6x1
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
"The Rough Theater"
The “Rough Theater”
is relevant to our work in 6x1. This is a short semester, so we have to move quickly
to get our projects ready. This means a constant exercise in “creativity
through constraints.” Compromises and mistakes are inevitable, but those things
make our works more personal and fulfilling. I’m taking a class this session in
short French cinema. In one of our readings, film historian Conn Holohan
emphasizes the importance of constraints and minimization. The ambiguous and
imperfect qualities of short films generate a “world unseen” and in that realm
emerges the author. The dirt and grit of our works is more personal than meticulously
constructed art.
The indie scene is
moving to 4k resolution and high dynamic range. It’s impossible for me to try
and keep up with the ever-changing standards. I can’t afford new cameras or
strong enough computer cards. Spending time and money on tech would lead to
creative stagnation. There are already enough tools in the toolbox that I need
to discover through experimentation. It’s
better for me to embrace an “imperfect” aesthetic in my films. I can explore
alternative avenues of artistic expression to improve myself as an artist.
Crowdsourcing Readings
When you have such a large
collaboration like crowdsourcing projects, you end up with a unique form of
art. It becomes this type of congealed, unidentifiable mode of expression that
spotlights no one, but resonates with everyone. Take the Johnny Cash tribute
for example. In order to make it work, everyone had parameters they had to work
within. But they were free to sketch whatever they chose. The participants can
look at the final product and feel a sense of pride, and also a sense of
sodality.
The main perk of crowdsourcing is the
influx of creative ideas. You’ll encounter many concepts that one person couldn’t
come up with on their own. However, the caveat is that the saturation of input
diminishes authorship. But crowdsourcing is all about collective expression.
I’m a narcissist, so I won’t be
doing a lot of crowdsourcing on my own initiative. But it would be stupid of me
to ignore the potential benefit crowdsourcing could have on my works.
Film Manipulation
This project has introduced me to
alternative means of film production. Compared to digital, film is a more
hands-on experience. Scratching, bleaching, and painting have a more satisfying
feel than letting Photoshop do all the work for you. When watching the final
reels, the unintentional moments were my favorite. I feel as though I went a
little too heavy on the bleach at certain sections of our reel. The
brushstrokes and smears create imperfect but beautiful imagery. It’s subversive
and it’s interesting. Working in the blackbox was a new experience because I’ve
never developed film before. It was tough having only the red light to see the
rayograms. This project has reinforced my interest in working with film.
Acoustic Ecology
I think I have a grasp on acoustic ecology but I’m not quite
sure. The sound of a river can be drowned out by noise pollution from a city.
What I’m having a hard time understanding is if it’s our auditory reception
that’s inhibited by noise pollution, or is it the noise pollution that’s
restricting the sound waves from reaching our ears.
Passionate Foley artists probably have a deep understanding
of acoustic ecology. Their goal is to provide complex sound design to films.
They reproduce and record sounds through unconventional means. Example: The
blaster from Star Wars is from striking a wire fence.
Sound is so interesting because it’s intangible yet so integral to our everyday lives. It’s not obvious to us until it’s absent. There are a slew of Youtube videos featuring acoustic ecology, which means it’s a point of fascination for many other people.
Sound is so interesting because it’s intangible yet so integral to our everyday lives. It’s not obvious to us until it’s absent. There are a slew of Youtube videos featuring acoustic ecology, which means it’s a point of fascination for many other people.
Synesthesia and Cymatics
Synesthesia
It’s hard to envision what goes on during synesthesia. It’s
like looking into another world. The overlapping of sight and sound generate a
6th sensual experience. I understand why it’s a popular focus in
art. I’m not sure how I would attempt to mediate such an experience to a viewer.
Possibly through juxtaposition of colors with waves, to emulate sound. When
reading, I thought about LSD experiences portrayed in films: montage of colors
and alien-like sounds. But I’m not quite sure that those sequences are reliable
examples of synesthesia, let alone acid trips.
Cymatics
The process of cymatics gives visual form to sounds, to see
the unseeable. It connects to synesthesia, visualizing an auditory sensation. Before
reading about Cymatics, I remember watching a video of vapor smoke forming
shapes on loudspeakers. What excites me
about this is the wide range of possible methods. Vibrations react differently
to certain surfaces and materials. I could use solids, liquids, or gasses to
react to the vibrations. The surface area can be shaped to change reaction
points.
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