road. The low-angle camera with soft focus background zooms in on a liquid dripping underneath the car which immediately alerts the audience of a looming car accident. If an audience member hasn't realized what the dripping is, they later realize that it was brake fluid. It was subtle but an amazing use of foreshadowing. 

From what I understood of the movie, the sudden orchestral interlude is a representation of Julie's subconscious or recollection of the accident haunting her in the form of a melody. It begins every time someone questions her about it, at which point the screen goes black. Part of the reason may be because Julie shuts down compulsively, but it may also be because she has no recollection of the accident or has intentionally blocked it.

Although I know some people found that parts of it were hard to follow, I think it's an accurate representation of Julie's perspective because her losses rendered her alienated, hollow, and confused. Altogether it was a beautiful movie. 

Sound activity

Project Idea

     For this project I was considering videotaping a variety of things such as eggs cracking, objects dropping, tires squeaking, and replacing their traditional sounds with opposite sounds. For example if something soft falls, the sound would be replaced by something heavy. I'm not 100% sure that this is the project I want to go with, but so far that's the idea that I like most. I'm definitely open to suggestions, so if you guys have anything to add, drop a comment :)