Cinema Verite Critique

Today in class some of us presented our finished video projects and got some critique and feedback from the fellow students and teacher from it. I presented my video last, and was happy to share my project with the rest of the class, because it was not only something I spent lots of time working on that truly meant a lot to me, but I think other students were able to recognize that as well, and I think some others in the class were touched by my story as well. I was happy to hear what others had to say, and some pointers on what I could do for next time, because it's all going to just help me become a better artist for myself. I was really proud of my project, there was a lot of great projects presented from others today as well, and I think the critique Day 1 was a success! :)

Cinema Verite

Cinema Verite, also known as observational cinema, is the manipulation of the camera to reveal truth or highlight subjects hidden behind crude reality. It is basically direct cinema like filming, just without the narrator’s voice-over. To reveal that truth aspect in Cinema Verite, some filmmakers within the field made an obvious presence between the filmmaker and camera. It is important to display acknowledgement of the camera because it is the filming of real objects, people and events taking place in a confrontational way. I can see how this all relates to our project working in class because our object is to film real life occurrences so that there is no deception seen or thought of between the viewer and the filmmaker.

 

 

New Media in Art

This book, New Media in Art, I definitely didn't realize would be this short. Although the four chapters were pretty lengthy, I sure did not read through every single page thoroughly, but did get the just of every chapter and looked at the different pictures of artists presented. I was particularly pleased with the read of this book, because it looks at art from a different prospective then what we are normally use to. It brings realization to new art and what it is transitioning over to. Which I thought was very interesting. Now-a-days we live in a generation of the cell phone, and that is where a majority of our media comes from or gets captured on in the real world. So it was very beneficial to read and write about a book that focused on that, and it is one that I would definitely recommend! :)

The Digital in Art

In Chapter 4 of the text, New Media in Art, it starts out by describing digital art as pervasive. "Digital art is a mechanized medium whose potential appears limitless" (180). Digital Technology is the main course for computer art, internet art, digital photography and video which what the world is transitioning completely to, slowly but surely. Virtual reality is now being introduced as the new form of production, and not reproduction. It is simply its own reality. (181) According to Paul Virilio, we are up and coming into a world where there is two realities, the actual and virtual. Video games is a great example of this, teaching kids and teens about interactive media. This chapter reminds me what we discussed in class the other day, how when we look at a photograph we really don't know whether it is true or not, if it has been digitally edited or altered. Which is pretty mind-blowing how advanced that means technology has gotten. If it has advanced so much in just the past 20 years, i couldn't imagine guessing what the world will be like in the next 20 years..

Video Installation Art

Video Installation Art emerged as something to be viewed beyond the confinements of your home or showing of art developed. (pg. 124) The physical presentation and surrounding has become part of the art itself. One famous practice of early video installation is in the form of surveillance cameras. It was artist, Les Levine, that showed viewers recording images of themselves on a series of monitors inside an art gallery. Although this may not be what we normally consider art, I think its contribution to the art world is still very important and has a great impact in the society. We have seen murals go to drawings, then to painting and then to cameras and televisions. It is just amazing how technological advanced it has all become and can't wait to see what the future holds!

Chapter 2: Video Art

This chapter introduces a whole new form of art that, at the time, was new to the whole civilization as whole. This new form was based off of minimalism and conceptualism, and sky-rocketed in the 1960's. It was called, Video Art. This form was dominated by the media and was primarily the introduction of televisions. The moving image entered the common household with a vengeance, by 1953 two thirds of American households had televisions, and by 1960 it was up to about ninety percent (84). Needless to say, it wasn't the commercials or advertisements that we would normally consider as art, it was the intentionality of the artist: to make or conceive of something without the constraint of some other purpose (87). It is kind of hard imagining that the first televisions came out roughly about 50 years ago, especially with how so advanced technology has come with super thin, perfect display, smart televisions that are out now. It is just crazy how advanced electronics are coming along and the way the economy is shifting to more electronic now.

Media and Performance

In Chapter 1 of New Media in Art, it begins by talking about the canvas paintings and how they were so popular in 1949. It then goes on to talk about how the 60's had new plans in incorporating the viewer into the work of art and going away from the traditional canvas. This led to the big BOOM and birth of Performance Art. This kind of art isn't something you would typically see like on a wall or in a museum. This form of art included theater, dance, film, video and visual art all coming together. Of course, there was no other place to house this new beginning than in the heart of New York itself. I found this very interesting because I thought it was way earlier when Performance Art first began, so to find out that it was in this era was very interesting to me. I am excited to read more about what this book has to offer! :)