Category Archives: manifest

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Posted on by under manifest

10 May

Following on from this week’s focus on institutions, music in particular is interesting as an extension of this. On Sunday night, Emily and I went to Rod Laver Arena to see alt-J perform. Before my robotic thoughts on media institutions in relation to these, I need to express my delight. alt-J were INCREDIBLY INCREDIBLE. That, for me, is the best way to describe how great they were. Audibly and visually brilliant, the band performed a great set. ‘Taro’ was by far the best song performed and ‘Fitzpleasure’ was definitely the second.

Now, onto mindless thoughts (oh how I love oxymorons). I did read the weekly readings on media institutions however as they concern social media and broadcast television, they are not closely related enough to music for evidential substance. I suppose I could continue my discussion on authorial valuation however apropos to music institutions this time. Rod Laver Arena is an institution. alt-J is an institution. The music industry is an institution. Indie-rock music as an institution. Four institutions collaborating on Sunday evening. Three of them burdened by authorial valuation; one well-recognised as subjective due to personal taste. I do agree that yes, I thought the following prior to Sunday:

alt-J is alt-J. Rod Laver Arena is only for the biggest artists. Indie-Rock concerts have great atmosphere.

I do recognise authorial valuations influencing my preconceptions. But is this necessarily incorrect? In truth, it depends on a lot of factors: whether or not alt-J have ever performed shit-ily; whether or not Rod Laver Arena has hosted minor artists before; and whether or not I would enjoy an Indie-Rock concert. All I know is that the concert was incredible and whether it was genuinely amazing or my authorial valuation persuaded this opinion is irrelevant. In correlation to my opinion on placebos, who cares. As long as it does the job then sweet.

VII

Posted on by under manifest

8:52pm on 22nd April 2015
I sit down by the Yarra river on the Arts Centre’s side opposite Flinders Street Station. I am overwhelmed by the soundscape of reality: the lusting of the wind; the electronic music surrounding me; the trains to-and-from Flinders; the sounds of footsteps on the concrete; and the conversations surrounding me (both on my side and the opposite side of the river). Suddenly, a saxophone. Where is this saxophone’s sound protruding from? Is it close? Is it far? To tell the truth, I am unsure. Perhaps under the Princes Bridge? Nonetheless, it is irrelevant. The opening notes of Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street is indescribably controlling. My ears suddenly hone in on the saxophone’s beauty and kill off every other external sound. I am overcome by a wave of sincerity and calmness that is unparalleled.

My riverside relaxing perception of the sonic environment was skewed. The technical aspects, temporal aspects, interactions of sounds, associative and emotional aspects of sound and the origin of the sounds was altered. Media’s manipulation of sound can trick the ear into mirroring the occurrence by the Yarra River. Editing in media goes hand-in-hand with sound to create this focal effect, which I will probably study in Project Brief 4.

Self-portrait

Posted on by under manifest, Projects, RMIT

18 March

 

For Media One’s first project, we had to undertake a self-reflection and investigation for our very own self-portraits. I have thought a lot about this and have been tossing up what I would include in my self-portrait. After deliberation, I have chosen to display aspects of myself more personal and more hidden than my surface representation. Yes, there are aspects of myself that I have not considered adding which brings the following question to mind: can a self-portrait really present a ‘whole’ of an essence? I disagree due to subjectivity of one’s own insecurities. Therefore, I may in the future attempt to add to my self-portrait but for now here are aspects of myself that I consider to embody ‘me’.

Journey

My first image is entitled Journey and is explicitly a portrayal of my recent inter-state move to Melbourne to study Media and pursue my dreams in Film.

Insecuit

Confronting and raw, the second image in my self-portrait collection is entitled Insecurities. Taken in a familiar place, Insecurities personifies my anxieties and self-doubts through habitual nail-biting.

Gradual Felicity

Gradual Felicity, my third image of self, is an unintentional intentional shot. Light and dark, Yin and Yang, are polar dualities that I find strength and balance in. Gradual Felicity’s intrusion of white into black symbolises my endeavour to feel happier and let optimism outweigh pessimism one day.

Imminence

My final image for my self-portrait is entitled Imminence and is a public illustration of personal circumstance. A depiction of privacy, apprehension, sensation and climax.

My first of two videos for my self-portrait project is entitled Backwards and has purposefully been uploaded in low resolution. Backwards shows forward-pacing motion, ironically presenting confusion and haste.

Fittingly, Forward is the title of my second self-portrait video. My intention with Forward is to illustrate my unconventional movements from untroubled norms to precarious perspectives.

My first audio piece is entitled 1 and represents the often unattributed part of myself that enjoys solitary, contemplation and silence.

My second audio piece is entitled 2 and is a personal and intimate part of my self-portrait. I will leave this one open for interpretation.

I do not want to live vicariously; I am my own essence. My eyes disregard alien entities and search for the missing part of my what-seems-like-forever distorted entirety. I am on a journey; though I clutch to the wind. Clair de lune est le Soleil.

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