Extra Credit!

Peysakh Shalumov

I watched two pieces from the two day “The Third Work Symposium”: on friday I had watched “#Rushes” by Jason Livingston as well as “Sound and Image at Play Together” by Aaron Davidson and Melissa Dubbin on Saturday. They were both very interesting works but I have decided to speak about the latter piece. The presentation done by Davidson and Dubbin started off with a general explanation of both the process and the piece itself and then proceeded to show the different video clips with the same sound tracks. The different video tracks gave an interesting perspective to the sounds that were played. When they spoke about their work, they should it was sound design for possible future films. The original piece was initially only sound but it advanced to video as well.

The videomakers had complete control over what the video would show but the audio could not be altered in any way. The work had three different videos chosen out of a copious pile. The first video shared was by Eve Sussman and she used algorithms to make her piece. It was essentially various scenes chosen together to express a connection throughout them and give us a image in our mind. Sussman uses a clip of inside a train, a house, and other things as well. These combine and attempt to create a storyline that blends all the clips (both audio and video) to create some sense of story.

The second video was created by a man named Mark. He used texts from a particular novel and used autofocus on the camera to hone in on particular phrases that resemble or portray the sounds. The words attempted to describe the sounds used and in it’s own unique way created another way of blending together a story line in the head of the audience.

The third video was created by Deborah S and it was my favorite. The video used what Dubbin called “Scotophobic editing” and it was a different approach than regular film. The video had continuous alternating black and white circles that flashed very swiftly and attacked the eyes. In between the flashing lights, came images of what seems like an African Tribe and then proceeded to a green monster. These images moved so fast and were so subtly put into the flashing lights, it seemed like every image connected and was part of one whole story. The mind seemed to fill in the sounds with the images and it all connected to tell yet another story.

Both days, the videos helped show me different creative expressions and a clear use of passion in the films. Surprisingly, these non-generic works helped me broaden my thought horizons in the artistic aspects of all my mediums. I think the panel was more powerful than I initially assumed. At first, while leaving both presentations I did not think much of the works. This second panel, as I spend more time thinking about it, resonated with me. The video showed the extreme importance of sound and properly as well as creatively corresponding it with film and words. Sound effects play an important role in films, and we do not notice things like the foley sounds unless we analyze it with detail. I think the proper sound effects, or any audio in general, can make or break a video clip.

Images are important to a video, but more importantly every clip or photo gives off a visual and the next one proceeds to connect itself and add onto the story line. Every clip placed one after another creates a whole different atmosphere that vibes off the previous clips to set a new mood and ideas to the audience. Thinking about the presentation, it takes conventional film making, and contributes fresh thought into the different ways of merging video with audio tracks. I think the presentation ended up being up a powerful one, and it seemed like the rest of the audience seemed to enjoy it as well. I think that this panel created a personal interest in sounds and the visuals they portray. In fact, I want to concentrate on photos and how the image can be perceived different if you add particular sounds to it. The sound would invoke a stronger mood and would probably affect the original atmosphere of the photo.