Meghan Giudice Exercise I – Observation and Mediated Technology (September 30th 3. Reflect on how the medium you used to document your subject impacts your overall message (how the form is integral to the meaning) as well as respond to the following questions in a one-page reflection paper: The medium I used to document my subject impacts my overall message of contrasting the slowness and fastness of everyday lives in a video. I believe a video was best to demonstrate both audio and visual aspects of the changing colours of the sky versus the speed of traffic and cars driving on the highway.
The form is integral to the meaning because it clearly represents the differentiation between fast and slow and a colour-soaked sky to the bland colourless cars that take up space on a highway. Does your project provide an opportunity for the viewer to experience something familiar in a new way or to draw their attention to something they had not noticed before (promote deep observation)? If so, what choices did you make to accomplish this and how is deep observation fore-fronted in your piece? I hope that my piece provides an opportunity for the viewer to experience observing the sunset and traffic in a new way.
I wished to draw their attention to something people had not noticed before. The setting that | chose clearly contrasted the two subjects perfectly. Deep observation is for-fronted in my piece by examining mother nature versus an industrialized society which we have become. The modern, automated, technological culture we have moulded tends to make us forget about the important things in life. The serene, tranquil, peaceful beauty of mother natures sunset is something not many of us stop to admire as much as we should.
Does your project provide an opportunity for the viewer to reflect on broader themes and ideas about culture, society, human subjectivity, or other phenomenon (function as a metaphor)? If so, what choices did you make to accomplish this and how are the larger ideas articulated in your piece? My project provides a vivid opportunity for the viewer to reflect on border themes and ideas regarding the type of culture and society we live in. Sometimes humans forget to slow down in between the fast pace hectic lives they live.
We live in a society generated off the idea that we must always be moving from one place to another which demonstrates the larger idea of this bigger picture that is articulated in my piece through the subjectivity of my video. Does your project provide an opportunity for the viewer to consider the ‘distinctive features of the medium’ and reflect on the relationship between the medium (form/technology) and the overall message? If so, what choices did you make to accomplish this and how is this articulated in your piece?
Slowness can be defined from the english dictionary as the following: “Not moving or able to move quickly; proceeding at a low speed: a slow train; slow walkers. ” The message I wished to portray from this video is the importance of taking time out of our busy, fast paced lives and remember to enjoy the little things in life more slowly. Watching a sunset can slow down time and help to escape the realities of life. I believe it is of great importance to make time to watch the sunset daily. It forces one to enjoy the beauty of mother nature and go outside.
From reading an article from the Huffington post titled “7 reasons why you should make time for the sunset” it states an interesting fact about how other parts of the world celebrate the sunset. Reading, “In places like Santorini, Greece, and Maui, Hawaii, the sunset is regarded as a nightly celebration. Crowds gather to cheer and applaud it, reinforcing the idea that we should celebrate and be thankful for each day”. In a way the slow calmness of a sunset helps people to appreciate the gifts of life. It teaches us to be to be thankful and mindful that we are lucky enough to live each day.
This positivity can result in boosts in individuals overall happiness and well being. Personally, I have always enjoyed observing the sunset and it is something I look forward to seeing everyday. Being an art student with an artistic background I get excited to see the beautiful arrangement of colours that form in the sky around the same time everyday. It is a beautiful site that helps me escape from reality even just for a little while. Sunsets are ca e capable of being artistic, poetic and inspiring all at the same time and have the ability to slow down or even stop time.
Ultimately, observation and awe of the sunset, can slow down the perception of time. Remarkablely, by setting aside time to observe the breathtaking, soulful, vibrant colours of the we make it possible to attain dominence of real time. 000n the contrary, fast paced can be defined from the english dictionary as the following: “of communication that proceeds rapidly; “a fastpaced talker”; “fast-paced fiction”. The symbolism behind the fast pace traffic contrasting between the slowness of the naturalistic sunset has a greater meaning behind it.
I wished to capture the difference between fast and slow to represent the importance of slowing down our busy fast paced lives. Sometimes, being people of a digital society was get caught up in our 8-5 jobs, paying the bills, and not being able to peel ourselves away from our computer or phone screens long enough to observe or enjoy the vast arrangement of beauty mother nature has to offer during our day to day activities. Observing traffic indicates the hustle and bustle of everyday life, feeling like you are just going with the flow of those around you. We must realize when things have become too routine, you must stop and smell the roses.