Sketches

Article response

Body & Screen - Margaret Morse

This article helped to set up an easier understanding of the possible relationships and interactions that can be created between a person and the artwork. It also expanded on the various infinite possibilities one could do with a video and projections. A few parts I took note of to think about for my own project. On page 63 its states, "The canvas screen familiar from the cinema has been has been stripped away, leaving an image plane that may still emanate from a monitor or liquid crystal display; however, it may also appear virtually as a projection or even volume of light, floating in space, or be wrapped like skin over a physical support support in the built environment or around an object of any kind." This statement stood out to me because it was saying that you shouldn't put your ideas in a box, but think outside of the box, that you can project a video on anything.

I also thought of the concept that was mentioned about using just "a screen...of pure light" p. 67

It reminded me of the exhibit in at the Hirshhorn where we had to walk into the dark and sit down and were viewing projected light.

This article was helpful in gaining a better understanding of the options and views that can be created with video installations and light itself.

Article Reactions

"Will there be condominiums in data space" - Bill Viola

I enjoyed this reading because it wasn't too dense. I found it interesting that this article was written so many years ago but the predictions of changes in video due to increase in computer technology was mostly on point.

After listening to input from classmates on the article the story at the end made so much more sense and I think will be very important to keep in mind as we work on our flash projects. Since the user will be interacting with our we have to take a minute and think what do we want them to believe they are in control of. What do we want the user to take away from interacting with our pieces.


"Utopian Plagiarism, Hypertectuality, and Electronic Cultural Production" - this article pushed boundaries we are taught to stay within as far as plagiarism is defined in the educational world. The example of Duchamp and the urinal is a reminder for us as we create works of art from already created images, sounds, etc. It reminds us how to make something new out of something old but it in a new place, a new frame and recreate the meaning.
I also enjoyed the concept on page 113 about the "expanded text" allowing students to not just read something but to have that reading attached with others ideas and views on the information. It would be like recorded our class discussions about articles and posting them as transcripts to the article. It allows us to see various views and ideas that we may not have seen before. This is what I think the author wants to happen with plagiarism as well. Create new viewpoints, new art from already created works. Without it how will works be built upon.

Sound Project - Dedicated to New Orleans

This is not a video its just audio...Listen with headphones turned all the way up for the best experience.

I created this audio using nature sounds from wind, and water. I also took sound bites from various people such as Kanye West, Jesse Jackson, Ray Nagin, and more.

The idea was to break down the creative ideas and thoughts that possibly bring an artist to write a song. The song in the background talks about the flood.

The site we listened to this song was the studio, were artists are free to create, to express themselves based on various things such as tragedy's like Hurricane Katrina.

Sound Art Article Responses

One of the parts of the article from the "In the Blink of an Ear" excerpt talked about how all sounds can be music. It then continues on to talk about the "sound walk". So if you were to put those two terms in relation to one another than when we are walking around in any environment are we always surrounded by music that can be defined as sounds or are we surrounded by noises?

I really enjoy this idea of a sound walk and having a soundtrack of different areas by recording the "music" of the different places we explore. It brings a new perspective to what many may view as "noise" others hear music.

What is Sound Art?

I enjoyed reading about how sound art functions differently from popular music forms such as pop music. (p. 14) It states that sound art views sounds as "a phenomenon of nature and or technology. It said how it rarely attempts to created a portrait etc. So with that being said what is its purpose? If it doesn't create a portrait or a picture than is it just noise? Or is that a false statement if I heard a sizzling sound the picture created would be something being fried.

So I think like most definitions there are always parts that can be debated.

Sound Art Example

Exotic Sound Sculpture in HD
Uploaded by WonderHowTo. - Discover more animation and arts videos.

Carrie Mae Weems - Project 1

The artist I chose is Carrie Mae Weems. She is a photographer. I chose her because the content of her photos are easy for me to relate to I say this because they are photos of African Americans. I like her photos because their depictions of reality, life, scenes you could pick out from videotaping a person’s life. She also includes text in some of her photos as well which in turn become a part of the piece. These texts are what in the news world would be called captions.

I focused on her self portraits where she is the subject as she photographs herself in the mirror. Each image is accompanied by text that adds meaning to the picture.

With my video I used the idea of self reflection and self criticism. I filmed myself in the bathroom mirror two times. I used the concept from the caption in the picture above. To me it means that because she was an African American she was not looked at as a possible medium for popular artists. She might have even been trying to determine her self worth as well. It reminded me of how I feel when I wear my hair in its natural state there is an inner battle to be myself and to not conform to society's definition of beauty.

In my video I have two scenes one is "Not Manet's type". Here I am seen combing and designing my natural hair. To increase the meaning I used music of African drums and I wore an African skirt. In the second scene, "Mante's Type", I straighten my hair and I'm wearing normal "Urban" clothing and I'm playing Hip Hop music a remake of the song "Pretty Girls". The music in this piece can be correlated to the text in the photograph; it adds meaning to the piece.