Coming into this course I kind of expected a bit more from it. Initially it was a very slow process where nothing much was happening. I wasn’t alone in felling this. I think the first semester of this course should be revamped because it is not extremely interesting or engaging. Knowing there is something better after this semester has pushed me on.
But I digress, this reflection needs to be more about me. Here are 5 posts that best demonstrate my engagement with the course:
Copyright Exploration
Over a few weeks I collated information from websites and books, then i put them into a short essay. The essay was in response to the lectorial where we learnt about copyright and the different aspects of it. I wanted to explore this in relation to the Artworld so i found some old and new artists to discuss about. I think this post is exemplary because it shows that I can delve into deep research and write an essay showing multiple view points. This essay could also be translated into a Video essay.
Audio editing reflection of Project 3 ‘Head Trauma’
This post shows my engagement in the course as I show a high level of understanding in editing. The reflection also show the effort I put in to fix my mistakes. Ive realised from this that my creative process can sometimes be disruptive in its compulsiveness, as i put off larger more important things.
Avant-garde web resource Ubu: I now feel the sun
This post shows the depth of my reflective process. It also shows my individual initiatives which i explore. In this way, the idea of ‘remixing’ which was discussed in workshop, was to find important things in the past and bring them forward into new. Since writing the ‘Ubu’ post, i’ve found many more awesome artists and styles which has broadened by knowledge and want to create better. This post also shows my procrastinative side as i venture from one thing to another, getting deeper and deeper, showing my dedication to find ‘new’ and interesting things, going beyond want is necessary in the course.
Studio Lighting – Learning from Mistakes – Learning from the Interweb:
This post shows that I am doing things outside of RMIT which will help me develop photography techniques (For Uni and for life). This project was a stepping stone as I made mistakes but have leant from them. I now have a greater understanding of camera settings. I leant this from going online or just playing with my camera until I got it right. I think this process of trial and error is the best way i learn because it actual involved me asking ‘why does this work in this way’. This has made me realise that by creative process is more fluid and changing and that i cant just learn something off a youtube video, I actually have to journey my way there.
MORE of…
What i’ve learnt:
Over the semester I’ve learnt how to be a more ‘professional’ media practitioner. I think one of the most valuable things i have learnt is to acknowledge that you’ve gotten someones message of email, but will get back to them soon. Too many times recently ive gotten a texts and couldn’t respond to them at the at time because of being busy with something or unknowing what to say. Its a really polite way of telling them i am not avoiding their message, and a good way of giving me some time to think and reply.
Ive learnt that writing about the process of making is actually important. Its a written account of why do do specific things, and how i develop. it means that when i am looking back i may be able to address my previous mistakes.
Ive learnt how to make a blog. Although I could have leant how to blog by myself, its just i wouldn’t have had the motivation.
How i learn:
Ive found that I learn with equal portions of reading/watching and doing. Of course you only truely learn how to do something once you do it, but by having a base understanding, eliminating some restrictions, and testing the waters without help, sometimes its easier to actually understand why things are done in a specific way.
What I found most challenging in this course
Ive found it challenging to be consistent. I also find it hard to write about things that don’t need writing.
What I discovered about my own creative practice
Its kind of the same as how I learn. My creative practice is a balance of experimentation and sticking to rules. I have a good base knowledge on editing, the way things flow, and what looks good. Using Picasso as an cliche example, he first learnt how to paint amazingly, whcih allowed him to be respected even when he pulled away from realism to abstraction. So i do like to challegne my curent skill base, but i never stray fully away from what is proven to ‘work’. An example of this is in PB3. I didnt want to display an ordinary interview because everyones would be the same. So i decided to experiment with a story which slowly developed like a narrative should. I added dramatic pauses and disrupted flows to challenge what a typical interview was.
In conclusion, i did like this semester despite the pessimistic views. It was important for the future studios as a benchmark.