Week 8: Confusion

This weeks film was very confusing to me even though I was so entertained by it. The elements of this film were very interesting and curious. However, the image that confused me the most were the images of the dinosaurs. I didn't understand at first how these dinosaurs were tied into the rest of the film. As the film progressed I found myself trying to relate the film to those images. I first thought that it was all a part of the idea of a prehistoric time. The act of building this spiral jetty landmark that may have been something that perhaps ancient civilizations may have built like stonehenge or something like that. Then I thought that didn't really relate to the dinosaurs; the only direct connection that I could tie to the dinosaurs were the images of the trucks and bulldozers paving the way and creating the spiral jetty. I got the feeling that they were made to look like mechanical dinosaurs that were paving the way for a new history which was the spiral jetty.

Artist's Note: Table Top Video

During this video there were great challenges. My video was about my declaration that sound and colors can create and image in a creative mind. I started out with a rubik's cube that was all green on one side. I then switched the colors every few seconds in hopes to create a different stimulus for the viewers mind. I paired these color changes with the sounds that I recorded in the outdoors of Milwaukee. I recorded four tracks at different lengths so when I layered them they would start at different times. Therefore, when they looped the sounds it would create a different experience for the viewer instead of being the same looped track over and over again. My hopes were that these square, independent colors combined with the layered nature noise would create a picture or image in the viewer's mind that would depict reality. I think that I was successful in this attempt however, I do wish that I had better focus on the colors (rubik's cube) and there were some shadow factors (I think) that I wish wouldn't have appeared. I did use the white paper under the rubik's cube to clear any image that the viewer may have had of the colors that were shown before. I had also hoped that the three dimensional shape of the cube would pop out at the viewer to stimulate the mind even more. I believe that I was successful in portraying what I wanted in my presentation but again I wish that the video was in better focus to extenuate my objective more clearly.

Week 6: Criticism

Watch video here

I chose this video "I have to deal with stereotypes" because I believe that the presentation on Monday was mainly about character and criticism. In the video the the young man states his views on stereotypes that he encounters with personal conviction and humor. In doing this he reveals parts of his true character to the viewer as did the characters in the presentation on Monday. The main criticisms in the presentations dealt with society and other people's way of life or how they express themselves and live their life. The guy in the You Tube video is also criticizing the people in society who apply stereotypes in their lifestyle and judgements.

Week 5: Authority

The film that struck me the most this week was the film "Trees." Mostly, I was struck by the motion of the camera and how fluid it was. I then started to think about the idea of authorship, I was trying to think of what the director was thinking and considering for how he wanted this film to turn out. I thought that the authorship belonged to him but when I thought about it more I decided that the aspect of the wind authored the piece because it is the captivating part of the film. The wind/flowing element commands the attention and situation, this is what makes the film interesting and its own. Technically, the director is not always the author of a work but just a guide to capture what is being presented by another authority.