Wrapping Up

For our final project, I made a one-minute video clip. I decided to expand on the idea of how each person is unique.  I feel that society puts pressure on us to such an extent that we become mundane and blend into the background. Each person has unique qualities that make him/her different.

Words such as expression, passion, and individuality came to mind when I was directing and making the film.  I used three people and began shooting them in a serious mood dressed in plain colors to portray how they appear when pressured to repress their true selves.  I used symbolism and words to convey my theme as I had each of the three people express themselves and have fun.  I was surprised at how difficult it was to narrow down and edit these clips I took. Finding transitional clips required more planning than I had originally thought as well. In addition, it was challenging to compose music to complement the mood and not detract from the video.

Although it required a lot of time and planning, I enjoyed making this video. It has really taught me the planning needed to convey your ideas in the format of a video as well as the patience indispensible in editing down shots.  The next time I watch a two-hour movie I will definitely appreciate it more than I would have ever imagined!

On a side note, if you wish to check out my youtube channel, please click here!

From Yourself

From Yourself is a short video about how people should not let anyone hold them back from expressing their individuality and passion.

Redefining the Boundaries

With the rise in people making remixes of found material on the web, it is necessary to re-evaluate rights for each production.  The development of the system of fair use was essential to lay a framework for determining infringement problems.  Lary Lessig and Negativland in two articles explained this system of fair use.  Lessig writes how according to the law now, re-expression in the format of remixing works still is illegal since there is no attaining of permission ("The Failures of Fair Use and the Future of Free Culture").  Negativland goes further to write how the Fair Use Doctrine is excellent because of its "nod to the possible need for artistic freedom and free speech" ("Fair Use").  The actual Fair Use Doctrine, as shown in the article "Copyright & Fair Use: Measuring  the Four Factors", states the four factors that are closely regarded when examining a remix are its purpose and character, its nature, the amount use from the copyrighted source, and the effect it causes.  In other words, is the remix truly a transformation of the original work, or is it merely slicing it up and crudely pasting it in? Was there any value added in the remix like new understandings?

Lawrence (Lary) Lessig writes a wonderful article called "RW, Revived" where he critiques America's reluctance to better allow remixing.  He believes that it is a "critical expression of creative freedom that in a broad range of contexts, no free society should restrict."  When remixes are down properly, they have the ability to influence the world much more so than simple words or such could.  Remixing allows people to recreate and twist previously made works and transform them into something new and influential.  Lessig does acknowledge that remixing can have bad works as a result. But he still firmly believes it is not a reason worthy to prevent remixing.

In our most recent project, we were asked to make a one minute movie comprised of only found material.  This tested my understanding of the Fair Use Doctrine as I took clips of different youtube videos and music I found.  What I sought to do was to critique the fast-paced world of today and how people are so intent upon what they have to do next, that they actually overlook precious moments.  I used repetitive images to symbolize this either in an obvious way, or perhaps a more abstract way.  I had to pay close attention to whether I was changing the video clips enough so that I would not have any copyright problems.  In doing so, I changed the style of the clips, its pace, etc.  Overall, this was quite the experience in being creative without infringing on others' rights.
Please view my video clip above!

Realization through the Randomness



Isabel Uriarte



Apples and Cigarettes

For the most recent project, I chose to research the contemporary artist Roe Ethridge.  As I flipped through two brand new books of his work, I was drawn into the way he handled each photograph. Instead of only incorporating fine art photographs, he interspersed editorial ones to effectively blur the boundaries between these two very different fields.  Although his photographs may have seemed random initially, I appreciated the full series upon viewing them all. Each series created a rhythm which propelled you into viewing the next photo.  Ethridge discussed his grasp of a “fugue” in his work as an “amnesia state of wandering”. He used repetition to draw out the importance of particular photographs as the viewer’s eyes wander through the photographs.  My appreciation of Ethridge’s work only grew the more I studied his photos. His ability to capture people unaware for the briefest moment of time allows you to see into their soul with their guards down. His thoughtfully detailed landscape images and transformation of mundane objects into something special and unique never ceases to impress me. Truly Ethridge Roe is an artist who knows how to mold the outside world through the lens of his camera to achieve a significant impact on you.