Response to Feedback December 2, 2008

Response to spectacle

I have questioned myself as to whether a viewer would understand the meaning being conveyed by the photographs I have produced if they did not have any prior knowledge of the idea.

I also feel that changes of scenes would have made the photographs more interesting as well as the use of different angles.

I will keep this idea in mind and think of other locations and angles that could be used to make the photographs more interesting and easier for the audience to understand without knowing the whole background of the idea.

• above the stunt looking down
• everyone sitting round conditioning and talking
• nights out, fancy dress
• close ups of faces during a stunt
• falling from stunts
• hands all grabbing a foot at the start of a stunt
• before a competition, getting ready, hair in rags
• one photo of the spectacle, a photograph of the performance.

Response to memory

My photos were very different to that on my ideas page, mainly due to time, location, and lack of skills on my part.  I would like to have completed the list of ideas as I feel there were some good ideas on there.

If I was going to use this as my final idea, I would use a different location, one which looked older. I only used the one which is shown due to the fact I was unsure of release rights and who I would have to get to sign release forms, however with more time I will be able to find this out and make sure it is done properly.

I am aware that the visual needs more work need but I thought these were only meant to be test shots, and was unsure of the standard they needed to be at.

I know both of my ideas would need a lot more work done to them if I was to take either on to be my final idea, but I feel if I had the chance and time to go back and look at them again, with better knowledge and skills I would be able to produce a really good exhibition for either of these ideas.  Also my mobility wil not be as much of an issue next term allowing me to do more.

Response to the Freedom Train November 11, 2008

This documentary dealt with the divide in kosovo between the serbs and the albanians.  The documentary is based upon a train which runs between one end of the country to the other, passing through the 2 conflict areas. 

In the film the train seems to be the link between the 2 areas, uniting the areas, as they are working and traveling together, creating civilisation between the 2 areas.  This gives the train more symbolism than just a train carry people and cargo from one place to another.  It is shown as a link between the 2 areas and taking the people on a journey together to civilisation and unity.

I found the film interesting in the way in which it had been structured, to look as though it had been shot over the duration of just one day.  Also the way in which they have used there own language even though they are different to each other to show they are from different areas but they are all taking there journeys on the same train.

Definitions November 8, 2008

English Dictionary

 

 Spectacle

1. a public display or performance, esp. a showy or ceremonial one
2. a thing or a person seen, esp. an unusual one or ridiculous one: he makes a spectacle of himself
3. a strange or interesting object or phenomenon  

 Power

1. ability to do something
2. a specific ability, capacity or faculty
3. political, financial, social, etc force or influence
4. control or dominion or a position of control, dominion or authority
5. a state or other political entity with political, industrial or military strength
6. a person or group that exercises control influence or authority: he’s a power in the state.
7. a prerogative, privilege or liberty
8. legal authority to act for another
9. a. a military force        b. military potential
10. maths a. the value of a number or quantity raised to some exponent          b. another name for exponent
11. Physics engineering a measure of the rate of doing work expressed as the work done per unit time.  It is measured in watts, horse power, etc
12. a. the rate at which electrical energy is fed into or taken from a device or system. It is measured in watts      b. a power amplifier
13. the ability to perform work
14. a. mechanical energy as opposed to manual labour          b. a power tool
15. a particular form of energy: a power of good
16. a. a measure of the ability of a lens or optical system to magnify an object.    b. another word for magnification
17. inf. A large amount: a power of good
18. in ones power (often followed by an infinitive) able or allowed (to)
19. in (someones) power. Under the control of (someone)
20. the powers that be. Established authority
21. to give or provide power to
22. to fit (a machine) with a motor or engine

  Memory

1. the ability of the brain to store and recall past sensations, thoughts, knowledge
2. the sum of everything retained by the mind
3. a particular recollection of an event or person
4. the time over which recollection extends: within the memory
5. commemoration or remembrance: in memory of our Leader
6. the state of being remembered, as after death
7. Also called memory bank. A part of a computer in which information is stored for immediate use by the central processing unit.

Thesaurus

 

 Spectacle

1.  display, event, exhibition, extravaganza, pageant, parade, performance, show, sight
2. curiosity, laughing stock, marvel, phenomenon, scene, sight, wonder

 Power

 

1. ability, capability, capacity, competence, competency, faculty, potential
2. brawn, energy, force, forcefulness, intensity, might, muscle, potency, strength, vigour, weight
3. ascendancy, authority, command, control, dominance, domination, dominion, influence, mastery, rule, sovereignty, supremacy, sway
4. authority authorisation, licence, prerogative, privilege, right, warrant

 Memory

 

1. recall, recollection, remembrance, reminiscence, retention
2. commemoration, honour, remembrance
3. celebrity, fame, glory, name, renown, reputation, repute

 

Dictionary of Media Studies

 

Power

1. the idea of having a voice, being represented, having a positive and truthful image constructed of you and groups to which you belong, etc.

 Spectacle

 

1. in culture theory, something that people want to look at, which attracts attention.

Reflection October 26, 2008

Svankmajer has created the film Little Otik from an old folk tale from his past.  Little Otik uses the combination of animation and real time, which I feel shows the link between the film and the real world, therefore creating a surreal world to reflect on the real world.

I feel the film shows the use of memory and dreams; the memory of Svankmajer being told the folk tale as a young child and the dreams that the family within the film have to have a child.  This is also very similar to one of his other films Alice, which is a production of another folk tale using both animation and moving image. 

Both these films seem to have taken more of a dark look at both of these folk tales, with the use of dark settings, dark sounding background music and the animation being used to portray dark actions.