http://vogmae.net.au/classworks/2012/DearDiary.html 2012 Makers: Kai Ebato, Sherilyn Wong and Kyesha Keleher.
“Dear Diary” (2012) by Kai Ebato, Sherilyn Wong and Kyesha Keleher is an interesting work with cohesive interacting forms of media. It relies on various patterns, using keywords and relations between videos. It also has a thoughtfully constructed interface, which assists in creating meaning in the work.
The work itself, has monologues playing one after another over the piece. The monologues are diary entries that are being read out by the same girl, describing various things that she observes; things that people generally wouldn’t take notice of noticing. Such as the shapes of handles in tram and train carriages. These topics can be followed in the clips chosen, as the mouse over preview can reveal the visual representation of what she describes. Then when she goes on to say she is alone at the tram stop, there is a clip showing that available up next, which you may choose or may not. Once going into one of these umbrella topics, all of the related videos are relevant. On a train video, the related clips are all about public transport. Then, one may choose to click on a picture of graffiti, and then all other related clips are related to that.; which is all related to the point in her monologues when she talks about painting on the walls. We get an insight into her thoughts through text captions next to the featured video, outlining her observations and reactions to what is shown.
The interface has been constructed so that the video previews appear like four balloons, holding up an old teddy bear. This is very childish imagery, which relates to the pattern of her observing different things and drifting in her thoughts. The child like aesthetic makes it seem as though the speaker is somewhat immature, which is reinforced in her monologue. For example while she is sitting in church, mouthing what people are saying until her mother tells her off; something you would picture a small child doing.
Because of this, i can conclude that this is a character piece, an insight into the mind of this girl who is childish, bubbly and observant. The piece allows us to view the world through the eyes of someone with childlike innocence, noticing things such as train handles and what other people are doing on the train; wondering why they all “seem so occupied.” She says her attention tends to wander in a text caption while the video plays a clip of dead leaves on the ground. Although she is very childlike, she there are hints to her being a teenager as well. She has dark humor, such as when she said “if i was in Nazi Germany, i’d be executed for being so normal,” in relation to her brown hair. This shows that it is not a child, it is from the view of someone who is a teenager, with a childs view of the world.
The monologues finally end with her talking about her brother leaving and her finishing high school, a time when she needs to grow up and be more mature. During the work, you can find a clip of her writing her diary entry on some paper. The final clip that can be played is a shot of burning paper, symbolising her diary that she has been writing in, accompanied by some text about burning bridges and old ties in order to move forward. Both of these endings show her transition from a wandering mind with a childlike view of the world, into viewing the world as an adult.
The piece works as an interactive documentary, as “the viewer is positioned within the artefact itself” (Aston, Gaudenzi, pg. 126). It gives us insight into this character’s mind and allows us to wander through it as if it were our own; wandering through thoughts the way she carelessly wanders through hers.
References:
Aston, J Gaudenzi, S. 2012, Interactive Documentary: Setting the Field, Studies in Documentary Film 6.2