I've submitted the final grades for the class. You'll be receiving individual emails from me in the next day or two with a brief recap from me ("Beyond the Grade" I call it).
Thanks to everyone for a great term!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Stan VanDerBeek Exhibition
I really enjoy the Stan VanDerBeek exhibition, and it was amazing. Those are abstract visual art but still attracted me. Stan VanDerBeek like to use different way to present his art work, like collages, montages, movies, paintings. I watched some movies and collages but these are hard to understand. Those collages are from his early works, and maybe he want to tell us a feeling of continuous. Every piece of
Work has a connection between them.
I also like the Poemfields, this is also very good. He use a very special way to project his art work. It is very creative and smart. I like the way how he arrange those frames and pictures.
About the images, I like the way he create a 3D feeling on that piece, he is a very creative man to use all kinds of technique to made those art work decades years ago, that is amazing!
Work has a connection between them.
I also like the Poemfields, this is also very good. He use a very special way to project his art work. It is very creative and smart. I like the way how he arrange those frames and pictures.
About the images, I like the way he create a 3D feeling on that piece, he is a very creative man to use all kinds of technique to made those art work decades years ago, that is amazing!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Transitions Blog
For my final project, I proposed to make multimedia blog about my ongoing life transitions.
As it was something new to me, I knew I'd have to experiment with platforms and construction. I considered two options. I'd been learning how to use PBWorks (a wiki platform) in another class, and I thought it might useful for something like this. I learned PBWorks technical limitations with my other project, and ended up abandoning it for the same reasons I didn't use it for this project. The other option was a combination of Flash and html. I envisioned links and other multimedia content to appear while I wasin the video blog. I thought the time for Flash work might prohibitive. What I found was that trying to use Actionscript to reference external html elements was blocked by browser security.
For content, my idea was to start with a standard video blog about the changes in my life, leading up to now and as they happen. Additional content would be items such as design projects I'm working on in school and at work, my own writing, some photojournaling of my literal and figurative journey, and links to outside online content that I reference in my narrative.
I've wanted to do a blog or video blog to document my year and a half of unemployment as it relates to the economic status of the country, as a whole. Though, I quickly realized that my content would be 95% angry and/or depressed. I think this project comes at an opportune moment for me to organize my thoughts and feelings as I come out of this state of being, hopefully into the type of life/career I've been hoping for.
As it was something new to me, I knew I'd have to experiment with platforms and construction. I considered two options. I'd been learning how to use PBWorks (a wiki platform) in another class, and I thought it might useful for something like this. I learned PBWorks technical limitations with my other project, and ended up abandoning it for the same reasons I didn't use it for this project. The other option was a combination of Flash and html. I envisioned links and other multimedia content to appear while I wasin the video blog. I thought the time for Flash work might prohibitive. What I found was that trying to use Actionscript to reference external html elements was blocked by browser security.
For content, my idea was to start with a standard video blog about the changes in my life, leading up to now and as they happen. Additional content would be items such as design projects I'm working on in school and at work, my own writing, some photojournaling of my literal and figurative journey, and links to outside online content that I reference in my narrative.
I've wanted to do a blog or video blog to document my year and a half of unemployment as it relates to the economic status of the country, as a whole. Though, I quickly realized that my content would be 95% angry and/or depressed. I think this project comes at an opportune moment for me to organize my thoughts and feelings as I come out of this state of being, hopefully into the type of life/career I've been hoping for.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Supermoon--
My friend invited me to watch the Super Moon on March 19th , and he told me a legend of Super Moon, he said the wolf man will come out on that day, human will feel different either spiritually or physically. I don’t believe the legend of wolf man but I feel upset and anxious on that day. So I decide to make a short video to express my feeling and my fear.
On March 19, 2011, the moon will be 3,56,577km away from the earth, its closest in 18 years. Its called Super Moon.
On that day, A handsome guy named Nathan is watching a movie < Wolf man>, he is very concentrated with the plot and imaging him self “changed” the same as the main character in the movie.
He is eating chips and ice cream when he is enjoying the movie. It is a horror movie , the music is creepy and the scenes are horrible, sometimes he feels not well and he can feel him self changing. After he say : oh my god, I feel puff up ! Then he become a fat guy.
Our Web, Our Growth.
Everything in existence has a beginning and an end. Whether they are living beings or inanimate objects, there are remnants left behind when we disappear from our sight. Although I have never been a fan of abstract art and usually take a literal approach to design, I feel more obligated to design something that has a cultural meaning and makes an impact on not only me, but life in general. This piece is not meant to be personal to me, but more of a personal message of how I view the world.
Our emotions, physical beings, and surroundings all start off as a clean slate. It's hard to imagine the theory of evolution bringing mankind so far from where it once was. Single-celled organisms...an Earth before technology existed...life before music...This is what I had in mind when starting the composition with a clean, white canvas. However, as time passes, the composition begins added random elements onto the canvas. They are random, and uncontrollable after their appearance.
The first piece, titled "Our Web", is a piece that starts on the pure canvas. Soon the first dot appears, and begins floating around aimlessly within the alotted area leaving behind a trail behind it. The trail is representative of many things: the materialistic and physical things that human beings leave behind, the emotional growth and connections we've established, and the seemingly growing number of people who contribute to it.
The second piece, titled "Our Growth", is the second piece that starts on a blank canvas. The random paint splashes in multiple colors build on top of each other, never allowing itself to go back to the initial pure clean state. It is about both the physical and emotional growth of us being individuals. Ultimately, we become the whole or sum of all these experiences which is what each individual paint splash represents.
The inspiration for this mini collection is from the need to leave my own mark in the world; I've often contemplated what happens to us after death and the impact we create in society. I wanted to create something that was abstract and expressed a theme with something beyond me as an individual.
I intend to showcase this piece on interfacing white long hallways (in an art gallery). The multiple display throughout the long hallway will show the random effect and be aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, due to technical limitations, I had to add in a reset timer to clean the entire canvas for both pieces so that the additional shapes would not crash the computer
Ceiling in Motion -- Dingnan Zhang (Paul)
I came up this idea before I came to Boston. I tried to push myself to “do something different!”in this "new" world.
I am from a different country where is totally different cultural background. Being “different” is not so hard for me: I speak different language, I don’t like burger king very much, and I also don’t think the restaurant in China town is that ‘good'. However, this kind of “different” is not exactly what I want. In other words, those differences only mean that I don’t want to explore, or even feel this new culture. This culture is new for me, but I am new for it, too. I am just like a new born baby. And I am pretty sure when you are a baby, no matter what you are looking at, there must be a lot of fun!
Basically, I was trying to refresh my original view to observe this world. In the beginning, I have been hanging around the city and looking for anything which can be special and unique. But I failed. Then I realized that I need special angel rather than special objects. My first video was taken two months ago in Prudential. At that time, I was standing on the escalator, and moving around my head to relax neck. Suddenly, I was attracted by the incandescent hang on the ceiling. The escalator was moving down slowly and smoothly. Simultaneously, I noticed the lights upon my head showed an incredible rhythm. I felt so happy, and recorded this moment by my iPhone immediately. When I showed this clip to Ben, he mentioned that he liked this ‘ceiling motion’. Eventually, “Ceiling in Motion” also became the name of this project. “Ceiling in Motion” this name inspired me. It offered me an unique angel to explore this world. Another special part of this video is that I tried to shoot this view again with my DSLR. However, it has never come out as good as the original one. After all, I realize this is life which is always changed by time, and many other factors include my mood.
This project was built up by several different clips. Even though most of them have been shoot several times, like the “bridge”, “tunnel”, and so on. I dropped most of them, because I was trying to find out that “different”. But some of the videos were shoot by once,such as the last piece. I even knew it would be unique when I shoot them. The truth is, at that time, I was going to shoot the wave of the lake, but a duck flew into the scene accidentally. This video became my favorite part in this project. I treated it as a gift from life. Sometimes it happened to come into your life, but you cannot always be ready for it, so you have to take the initiative to find it. Like what I stated at the end of the video -- Life has a lot of surprises, just keep looking...
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Human Interactivity and its influence on Creativity
For my final project, I decided to go with Human interactivity and its influence on creativity because from the time I was born, I have been interacting with people from all walks of life. This interaction and exchange of information has molded me to be who I am today. Every handshake, every smile, every tear and every hug has a huge impact on me. Even when relationships fall apart or you lose a friend, there is something you take away from that experience. This is what I wanted to bring forth in this project.
For me there are three elements that I feel have influenced my work deeply. My life in college, I met my closest friends. These people I met in college are my friends, even today! I met my fiance' in college. I was a resident assistant in college and that had a tremendous impact on my life. I learned a great deal from students from different backgrounds and cultures. I was introduced to different foods. I found diversity at its best at school. I will never trade this experience for anything my whole life.
Second thing that influenced me greatly is my military life. i love the military and I am proud to serve my country. The military really pushed me to explore my boundaries. I learned my weaknesses and faced my fear. I have learned to respect my fellow soldiers and understand leadership in its true form. Am I a perfect leader? I don't think i can ever be perfect. I think there is something new we learn each day. In that aspect, I am still very much human and yes I am a leader, a leader in my own way.
And finally, my fiance', Hong, who has always been there to push me forward. We have been together for a long time and the only reason we lasted so long is because she was able to stand by my side through tough times. I learned that even at my strongest point, in front of her I was very weak. She is much younger than me, but she is far more driven. She knows how to talk to people, she knows how to build her bridges and keep them. I still have a long way to go in that aspect.
These three pieces in my life have effected my understanding of creativity greatly. This is what my piece was about. I am glad that I got to share it with all of you. i hope that we all will continue to see each other in the future and we will continue to Network! I want you to all to know that you are now a very important and diverse part of my life! Thank you for being a part of it!
For me there are three elements that I feel have influenced my work deeply. My life in college, I met my closest friends. These people I met in college are my friends, even today! I met my fiance' in college. I was a resident assistant in college and that had a tremendous impact on my life. I learned a great deal from students from different backgrounds and cultures. I was introduced to different foods. I found diversity at its best at school. I will never trade this experience for anything my whole life.
Second thing that influenced me greatly is my military life. i love the military and I am proud to serve my country. The military really pushed me to explore my boundaries. I learned my weaknesses and faced my fear. I have learned to respect my fellow soldiers and understand leadership in its true form. Am I a perfect leader? I don't think i can ever be perfect. I think there is something new we learn each day. In that aspect, I am still very much human and yes I am a leader, a leader in my own way.
And finally, my fiance', Hong, who has always been there to push me forward. We have been together for a long time and the only reason we lasted so long is because she was able to stand by my side through tough times. I learned that even at my strongest point, in front of her I was very weak. She is much younger than me, but she is far more driven. She knows how to talk to people, she knows how to build her bridges and keep them. I still have a long way to go in that aspect.
These three pieces in my life have effected my understanding of creativity greatly. This is what my piece was about. I am glad that I got to share it with all of you. i hope that we all will continue to see each other in the future and we will continue to Network! I want you to all to know that you are now a very important and diverse part of my life! Thank you for being a part of it!
Final Project
Title: A Freedom Complete
Description: Interactive Display
For my final Time-Based media project I decided to design an interactive display piece for homicide victims from gun violence in Boston for the year 2010. In 2010 Boston has experienced a spike in gun violence and homicides. In that year alone 74 people were killed in cold blood. The youngest victim was 2 year-old Amani Smith who along with his mother was
one of the people killed in the Mattapan Quadruple murder.
Inspiration: My personal inspiration comes from being affected by gun violence as a young teenager growing up in poverty stricken Roxbury. In 1990 my older sister was one of four people shot during a dispute between her boyfriend and some neighborhood kids. A pellet from a shotgun bullet struck her in the eye and stopped a few centimeters from her brain. She survived her injury and her eye has healed 100%. Until this day I’m grateful that she survived this horrible experience. 21 years later gun violence still affects inner cities throughout the nation. Why hasn’t anything changed is beyond me.
As an artist I always want to give back to the community. When I have more time my goal is to work with at-risk kids teaching them the tools to become successful adults through art and design. I hope to inspire youth and young adults to make change in their lives and neighborhoods. When a community can come together to fight the problems effecting their neighborhood improvements can be made. We have to save ourselves because the government and politicians can’t do it for us!
Media: Flash I chose Flash because I wanted to make my design interactive with moving images and changing text but also give it a magazine article feel.
Description: Interactive Display
For my final Time-Based media project I decided to design an interactive display piece for homicide victims from gun violence in Boston for the year 2010. In 2010 Boston has experienced a spike in gun violence and homicides. In that year alone 74 people were killed in cold blood. The youngest victim was 2 year-old Amani Smith who along with his mother was
one of the people killed in the Mattapan Quadruple murder.
Inspiration: My personal inspiration comes from being affected by gun violence as a young teenager growing up in poverty stricken Roxbury. In 1990 my older sister was one of four people shot during a dispute between her boyfriend and some neighborhood kids. A pellet from a shotgun bullet struck her in the eye and stopped a few centimeters from her brain. She survived her injury and her eye has healed 100%. Until this day I’m grateful that she survived this horrible experience. 21 years later gun violence still affects inner cities throughout the nation. Why hasn’t anything changed is beyond me.
As an artist I always want to give back to the community. When I have more time my goal is to work with at-risk kids teaching them the tools to become successful adults through art and design. I hope to inspire youth and young adults to make change in their lives and neighborhoods. When a community can come together to fight the problems effecting their neighborhood improvements can be made. We have to save ourselves because the government and politicians can’t do it for us!
Media: Flash I chose Flash because I wanted to make my design interactive with moving images and changing text but also give it a magazine article feel.
Ayumi never be alone
This is my first short film. Actually, during the last year of undergraduate, I once made a short film before but I didn’t want to count that one as my first because I didn’t prepare anything back then and finally it turned out not so good.
But this one, it is really my first. I wrote the screenplay and shooting script. I bought a brand new camera just for shooting this movie.
The story line was inspired by a short story written by a writer in Thailand. His name is Prabda Yoon. You can search his name in Wikipedia.org. He is well known among the readers who like to read sub-genre novels or stories, which are not mainstream. The theme in his works mostly about philosophy of living things or human life.
Ayumi Never be Alone was adapted from one of the story in one his books, Cleaning the Dead. The original title of the story is Ayumi never talk to herself.
I took the idea of a Japanese girl talking to herself because people around her seem mean to her in many ways. Her boyfriend rarely talk to her, sometimes leave her alone, and usually call her weird when she talk to herself. And at the end her boyfriend's friends rape her and her boyfriend got money from that. It is really a cruel story. So I changed it and came up with the twisted ending.
Yi Huang's final project
My final project is based on my wife and my marriage. I picked some photos as recalling my memories. As a statement, I built this flash in two modes as discovering my photos. I used Flash CS4 and ActionScript to build the interface and interactions.
In the "Treasure Hunting Mode", you can click, drag to discover the hidden photos. You can imagine this is a messed desk with dozens of photos on it, you just use you hand to pick up every photo and view it one by one. Find it, pick it up, view it, put it down, and discover the other one.
In the second "Timeline Mode", you can just click on the three stages in the time line, and the related photos will be popped on the screen.
I consider this project as my appreciation or salute to my dear wife, she's one of the most most important person in my life. We have been married for three years, and now she is carrying our daughter. I just want to thank her from the bottom of my heart.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5056406/yi_huang_imomeries.swf
In the "Treasure Hunting Mode", you can click, drag to discover the hidden photos. You can imagine this is a messed desk with dozens of photos on it, you just use you hand to pick up every photo and view it one by one. Find it, pick it up, view it, put it down, and discover the other one.
In the second "Timeline Mode", you can just click on the three stages in the time line, and the related photos will be popped on the screen.
I consider this project as my appreciation or salute to my dear wife, she's one of the most most important person in my life. We have been married for three years, and now she is carrying our daughter. I just want to thank her from the bottom of my heart.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5056406/yi_huang_imomeries.swf
FAMILY
My life revolves around my family. Peter, my brother, has been a cornerstone of my life, always been there for me, through thick and thin. Of course we moved on with our lives, moved out of our mother's home, and started a new life creating families of our own. Peter married Rosa and they now have two beautiful children together, Aaron and Mackenzie. My niece and nephew have become my world, and so has my boyfriend Josiah. But one motto that I have always lived by is blood is thicker than water. I would do anything for my niece and nephew.
There are three parts to this design. The first is the large image of me; this is how I see myself. I dressed up in the clothes that I wear everyday to keep it real. I wore my sweatshirt hoodie and my jeans. I also decided to wear my Emmanuel College shirt because I am proud of my accomplishments. But this pales in comparison to the other part of the piece. There are images cascading from my hands. Images from when I was younger until close to now. Here I am trying to describe the fact that we are in control of our destinies. How we act through out our lives affects the future. But holding the images and letting them fall from my hands makes it seem that even though we are in control of what we do with our lives, these pieces will still fall where they may, leading us to our destiny. Right now, in this present time, my destiny is with my niece and nephew.
The third and final part of this piece is the video displayed in the net book below my still image. My still image is technically the past, you cannot go back and change it, it remains stagnate. But the present is what is moving us forward towards the future, and here is where the moving pictures come into play. I made a montage of a day in the life of my niece and nephew, and used the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." This song is significant to me because it ties in the past with the future. The past represented by the song is a time when I was a little girl and would watch the movie The Wizard of Oz over and over again. The future is my next generation, my niece and nephew. They are the ones that are propelling me forward, giving me reason for life. They are the future generation. I am the past generation, my brother is the past, and with our families we create a new generation for the future of us all.
Technically, to make this project come to life, I created two parts that came together. I placed the image of myself crouching in a blank document in Photoshop. I scanned in old photos of my family and placed those using layers in Photoshop, in my hands. The image of the scanned photographs and me were enlarged and printed on a 24x36 foam board with matte finishing. I made sure my image started 7 inches from the bottom. I then displayed the poster board using an easel, and placed the net book opened underneath my feet and played the movie of my niece and nephew that I filmed and edited earlier. My main still image would literally be crouching on the net book. The movie loops, making it an installation piece you would see at an art gallery. Sit, watch, and enjoy as life moves on to the next generation
Penguin Cupcakes // statement
Over the course of the last few months I have become very interested in cooking—particularly baking. I have a sweet tooth and was given a cookbook with myriad delicious recipes to try. Since then, I have been given several more cookbooks and have thoroughly enjoyed trying new cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts.
For my final project, I wanted to use time-based media to construct a cooking demonstration. I also used this project as an opportunity to test an idea for a component of my thesis project—an interactive cooking website.
In thinking about this project, I wanted to do a demonstration that was a bit more unique and a little more fun than a plain meal or dessert, which is why I chose to make animal-shaped cupcakes.
My goal for this project was not just to film myself making cupcakes, but to provide the viewer with something a little extra. I wanted to bring the recipe to life.
Though the video did not turn out exactly as I had hoped, I learned a lot from creating it and for me, learning from what I did not like and what did not work was more valuable than if everything had worked perfectly or gone according to plan. Because I hope to continue this project on a larger scale, I am able to better strategize.
Many types of media can be considered time-based media, and incorporating different media into a project allows one to create a more dynamic experience for the user.
Cooking television shows and channels exist, but I like the idea of bringing cooking to the web because it allows a user to choose the content on demand. Time-based media on the web also provides more options: viewing the video demonstration while looking at a list of ingredients or instructions, looking at photos, accessing a printable supply list, etc.
This project gave me a chance to further explore a niche area that has a lot of interesting potential!
For my final project, I wanted to use time-based media to construct a cooking demonstration. I also used this project as an opportunity to test an idea for a component of my thesis project—an interactive cooking website.
In thinking about this project, I wanted to do a demonstration that was a bit more unique and a little more fun than a plain meal or dessert, which is why I chose to make animal-shaped cupcakes.
My goal for this project was not just to film myself making cupcakes, but to provide the viewer with something a little extra. I wanted to bring the recipe to life.
Though the video did not turn out exactly as I had hoped, I learned a lot from creating it and for me, learning from what I did not like and what did not work was more valuable than if everything had worked perfectly or gone according to plan. Because I hope to continue this project on a larger scale, I am able to better strategize.
Many types of media can be considered time-based media, and incorporating different media into a project allows one to create a more dynamic experience for the user.
Cooking television shows and channels exist, but I like the idea of bringing cooking to the web because it allows a user to choose the content on demand. Time-based media on the web also provides more options: viewing the video demonstration while looking at a list of ingredients or instructions, looking at photos, accessing a printable supply list, etc.
This project gave me a chance to further explore a niche area that has a lot of interesting potential!
Tonight's the night!
Tonight's class will be the most exciting class for me -- the culmination of everything we've done and experienced this term. We will go back to that elemental question from the first class, "What is Time-Based Media?"
Some guidelines for tonight:
-- In addition to your project presentation, you should have a project statement. Please post those on the blog with using the exact tag 'finalproject'. Feel free to include in that post any links, embedded video or images.
-- I'm inclined to just run through the presentations with just a short leg-stretching/bathroom break in the middle. You'll each get 10 minutes to make your presentations and I'll be looking for each of you to facilitate a conversation. You will be graded on how you speak and present your work in addition to your work!
-- Regarding grades, I'm working through my grades for the entire term. If you are missing an assignment please let me know if you are planning to complete, else you will not get credit for that assignment. Grades are due on Tuesday and I aspire to be on time! ;-)
-- I also will aspire to bring snacks!
Some guidelines for tonight:
-- In addition to your project presentation, you should have a project statement. Please post those on the blog with using the exact tag 'finalproject'. Feel free to include in that post any links, embedded video or images.
-- I'm inclined to just run through the presentations with just a short leg-stretching/bathroom break in the middle. You'll each get 10 minutes to make your presentations and I'll be looking for each of you to facilitate a conversation. You will be graded on how you speak and present your work in addition to your work!
-- Regarding grades, I'm working through my grades for the entire term. If you are missing an assignment please let me know if you are planning to complete, else you will not get credit for that assignment. Grades are due on Tuesday and I aspire to be on time! ;-)
-- I also will aspire to bring snacks!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
River of Wisdom
Traditional Chinese brush paintings... made into an animation!
My parents were in Hong Kong the year this was on exhibition - it's amazing!
My parents were in Hong Kong the year this was on exhibition - it's amazing!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Leave Me
Really a nice piece, very touching. Also we can find a lot of different time-based medias.
Hope you guys like it~
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Animation videos
Wanted to share two really cool animation videos. The first is a stop-motion graffiti video that is really crazy to watch. The second is an animation that incorporates textiles and paper. Both are incredibly impressive!
The Thomas Beale Cipher from Andrew S Allen on Vimeo.
Final Project
For my final project I want to make a PSA on youth and gun violence. The reason I chose this topic is because gun violence is not just a problem in the inner city of Boston, it's a problem that effects inner cities throughout America. I was born and raised in Roxbury where I still reside and there have been times where I'm sitting in my room doing my homework and I hear gun shots outside which is crazy. Why do people in the inner city who work hard had AND pay taxes not feel safe in their ow neighborhood. There was also another time when walking home from class one night two youths I had just walked by where shot one died from his injuries. After experiencing that I came to the conclusion that God kept me here for a reason. In that split second I could have been a victim. I know your thinking oh well why doesn't she just move and yes I can afford to live in the suburbs but why do I have to move away from my roots to a place where a lot of the times people look at me as if I don't belong. It's a sucky situation but I love the city so much. Anyways when these experiences happened I have vowed to dedicate some of my time when I'm done with school to work with at risk kids through art and digital media. For now I can settle with working on small projects like this to try to make small change right now because Superman will not save us!
I plan to design my project in flash. I want to make a simple interface with a slide show of moving text and images. I may add some music or a voice over reading statistics or a poem written by a good friend of mine. Time-based media will work well for this project because it adds and extra element that print can't convey. Using moving text and pictures can make a nice impact on the viewer as well. I'm looking forward to seeing what i can come up with using Flash. I don't have much Flash experience but this will be a good challenge for me.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
This is touching..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3TM9GL2iLI&feature=player_embedded
With everything going on in Japan.. my heart goes out to all the people of Japan suffering. But this video shows.. that people are not the only ones.. and friendship exists even among animals.. I saw this on Yahoo.. thought it was worth sharing.
With everything going on in Japan.. my heart goes out to all the people of Japan suffering. But this video shows.. that people are not the only ones.. and friendship exists even among animals.. I saw this on Yahoo.. thought it was worth sharing.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
PhoneCall--Paul.mov
I changed it a little bit from my original story. I took tons of clips because my storyboard really didn't do its work well. Because I kept changing it when I was shooting. I found out sometimes the pictures that I draw on my storyboard are not so suitable for video shooting as I thought. So I kept changing it.
Then, I decided what If I just took all the clip, and throw all of them into the iMovie to see if it gonna work. The good thing is I finished this assignment. But the bad thing is also very obvious: because I didn't stick on my storyboard, so I have to figure out how to organize my materials from the beginning again after I finish shooting! That is really bad experience... It took me for ever...
I think I will take care of my storyboard more carefully next time. Because I learned how important it is this time!
Assignment for March 17, 2011
1. Email me a proposal for your Final Project at my ravijain.org address -- a few paragraphs at most.
Here is what we are thinking for the Final Project:
Here is what we are thinking for the Final Project:
- A time-based media project that is driven by personal content/experience (doesn’t have to be soul baring)
- A component will be a project statement in which you define time-based media – what it means for you. We’ll look at statements and their importance in the next class.
- Build upon assignments so far, but please push yourself. Don’t be afraid to “fail” – by that I mean, I’m paying attention to concept and to the fact that you only have three weeks to realize this project, so any short comings that are documented are acceptable.
- No restrictions on length or topic.
Don't wait to say "I Love you!"
Thank you to Paul Zhang, Vivianna Yan, Liu Dan and our other friends for helping me make this movie.
Yi Huang's Video: The Inside Man
Hi there,
Here's my video project, about a true story (or a true crime) in Poland. I made a documentary about this classic burglary, but also added some fun elements.
Thanks for watching!
Here's my video project, about a true story (or a true crime) in Poland. I made a documentary about this classic burglary, but also added some fun elements.
Thanks for watching!
Rough Movie
Here's a rough version of my project. I couldn't figure out Final Cut Pro in time to produce this for tonight. So, I went back to iMovie. :( There are additional edits I have in mind, like color tone and some audio adjustments that I'd still like to do. I would love anyone's suggestions. This is my first video project EVER!
I wanted to write a story about how an object changes through time according to our perception of it. As you watch, imagine that the Valentine is the second character.
PS Thank you, again, to all those who helped me with my videos, last night!!!
I wanted to write a story about how an object changes through time according to our perception of it. As you watch, imagine that the Valentine is the second character.
PS Thank you, again, to all those who helped me with my videos, last night!!!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Make up class is ON -- Wednesday 6pm
I got confirmation on our make-up class for this Wednesday, from 6pm to 8pm. I have some things I want to show to keep us on track, but I also want to be able to check in with people in advance of Thursdays "screening".
Update:
I've had to "park" my daughters down at my in-laws, so we'll wrap up more like 7:45. Don't worry, I don't have much to say, it's more about me being there for you guys in advance of tomorrow.
Update:
I've had to "park" my daughters down at my in-laws, so we'll wrap up more like 7:45. Don't worry, I don't have much to say, it's more about me being there for you guys in advance of tomorrow.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Just in case
Hi, in case anyone has recorded footage from the Northeastern Library camera, the movie clips are imported into your computer as .mov files. You will need to use Quicktime > File > Export as ".mp4" file extensions in order to use it in iMovie.
Then use iMovie and go to File > Import movies > (find the .mp4 files)
Then use iMovie and go to File > Import movies > (find the .mp4 files)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Ice Book
I was shown this video over the weekend and wanted to share because I think it's one of the coolest things I've ever seen! It's so pretty... and mind-blowing, too! It brings together two mediums in a way I've never seen.
Back on track!
We are back on track for class tonight. Thanks again for everyone's understanding and well wishes.
Our baby arrived late Monday night; we just checked out of the hospital and I'll be getting settled in briefly at home before heading to class.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Reaction for Stan Vanderbeek's art exhibition.
If you have watched The Ring by Gore Verbinski., you could have remembered the storyline about people died by watching a scary video tape. By watching Vanderbeek's films make me feel like I am watching what in that tape in The Ring movie. I don't mean that I feel like I would die within 7 days. But if you remember the story of The Ring, you would know that what in that tape is the memory of the girl in the movie.
To visit an exhibition like this or to watch or to sense this kind of art form which is pretty extremely hard to understand, I think I need to be open that I don't have to understand, I just need to get to know them or just perceive them. It is like to get to know what one person or one artist think. To know what his mind looks like.
So he wrote his mind and his ideas into a movie like the girl in The Ring wrote her memory into the tape. They are both black and white, full of noise, and not continuous.
Also, the very first feeling I got when I entered the Poemfield part was like watching Tron. Not the latest one but 1982 version. Digital computer noisy sound, dark atmosphere, oppressed and uncomfortable feeling is like when you get struck in something small and don't know where to go.
Further, what show on the screens look like the third generation video game or 8 bit era, such as a Famicom.
To visit an exhibition like this or to watch or to sense this kind of art form which is pretty extremely hard to understand, I think I need to be open that I don't have to understand, I just need to get to know them or just perceive them. It is like to get to know what one person or one artist think. To know what his mind looks like.
So he wrote his mind and his ideas into a movie like the girl in The Ring wrote her memory into the tape. They are both black and white, full of noise, and not continuous.
Also, the very first feeling I got when I entered the Poemfield part was like watching Tron. Not the latest one but 1982 version. Digital computer noisy sound, dark atmosphere, oppressed and uncomfortable feeling is like when you get struck in something small and don't know where to go.
Further, what show on the screens look like the third generation video game or 8 bit era, such as a Famicom.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
News Alert
Maybe this is just news to me...but I just drove into Boston from Salem and got to the library at 5:30 not realizing that it was only open today from 9-5 because of spring break...lets not take into account the students who are still going to school while everyone else is on break! But it is also closed tomorrow...so basically I will not be able to edit my movie until Wednesday night after work...so hopefully you guys like it even though i wont have much time to edit it.
Hopefully you get this before you take the ride into school tomorrow to do any work...library is closed.
Jenn
Hopefully you get this before you take the ride into school tomorrow to do any work...library is closed.
Jenn
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Class Rescheduled!
I'm not going to be able to make it to class tonight -- baby seems imminent!
I am going to see about rescheduling another session for all of you -- we're at a crucial stage with regard to your video projects and I don't want any of you to feel shortchanged. So I'll check on availabity of the lab and see if we can schedule a make-up class for another evening or even weekend soon.
Sorry for the last minute notice and I appreciate your understanding. We will be all meeting together again next Thursday, March 3rd. We'll pick up with video editing and post-production.
I am going to see about rescheduling another session for all of you -- we're at a crucial stage with regard to your video projects and I don't want any of you to feel shortchanged. So I'll check on availabity of the lab and see if we can schedule a make-up class for another evening or even weekend soon.
Sorry for the last minute notice and I appreciate your understanding. We will be all meeting together again next Thursday, March 3rd. We'll pick up with video editing and post-production.
Revised Treatment
Due to significant shortages of time and resources, I unfortunately won't be producing STAR TREK vs STAR WARS. I thought about asking Lucasfilm for $100 million, but that seems unlikely, and if I'm going to make a film, I'm going to make it right.
The alternative I've come up with is to tie in with the first project I did (A Journey in a Book) and my final project (the Norwegian Birkebeiner). So - this weekend I'm going to New Hampshire for a final peak training event skiing in the mountains. The film will go something like this:
The opening shot shows a map of the White Mountains, with the path I'm going to travel clearly visible. The camera 'flies' over the map, effectively tracing the route, and letting the viewer 'take a journey in a map' as it were.
The map fades away and is replaced by a shot of the real mountains and real ski trails. I start moving on the skis, at around sunrise. Different shots are interspersed throughout the day, as I pass the points previously seen on the map, while music plays.
The final scene is back at the lodge after the journey has been completed. The camera pans down to show the map, which has now been highlighted with the path taken.
The alternative I've come up with is to tie in with the first project I did (A Journey in a Book) and my final project (the Norwegian Birkebeiner). So - this weekend I'm going to New Hampshire for a final peak training event skiing in the mountains. The film will go something like this:
The opening shot shows a map of the White Mountains, with the path I'm going to travel clearly visible. The camera 'flies' over the map, effectively tracing the route, and letting the viewer 'take a journey in a map' as it were.
The map fades away and is replaced by a shot of the real mountains and real ski trails. I start moving on the skis, at around sunrise. Different shots are interspersed throughout the day, as I pass the points previously seen on the map, while music plays.
The final scene is back at the lodge after the journey has been completed. The camera pans down to show the map, which has now been highlighted with the path taken.
1st Light, 2005
Paul Chan
1st Light, 2005
Projected digital animation
Institute of Contemporary Art
Paul Chan’s 1st Light is a parable of religeon and politics for a post 9/11 world. A wedge of light is projected on the floor as if it’s streaming though a big window. The shifting colors from the projector make the animation looks as though the sun is rising and setting through the window at times. Silhouettes appear against the grey-white light making it look like light from the early morning. Tree branches and power lines anchor the scene making it look like it projects the city. Most of the shadows are familiar at first but as the animation changes it starts to look a little strange and creepy. Ojects such as cell phones, sunglasses, cars, clothing - ascend. Meanwhile shadows of bodies start falling downward as if they are falling into hell. Some religeons believe the faithful will be transported to heaven when they pass but in Chans inverted Rapture he reflects an era of consumerism and violence which often appears to favor earthly possessions over human lives.
All in all this was a great peice. The projection of the piece of to the floor was a good idea as well.
1st Light, 2005
Projected digital animation
Institute of Contemporary Art
Paul Chan’s 1st Light is a parable of religeon and politics for a post 9/11 world. A wedge of light is projected on the floor as if it’s streaming though a big window. The shifting colors from the projector make the animation looks as though the sun is rising and setting through the window at times. Silhouettes appear against the grey-white light making it look like light from the early morning. Tree branches and power lines anchor the scene making it look like it projects the city. Most of the shadows are familiar at first but as the animation changes it starts to look a little strange and creepy. Ojects such as cell phones, sunglasses, cars, clothing - ascend. Meanwhile shadows of bodies start falling downward as if they are falling into hell. Some religeons believe the faithful will be transported to heaven when they pass but in Chans inverted Rapture he reflects an era of consumerism and violence which often appears to favor earthly possessions over human lives.
All in all this was a great peice. The projection of the piece of to the floor was a good idea as well.
Field Trip
I visited VanDerBeek exhibition last week with Ben, we watched several films, and some collages. I have to say I didn’t find any clues about those artworks at that time. The only thing that I am pretty sure about this exhibition is that there are always some special rhythms among those art works. Even the collages, which are hanged on the wall, they are not just still pictures but also having some motion there. Fortunately,
When I got back I found a official website of VanDerBeek. On this website, I found a lot of pictures and video clips. So I got a chance to review all these stuff again. And of course, I got some fresh ideas:
About his early work:
Most of the collages that are hanged on the wall are the early works of VanDerBeek. From those works, I found many interesting commons, such as the “combined words”, none or cut-face women, changed face men and the curved forks. Those textures show up repeatedly in our artist’s works. They also give me a strong feeling of “Continuous Changing”. For example, the artist always used “combined words” in his works. In those words, each letter of the words is also the part of the next letter. In my opinion, I think the artist was trying to tell the audiences that the end of each letter also could be the start of the next letter. There would be no ending, if you kept writing.
See Picture 1.
The similar ideas can be observed in his “forks art”. He always used forks to create other stuffs, like dancing people, running birds, and even the “hot smoke”. Among those works, which I like the most is the Picture 2.
From picture 2, I can see much more clearly about this “continuous Changing” idea. Firstly, the combination of pan and forks told me that they are definitely tableware. But if we focus on the twisted branches of the forks, they also could be seen as dancing people who were standing on the “pan” stage. I know it sounds silly, but this is definitely what I have now.
About his “Motion pictures”:
Motion pictures are very interesting. When I read the instructions on the website, I found more information. First, as what artist said, those “Motion pictures” called “Culture Intercom”, which has been combined by all kinds of audio-visual devices into a educational tool. VanDerBeek asserted that he thought the current culture and technology is far away from normal person’s capability of understanding. So he wanted to use a non-verbal way -- “Culture Intercom” to help people understand this world as soon as possible. See Picture 3.
For me, I think this invention is a little bit too ambitious at 1950s. But nowadays, if we look at how we are accessing information through our phone, PC, laptop and Mac, I have to admire our artist’s forward-looking though.
When I got back I found a official website of VanDerBeek. On this website, I found a lot of pictures and video clips. So I got a chance to review all these stuff again. And of course, I got some fresh ideas:
About his early work:
Most of the collages that are hanged on the wall are the early works of VanDerBeek. From those works, I found many interesting commons, such as the “combined words”, none or cut-face women, changed face men and the curved forks. Those textures show up repeatedly in our artist’s works. They also give me a strong feeling of “Continuous Changing”. For example, the artist always used “combined words” in his works. In those words, each letter of the words is also the part of the next letter. In my opinion, I think the artist was trying to tell the audiences that the end of each letter also could be the start of the next letter. There would be no ending, if you kept writing.
See Picture 1.
 |
| Picture 1 |
The similar ideas can be observed in his “forks art”. He always used forks to create other stuffs, like dancing people, running birds, and even the “hot smoke”. Among those works, which I like the most is the Picture 2.
 |
| Picture 2 |
From picture 2, I can see much more clearly about this “continuous Changing” idea. Firstly, the combination of pan and forks told me that they are definitely tableware. But if we focus on the twisted branches of the forks, they also could be seen as dancing people who were standing on the “pan” stage. I know it sounds silly, but this is definitely what I have now.
About his “Motion pictures”:
Motion pictures are very interesting. When I read the instructions on the website, I found more information. First, as what artist said, those “Motion pictures” called “Culture Intercom”, which has been combined by all kinds of audio-visual devices into a educational tool. VanDerBeek asserted that he thought the current culture and technology is far away from normal person’s capability of understanding. So he wanted to use a non-verbal way -- “Culture Intercom” to help people understand this world as soon as possible. See Picture 3.
 |
| Picture 3 |
For me, I think this invention is a little bit too ambitious at 1950s. But nowadays, if we look at how we are accessing information through our phone, PC, laptop and Mac, I have to admire our artist’s forward-looking though.
VanDerBeek @ MIT's List
I really enjoyed my visit to the List gallery to check out the Stan VanDerBeek exhibit. I'd never visited before but now I'm compelled to keep up to date with their other exhibits.
Thoughts: My favorite part of the exhibit was definitely Poemfields and the Movie Mural. It reminded me of a Marta Minujín show I saw recently. At her show there were small rooms to walk through and one had projections on each of the four walls and even the floor and ceiling. (A piece photographic evidence below from a different room at the Minujín exhibit.) VanDerBeek's projection of multiple images in the Movie Mural was truly immersive. I was very happy with the use of space-- the very high ceilings really added to the experience.
The Poemfields were also very cool. I thought it was awesome that he used a technique that involved punch-cards to make those films. I also really liked the trippy feeling of the exhibit-- especially noticeable in Poemfields and the Movie Mural.
Art that involves or includes the viewer always interests me. It makes it more personal and you feel a deeper connection to the work.
In one of the videos VanDerBeek discussed the future of computers and television in art and he made some interesting predictions. For one, he said that one day art schools would teach computers and programming along with more traditional classes. He also predicted 3D televisions and the use of holograms that people would be able to control themselves. He was right about the art schools and 3D televisions so perhaps he will be right about the holograms, too. ((I think Wolf Blitzer hologramed-in Will.I.Am during the last presidential election.))
Thoughts: My favorite part of the exhibit was definitely Poemfields and the Movie Mural. It reminded me of a Marta Minujín show I saw recently. At her show there were small rooms to walk through and one had projections on each of the four walls and even the floor and ceiling. (A piece photographic evidence below from a different room at the Minujín exhibit.) VanDerBeek's projection of multiple images in the Movie Mural was truly immersive. I was very happy with the use of space-- the very high ceilings really added to the experience.
The Poemfields were also very cool. I thought it was awesome that he used a technique that involved punch-cards to make those films. I also really liked the trippy feeling of the exhibit-- especially noticeable in Poemfields and the Movie Mural.
Art that involves or includes the viewer always interests me. It makes it more personal and you feel a deeper connection to the work.
In one of the videos VanDerBeek discussed the future of computers and television in art and he made some interesting predictions. For one, he said that one day art schools would teach computers and programming along with more traditional classes. He also predicted 3D televisions and the use of holograms that people would be able to control themselves. He was right about the art schools and 3D televisions so perhaps he will be right about the holograms, too. ((I think Wolf Blitzer hologramed-in Will.I.Am during the last presidential election.))
Visiting Stan VanDerBeek's exhibit
I went to see the VanDerBeek Exhibit with Paul last Thursday. My observation was that VanDerBeek was interested in exploring different forms of media. He had paintings, collages, montages, woodwork and metal etchings. It all seemed to come together when he discovered film or video editing as a new media and started bringing all his work together in it.
We saw five short films made by VanDerBeek. These films have never been seen before. This was the first time that they were opening it to the public. So, this was something the curator told us not to miss out on. Of the five, two films really stood out to me. One of them was from 1965, called ‘See, Saw, Seams’. It was 9:06 mins long in black and white with sound. It was a very interesting composition of images, because they blended in with each other very subtly, but when they transformed into their full image it was something that you didn’t expect to see. For example, a face of a young man would transform into a landscape, a woman’s breasts who very slowly and subtly transform into a landscape of trees and her neck into a castle, an eye of a bird would transform into a bridge. The background music was composed of drums and that kept me quite engaged as well. I got the feeling that VanDerBeek really understood his medium of choice at this point. The flow of the video, even though it was over 9 mins long, kept me engrossed. It really displayed what he wrote:
“Juxtaposed to what we see, is what we think we see... that is, the memory of the dream is as real as the dream itself, but it is completely different from the dream. This film is an experiment in animation, in which the eye of the viewer travel deeper and deeper and deeper into each scene, finding new relationships and visual metaphors in what appears, at first sight, a simple scene. Symbolic intention is the mother of symbolic retention... that is, sight you are... if you think you are.”
The second video was titled “Spherical Space No.1”. This was made in 1967, it was 5 minutes long and this one was in color with sound. The video was made with a spherical lens which took 195 degrees of sight on film. The best I could describe it was like looking at a large view through a peep hole in a door. Only, the view moved along with the dancer in the nude. The dancer contoured her body to the trees and the walls. She did her ballet around on the grass and just seemed intertwined with nature.
I am not sure how many people in class follow Greek mythology. However, this particular video made me think of the Bacchae/Maenads. Bacchae women were a cult that celebrated and worshipped the god of wine, Dionysus. They were also known as Maenads. Part of this worship or celebration took place in the woods. The Maenads would dance and revel in a sort of a trance after they had much wine and following that they would they would kill a wild bull, tearing it apart from its limbs and eating its body parts, raw. A ritual called ‘Sparagmos’. So, its not so much the ritual, but the pre-cursor to that ritual, the dancing and being inter-twined with nature that this video captured, that really took me back to my classical mythology days in college. Overall, it was a great exhibit.
We saw five short films made by VanDerBeek. These films have never been seen before. This was the first time that they were opening it to the public. So, this was something the curator told us not to miss out on. Of the five, two films really stood out to me. One of them was from 1965, called ‘See, Saw, Seams’. It was 9:06 mins long in black and white with sound. It was a very interesting composition of images, because they blended in with each other very subtly, but when they transformed into their full image it was something that you didn’t expect to see. For example, a face of a young man would transform into a landscape, a woman’s breasts who very slowly and subtly transform into a landscape of trees and her neck into a castle, an eye of a bird would transform into a bridge. The background music was composed of drums and that kept me quite engaged as well. I got the feeling that VanDerBeek really understood his medium of choice at this point. The flow of the video, even though it was over 9 mins long, kept me engrossed. It really displayed what he wrote:
“Juxtaposed to what we see, is what we think we see... that is, the memory of the dream is as real as the dream itself, but it is completely different from the dream. This film is an experiment in animation, in which the eye of the viewer travel deeper and deeper and deeper into each scene, finding new relationships and visual metaphors in what appears, at first sight, a simple scene. Symbolic intention is the mother of symbolic retention... that is, sight you are... if you think you are.”
The second video was titled “Spherical Space No.1”. This was made in 1967, it was 5 minutes long and this one was in color with sound. The video was made with a spherical lens which took 195 degrees of sight on film. The best I could describe it was like looking at a large view through a peep hole in a door. Only, the view moved along with the dancer in the nude. The dancer contoured her body to the trees and the walls. She did her ballet around on the grass and just seemed intertwined with nature.
I am not sure how many people in class follow Greek mythology. However, this particular video made me think of the Bacchae/Maenads. Bacchae women were a cult that celebrated and worshipped the god of wine, Dionysus. They were also known as Maenads. Part of this worship or celebration took place in the woods. The Maenads would dance and revel in a sort of a trance after they had much wine and following that they would they would kill a wild bull, tearing it apart from its limbs and eating its body parts, raw. A ritual called ‘Sparagmos’. So, its not so much the ritual, but the pre-cursor to that ritual, the dancing and being inter-twined with nature that this video captured, that really took me back to my classical mythology days in college. Overall, it was a great exhibit.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Baby update
No baby yet but signs are pointing that it may come soon! So stay tuned to the class blog or my twitter (@ravidjain) for news of whether we need to reschedule Thursday's class. Again, thank you for your understanding and flexibility.
Field Trip: ICA Boston
So I decided to go to the Institute of Contemporary Art with Nikia last week. I've been to the MIT art gallery in the past but haven't gotten a chance lately to visit the ICA. There weren't as many things currently on view in the exhibitions as I had last seen it, but nevertheless there were still some interesting pieces. Many of the art installations were abstract and heavily conceptual...thank goodness for the exhibit descriptions! Mark Bradford was one of the featured artists, where most of his work consisted of abstract, oversized paintings with mixed mediums. He uses many bright bold colors and all of his paintings have repeating motifs like grid-like patterns and adding several layers of different mediums. What was interesting was each new layer was dissolved or cut away at certain places to reveal what was underneath it... it was an interesting way of showing "class, race, and gender in American urban society". He also had a video on display where he was wearing MC Hammer-esque pants with a giant tube wrapped around his waist and he was attempting to play basketball. By hindering his own movement he said it represented society's expectations/stereotypes as pressure for weighing people down from what they do...
There were several pieces in the galleries that interested me, including Shepard Fairey's artwork (it was amazing to see the collection of artwork, I just wanted to have them all for my personal space). Another piece that I found interesting was Christian Jankowski's "The Hunt". It was a short video which followed Jankowski over a course of one week where he shopped at a grocery store and only bought/ate the things he shot with a bow and arrow. It's quite humorous but it also made me think of nomadic tribes hunting for food, meshing primitive hunting traditions with current methods of obtaining food, and the male's role as the "hunter".
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Stan VanDerBeek's Visual Arts
I went to the Stan VanDerBeek exhibition last Friday, and was amazed by the works he had done. He's not only an engineer but also an artist in Visual Art. Some concepts are really refreshing, for example, he uses the swimming pool and steam to produce a 3D projection on the wall, I spent like half an hour on reading his notes and drafts and got the basic idea. Now I really hope I can have a chance to view the 3D motion graphics, especially when I swim, though I am still confused with it a little bit.
Yup, I love the surrounded, overlapped montage, or whatever it is called. It's compelling when so many frames appearing in front of your eyes simultaneously, especially they have connections somehow. Sometimes I even felt there was fewer frames on one screen, I knew that was illusion though. Really smart idea! I was amazed how he arranges the clips and frames. Woo... What a genius!
About the posters or images, I also like the nude woman one. But I really want to talk one of his drafts in the other exhibition room. It's a draft or something, looks like a drawing or a sketching on a paper. He used simple horizontal straight lines, with vary little turns or bents in each, to create a embossed and 3D appearance man on a flat paper. Remember, that was created decades ago, and far before computer graphics were invented.
Yup, I love the surrounded, overlapped montage, or whatever it is called. It's compelling when so many frames appearing in front of your eyes simultaneously, especially they have connections somehow. Sometimes I even felt there was fewer frames on one screen, I knew that was illusion though. Really smart idea! I was amazed how he arranges the clips and frames. Woo... What a genius!
About the posters or images, I also like the nude woman one. But I really want to talk one of his drafts in the other exhibition room. It's a draft or something, looks like a drawing or a sketching on a paper. He used simple horizontal straight lines, with vary little turns or bents in each, to create a embossed and 3D appearance man on a flat paper. Remember, that was created decades ago, and far before computer graphics were invented.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
VanDerBeek Trip
I took a lot of notes while I was at the exhibit. I'm pretty sure I liked more than half of what I saw. I struggled not to over-interpret anything because I hate when people do that to me. I thought some of VanDerBeek's work was nice explorations of texture, like the metal work series and some of his traditional paintings. I wasn't expecting to see traditional media at this show, but I got a Mondrian feel from the wall of paintings on plywood. It also struck me that VanDerBeek was really exploring geometric relationships with circles, orbs, eyes, celestial bodies, etc. I liked most of his collages; I thought they were very Dali. I got an impression of turning people into architecture.
I think the movie showing I caught was "Astral Man". It reminded me a lot of "Dr Who", "The Tomorrow People", and other 60's sci-fi shows and movies. The audio when I first entered the theater was also typical for the genre, odd sorts of underwater-sounding noises, which I think were used in sci-fi at the time to give the feeling of a submarine in space. At this time, the dancers were prone, I think having restless dreams. Then, the dancers stood up and were more active. As the dancers sped up and started interacting with each other, the music changed to a peppy classical violin. I think the movement of the dancers, the music, and the psychedelic backgrounds all interplayed well. The next movie started with some blurry shifting figures and what I think was an audio track from a therapy session talking about an uncomfortable dream. Slowly, the blurry shapes focused into macabre human figures that visually expressed the tension of the voice describing a bad dream.
Unfortunately, several of the projectors in the room with the 360 movies weren't working. Technical/electrical difficulties at MIT. Go figure...
Before reading the description of the project, I sort of saw a historical progress through the movie clip I was watching the most. The entire piece was an attempt to summarize the totality of human history in a multi-movie piece. So, it made sense to me.
The other projection piece, I didn't like as much. I got the idea of "Poemfields" giving a multimedia styling to lines and words of poetry. I like the idea, I didn't like the execution. I didn't think it was visually appealing, and I didn't watch it long.
Wow, this is getting long. I'm going to do a bullet list of the pieces that struck me:
I think the movie showing I caught was "Astral Man". It reminded me a lot of "Dr Who", "The Tomorrow People", and other 60's sci-fi shows and movies. The audio when I first entered the theater was also typical for the genre, odd sorts of underwater-sounding noises, which I think were used in sci-fi at the time to give the feeling of a submarine in space. At this time, the dancers were prone, I think having restless dreams. Then, the dancers stood up and were more active. As the dancers sped up and started interacting with each other, the music changed to a peppy classical violin. I think the movement of the dancers, the music, and the psychedelic backgrounds all interplayed well. The next movie started with some blurry shifting figures and what I think was an audio track from a therapy session talking about an uncomfortable dream. Slowly, the blurry shapes focused into macabre human figures that visually expressed the tension of the voice describing a bad dream.
Unfortunately, several of the projectors in the room with the 360 movies weren't working. Technical/electrical difficulties at MIT. Go figure...
Before reading the description of the project, I sort of saw a historical progress through the movie clip I was watching the most. The entire piece was an attempt to summarize the totality of human history in a multi-movie piece. So, it made sense to me.
The other projection piece, I didn't like as much. I got the idea of "Poemfields" giving a multimedia styling to lines and words of poetry. I like the idea, I didn't like the execution. I didn't think it was visually appealing, and I didn't watch it long.
Wow, this is getting long. I'm going to do a bullet list of the pieces that struck me:
- One of the Dali-esque collages featured a man holding a woman's hand, but her face had come off and was falling. I at first thought this was perhaps about dehumanizing women in romantic pursuits. I looked closer and noticed the man had a watch, and was thus taking her pulse. Now, a statement on the impersonalization of the medical industry.
- Variations V - I didn't like the piece, but I like the idea of an audio-reactive environment to play in
- Panels for the Walls of the World
- Audience feedback in ongoing art
- Fax machine art!!!!
- Nixon & "If no tyrany exists, invent one" - This seems relevant, again.
- "On a treadmill" & a Southeast Asian about to be shot - Makes me think of the 'War on Terror'
- A comment about finding few Communists in Cambodia (which no doubt involved killings during the search) combined with a comment about legalizing abortion made me think a lot about what of many possible messages was being expressed. The hypocrisy of killing some people is bad but some people is okay? That we will always make up justifications for killing another human being if we really want to?
- Social Imagestics: Somewhat accurate predictions about Year 2000 culture's use of technology and social media being international and reactive and the resulting lack of privacy. "We will get the future we learn to expect", or, perhaps, are taught to expect.
- Vanderbeekiana: I really liked the still images transitioning into structurally similar but very different content images. My favorite was the nude woman turning onto a landscape with a road and castle, then back into a woman.
- Strobe Ode: Ow! My eyes!
Exhibit
I am not too fond of abstract to say the least. But it was still an interesting exhibit. It reminded me of something from the movie The Game. There were a couple items that I did like, however. One of the drawings that I liked was the apple on the table, it was one of the smaller drawings at the beginning of the gallery. I liked the saying on it, which I am trying to remember, um..."You have everything to fear." Which kind of made me think that he was pessimistic, but then I started to think that it reminded me of the you have nothing to fear but fear itself speech from Roosevelt, and it seemed like he was just going extreme opposite. The image that accompanied it was interesting, it was an over size apple on a small table, overwhelming was the apple on the table, kind of brought home his message of fear every thing. The next part of the exhibit I enjoyed was the area where he had some pictures that were created as miniature collages. I had two favorite ones from there one was the naked lady, she was laying flat, and a little body builder man was on top of her. I liked the meaning of it, well this is what I thought, of men conquering the woman's body. Also, the images with the women as part of the cars, made me think of how people refer to their cars as a women, and I thought he was playing on that part, by having the car literally made from part of a woman. The last part I liked was the one of the little montage movies he made, in the other room, not the large ones, but the one that was on the little TV. I enjoyed the part, where it was a montage of guns and violence and you could hear Martin Luther King Jr's speech "We are free at last." It was hilarious, because there was some truth to it. Guns and violence was the way we became free and it is usually how people become free, Revolutionary or Civil wars, or like such events as Cairo...which makes his little montage, relevant even now, which makes it timeless...
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Stan VanDerBeek Exhibition
I found the most interesting part of the Stan VanDerBeek exhibition to be an arrangement of eight slide projectors, at least three digital video projectors, and various other equipment (including an overhead transparency projector). The movies and slide shows played out simultaneously, projected onto essentially the same surface, and with some overlap. Chaotic as this might seem, the overall effect works somehow. I could imagine this approach as something to try upon returning from a vacation - imagine how impressed your friends would be if instead of just showing a few pictures, you could synchronize eight slide shows and three movies of your vacation!
omg!!
hi guys, the 'omg' is not the title. also has nothing to do with my assigment. im just gonna cry now because so far my flash cs5 have been died tiwce on me and all my work gone!!!! T_T
first time i was thinking, ok, at least i just done 1/3. so i started again.
the second time i was like omg not 1/3 again! but it was.
im to tired to begin over again today. my eyes burning. and sorry i need complain here........so sad....T_T
tomorrow, plz dont play with me.....
first time i was thinking, ok, at least i just done 1/3. so i started again.
the second time i was like omg not 1/3 again! but it was.
im to tired to begin over again today. my eyes burning. and sorry i need complain here........so sad....T_T
tomorrow, plz dont play with me.....
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
The Institute of Contemporary Art, located at Boston's Waterfront district is FREE on Thursdays after 5pm. Good stuff!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
24 hour piece
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/arts/design/17christianmarclay.html
Monday, February 14, 2011
Field Trip!
Okay, I did suss this out within 24 hours of my declaration on Thursday, but am only now getting around to posting this.
I think this show at the List sounds good.
I like the List for a number of reasons:
-- small enough space that one doesn't get overwhelmed by the work
-- T accessible
-- I've always had a thing for MIT
So please head over to the show and report your reactions on the class blog. Doesn't have to be a term paper, just a few paragraphs highlighting your reactions. I haven't been to the show yet myself, so it's on my schedule to do soon as well.
I think this show at the List sounds good.
I like the List for a number of reasons:
-- small enough space that one doesn't get overwhelmed by the work
-- T accessible
-- I've always had a thing for MIT
So please head over to the show and report your reactions on the class blog. Doesn't have to be a term paper, just a few paragraphs highlighting your reactions. I haven't been to the show yet myself, so it's on my schedule to do soon as well.
Happy Valentines Day!
Happy Valentines Day to all my class mates and Professor Ravi. Hope you all have a great day. :)
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Story treatment: The “Mailed” Thief
Story treatment
The “Mailed” Thief
This is a true story in Poland. The smart thief mailed himself to the warehouses of the package delivery companies, then he climb out of the package after employees left for the night, and steal the valuables from other packages or the workplace. How does he get away? He makes his getaway by sealing himself and his stolen goods into the same box, which addressed to his Warsaw home.
After many customers complained about lost items in their packages and the untraceable missing valuables in workplaces of the delivery companies. The police didn't find him out until his partner got caught because of other crimes, whose job was to deliver him to the delivery companies.
This was a true crime in Poland last year. I am going to make a documentary that is mainly unfolding this story by adding some created funny elements.
Scene 1. The thief, Muchy, is a man lives in poverty. One day he finds out the “Trojan Horse Story” in a comic book, which inspires him the plan.
Scene 2. Muchy discusses with his best friend, and they decide to this. His friend packs Muchy in a large box as a package, and sends it to the delivery service.
Scene 3. After the staffs go home at night, Muchy climbs out of the package, opens the packages waiting for delivery in the warehouse, searches and collects the valuables, and seals all the packages he opened including himself. (Uses fast motion to speed up this scene.)
Scene 4. Muchy’s partner opens the package, pulling Muchy and the stolen goods out of the delivered package. Apparently, they succeeded in their first try.
Scene 5. Two consequences might occur if they do the same thing in the US and China. In China, the package might be thrown and kicked when being delivered to the warehouse (because the delivery companies often treat packages badly), he is badly hurt and passes out, and misses the chance and time for stealing.While in the US, the package is being transferring all the time in the automatic machines, and finally stacked on the rack in the well-equipped and computer-controlled logistic center. Of course he is stuck and couldn’t make any move.
The “Mailed” Thief
This is a true story in Poland. The smart thief mailed himself to the warehouses of the package delivery companies, then he climb out of the package after employees left for the night, and steal the valuables from other packages or the workplace. How does he get away? He makes his getaway by sealing himself and his stolen goods into the same box, which addressed to his Warsaw home.
After many customers complained about lost items in their packages and the untraceable missing valuables in workplaces of the delivery companies. The police didn't find him out until his partner got caught because of other crimes, whose job was to deliver him to the delivery companies.
This was a true crime in Poland last year. I am going to make a documentary that is mainly unfolding this story by adding some created funny elements.
Scene 1. The thief, Muchy, is a man lives in poverty. One day he finds out the “Trojan Horse Story” in a comic book, which inspires him the plan.
Scene 2. Muchy discusses with his best friend, and they decide to this. His friend packs Muchy in a large box as a package, and sends it to the delivery service.
Scene 3. After the staffs go home at night, Muchy climbs out of the package, opens the packages waiting for delivery in the warehouse, searches and collects the valuables, and seals all the packages he opened including himself. (Uses fast motion to speed up this scene.)
Scene 4. Muchy’s partner opens the package, pulling Muchy and the stolen goods out of the delivered package. Apparently, they succeeded in their first try.
Scene 5. Two consequences might occur if they do the same thing in the US and China. In China, the package might be thrown and kicked when being delivered to the warehouse (because the delivery companies often treat packages badly), he is badly hurt and passes out, and misses the chance and time for stealing.While in the US, the package is being transferring all the time in the automatic machines, and finally stacked on the rack in the well-equipped and computer-controlled logistic center. Of course he is stuck and couldn’t make any move.
STAR TREK vs STAR WARS (Theatrical Teaser Trailer)
The trailer opens with a shot of space, black sky with stars. The opening notes of the Star Trek theme begin to play. There is the voice-over “Space…the final frontier…” The camera pans down to show the horizon of a planet, and the music shifts to the Star Wars opening scene theme. An Imperial Star Destroyer appears, eventually filling the screen.
The view angle shifts so we are looking from the point of view of the Star Destroyer. The USS Enterprise appears, first pin-point size, but gradually becoming larger as the Star Destroyer bears down on it. Beams of light from the Star Destroyer’s weapons shoot out towards the Enterprise.
The screen goes black. The lettering appears, STAR TREK vs STAR WARS, followed by COMING SOON.
The view angle shifts so we are looking from the point of view of the Star Destroyer. The USS Enterprise appears, first pin-point size, but gradually becoming larger as the Star Destroyer bears down on it. Beams of light from the Star Destroyer’s weapons shoot out towards the Enterprise.
The screen goes black. The lettering appears, STAR TREK vs STAR WARS, followed by COMING SOON.
20 40 60
during different time of your life. love if different.
when they are 20. they spent longer time before they go out. they want have fun and never want to stay. they go out to eat. dont sleep whole night. crazy things always have a reason and anything can be forgave.
when they 40. they have a family. house. kids. job. nothing so new in life. nothing so bad. they dont enjoy cooking like before. they dont have too much to say to each other. once a month or even a year or ...longer, they go out to eat. didnt go to watch movie for a while.
when they are 60. they are lonely but closer. one in a wheel chair and the other push. they have classic things. like an old restaurant and waiters there know them for a long time. your love something she cook. one day one of them passed. you seat in coach with a light and watch tv loudly by yourself. finally you fall asleep.
your buried in the same grave and your names together.
Don't wait to say "I LOVE YOU"..
Joe and Anna had known each other for a while. Joe asked Anna out in their freshman year of college, two weeks after they met each other. Anna was not interested in dating because she was afraid that her studies might suffer. They become really good friends and over time Anna falls in love with Joe. She knows that Joe has feelings for her, but Anna never shares her feelings for Joe. Joe and Anna meet at the library everyday to study together, since that is where they met for the first time.
In their junior year Anna decides to take a leap of faith and ask Joe out for a date. She waits for Joe at the library and Joe never shows up. She looks for Joe and finds out he is in the hospital. He get’s into an accident when he goes out to get Anna some flowers. Anna finds him lying in the hospital bed and one of their friends gives Anna, Joe’s diary and the bouquet of roses that he bought for her. Joe had been writing a love letter everyday since their freshman year to Anna proclaiming his love for her. It was Valentine’s day and he was going to ask her out for a date.
Anna holds Joe’s hand in hope that he would wake up. She hears a beep and rushes out to get a doctor. The doctor asks her to leave the room and attends to Joe. Later, the doctor comes out and tells Anna that Joe has died.
The End.
I guess the moral of the story is, Don't wait to tell someone that you love them, because you never know what may happen tomorrow. Wish you all a Happy Valentine’s Day!
In their junior year Anna decides to take a leap of faith and ask Joe out for a date. She waits for Joe at the library and Joe never shows up. She looks for Joe and finds out he is in the hospital. He get’s into an accident when he goes out to get Anna some flowers. Anna finds him lying in the hospital bed and one of their friends gives Anna, Joe’s diary and the bouquet of roses that he bought for her. Joe had been writing a love letter everyday since their freshman year to Anna proclaiming his love for her. It was Valentine’s day and he was going to ask her out for a date.
Anna holds Joe’s hand in hope that he would wake up. She hears a beep and rushes out to get a doctor. The doctor asks her to leave the room and attends to Joe. Later, the doctor comes out and tells Anna that Joe has died.
The End.
I guess the moral of the story is, Don't wait to tell someone that you love them, because you never know what may happen tomorrow. Wish you all a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Coke
COKE
Dan finally decides to go home, go home to what ever he may face. He lets himself in, goes to his girlfriend who is sleeping and whispers, “I promise I'll change.” You see him look at the dusty bible on his night stand. He grabs it, opens it to a page that seemed right. He finds a small bag of coke, that he had forgotten about. The camera focuses on his face, and then to the bag. He clenches it. His girlfriend's eyes open, she lets out a gasp of air...fades to black.
The whole movie is done as a montage. A lot of quick cuts, fast paced, like a drug trip.
A Wrong Number, a Right decision
Paul was just having a big fight with Mum on the phone. Similar conflicts happened more and more since he decided to study abroad months ago.
“It’s enough! I will never call her again until she admits she is wrong! Never! ” He is yelling at the phone that was already hanged up.
However, just few hours later, his mother’s is calling him again. It’s 3am in China now. He feels really annoy, and can’t understand why this old woman cannot let him go.
“Don’t you know what time is it now? Go to bed Mum! Go!” Paul said.
“But…” his mother is trying to say something.
“What? Listen, Mum, I am really not in mood now! Could you do me a favor, please? Go to bed,” Paul stops the conversation, and put some essential balm on his temples. His migraine almost killed him these days. He recalled how his Mum took care of him when he stayed in China, which makes his headache even worth.
Time flies. Paul didn’t call his mother in the past 2 month. There were several times, he had already changed his mind, but finally, he still could not make this phone call.
One day, Paul received a phone call.
“Who is this?” Paul asked. Nobody answered on that side.
“Mum, is that you?” Suddenly, Paul heard a woman’s sob, and the phone was hanged up immediately. He didn’t think too much, and decide to call his Mum rapidly.
“Hello?” On the other side, a familiar and tired voice comes from the headset. “Oh son, don’t you know what time is it now? What’s the big deal let you make a phone call to me at 3 am in the morning?”
“eh…” Paul scratches his head and has nothing to say, ”So, are you ok?”
“Of course, I am ok, what’s the matter?”
“eh…nothing, just want to tell u how much I love you, and I am really sorry.” Paul realized no matter how bad fight happened, his most concerned people is still his Mum. When he said that word, he felt released and happy.
But he still has no idea about that strange phone call, so he checked the number again, that's a strange number he has never seen before. It seems like somebody made a wrong call.
But he still has no idea about that strange phone call, so he checked the number again, that's a strange number he has never seen before. It seems like somebody made a wrong call.
Our love in the house
A girl name Stephanie standing in front of the apartment door. A sticker on the door:This is not my fault, I will never say sorry! She knocked the door with anger, but no one answer. She opened the door with the key and walk into the apartment, no one in there. A sticker on the living room floor says: Go this way, your baggage are ready. An arrow point to the bedroom.
She is speechless and depressing, she followed the arrowhead to the bedroom. A sticker on the bedroom door: If you open this door, it means you agree to break up with me. Her hand staying on the doorknob for a little while and opened it ,then she slammed the door.
A sticker on the wall: Luggage here, leave! Stephanie says: "Ok, I got it, you wanna break up with me long time ago!" 2 baggages are under the sticker, Tina is so mad at her boyfriend and carryed her baggage walking towards the door. The baggage are too heavy and one of the baggage dropped. She kicked the baggage with anger and she found a sticker on the back side of the baggage，the words are very small : Your baggage only have 2, but our love is full of this apartment, so please don’t go , I need you.
At this moment , Stephanie wants to laugh, but she lower her head ,sniff and cry. A soft voice appears: "Babe, Don’t you know you look very ugly when you cry?" She raise her head, her boy friend John standing in front of her, and hide his hands at his back. She is so upset and shoving John. John blocked her way, suddenly a bouquet of roses appears in front of her face, John says: "Don’t go , today is the 365th day we’ve met, don’t and never say goodbye, I love you , and happy valentines day!" Stephanie burst into tears.
Doggy daydream
Diego the Bogle (Boxer Beagle) has a daydream during one of his 19+ daily naps. He dreams of his love, Charley the Puggle. During their waking hours, Charley is not a big fan of Diego's. She is older and can't be bothered with his puppy energy and excitement.
In the dream, Charley wants to play. She and Diego go for a doggy walk together, play in the snow, eat bones and share a meal in the style of Lady and the Tramp.
When Diego wakes up, Charley is sleeping next to him.
In honor of the upcoming holiday
We see someone’s face smiling wistfully as they work on something below the level of the camera. After a few moments of that, they stuff a valentine into a red envelope, lick it, and seal it happily. They seem satisfied with their accomplishment.
They get a phone call. Their face brightens even more as they answer. “Hey, you’” we hear. “Nothing important. Yeah, I can chat.” Their smile turns mischievous as they gaze lovingly at the red envelope.
Then, their expression changes into one of surprise, then dejection. “Ok. Bye, then.” They now stare at the red envelope with a combination of sadness and spite. We next see the red envelope thrown into a recycling bin.
Treatment Assignment: Parody
I decided to take a humorous approach to this assignment and write a funny story about Christina Aguilera (what can I say? The poor girl's performance during the Superbowl inspired me)...
So here's the idea/breakdown of the story:
So here's the idea/breakdown of the story:
The story takes place in a school similar to a high-school. However, it is a school which specializes in training celebrities and artists on improving their performances. The protagonist of the story is Christina Aguilera, and she’s the “new girl” in school. On the first day of school, she meets the “mean girls” clique which is Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna. The mean girls immediately befriend Christina but are gossiping behind her back and making nasty remarks.
All of this takes a turn when Cher, the music teacher, offers Christina a chance to redeem herself by performing as the lead in a school production of Burlesque. The mean girls decide to stop being “nice” and let their cat claws come out. They tease Christina by constantly mocking her appearance and feeding her “diet granola bars” which actually fattens her up. One day, when the girls are walking down the hall together, Britney drops her pink diary. Christina picks it up accidentally to find out the nasty things the girls have been writing about her which infuriates and motivates Christina to give the best performance of her life in hopes it will gain their respect.
On the day of the performance, the girls have one final confrontation on stage and have a dance-off. Christina in a final attempt to show off her dance skills, begins spinning so fast until she explodes into confetti. The End.
Assignment for February 10, 2011
Yikes! I never posted this assignment (just verbally communicated).
1. Write a treatment for a story that can be realized through motion imagery (video, animation, hybrid) with a duration between 30 and 90 seconds long.
2. Post on the class blog. Please use label "treatment".
1. Write a treatment for a story that can be realized through motion imagery (video, animation, hybrid) with a duration between 30 and 90 seconds long.
2. Post on the class blog. Please use label "treatment".
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