Sound for Interactive Media Randall Packer

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Desktop of a Disillusioned

Liam Levaro

Wednesday, Nov 15, 2017 - 10:42:41 am

My desktop narrative is meant to tell the every-day internet life of a conspiracy theorist internet addict in a bit of a comedic fashion, with an emphasis on the sound-track so to speak.

https://vimeo.com/242724913?utm_source=email&utm_medium=vimeo-cliptranscode-201504&utm_campaign=28749

I made all of my sounds first and as I modified it I created a story around them, at first I thought of a man extremely high on Read more →

Categories: Final Project

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Randall Packer

Nov 15, 2017 - 10:50:54 am

Liam, first of all, I created a new post because you used the "Immersive Post" rather than the regular one. So now the post is displayed properly. I found this piece quite compelling as a critique of truth in our mediated culture. By invoking such figures as Alex Jones, you help us to better understand how people like the character you have created could be led astray by disinformation and outright lying on the Internet. Truth and fiction has become quite blurred and your dystopic portrait of a person "under the influence" of fakery and conspiracy on the net is very nicely conveyed. In terms of the essay itself, I would have liked to see references to readings, artists we have studied, etc., as well as more contextual information about the experience of the desktop itself, as outlined in the final project assignment. That said, I commend you for a fantastic and compelling work and insight into the nature of reality and information on the net.

Interior Landscapes - Transitions & Relationships

Elizabeth

Tuesday, Nov 14, 2017 - 07:36:47 pm

@ Elizabeth Klare

As we shifted to exploring the internal virtual world of our desktop, it became clear to me that my personal computer space is one of the best forms of communication between myself and others. Communication and quality time, whether in person or over a digital screen, is how we form relationships and as we near the end of our study Read more →

Categories: Final Project

Tags: landscape; interior; digital; computer; video calls; relationships; communication; study abroad

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Randall Packer

Nov 16, 2017 - 08:59:06 am

Congratulations on getting the video completed! It felt like the work is a kind of communications scrapbook of memories, conversations, and other desktop elements that document your time abroad. I thought the way in which you layered the various materials was very well done, with conversations that included sounds accompanied by other images of friends, family, cats, etc. The kinds of memories that make up our lives and become part of our everyday desktop experience. Except in this case, it is from thousands of miles way. I wonder if there might have been a way to create more of a specific narrative, perhaps standout moments that define the experience. The work feels more like we are temporarily inserted into your everyday life of communications as it is ongoing, and perhaps that is the intent. I like particularly the way you used specific music, layered with conversation to give a certain emotional quality to the piece. I think that really is the narrative you were seeking, the flow of people and words and images from far, far away: just the contact we need to say connected.

Elizabeth

Nov 19, 2017 - 11:14:18 pm

Yes, I agree the video has the same feeling a scrapbook has through the visual layering and personal theme of relationships. My original intent was storyboarded out to begin with these kind of home-communication videos and then layer in my desktop life pertaining to relationships I have gained here in Singapore. I recorded footage from conversations on WhatsApp, FB Messenger, and in person while working on three different group projects in the last couple weeks of school. My plan was to have three parts to the narrative with part 1 being relationships/conversations back home, part 2 about projects and people I’ve met in SG, and part 3 about the anticipation and transition back to the US and to California. However, with video time constraints and project timing I was only able to chose one of these parts to pursue.

With this decision to focus on relationships far away, I believe my narrative did move towards the theme of distance and simply contact with others. The sounds, music and video effects also were deliberate in how they added to the sentimentality that inherently comes during conversations with these specific people and with people who are far away. Overall, it was a very personal project which I appreciated having the opportunity to pursue during my academic studies.

WHO IS A FEMINIST?

Lovisa Carlsson

Tuesday, Nov 14, 2017 - 07:09:09 pm

@ Lovisa @NTU

Addressing and solving problems has always been important for me, it is not easy to solve all problems in the world but at least we as individuals can make a small change by addressing them and start talking about them.

The word feminism has become a complex word and there is constantly an ongoing debate between feminists and anti feminists Read more →

Categories: Final Project

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Randall Packer

Nov 15, 2017 - 11:07:38 am

Excellent work. I particularly liked the way you superimposed the elements in your video, combining writing that was personal and critical with the work and ideas of feminist models such as Beyonce, Emma Watson, etc. I thought it was interesting that you mentioned Jon Cates as an influence, because actually, I think your work is designed as a more aesthetically oriented interface construction as compared to Jon's "dirty" and " improvisational approach to the interface. I particularly liked the way you made it possible for the viewer to take in information via various channels simultaneously, giving us a glimpse of how the desktop affords this form of multitasking. Above all, you have demonstrated how the desktop in both personal and a vehicle for social change. In your conclusive paragraph, I would have mentioned that the desktop gave you a way to bring the viewer insight as to how we can use it for social transformation, social consciousness beyond the act of simply surfing for information. You mentioned the personal nature of the desktop, but I think for you, the desktop is where you can activate and communicate your political views. And I commend you for that! You have clearly synthesized the many concepts of sound, desktop, media integration, design, and artistic expression that this project aspired to.

Generation Interrupted

Peter Ko

Tuesday, Nov 14, 2017 - 07:08:15 pm

@ Peter Ko

https://vimeo.com/242725356

I wanted to look at the role of computer notifications and their interruptions in daily PC use. Sometimes the experience develops to a certain point where people find themselves addressing notifications more than following up on the original purpose of their login session.

This piece consists of several concurrent conversations that happen alongside the attempts to watch a tv show. The Read more →

Categories: Final Project

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Randall Packer

Nov 15, 2017 - 11:19:11 am

Peter, very thoughtful and insightful commentary on the desktop experience as a source of distraction, but also of inspiration in exploring the "messy" side of the digital life. Excellent references to the material we have covered this semester. There are some very beautiful glitched desktop images in this piece. You might even consider creating a collection of them, they would make interesting stills. My commentary on the content of the tv show was just to give you something to think about, as a way to extend the narrative further by not only using sound as a source for distortion, but the content of the video as well from a narrative perspective. That said, your creative exploration of the desktop was extremely well done and your references were all relevant and to the point.

STRANGER MEDIA 00

Ellie

Tuesday, Nov 14, 2017 - 07:04:56 pm

@ Ellie Friedman

https://vimeo.com/242702066

For my piece, I decided to examine the exploitation and obsession over the child actors of the TV show, Stranger Things. Leading up to our final project, season 2 of Stranger Things was released and the amount of media around the kids compared to the first season was insane to me. Therefore, I wanted to create a narrative that Read more →

Categories: Final Project

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Randall Packer

Nov 15, 2017 - 11:32:26 am

As I mentioned in class, the work is a beautifully design "simulation" of sorts of the desktop experience, without the clutter, just highlighting the key elements. I was fascinated by the sense of a dialogue and interaction between voices and characters, and particularly, the sequence with Alex Jones talking about one of the young celebrities (I don't recall her name), which was a startling juxtaposition that revealed exactly how these young stars are exploited. Your piece points out just how easy this form of exploitation is, and how difficult it is to separate truth from lies. I would have like to see your influences fleshed out a bit more. Why was Janet Cardiff's narrative approach influential? And how did Cage's use of indeterminacy play into your work? I can see how, but some explanation would have been helpful in the concluding paragraph. Excellent comment about how the sheer abundance of information makes it difficult to be aware of how we formulate ideas, opinions, etc., and your piece developed the idea very well.

The Desktop as Therapy

Viet Nguyen

Tuesday, Nov 14, 2017 - 06:17:32 pm

@ Viet Nguyen

Earlier this year, I went through a break up and found myself trying to cope in a variety of ways, which often entailed the use of technology. I journaled both physically and digitally, which helped me organized my thoughts. I also spend a lot of my time perusing the internet for psychology articles and videos, which I often try to Read more →

Categories: Final Project

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Randall Packer

Nov 15, 2017 - 11:41:05 am

In revisiting the video after our conversation last night, I can see that the playfulness of your interaction with your friend grows of a relationship in which we conduct ourselves in sometimes silly ways as a method of working through deeper issues. Perhaps it is a generational difference between us, as I would take that kind of response as mockery, which was what I trying to get at last night. But in fact, judging from your response, I can see that these antics are exactly what is needed to lighten the troubling issues in our life, such as a breakup. I think this sense of playfulness extended itself throughout the work, including the way that you animated the therapy media, creating a world around you of therapeutic interaction, stimulation, and play. At least that is how I see it! I liked your conclusion regarding the intimacy of the space. Your piece underscores how the desktop can be a creative, therapeutic, and information space that gets you through even the darkest moments. Well done!

Sound exploration 2

Lovisa Carlsson

Thursday, Nov 09, 2017 - 10:45:54 pm

@ Lovisa @NTU

I did a second sound exploration in Ableton Live and manipulated some sounds that I intend to use in my final project. I want the feeling of the sounds to be raw and cold and therefore I have used a lot of deeper voices in my sounds. Following is short descriptions of which effects I have been using i every Read more →

Categories: Final Project

Tags: ableton live | final project | grain delay | Sound exploration

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Randall Packer

Nov 10, 2017 - 07:04:12 am

Good work! Thanks Lovisa.

Sound Explorations P2

Elizabeth

Tuesday, Nov 07, 2017 - 07:31:50 pm

@ Elizabeth Klare

Round 2 of my sound explorations recorded from my digital desktop landscape:

01 Typing Glitch – source: keyboard typing effects: beat repeat, grain delay, chorus, auto pan, Warp alterations: high pitch, high frequency, deconstructed beats, 95% feedback, 100% wet

02 Digital Giggle Loop – source: two girls laughing during a Skype call effects: Beat repeat, Chorus, Loop & Warp alterations: Flounch chorus with zero feedback and 100% wet, Read more →

Categories: Final Project

Tags: ableton live | desktop | noises | recordings | Sounds

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