cREA(C)T!ivity

SPP Journal Task on creativity and research...

I remember having my interview previous to being accepted for the course...and more vividly, the fact that at one point I said that irrespective of whether or not I get to be a Multimedia student and make a career of it, I`m still going to experiment and try to give a form to some of my ideas, one way or another. Maybe I`m an incurable starry-eyed dreamer with little if any notion of financial responsibility, but I refuse to objectify my passion, my curiosity and my imagination for stability. Not that I deny its use, I just think it is one of those natural perks of focusing on what I have always felt as important: knowledge and vision.

Knowledge is about questions, riddles, controversial things, taboos and all the things that can cause anxiety and make us want to escape the challenges they pose by retreating into `bonus levels`. Yet, straying from the main storyline usually makes one change from a protagonist (of his own quest) to a Non-Playable Character. Talking about anxiety, this must be my biggest one, for sure.

For the second aspect, vision, I think one has to take a look beyond the rational. For knowledge is consciousness and the world of words, the way our understanding is built up by the power of this form of expression. Still, who can deny the (often) subliminal force of images, sounds and that dazzling melange of sensory perceptions that tell a story of their own. Perhaps the thing I find most fascinating is that as knowledge examines and tames visions, so visions are able to cast a cloud of doubt over the righteousness of our rational selves. None can slay the other without fataly injuring itself, yet they can and should always point a questioning mirror in front of the other. I think I could say that this is my credo, in whatever field of activity, and as long as I won`t find a better guideline for my future, I`ll go by it.

So, how does one follow the...```yellow brick road`` ? Maybe by never being too sure of what one knows: perpetually looking for that extra bit of information or insight, to give depth. Of course, how far down the rabbit hole one decides to go is a whole different issue (or is it?).

Making of...ME!

On your journal, write about your practitioner development activity (non-classroom or university work based activity only). Independent study activity is the focus. Reading, watching, talking, listening might all fit as independent practitioner development.

When I had my interview for uni, my portfolio consisted of image manipulation works and to this day it is the game I enjoy playing whenever I have an idea of some sort and I want to make a record of it. I regard this method as my very own way of doing sketches, as it is a means by which I can try out ideas about movement, angles, position of the subject, lighting, expression, story. Or, sometimes, it is just a fun and quick way to test things, to see whether or not I have the skill or resourcefullness to execute something.

The `Phantom of the Opera` experiment would be an example. The initial goal was to make something that would suggest the idea of a mask, but not as a distinct and visibly artificial, external shield that conceals the face beneath it, but a mask that is part of the character, the mask as a metaphor for certain traits if you will. So, I made it cover only half of the face and the colour is close to that of the skin.

The next example is about character (re)creation...ladies and gentlemen, a personal vision of Rasputin, with piercing eyes and ruffled feathers...I mean, hair...and all...

I have also found a few sites that I try to visit as regularly as possible because I`ve found them really interesting and engaging to read, either because of the news or the interpretations offered.

I came upon Iwa ni Hana (http://www.iwanihana.info/) while searching for an unfinished anime, called Arslan Senki (The Legend of Arslan). For someone looking for manga and anime who isn`t at the geographical epicentre of it, it`s a very useful site.

The Broken Projector (http://www.brokenprojector.com/wordpress/) was the site I discovered while looking for more information on The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, the movie we were shown during last week`s lecture. It had a series of reviews on German expressionist movies and...most importantly, links to archive.org where one could watch them. Another option is Blogger Films (http://blogger-films.blogspot.com/). I found links to Melies` Trip to the Moon and The Mechanical Orange by Kubrick...so again, a good site for finding videos and some short reviews.

What I also found interesting is a book called Film Tricks. Special Effects in the Movies, by Harold Schechter and David Everitt. I find it engaging not just because it reveals the sheer ingenuity behind some of the most well-known special effects or classic scenes, but also because it gives one the feel of the set, of people in the business cooperating, learning from and about each other, the way in which they reflect upon their time to come up with something that inspires or dazzles the audience.

Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography was an interesting documentary (altough right now, it seems it is no longer available on Youtube). And, just by popping in some keywords, I found some good pieces of advice from other people on shooting, lighting, video transitions and other related issues.

I also find that reading outside the immediate area of multimedia is essential...that is why I keep my reading list as eclectic as I can. I guess I`m also lucky for having friends who are willing to have long, boring....I mean....engaging conversations about