Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Response to Megan
Megan asks: "Shipka seems to suggest that the final product may not be the most important component in a project but that authorial intent must be taken into account? However, many people might only see the final product and not know the authorial intent. Do you agree with Shipka? Or do you feel that without knowing about the author the audience does not get the entire experience?"
In all honesty, I feel two-minded about this. The final product is in many ways and in many situations the most important thing sometimes. I had a teacher once say to me when I told her "I really worked hard on this and spent a lot of time on it..can you please give me a better grade", to which she said to me "it is not the number of hours you worked on it but the final outcome of your work. If I gave you a better grade on the number of hours you worked, I'd have to change everyone else's grade too"
Thus, the process of getting to the final product is relevant to only the author/maker/producer but not the audience....at least not until the knowledge of the process adds meaning to the final product. For example, the Van Gogh painting that he made before he killed himself. That knowledge makes us view the painting in a different light. However, say I write an academic paper that is published in an Advertising Journal, nothing personal about me would add to the research because in some areas it really is important to be detached, objective about what you are researching about. Otherwise it is not scientific!
Therefore to answer your question "that without knowing about the author the audience does not get the entire experience?"...to that I'd say it is relevant in some areas (like art)..and not in some (like, say, engineering)
In all honesty, I feel two-minded about this. The final product is in many ways and in many situations the most important thing sometimes. I had a teacher once say to me when I told her "I really worked hard on this and spent a lot of time on it..can you please give me a better grade", to which she said to me "it is not the number of hours you worked on it but the final outcome of your work. If I gave you a better grade on the number of hours you worked, I'd have to change everyone else's grade too"
Thus, the process of getting to the final product is relevant to only the author/maker/producer but not the audience....at least not until the knowledge of the process adds meaning to the final product. For example, the Van Gogh painting that he made before he killed himself. That knowledge makes us view the painting in a different light. However, say I write an academic paper that is published in an Advertising Journal, nothing personal about me would add to the research because in some areas it really is important to be detached, objective about what you are researching about. Otherwise it is not scientific!
Therefore to answer your question "that without knowing about the author the audience does not get the entire experience?"...to that I'd say it is relevant in some areas (like art)..and not in some (like, say, engineering)
Thought question on Jody Shipka's "Sound Engineering: Toward a theory of multimodal soundness"
It is interesting how the author says that “successful production of texts
is not determined by a stable set of universal composing laws that the
student has somehow yet to discover or master.” This is a good idea.
Therefore, what are the career paths a student trained in this discipline
could take?
is not determined by a stable set of universal composing laws that the
student has somehow yet to discover or master.” This is a good idea.
Therefore, what are the career paths a student trained in this discipline
could take?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Podcast Analysis - The American Life: Superpowers (#178)
The podcast I heard for this assignment was from the website This American Life. The podcast was an audio documentary called Superpowers (178). A small intro to the podcast (which I pulled from the website) is this:
We answer the following questions about superpowers: Can superheroes be real people? (No.) Can real people become superheroes? (Maybe.) And which is better: flight or invisibility? (Depends who you ask.)
A detailed idea and documentation of this podcast is available here
I am basing my reflections and analysis of this podcast on the elements of sound discussed in the McKee paper, “Sound Matters: Notes toward the analysis and design of sound in multimodal webtexts”
Firstly the vocal delivery in the podcast is of superior quality. This is probably achievable due to the access to the right equipment, studio and production team. But apart from these, the choice of narrators and their vocal personality adds to the topic of the podcast. Superpowers. The narrator is not an overpowering person or the central figure in the podcast. Instead, he has a non-descript voice and personality with intonations and modulations that are only expressed at certain areas that require special effect in the narration. In fact, the central characters in the podcast are the people interviewed for the program, those who aspire to be superheroes or have an obsessive desire for superpowers.
The musical special effects are befitting to the theme of the program. While they are very super-power-y and tend to be sometimes stereotypical of what we think is super-heroic, this is actually good for the program and is used to add to the topic. Another good thing I could appreciate about the music is that it is judiciously used and that the program is not over-laden with music effects that would steal away the focus of the program. Again, the importance of the interviews and topic and script is maintained. What was also interesting, and added a very cool effect was the surrounding environment sounds during the interviews with people. The sound of other people at the background, clutter of silverware on ceramic plates suggested a restaurant, sounds that are typically found in a home setting suggested the interview took place at the interviewee’s home. This added to the program as a whole and avoided monotony of the hour long podcast.
Silence was sparingly, but intelligently used. In this podcast, silence was utilized to express sadness, of grief, of losing hope, of being let down etc. I thought that the pauses (that conveyed the silence) were extremely effective. It was something that had the power to move even the most detached, rational listener. Silences during an interview definitely had a touching and moving effect, something that could not be conveyed by words.
Overall, I thought this podcast employed fine professionalism. The producers of podcasts of the Chicago Public Radio certainly have a great deal of experience that is clearly demonstrated. Listening to some of these podcasts is a good way to learn to make podcasts indeed!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Responses to all photo-essays
Rasheena
I liked how she shows or captures the idea of "different perspectives" of how the same thing is used in different ways by different people. how meanings get laden on to things as we grow up. forming meanings over time is just like a process of maturing, growing up.
Raquel
I liked the pictures mainly because the places were familiar to me. however, I didn't quite understand what the pictures were conveying besides showing some new buildings and construction sites interspersed with other pictures that weren't new.
Nick
I loved the contrast that came out from the images. Thought that the idea of development steals away from the beauty of wide-open fields..but understood that it is a necessary evil, somehow.
Megan
Really liked the idea and it's execution. The exit signs were good and became unbearable...so i felt like i HAD to exit, escape into the open. And then there it was...pictures from outside..freedom...very beautiful.
HK
The first half of the photo-essay, I thought was about anti-war or anti-destruction....the pictures of anorexic models and emaciated children/people are more powerful in a sense of how these contradictions exist today...
Dan
(Random) I'm dense. I couldn't understand what the random piece was about, except that it was taken in a library with different light and shutter-speed settings.
(In order) - The ordered photo-essay made more sense to me. I thought it was about a person's visit to the library. I really liked that when it was played fast, Dan maintained the right height of the camera, so it looked almost like a movie. I really like that in the distance the windows looked stationary and almost like a focal point.
Crystal
I really liked the first half of the essay where she captured violation of traffic signs. Although, I'm not sure if the second half of the photo-essay was related to the first half.
Aaron
Really liked the idea. Thought it was about things one could or would do in a beach. Had a very relaxing feel to it. Almost seemed like I could feel the photographer's reminiscent feelings of being or longing to be on the beach.
Comment to discussion in class - I think it looks very advertising-y is because of the professional quality of the pictures taken...pictures like these are all over print ads in magazines and on the web...
I liked how she shows or captures the idea of "different perspectives" of how the same thing is used in different ways by different people. how meanings get laden on to things as we grow up. forming meanings over time is just like a process of maturing, growing up.
Raquel
I liked the pictures mainly because the places were familiar to me. however, I didn't quite understand what the pictures were conveying besides showing some new buildings and construction sites interspersed with other pictures that weren't new.
Nick
I loved the contrast that came out from the images. Thought that the idea of development steals away from the beauty of wide-open fields..but understood that it is a necessary evil, somehow.
Megan
Really liked the idea and it's execution. The exit signs were good and became unbearable...so i felt like i HAD to exit, escape into the open. And then there it was...pictures from outside..freedom...very beautiful.
HK
The first half of the photo-essay, I thought was about anti-war or anti-destruction....the pictures of anorexic models and emaciated children/people are more powerful in a sense of how these contradictions exist today...
Dan
(Random) I'm dense. I couldn't understand what the random piece was about, except that it was taken in a library with different light and shutter-speed settings.
(In order) - The ordered photo-essay made more sense to me. I thought it was about a person's visit to the library. I really liked that when it was played fast, Dan maintained the right height of the camera, so it looked almost like a movie. I really like that in the distance the windows looked stationary and almost like a focal point.
Crystal
I really liked the first half of the essay where she captured violation of traffic signs. Although, I'm not sure if the second half of the photo-essay was related to the first half.
Aaron
Really liked the idea. Thought it was about things one could or would do in a beach. Had a very relaxing feel to it. Almost seemed like I could feel the photographer's reminiscent feelings of being or longing to be on the beach.
Comment to discussion in class - I think it looks very advertising-y is because of the professional quality of the pictures taken...pictures like these are all over print ads in magazines and on the web...
More than just a game : An analysis of a photo-essay
Link to photo album
This summer, a few grad students in CU created a club that would meet to play Poker. The facebook group now consists of 26 members out of which 50% are regulars. I was initiated into playing Poker on Friday, June 26th. I have never played poker in my life and always thought it was a shady type of game that involved a lot of money and perhaps some stripping (strip-poker). I know, I know..but see, I didn't know anything about Poker. I asked some friends to explain to me what it was about Poker that made some grad students (mostly male) get together in the CS department's grad lounge on warm Monday nights and play a game that went on until daybreak! So a couple of friends sat me down on Friday and taught me the game. After losing all my chips by the end of the game, I am glad I chanced upon it. My photo-essay is based on and includes pictures taken during the recent Poker night, Monday June 30th at 10 PM.
The Rhetoric
People told me many things about Poker. That it was a game of strategy and sometimes sheer luck. But I sensed that the game had to be much more than that for it to be considered a sport, and an expensive one at that, to be shown on ESPN. What I found was that Poker was a game of masculinity, competitiveness, and how bluffing and fake intimidation can transform your luck from a bad hand to a winning hand (of cards). This is of course an art that comes from playing a lot of Poker. An art where traits like bluffing and bravado is considered smooth, clever tactic. Calling it a masculine game isn’t meant to be sexist. It may well be played by women, but it definitely calls for masculinity. Light banter to serious mockery is used throughout the game that is intended to make other player waver in their decisions. A friend who’s good at poker said for a beginner to really learn the game, he/she must concentrate on observing the other players. “It was all about nervous ticks”, he said. But amidst the game and all the bluffing and strategy etc., what struck me most was the intensity of the game. Here there were grown men losing their mind over paper cards and were sweating over gathering as many chips as they could. Tempers would shoot; emotions would flare where there wasn’t even big money involved! This reminded me of the McCloud and Drucker readings, which explained how objects like chips and cards held a certain value and what it meant for each player. How a growing stack of colored chips increased confidence and affected one’s ego.
The Analysis
I have attempted to bring out the essence of the game through the pictures. Nothing could bring out the game better than the emotions expressed by the players caught on camera. A casual glance might not offer any striking or noticeable nuances in the pictures. However, if observed carefully then the pictures of the players progress from light-hearted camaraderie to intense competition. Keeping Berger’s “Ways of Seeing” in mind, I think that the pictures would mean different things to people who know poker and those who don’t. People who have played poker could supposedly identify with the game and relate to their own experiences, whereas those who have never played poker would identify with the pictures in a way that reminds their friends, hanging out with them, etc. Therefore, the use of text as captions to the pictures might aid a consistent observation or examination of the pictures by poker-players, non poker-players, or just anyone looking at them.
The Hindsight
The photo-essay is plainly a bunch of people playing poker. This is one of the drawbacks - that it is hardly abstract. Therefore, there is little room for varied interpretations. The difficulty in making the piece was in capturing the emotions as they happened. It required some experience in photographing people while they behaved naturally. Since I had none, it was extremely difficult to be quick and sharp while taking the pictures. Emotions of the players would change in a second. However, the breakthrough was that overall the mood and tone of the picture is quite noticeable. The game lasted eight hours (from 10 pm to 6 am the next day). Perhaps, I would have got better images and an even better photo-essay as the gradual decrease of players from 10 to 3 could be better observed over a long period of time. And of course, possession of a better camera to take the pictures couldn’t be all that bad either!
This summer, a few grad students in CU created a club that would meet to play Poker. The facebook group now consists of 26 members out of which 50% are regulars. I was initiated into playing Poker on Friday, June 26th. I have never played poker in my life and always thought it was a shady type of game that involved a lot of money and perhaps some stripping (strip-poker). I know, I know..but see, I didn't know anything about Poker. I asked some friends to explain to me what it was about Poker that made some grad students (mostly male) get together in the CS department's grad lounge on warm Monday nights and play a game that went on until daybreak! So a couple of friends sat me down on Friday and taught me the game. After losing all my chips by the end of the game, I am glad I chanced upon it. My photo-essay is based on and includes pictures taken during the recent Poker night, Monday June 30th at 10 PM.
The Rhetoric
People told me many things about Poker. That it was a game of strategy and sometimes sheer luck. But I sensed that the game had to be much more than that for it to be considered a sport, and an expensive one at that, to be shown on ESPN. What I found was that Poker was a game of masculinity, competitiveness, and how bluffing and fake intimidation can transform your luck from a bad hand to a winning hand (of cards). This is of course an art that comes from playing a lot of Poker. An art where traits like bluffing and bravado is considered smooth, clever tactic. Calling it a masculine game isn’t meant to be sexist. It may well be played by women, but it definitely calls for masculinity. Light banter to serious mockery is used throughout the game that is intended to make other player waver in their decisions. A friend who’s good at poker said for a beginner to really learn the game, he/she must concentrate on observing the other players. “It was all about nervous ticks”, he said. But amidst the game and all the bluffing and strategy etc., what struck me most was the intensity of the game. Here there were grown men losing their mind over paper cards and were sweating over gathering as many chips as they could. Tempers would shoot; emotions would flare where there wasn’t even big money involved! This reminded me of the McCloud and Drucker readings, which explained how objects like chips and cards held a certain value and what it meant for each player. How a growing stack of colored chips increased confidence and affected one’s ego.
The Analysis
I have attempted to bring out the essence of the game through the pictures. Nothing could bring out the game better than the emotions expressed by the players caught on camera. A casual glance might not offer any striking or noticeable nuances in the pictures. However, if observed carefully then the pictures of the players progress from light-hearted camaraderie to intense competition. Keeping Berger’s “Ways of Seeing” in mind, I think that the pictures would mean different things to people who know poker and those who don’t. People who have played poker could supposedly identify with the game and relate to their own experiences, whereas those who have never played poker would identify with the pictures in a way that reminds their friends, hanging out with them, etc. Therefore, the use of text as captions to the pictures might aid a consistent observation or examination of the pictures by poker-players, non poker-players, or just anyone looking at them.
The Hindsight
The photo-essay is plainly a bunch of people playing poker. This is one of the drawbacks - that it is hardly abstract. Therefore, there is little room for varied interpretations. The difficulty in making the piece was in capturing the emotions as they happened. It required some experience in photographing people while they behaved naturally. Since I had none, it was extremely difficult to be quick and sharp while taking the pictures. Emotions of the players would change in a second. However, the breakthrough was that overall the mood and tone of the picture is quite noticeable. The game lasted eight hours (from 10 pm to 6 am the next day). Perhaps, I would have got better images and an even better photo-essay as the gradual decrease of players from 10 to 3 could be better observed over a long period of time. And of course, possession of a better camera to take the pictures couldn’t be all that bad either!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Response to Dan
Dan asks : "Berger warns us to be skeptical of his arguments but with everything he says he doesn't give much weight to cultural differences. What about what Wysocki says about color as it"does not carry across cultural lines" ex: china- scarlet for bride's dress, white for mourning. (132) Why does Berger miss this?"
Ditto Dan. I felt the same way while watching the videos. Why I thought he might have missed it is because historically, analysis and art criticism is a Western concept. On the eastern hemisphere (and I will speak with reference to my culture alone, just to be safe!) we are a very collectivist culture. That means we do not openly discuss or critique art openly. Also, art was pure...regal...a luxury that royalty could indulge in. Only now is the culture undergoing a metamorphosis with the effects of globalization. So coming back to your question...I guess Berger missed that because of the concept of taking in a global perspective was little known back when this show was made.
Ditto Dan. I felt the same way while watching the videos. Why I thought he might have missed it is because historically, analysis and art criticism is a Western concept. On the eastern hemisphere (and I will speak with reference to my culture alone, just to be safe!) we are a very collectivist culture. That means we do not openly discuss or critique art openly. Also, art was pure...regal...a luxury that royalty could indulge in. Only now is the culture undergoing a metamorphosis with the effects of globalization. So coming back to your question...I guess Berger missed that because of the concept of taking in a global perspective was little known back when this show was made.
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