Video + Refelective Statement

This project was a labor of love. Had I not chosen a topic that interested me as much as it did, my frustration with having to jump through Mac’s hoops with have been even more off the charts than it already was. Admittedly, I have terrible issues with time management- I did a lot of work ahead of time but miscalculated how much time certain required tasks take when I can’t do a lot of the work with the convenience of my own PC.

Anyway, this project is nowhere near as clean as I’d like it to be, and although I took heed of Professor Omizo’s advice and tried to make the video more argumentative than just an advertisement for the music, it didn’t quite come out as strong as I wanted. Either way, I still think even casual music fans will find it at least a little bit interesting and informative, which is all I can ask for. The writing and sound editing in general I am very happy with. The video aspect was tough because when the topic is related to the differences in styles of music, that can be hard to show visually. Also, shooting footage in a dark club with people jumping around and bumping into you doesn’t yield the best results, believe it or not.

In short, I still think I got my relatively weak point across, but the video itself was not as clean or detailed as I would I have liked it to be. Ultimately, I’m just glad this project is over.

Video Assignment Proposals

1.Misconceptions Regarding Electronic Music

One of my strongest passions in life is electronic music. When I tell people this, a typical response is more often than not:

“Oh, you mean like techno? Like at raves with DJs scratching and all the crazy party people on ecstasy waving glowsticks and sucking on pacifiers?”

It pains me, it really does. Although, it’s really no one’s fault. Electronica just isn’t remotely as popular in the United States as it is in Europe, Australia and elsewhere, for a variety of reasons. This is actually somewhat ironic, as the United States has had a huge influence, and in a few cases even invented several genres of dance music that are now booming in popularity across the pond. These stereotypes spawn simply from limited exposure and innocent ignorance. My video would attempt to explain why the sample response above is just so flat out wrong on so many levels, and debunk all the stereotypes surrounding electronic dance music (EDM). I’d also like to communicate a greater respect and understanding of EDM to the audience and hope that they can at least grasp a little bit on why the genre is so much more than meets the eye/ear, and that there is something for everyone in it, as long as they are willing to explore and do a little research.

The biggest gripe I would like to clarify is over the usage of the word “techno”. Techno is a very specific genre of EDM, and is hardly ever heard in the mainstream, except for perhaps a rare commercial or movie score. The average American seemingly labels anything with an electronic beat techno, and it could not be more incorrect or frustrating- Cascada, Daft Punk, Fatboy Slim, Madonna’s later works, etc; none of these are techno. Through Flash, I would like to explore, explain and demonstrate the huge differences between actual techno versus the other big, more commonly heard genres such as House, Trance, Drum and Bass and Breakbeat.

I’d also like to let the audience know that even though EDM is a very niche market, the scene is alive right around them- yes, in Columbus! I’d like to get some footage of local venues where electronic music is spun, where to find information on events and shows and where to to go online to explore all different kinds of music for free.

If I still have time, I’d also like to briefly touch on what exactly a DJ’s function is- some of the technicalties of what he or she is doing to the music, the purpose of the turntables and mixer, what makes a good DJ, etc.

Like I said, a lot of this would be flash based, and some actual footage would be of venues (and if the timing is right, actual events), but I’d also like to ask people on camera some questions such as “What is techno?” “Or what type music would you call this (have them listen to something)”, etc to open up the video.

2. St John Arena’s Survival

With the recent northward expansion of Ohio State’s campus (the “new” dormitory in the old Holiday Inn, the forced move of Hineygate, etc.) rumors have been swirling that old St John Arena would be the next building to meet its demise. St John is the home of Ohio State men’s and women’s volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics and the occasional men or women’s basketball. It is also the home of the Skull Session, one of Ohio State football’s most proud and important gameday traditions.

These events aren’t just held there because of their sports’ status or because of their proximity to Ohio Stadium- St John’s is an ode to the past (some say the golden era of Ohio State basketball came shortly after the venue’s construction), and is still flat out just an amazing arena that truly has stood the test of the time. Unlike the Schott, there truly isn’t a bad seat in the house, a remarkable claim for a venue of its time.

My video would show the beauty of the arena and capture the treat that seeing an event, regardless of what it is, at the John truly is. I’d also like to get the typical student’s reaction to the potential destruction of the arena, and hopefully talk to someone in facilities or in the Ohio State front office about potential plans for the area.

Visual Argument Final Draft

Essentially, my visual argument is that small, local eateries (like PJ’s) give an invaluable small town charm to places that are definitely not small town, more than any chain or corporate restaurant ever can. Convenient comfort food enhances daily life, and dives are a very important part to many communities. The warming glow of the small diner adds warmth and color to an otherwise bland and gray world of corporations and chains.

Citations:

TV Acres. Wendy’s Logo. Retrieved October 29 2009 from http://www.tvacres.com/images/wendys_logo2.jpg

Phil the Pill. BK King. Retrieved October 28 2009 from http://philthepill.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/bk_crowncardtheking_en_01.png?w=369&h=333

Enjoy Mock Duck. Colonel Sanders. Retrieved October 28 2009 from http://mockduck.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/colonel-sanders_kfc.jpg

AngusW’s Flickr. Pizza the Hut. Retrieved October 28 2009 from http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2530007674_e8664a0843.jpg?v=0

Fast Food Aficionado. McDonald’s + Bag. Retrieved October 28 2009 from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_63-7c4kNHKA/R-r3a4W6AOI/AAAAAAAAABk/O070_kjrYJk/s400/McDonalds%2BBag.jpg

iirraa’s Flickr. Cup of Coffee at Dunkin Donuts – Lettin’ off some steam! Retrieved October 28 2009 from http://farm1.static.flickr.com/27/37086147_97a591b2ac.jpg

ezeiza’s Flickr. tall. Retrieved October 26 2009 from http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1355/1112320387_4cddfab83f.jpg

1Sky. Burger King Baloney. Retrieved October 26 2009 from http://www.1sky.org/files/burger-king-baloney-300.jpg

Apostrophe Abuse. Taco + Bell. Retrieved October 28 2009 from http://www.1sky.org/files/burger-king-baloney-300.jpg

America for Dummies Response

I understand and support the overall message of the video, but it got needlessly political towards the end. It almost seemed to blame the Bush regime for people being ignorant and not knowing where Bangladesh is. If anything, the past however many years has increased our geographical and cultural awareness outside of the United States, sad as that may be. I also had a hard time taking someone in a Che Guevara shirt seriously. If you’re preaching to me about intolerance and ignorance, don’t have a revolutionary/mass murderer that said things like “the Negro is indolent and lazy, and spends his money on frivolities, whereas the European is forward-looking, organized and intelligent” and “Mexicans are a band of illiterate Indians” emblazoned on your shirt.

(Very) Rough Draft- Visual Argument

Definitely going to be re-taking the second and third pictures, my client was fussy, the pictures didn’t turn out well and I have new (better) ideas. Essentially, my visual argument is that small, local eateries (like PJ’s) give an invaluable small town charm to places that are definitely not small town, more than any chain or corporate restaurant ever can. Convenient comfort food enhances daily life, and dives are a very important part to many communities. I may try and shop in some shunning of all the big chains, i.e. edit in McDonald’s/BK/Wendy’s/etc signs in the background. I’m also looking for some supportive figures about corporate ownership versus independent, or perhaps a quote about globalization and consumerism.

^ This shot is boring and will be scrapped for a street view shot of the customer ordering, the customer will still be in black and white, but PJs, the oasis from corporate dining will still be vibrant and lit up. I realize I didn’t put he McDonald’s sign in this picture like in the first one simply because I’m not going to end up using it.

^ Again, this is probably going to be scrapped for a very vibrant and colorful shot of him eating with absolute satisfaction.

l also amProxy-Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age=0

oing toadd text that says “go dive” as a double entendre for to dive in/pig out and for a small eatery.

Raw images

Definitely going to be re-taking the second and third pictures, my client was fussy, the pictures didn’t turn out well and I have new (better) ideas. Essentially, my visual argument is that small, local eateries (like PJ’s) give an invaluable small town charm to places that are definitely not small town, more than any chain or corporate restaurant ever can. Convenient comfort food enhances daily life, even if only for twenty minutes, like no other and that is basically what I’m going to try and get across. I may try and shop in some shunning of all the big chains, i.e. edit in McDonald’s/BK/Wendy’s/etc signs in the background

^ This shot is going to be re-done as a shot from street view of someone ordering at the counter

^ This is going to be re-done- as opposed to the customer walking away with the bag it’s going to be an extreme close up of the customer eating with complete and utter satisfaction

Audio Narrative Final

http://drop.io/tmsdkqq/asset/engfinal-mp3

Sources:

Connum.  “Melancholic Interpretation in G#.”  Online audio clip.  Opsound.org.  Accessed 8 October 2009.  <http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=12691>.

Creative Commons License

Jack’s Mannequin. “Dark Blue.” Everything in Transit. Maverick Records, 2005. MP3.

Audio Literacy Narrative

http://drop.io/elsassaln/asset/eng-mp3

Sample: Melancholic Interpretation in G# by Connum

ALN Transcript

I’m one of the most humble people you will ever meet.

That sentence is a hard to believe one when I tell you this- I don’t ever remember struggling while learning to write, read or use a computer. The only vivid memory I have of actually learning to write is from second grade, tracing cursive letter outlines on the ugly sepia toned paper that I feel made it’s way into every 90’s elementary classroom, despite lacking any aesthetic value whatsoever.

Most everything I know about computers I learned on my own accord, just fiddling around, first with Microsoft Works and MS Paint, then on America Online where I became e-hooked and caused my family to miss numerous important phone calls due to my tying up the phoneline.

I still love to write (somewhat) and definitely still love computers.

However, somewhere over the years, my honeymoon with reading ended. The internet, a social life and being forced to read in junior high and high school are perhaps to blame. But it truly is a shame, because I used to read everything.

From the Toys R’ Us ad to the sports section and even the business columns, I devoured the morning paper like it was my job. Every book on my plentiful shelf had been covered to covered at least twice. I lived literally a one minute drive from the library, if that, and would insist on taking something along in the car ride to read on the way there. A class A read a holic.

As you probably could have inferred, my reading level was far above average in my younger years. However, this created problems for me- during class read-alongs, I would get impatient with the slower pace of my fellow classmates and read ahead. This was fine until I was called on to read or answer a question about the story and had no idea where the rest of the class was. After a while, I tried real hard to stay with the class- but again, the pace was too slow for my active 12 year old mind, and I would daydream. Which may or may not be the beginning of a problem I still have today- if my mind is even a little bit disinterested in something that’s being presented in front of me- be it a lecture, movie, or, a book, my mind is off to the races. This problem haunted me throughout high school, where thankfully I could still feign my way through most of my classes with respectable grades- well, except for math, but I was born hopeless there.

So then came college, and with that came nightly 50+ page reading assignments, that I *gasp*, had to actually read, understand what I was reading and takes notes on as to remember what I was reading. Essentially, I had to re-learn to read, something I once found great joy in and didn’t need to be blackmailed with grades over. And it’s still an ongoing process- it took me almost my entire freshman year to learn that, despite no matter what I tried to convince myself, I could not read and comprehend properly with a TV on in front me. Last year’s lesson was that you lose a lot in your reading when you have three other roommates and multiple Joe randoms going in and out at all hours.

This year, I’m hoping to regain my comprehension to what it once was so many years ago, and that’s simply by getting more sleep- which, two weeks into the year, I’m finding is a lot easier said than done.

The 4^th grade me would have been appalled that a day would come where I lost the joy of reading, let alone have to work really hard at it when I actually did read. But it’s a challenge I gladly accept and look forward in trying to overcome.

Confucius perhaps said it best- “No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.”