Video Art

So, here is my final project! What are the main technological devices we use every day? We use cell phones, lap tops, and ipads probably 50% of our waking day. Those three devices all bring us closer to other people. Whether it's texting a friend or significant other, checking facebook, watching a youtube video, or even reading the news, these small devices connect such a large world. Than why do we sometimes feel so alone when we have the world at our finger tips? I decided to feature that idea as the concept of our video art. Earlier in the year, I ended a four year relationship with a guy I thought I was going to marry. Now, even though it's a good thing we aren't together, when we first broke up, the hardest thing I had to deal with was having all this technologies as reminders that I am alone. I was constantly checking my phone to see if he called, or texted, or sent me a message on facebook. But because every time I checked the screen was blank, I felt so alone and started to feel like I was going crazy. I know, so dramatic. Well that's the idea behind the video. That feeling of being alone when it is basically impossible for us to ever be alone. 

So enjoy! I edited this in Finalcut and created the music in Garageband. I filmed everything myself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veVaIeyaNGc&feature=youtu.be

Vocaloids

According to the Vocaloid website, "Vocaloid is a technology for singing voice synthesis developed by Yamaha... the software allows users to input melody and lyrics in order to synthesize singing. In other words, with this technology, singing can be produced without a singer."

So I asked my little sister, who is really into Anime and Japanese culture, if she knew about vocaloids. She immediately said, "You mean like Hatsume Miku?" So that answered my question if people really did listen to this music. While my sister said that she doesn't listen to it a lot, some of her friends do. Honestly the whole concept is pretty genius. It is a pure money making machine. The software is already developed, so people can make music and eliminate a lot of the labor generally involved in creating an album. They can create music videos, sell merchandise, and even have concerts without having to work around a "stars" schedule. 

I can definitely see the value in vocaloid music, but I find it difficult to appreciate just because it is so up-tempo, a little high pitched, and in another language. It doesn't really register for me, but check out some examples and see what you think

Scopitones

A scopitone is a kind of mix between a juke box and a music video. Popular mostly in Europe in the 1960's, the scopitone was a forerunner to music videos that we know of today. Music has a way of generating imagery for the listeners. The scopitone was one of the first technologies that explored creating imagery to sell music. Personally I love the idea of scopitones. They have a certain appeal for me just because they combine dance, music, and fantastic sets all together. Although the scopitones were fairly short-lived, their influence can not be overlooked. Part of me wishes that these were still around, but if you think about it, they kind of are. A lot of clubs or places where music is important will play videos like this to kind of show the crowd how to dance to a song, or get them into a particular mood that the club is trying to create. Like I said, music and imagery go together very well, the scopitone was just one of the first technologies to capitalize on that fact.

Performance Art

Here is my performance art! According to a study published in the New York Times, The average person spends 8 hours a day looking at screens. That's more time than we sleep, and definitely more time than we spend with any people in our lives per day. Most of us spend time on our screens even when we are with our friends. So it's kind of like our phones, laptops, iPads are all our friends. So for my performance art, I decided to spend a little quality time with my friend. I went to Target with my laptop and walked around with the Finder icon up on my screen. Here it is. 

Flash Mobs

Although I'm super cynical when it comes to happy couples this year, I can't help but think this is the most adorable thing ever.

EVA & ADELE

II believe that words can not fully explain EVA & ADELE, so instead I decided that pictures could better describe this striking couple. This couple who go beyond the boundaries of gender and mainstream thoughts of beauty are completely unique. They claim that wherever they are is a museum. I would have to think that this is true. 

Iconoclast

An iconoclast is a person who attacks cherished beliefs, traditional institutions, etc. as being based on error or superstition, or a breaker or destroyer of images, especially those set up for religious verneration. Iconoclasm has been around for almost as long as religion itself. The reasons behind this deliberate vandalism of religious artifacts vary from literal interpretation to the bible to political reasons. The first iconoclastic period was between 7256 and 730 and was spearheaded by the Byzantine Emperor Leo III the Isaurian. 

Modern iconoclasm is still just as controversial as it was in the beginning. One example of such an incident was in 1972 when Lazlo Toth attacked La Pieta a Michelangelo sculpture with a hammer while claiming to be Christ. This act led to calls for Toth's death as well as a nomination for a transgressive art performance award. 

Many avant-garde artists of the early 20th century preached destructive rhetoric. Duchamp himself was once quoted saying to "use a Rembrandt as an ironing board." But this school of thinking and the actual destruction of art are two different things. I feel like I am open to many different schools of thinking when it comes to art, but the destruction of religious or classic artwork can never be justified in my opinion.