November 2018

There were 4 posts published in November 2018 (this is page 1 of 1).

Project 4: Poetics of Time (Final)

Prison of Time

Final Installation

Video documentation: https://youtu.be/snW68zRyUVo

What is it about?

This installation shows how linear time wears down on memories. It explores the treachery of time, in terms of its linear and forward motion. At this point in time, we are but prisoners to time as we cannot return to a specific moment in time to change or relive an experience. Hence, we can only rely on our memory which is a collection of memories. Yet, these memories are still subjected to the passing of linear time in which our recollection becomes estranged over time. Though with the advent of technology, we can relive experiences to some extent. That being said, we are still trapped in the present due to our inability to turn back the clock hence we can only settle for a representation of the past; in the form of photographs and videos.

What has inspired you?

This installation that I chanced upon on Pinterest, gave me a physical translation of the passage of time. From this installation, I built upon this physical embodiment and came up with the concept of the Prison of Time.

Are you trying out a new concept or a continuation?

Yes. This is a new concept as I realize that my previous projects couldn’t be applied to this project directly.

What do you intend to communicate to your audience?

I wish to convey the hopelessness that I feel in regards to our captivity to time. Time is impartial. It wears down on our memories, regardless good or bad. Hence, I hope that my audience would remember to cherish the present and to simply be fully present in the moment, as cliché as it sounds.

What is innovative or new about it?

The literary aspect to the installation sets it apart from other physical translations on the passage of time. This is so as my opinions of time acts as the crux of the installation, hence the audience isn’t left to their interpretation during the installation but are instead deciphering mine.

What am I making or producing?

A projection that screens a time lapse of a sunrise (mentioned in the poem) on a series of frosted screens; to represent the passage of time. The projection of the sunrise becomes blurrier across the screens which represent how time wears down on our memories.

Sunrise: https://vimeo.com/user23065571/review/301623355/7a13e1d171

This poem will be played in their earpieces, to create an intimate space between the audience and me.

The respective stanzas in the poem reflect on linear time accordingly,

  1. Time moves forward, Passing by quickly
  2. Unable to return, we are stuck in the present
  3. Technology has allowed us to relive some of our memories but we’re still its prisoners

Poem:

Rhythm is explored in the form of literary, in which there’s a repetition of the phrase “Time O Time”. The constant and weary repetition throughout the poem makes the audience akin to Time, like that of an old companion. This emphasizes the omnipresence of time in our lives and its overbearing weight on us, such that we will never be free until we pass on.

Soundscape: Poem on the linear passage of time with the use of the diegetic sound of the camera flash to signal the use of camera and technology

Length of time experienced: About 1 minute

Describe the materials and equipment used:

  1. Projector
  2. Table
  3. Frosted file sleeves – screens
  4. Mounting Board – stand for the screen
  5. Audience’s earpieces/headphones

In Class Assignment: Project 3 review

  1. Rhythm
    1. Before the climax, a constant rhythm was achieved with the soundtrack playing in the background. Given that it was an ambient mix, it was able to set a calm and lighthearted mood to the story.
    2. Later the rhythm was broken with a halt in the backtrack and a sudden resounding deep bass. This irregularity leaves the audience confused and anxious as a result. This works well in signalling a plot twist which was applied in my project.
  2. Movement
    1. I don’t think I’ve successfully applied movement to my soundtrack as most of the sounds seemed flat and only faded in and out for the ease of hearing on the user. I could have directed my audience more intentionally with my sounds so as to add interest to my soundtrack. For instance, the incident and climax of the story could be better narrated if I used arranged the whimpers of the mom, daughter and father’s heavy breathing in the sequence as mentioned. This gives the audience a visual understanding of the space while adding details and interests to my soundscape.
  3. Causality
    1. With a narrative, I was able to meet the audience’s expectations in a logical and systematic manner. This was intentional so that my audience could follow the progression of events and emotions. However, I did try to toy with the causality of the plot was the audience expected the daughter to be caught but it turns out that the father could speak too and sacrificed himself in her place. The plot did, however, end on an ambiguous note with the father being dragged out of the house, leaving the audience guessing.
  4. Duration
    1. The duration of the project was unfortunately too short for my narrative to be told comprehensively. Moreover, the ending was hasty which led to an unclear ending. I would have extended my film by 10 seconds more to better narrate the ending.

10 seconds in-class assignment

Don’t want to encounter for more than 10 seconds
1 a wet fart (sound and smell)
2 a creepy old uncle climaxing in my ear (sound)
3 metal scratching against glass (sound)
4 fingernails on glass (sound)
5 domestic violence, woman screaming and crying (sound)
6 snakes slithering all over me (visual and tactile)
7 a person shitting, ass pov (visual)
8 beastiality (visual and sound)
9 decay of human flesh (smell & visual)
10 a rape scene (visual and sound)
11 alarm clock going on and on, with no respite (sound)
12 police siren going on in the dead of the night (sound)
Want to encounter for more than 10 seconds
13 a beautiful man working out
14 ice cream
15 things falling in line
16 beautiful scenery
17 a beautiful lady working out
18 a documentary about saline
19 beautiful corals
20 cute kittens
I picked police siren going on in the dead of the night because it suggests an ominous ending, and leaves the audience’s minds to run wild after. Since a police siren going off in the middle of the night usually suggests some sense of danger and crime lurking in the dark, it creates an ominous emotion in people, leaving them more unsettled than say, an alarm going off.