Things I feel I have learnt in class (what we discussed on our table)

• Deeper understanding of other objects perspective of us
• redirecting agency
• questioning what constitutes being
• expanded vocabulary

Participation is 20% of our grade, the first thing we need to do is create a list of 5 significant actions  that will contribute to our learning within ecologies of noticing class. Here is what I came up with …

1. group discussions; not just in class but with the people you work with in your group. Allowing time to gather ideas your group members and together creating new ideas. Its an exciting way to think about whats discussed in class and to relate it to your own life therefore applying more meaning to it.
2. readings; whilst a hassle, they are hugely important. I don’t think its necessarily important to read books and books but even a few pages or key paragraphs that you allow yourself to get immersed in, write notes on, think about and apply to life is hugely helpful. (Alien Phenomenology I found really interesting and actually gave me a really great understanding of many concepts I couldn’t get my head around in class.
3. activities in class; ones that are creative, being in a media course we thrive on this creative outlet to learn. So drawing, or creating videos, soundscapes, writing notes, making diagrams and such as a way to learn but being allowed to choose which outlet you create.
4. Creating content thats personal; not literally personal to your life but having to create pieces that you can fully immerse yourself in and are excited to create. It’s exciting when you have the freedom despite a few constraints to make something that you want to make and have interest in. Whether its about something you do, or an idea your passionate about it will assist our learning and will allow the work to be substantially more interesting and of higher quality. When meaning isn’t placed on a task, its instinct for us to put significantly less effort in unless you find meaning in it. So this is a good way to place that meaning onto something.
5. Support, feedback and guidance; I know it was said at the start of class that we need to do most of the work ourselves BUT feedback is so useful to learning. Whether its with essay’s or creating content, having guidance during the process is so helpful. To know whats working and what isn’t, suggestions of new ideas. I also find guidance in terms of the ideas we talk about in class, when things are more difficult to understand perhaps there are ways to expand on the idea that’s easier to get a grip on. Examples of essay’s such as the different forms there are would be helpful or suggested ways to change elements of your writing to make it more successful.
6. I know only 5 were required BUT I just wanted to add in how understanding more about the industry and careers would be also super helpful. As a cluster of lost souls, having a few connections or experiences with industry professionals where we can apply our theory and content would be really useful and would make the future a whole lot less intimidating. I think it would further our learning as we are able to construct our ideas and ideologies to life and media life as a job regardless of where we end up.

FINAL PARTICIAPTION BLOG.

One thing that I have both done well and could have done better is my blogging, I think I have put a significant effort into my blogs, and I have incorporated other elements into my blogs of things that are not all relative to class. I think in the other aspect of blogging, perhaps doing more blogs would’ve been more efficient maybe were I to do this subject again I would look into doing a blog after each class. I think I did really well in terms of creating media, I always put in effort to filming pieces or recording audio. One of my first pieces where I filmed the watch without describing it as a watch I really enjoyed making and editing. Throughout the course of the semester I put in a lot of effort in recording and, editing sequences together. I also really enjoyed doing them as well. I think likewise the things I’ve done well is work together in a group. A main component of our studio was to communicate with out group and create works. With the group I was a part of we all helped each other out and did our fair share of work. The group essay worked out well as we discussed it in person together, we met outside of class and spoke about our ideas and then individually we constructed our segments and then pieced it together. I also enjoyed getting to know other people and working with others who had such different skills that I was able to learn from. I think I have participated well in my own way. Even when I couldn’t make class I still made sure I got the information from my classmates about what we did that day, and if there were any readings or tasks I did them at home. One of the tasks I did complete despite doing it wrong as i wasn’t actually in class but I still took the time out to make sure I was continuing my learning outside of the classroom. This for me was important to stay connected and continue my participation of this studio. I continue to do the readings assigned as to grasp further knowledge of whats discussed and in general to understand the topics we focus on in this studio. In many ways I have been able to think deeply about our topics of discussion, I’ve thought about the ideas of life and how objects and humans have similar existence but in different ways, not one thing is more important than the other. I have pondered over Ian Bogost’s ideology’s that that objects and any other things in this world are just as important as human beings. In simplified terms it explains how things engage with each other not in relation to their existence to human beings. In focusing on an ontology which is defined as the philosophical study of existence which “puts things at the centre of being”(p.6). Another thing I think I have done well is used resources to enhance my learning. Throughout the studio, I have asked friends and other classmates for help. There were times with editing in premiere that I was a bit lost so I used people with more knowledge to help me out. Through this process I was able to learn more and be able to use these new skills when I next had to edit things together. I also constantly checked through the blog in order to keep up to date with any information and to learn if anything was discussed. Likewise this was a really great tool to look through other students blogs and learn from them and their ideas, which is actually something I really enjoyed doing.

So throughout this semester I can definitely say I’ve learnt a few things I didn’t expect too. Firstly and I think most importantly Ive learnt not to be stubborn with my way of thinking. I have allowed myself to open up and really take on board these new and different ways of thinking. Whilst its a hard concept to get your head around that there is more to objects and that we as humans are not the centre of existence. However once you just start looking into it I think its such an interesting way of looking at the world. The readings is something I think i have both learnt to do better and is something I think I need to improve on. This studio in particular has helped me focus in on how I learn best. For me, reading isn’t my first point of call for learning, in fact its usually my last resort. However being forced into doing the readings I was surprised with some of the things I was able to take out of it. I find it hard to focus on long readings, for the first two that I read all off I got nothing out of it and it took me so long to get through. Instead for the next lot of readings I did I read what suited me and my learning. I took a page or two, or selected a few key paragraphs and read them twice, I highlighted, took notes and actually took in what was being said. So despite not getting through the entire readings I was able to selectively focus on a piece of writing that I could later apply to my group discussions, essay and further understand what was being spoken about in class. Discuss and talk to people, just talking about the things we discuss in class. Listening to others opinions and talking about life and questioning how objects can be redefined.

one very simple thing that I could’ve done better, my writing skills and the effort I put into improving those skills. A struggle I have always faced is my ability to write essays and form my language into something articulate. So for our first assessment of writing an essay I really struggled. I firstly wasn’t sure how to write an experimental essay so stuck with the formula I knew of. I think for me personally an experimental style would’ve worked best but I wasn’t confident enough in knowing what to say. Were I to repeat this subject I would’ve tried seeking more help for starters, done more readings to get a more general idea of what I was writing about and then I would have edited my work on numerous occasions to get the best essay I could. Another thing is my involvement in class and the discussions that took place, I think often my focus can drift in and out during class. So I think engaging more in class discussion would’ve helped me stay focused in class time.

On another note something I found interesting was the work received by Germany, I think is was exciting to see how despite many differences the creativity of their work was really intriguing. I enjoyed responding to their work and creating our own pieces to match with theres. I could have blogged more frequently and more in depth, this would’ve perhaps enhanced my learning more. Likewise more participation blogs just so I could’ve reflected on what I was doing good and to allow myself to set up some goals of improvement.

One other thing is that due to my upcoming adventure I had to really push to get all my work done before I left. A challenge yes, have I done it in time, yes, and I completely happy with it, I’m not sure. On the positive side I am really great at time management on the negative side I wish I had more time to really create some beautiful films. I would have wanted to allow myself more thought about each film and audio piece and I would have loved to take my time throughout the filming and editing process. However I had to work with what I got and still managed I think to pull of some nice videos. In this aspect I could only do the best I could with the restraints pushed on my (by myself). I think Overall I am happy, but would’ve loved to develop and push the ideas so much further so in something that I think I could’ve improved on I think would be my final 3 films, basically had I been allocated more time I would’ve pushed the ideas, discussed them further with people around me. Engage and develop a film idea and then come up with a creative way to communicate that. However i also think this is something that I did do well, create some films in which a very limited amount of time ! and still manage to pull together some quite well shot works. For me I think my best aspect of this studio was my cinematography and the way I can set up shots, edit things together and overall create a visual piece of work. Something that need developing is my portrayal and understanding of the ideas discussed in class and readings. All of these things essentially I think are shown throughout my final films. Despite not being overjoyed with happiness I am glad I can reflect on these ideas and looking back on it all now I will take all of this with me into the future. Whether if it is just the way I observe things in life, or if its the way I read readings, or if its how I pull apart ideas and look further into them I will take elements of my time in this studio into the outside world.

FINAL GRADE IM AWARDING MYSELF. 72% DISTINCTION