Thursday, January 14, 2010
My Video 2 (AVI) for real player or windows media
This version should appear clearer. It was fun to create this video because I chose fun subjects. It would have been ideal to shoot this footage in the daytime, but the truth is, the doormen who work the night shifts are much more relaxed and jovial. Most of the jokes we shared would not have been able to make it into the video because of the difficulty of sound in this building. The high ceilings also played a role in low lighting. Ultimately, the film becomes more intimate because my subjects had to stay close to the camera. They were comfortable talking to me as if the camera wasn't even on, which added to the atmosphere. Mostly, the residents took very little interest in my filming. As a result, my focus remained on Louie and Larry.
Monday, January 11, 2010
POST FIVE, DAY FOUR: Sarah Pink Article
"The meanings of photographs are arbitrary and subjective; they depend on who is looking." (Sarah Pink, Doing Visual Ethnography, 67).
I realized how poignant Pink's advice was once I had uploaded and reviewed my first reel. I had had in mind a masterpiece of ethnographic study: the Union Square holiday market at sunrise. I just knew there would be beautiful artifacts of culture and nice people to explain them to me. I knew that there would be a conflict with commuters trying to make their way through the conflict and off to work. Yet, once I got there, I realized that there was no holiday market, only a dismal looking park with stragglers here and there.
I had made up this image of the ideal subject based on my own opinion without taking that step back to let the culture exist in its own discourse. By seeking to tell a specific story, I failed at being an ethnographer. Pink reminds us that pictures cannot be given an inherent meaning. THey are "arbitrary and subjective," allowing the viewer to take his or her own stance on its visual narrative.
I think this quote is imperative to the videographic study, especially because I don't want to feign realism. Just like the man who dressed up the Native Americans for drama, there is something artistically artificial about coaxing a subject for your own story.
I realized how poignant Pink's advice was once I had uploaded and reviewed my first reel. I had had in mind a masterpiece of ethnographic study: the Union Square holiday market at sunrise. I just knew there would be beautiful artifacts of culture and nice people to explain them to me. I knew that there would be a conflict with commuters trying to make their way through the conflict and off to work. Yet, once I got there, I realized that there was no holiday market, only a dismal looking park with stragglers here and there.
I had made up this image of the ideal subject based on my own opinion without taking that step back to let the culture exist in its own discourse. By seeking to tell a specific story, I failed at being an ethnographer. Pink reminds us that pictures cannot be given an inherent meaning. THey are "arbitrary and subjective," allowing the viewer to take his or her own stance on its visual narrative.
I think this quote is imperative to the videographic study, especially because I don't want to feign realism. Just like the man who dressed up the Native Americans for drama, there is something artistically artificial about coaxing a subject for your own story.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
POST FOUR, DAY THREE: Ethnographic Artifact
For my artifact, I am choosing a sign on the Staten Island Ferry that shows the different ways to travel to and within New York City. The sign shows trains, buses, cars, and vans as a means to move through the city. I think this is emblematic of the city and all those that emigrate to its resources. Whether travelers are coming to work, shop, explore, or learn, the Manhattan seems to loom over Staten Island. The thing is, that the Island is just as rich in culture as Manhattan itself. The ferry contained people from all walks of life. The city seems to owe some of its cultural majesty its close relatives.
POST THREE, DAY THREE: Ethnography Movie
I really enjoyed watching the ethnography movie about the table setting contest in Los Angeles.
The filmographer's choice to follow the judges was smart and interesting. As an ethnographic study, the focus remained very human. The audience was made to recognize that this was a competition, to admire the beauty of the table settings, cast their own judgements, then hear from the "experts" who seemed less like experts than normal people. As the two women state their opinions and squabble about particulars, you realize that this is all in fun. The spirit of competition is that of the hobbyist, the "artist, rather than some strange obsession (as could be expected by such an obscure event). We see the liveliness, the excitement in the contestants and the extreme mediocrity of the judges.
The filmographer's choice to follow the judges was smart and interesting. As an ethnographic study, the focus remained very human. The audience was made to recognize that this was a competition, to admire the beauty of the table settings, cast their own judgements, then hear from the "experts" who seemed less like experts than normal people. As the two women state their opinions and squabble about particulars, you realize that this is all in fun. The spirit of competition is that of the hobbyist, the "artist, rather than some strange obsession (as could be expected by such an obscure event). We see the liveliness, the excitement in the contestants and the extreme mediocrity of the judges.
Monday, January 4, 2010
POST TWO, DAY ONE: IMAGE LAB
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE IN THE AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY IMAGE LAB WAS ITS UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONSCIOUSNESS CREATION OF AN IMAGE. MANY TIMES, WE FORGET THAT THE PHOTOGRAPHS WE SEE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE FULL AND OBJECTIVE TRUTH. WHETHER THEY ARE POSED, MANIPULATED, OR MERELY CROPPED OR REORGANIZED, THE WORLD CAPTURED ON FILM IS FOUNDED ON THE CREATIVE EYE OF THE ARTIST/PHOTOGRAPHER. EVEN SOME ORIGINAL SHOT IMPLIES A FORM OF HUMAN CRAFT.
IN THE DOROTHEA LANGE SECTION, WE SAW HOW IMAGES ARE ERY LIKELY STUDIED DECISIONS MADE BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER. HER SERIES OF PHOTOS WERE ALL BEAUTIFUL AND STRIKING BUT EACH ONE TOOK A DIFFERENT FOCUS AND PLACED THE VIEWER IN ALTERNATE PERSPECTIVES, NOT WHOLLY CONTRASTING, BUT SURELY NOTICEABLE. I THINK THE MOST REMARKABLE THING LANGE SAID ABOUT HER PHOTOS WAS THAT SHE HAD NO PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF HER SUBJECT. THE IMAGE CAPTURED ON CAMERA WAS STORY AS SHE WANTED TO TELL IT. THIS WOMAN BECAME MORE THAN A SPECIFIC PERSON LIVING IN A SPECIFIC TIME OR PLACE. SHE BECAME AN TIMELESSLY ICONIC SYMBOL OF AN ENTIRE EPOCH.
WHEN LANGE SAYS THAT THE WOMAN "HELPED HER," I WAS A LITTLE TAKEN ABACK. THAT POOR STARVING WOMAN WAS SILENCED BY THE CAMERA. SHE BECAME A MODEL FOR HER, A BODY, A CHARACTER IN HER LEGENDARY STORY. WHAT MAKES PHOTOGRAPHY SO INTERESTING IS ITS STRADDLING OF INVESTMENT AND DISINTERESTEDNESS IN ITS SUBJECTS. AS PHOTOGRAPHERS, WE MAY HAVE TO STEP BACK FROM THE PROFOUND TRUTH AND RESPONSIBILITY OF COMING INTO CONTACT WITH ANOTHER HUMAN BEING IN THE EFFORTS OF PRODUCING AN ARTISTIC CREATION THAT WILL OUTLAST THAT PERSON'S SINGULAR REALITY.
IN THE DOROTHEA LANGE SECTION, WE SAW HOW IMAGES ARE ERY LIKELY STUDIED DECISIONS MADE BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER. HER SERIES OF PHOTOS WERE ALL BEAUTIFUL AND STRIKING BUT EACH ONE TOOK A DIFFERENT FOCUS AND PLACED THE VIEWER IN ALTERNATE PERSPECTIVES, NOT WHOLLY CONTRASTING, BUT SURELY NOTICEABLE. I THINK THE MOST REMARKABLE THING LANGE SAID ABOUT HER PHOTOS WAS THAT SHE HAD NO PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF HER SUBJECT. THE IMAGE CAPTURED ON CAMERA WAS STORY AS SHE WANTED TO TELL IT. THIS WOMAN BECAME MORE THAN A SPECIFIC PERSON LIVING IN A SPECIFIC TIME OR PLACE. SHE BECAME AN TIMELESSLY ICONIC SYMBOL OF AN ENTIRE EPOCH.
WHEN LANGE SAYS THAT THE WOMAN "HELPED HER," I WAS A LITTLE TAKEN ABACK. THAT POOR STARVING WOMAN WAS SILENCED BY THE CAMERA. SHE BECAME A MODEL FOR HER, A BODY, A CHARACTER IN HER LEGENDARY STORY. WHAT MAKES PHOTOGRAPHY SO INTERESTING IS ITS STRADDLING OF INVESTMENT AND DISINTERESTEDNESS IN ITS SUBJECTS. AS PHOTOGRAPHERS, WE MAY HAVE TO STEP BACK FROM THE PROFOUND TRUTH AND RESPONSIBILITY OF COMING INTO CONTACT WITH ANOTHER HUMAN BEING IN THE EFFORTS OF PRODUCING AN ARTISTIC CREATION THAT WILL OUTLAST THAT PERSON'S SINGULAR REALITY.
POST ONE, DAY ONE
School/Year: 2011 JUNIOR
Major: ENGLISH
First tell us one interesting thing about yourself. I HAVE FOUR BROTHERS, NO SISTERS, ONE PUPPY.
Why are you taking this class? I AM INTERESTED IN STUDYING CULTURE, AS WELL AS USING ADVANCED MEDIA AS A MEANS TO EXPLORE AND INVESTIGATE OUR WORLD.
What do you hope to accomplish during these two weeks? I'D LIKE TO CREATE A QUALITY MULTIMEDIA PROJECT SUFFICIENT TO ADD TO A PORTFOLIO.
What cultures or sub-cultures or topics are you interested in investigating? POSSIBLY SERVICE WORKERS IN NEW YORK, NANNIES, OR STREET PERFORMERS
What classes have you taken that might help you in this class? AS AN ENGLISH MAJOR AND COMMUNICATIONS MINOR, I HAVE BEEN EXPLORING CULTURAL ARTIFACTS TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN RELATIONS. I ALSO DID A SUBCULTURE PROJECT FOR MY WRITING II CLASS
What software have you used? Explain how well you know it. I TOOK A PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHICH TAUGHT ME ABOUT PHOTOSHOP. I'LL HAVE TO FIGURE EVERYTHING ELSE OUT, BUT I AM A FAST LEARNER, AND USUALLY SELF-TAUGHT.
What cameras will you be using for this course? FUJIFILM DIGITAL CAMERA AND JVX MINI DV CAMERA.
Major: ENGLISH
First tell us one interesting thing about yourself. I HAVE FOUR BROTHERS, NO SISTERS, ONE PUPPY.
Why are you taking this class? I AM INTERESTED IN STUDYING CULTURE, AS WELL AS USING ADVANCED MEDIA AS A MEANS TO EXPLORE AND INVESTIGATE OUR WORLD.
What do you hope to accomplish during these two weeks? I'D LIKE TO CREATE A QUALITY MULTIMEDIA PROJECT SUFFICIENT TO ADD TO A PORTFOLIO.
What cultures or sub-cultures or topics are you interested in investigating? POSSIBLY SERVICE WORKERS IN NEW YORK, NANNIES, OR STREET PERFORMERS
What classes have you taken that might help you in this class? AS AN ENGLISH MAJOR AND COMMUNICATIONS MINOR, I HAVE BEEN EXPLORING CULTURAL ARTIFACTS TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN RELATIONS. I ALSO DID A SUBCULTURE PROJECT FOR MY WRITING II CLASS
What software have you used? Explain how well you know it. I TOOK A PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHICH TAUGHT ME ABOUT PHOTOSHOP. I'LL HAVE TO FIGURE EVERYTHING ELSE OUT, BUT I AM A FAST LEARNER, AND USUALLY SELF-TAUGHT.
What cameras will you be using for this course? FUJIFILM DIGITAL CAMERA AND JVX MINI DV CAMERA.
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