Appropriation_ Molotov & Ecstasy

In relation to the Molotov Man article I am leaning toward Susan Meisalas opinion however I definitely understand and even agree with both sides. I think in the age of modern media, internet in particular information and art and everything is very readily available. Too readily available many argue. Information is distorted by opinion blogs people assume is journalism (as I am looking at in my media ethics class) and art, like Molotov Man, can be easily lost, and re contextualised.

I definitely feel for Susan, and strongly agree with her argument, that if art is becoming lost amongst the technology of this day and age. We artists should embrace each other, come together as people and respect each other’s ideas. Joy was made aware of the work, and I don’t think she handled the situation as best she could have. Not to say she was wrong entirely, I just feel as though they could have come to an appropriate agreement.

That is I do believe it is ok to recontextualise work, that Molotov Man can still have as much meaning for the original image, even when he is used for different meaning and purpose by Joy. There was no intention for deliberate harm by either or the two artists, they are both right. But I do want to stress that we are as people being overcome by the modern age, maybe we should make a stand and instead of falling and becoming lost, embrace and come together, to respect life, love, people, music and art. There are things much more beautiful than anger, technology and negative notions of disabling our ability to share, that we can focus on in this world.

In relation to ‘The Ecstasy of Influence’ I think, as the reference to Bob Dylan’s music being a paradox; it is very important to consider the idea that appropriation holds a lot of benefits. As it allows the contemporary audience to reflect on the importance of words. Or another positive is focussing on the new meanings that can be created. Hopefully the new artist reusing work does it in a respectful manner to the old, and it is probably in most cases best to still refer to where the idea came from. But the point is that there are a lot of positives about appropriation that should be more often acknowledged, people can find balance, and draw less upon the negative connotations of the word plagiarism or appropriation.

I like how the ecstasy article, explores broad examples with depth, to stir the mind on these matters. The idea of photography’s initial question of plagiarism and the ideas of the want for Plagiarism as it has brought such timeless tales such as Romeo and Juliet and Southpark ha-ha. I love that those two stand next to each other in a sentence by the way. =P

I love the that “when damn near everything presents itself as familiar (in this modern age) – it’s not a surprise that some of today’s most ambitious art is going about trying to make the familiar strange.” An idea referred to earlier in the text, talking about, how art recreates objects “thingness”. A statement I agree with, on the notion of how much we as people miss, or assume to be true, and the ‘things’ we become disembodied with because of our familiarity with them. Association therefore is beneficial in that it resparks old likely forgotten ideas that are still necessary.

I understand the ideas for the need of copyright laws, but I think the ecstasy argument is very true. There are many benefits to appropriation and many disadvantages to copy right, such as (as mentioned in text) not being able to play ground music in public. Music is such a beautiful element, I would much prefer to share than to not. That is a naive statement as I am only considering what I would like, not what is necessary. However the restrictions on students photocopying that could be valid to learning is a better example of a definite, (kind of ridiculous as its likely not a commercial concern) destructive attribute of copyright laws.

Basically I like what Thomas Jefferson said considering copyright ‘a necessary evil’ as “he favoured providing just enough incentive to create, nothing more, and thereafter allowing ideas to flow freely, as nature intended”. Though I do want to add this statement seems a little naive also, as though and I hate to say it, but we do not live in a perfect world, and there are surely benefits for copyright laws to help artists when work is being stolen in a negative manner. This is to say I agree with the article, however like to consider more opinions, as 1. There is never one answer, and 2. I feel as though Jonathan Lethum is little acknowledging the fact that we don’t live in a perfect world. There are people who would use copying in a negative case that copyright laws could protect the innocent: i.e the laws have purpose. But I do believe strongly that one works reuse to create new meaning is a fine and beautiful thing.

And to finish, with irony, by using a quote ha-ha, I again think Thomas Jefferson is on the right track saying “He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.”

_I went on for way to long I’m sorry I’ll end it here. =) Peace


Oh, P.s. want to point out that I feel out free ability to express opinion in blogs without stress on need of a big reference sheet, like in essay writing: has benefited my individual to learning. I enjoy writing, these blogs sparking new thoughts to consider in my mind. I have learnt a lot from these readings and writing the blogs, and I believe it is the ‘freeness’ of it all that has helped me enjoy it, therefore really learn.

Reflecting on the Saturday 'Long Take' Shoot

I had an enjoyable day, my favourite part was probably walking through the trees for the little red riding hood shoot haha, but I guess that’s not the point of today’s blog.
Since I’ve worked with a Bolex before and developed many times, I didn’t get to be that interactive which I guess was a bit of a shame for me, but we all need to get a turn, so that’s cool. =)
I sometimes felt a bit outside of my group, when I did speak up about ideas I didn’t really get listened to I sometimes feel. But maybe that’s just me not explaining myself properly. Also I think it could be because the boys have a kind of different state of mind to me I guess, which is fine. They just like to get things done, and don’t I guess worry so much about the meaning/purpose to the story or the imagery, representations we could think more about working with. But I don’t think that is a bad thing necessarily just because it’s different to the way I would normally go about things. For example, today’s idea I felt was great, it was sweet and simple, funny, and had a nice unexpected ending. One suggestion I made that I kind of would have liked to include, just because I find studying human behaviour interesting: was to start with a shot of fidgeting feet, and then move up to the hands. I just think it’s interesting, how people keep their minds active, and themselves busy, when bored or in awkward situations etc. And then to move up and back to reveal the bus stop sign, and then move back more to allow the ‘man bus’ ha-ha to come in. I also thought that could have given us more variety of camera work. But, that would have meant Josh wouldn’t have been in frame to include the comedic trip, which was a great touch.
I love the Bolex, I love the look of old film, (I really wanna get myself one of those little cameras we also got to play with, just quietly hahaha), and I love the concept of doing entire works in one long take. It’s a challenge and it feels really honest to me. That might not make sense and probably sounds stupid ha-ha. I just mean that, if I see a short done in all one take, I know it’s honest, that is it hasn’t been cut up and manipulated. I particularly find this technique best effective in documentary or any non-fiction type film for this reason, just personally anyway.

48 hour video race ~ Ideas...

In a rush theres a video for some of my ideas, I feel like they will keep building so the blog may also with it, but thats where I'm at for now anyway...
Peace be all

some worthy procrastination haha

a little synesthesia painting i did to fill some time

2nd response Scratch Film Junkies

I definitely had an entirely new experience watching another Scratch Film Junkies work for a second time. First of all I felt although that there were still a variety of techniques I couldn’t for the life of me put my finger on what they were with complete confidence. But there were definitely material elements of the film I could now relate too, or better presumed. For example, use of magazine transfer in the beginning, arrow animation, pattern prints, paints/oils (though seemed a thicker but still glassy looking – looked possibly acrylic but I wouldn’t have thought so from remembering way back to 1st or 2nd class when Andre said careful not to use too thicker substances so that it doesn’t get caught up with the sprocket holes]).

So I suppose on a level as simple as being able to relate to techniques made my experience more enjoyable. As my previous blogs dictate my opinions are forever developing (for film and life ha-ha). This shift in opinion also greatly changed my experience. I mentioned scratch Film Junkies in a couple of blogs but I’m glad we have had the chance to speak specifically now on our new opinions, as I felt it is a subject I wanted to retouch on. – Our studies on synesthesia, our practises in making our own experimental and our study of experimental artists have all started me thinking.
I have regained appreciation for the story telling behind abstract, and the importance in the knowledge that it is up to each individual to gather their own interpretation – and that that is the beauty of it.
I definitely feel for example our 1st experimental had a story, and I’m sure if I asked someone to try and guess it, its possible they may, but I would also love to hear what they can see in it. Whether it were the colours, or the material representations, and whether or not they had a whole new meaning when projected I saw definitely saw our story come to life, and I loved it. As an example I used newspaper in one small part, to represent people today, I splashed a little red because I do think newspapers and their reflection of reality can be a little chaotic, but it was only a flash of a moment in the story amongst the sunsets and growth of life we considered to be important to this world as we currently know it. I wander now what the scratch film junkies use of magazine print meant to represent, possibly the something similar, probably something entirely different. Either way my second experience has definitely been altered, and I believe for the better.
I appreciate life so I’m glad I have come to re-find this appreciation for experimental. Not to say I have become totally taken, my style and thoughts from before are still around. However, experimental techniques are broadening my horizons for visual effect, and though I believe in everything I make having a clear message for the viewer, who’s not to say I can’t spread a strong message through experimental anyway.

Before I go here’s a quick list of the “I loved”...
- The underneath film of the man speaking inside the paint and scratch
- The green cellular looking figures
- The star and dot patterns and arrow animation & magazine print
-The thicker paints effect- could even have been nail polish like I noticed one of the girls in class used or inks mixed into oils maybe
- The 2 film inserts (plane on runway underneath & the man who looked drawn in, in some ace card looking world
- Some sort of technique that gave a stain glass looking effect
- & definitely Loved the dancing fox stuck in sand at fin

Speaking of which thats fin for me too haha good night