Below are the mind maps and ideation developed during assessment 2.

Final production video

www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/2018/03/26/assessment-2-uploaded/

500 Word Reflection: 

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/2018/03/27/home-in-the-worl…sment-reflection/

Assessment progression:

www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/2018/03/20/week-4-20-03-2018/

www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/2018/03/26/week-5-26-03-2018/

Inner Peace images:

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Inner-Peace-1-1i4ow8o.jpg

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Inner-Peace-2-12hldc4.jpg

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Inner-Peace-3-uc65qn.jpg

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Inner-Peace-4-1xrtozt.jpg

Strength images:

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Strength-4-2c2ornj.jpg

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Strength-3-1hl5hc3.png

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Strength-2-1efivm5.jpg

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Strength-1-x4hozj.jpg

Success images:

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Success-4-246nbe1.jpg

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Success-3-qtxfth.jpg

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Success-2-14vlrc4.jpg

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Success-1-1oh1ykv.jpg

Light images:

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Light-4-uiqomj.jpg

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Light-3-1xydk1h.jpg

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Light-2-1wgoiqg.jpg

http://www.mediafactory.org.au/brooke-mckay/files/2018/03/Light-1-2e47mvp.jpg

Change your perspective. We live our lives in such a hurry that we miss what it is we are living through. We remember the big moments and ignore the small. This assessment has taught me to notice the unnoticed and take meaning from each. Every environment you enter has a different effect on your emotions, mood and comfort. Through my work I have begun to question why that is, what elements cause these changes and why is it done subconsciously? Strength, Inner peace, light and success. Four words which conjure so much thought.

Prompted by the expression “Money doesn’t buy happiness” I explored what it is that defines success. Looking further than progression within the workplace and physical achievements, I explored the small wins which have a greater effect. Discovering that the minor details are the ones which define your day. Using the visual representation of cooking a perfect egg and the yolk imploding when cut. A satisfying moment which ultimately adds a form of success to your day. Whether this satisfaction spurs from ripping perforated edges, opening a fresh tin of tennis balls or pouring water out of a jug and ice cubes falling into your glass. Each moment defines the success of your day and the mood you encompass throughout it.

The idea of inner peace to me comes from a moment of self acknowledgment. Simply when you understand your own calmness and recognise where it came from. Taking time to appreciate your own happiness. Things that directly influence your level of zen. My images used are personal to my own happiness and appear to have provoked other peoples. A photograph of an empty beach, breath taking sunset, young puppies and  therapeutic colouring. There is extensive research suggesting that patting dogs, in particular puppies release endorphins, encouraging happiness. To me these simple acts are when I feel most at ease.

I received great constructive feedback from my peers following my presentation. Particular focus was drawn to the image of a large group of people representing strength. Everyone was dressed to a theme and when observing from afar appeared the same however upon closer investigation held different stories. The image focused on strength in numbers and unity.

Another image which was received well was the representation of light, in particular the car. The idea was suggested that the revs symbolised that whilst the car was “alive” it was not thriving, simply idling and continuing to survive. The lights contrasted the black background illuminating the information.

The class found great humour in my presentation in regards to my use of irony. They particularly liked the idea of small wins, the cheer i put over the top of the yolk spilling out of the egg. They also drew focus to the marching sound over the ants, illustrating the strength of the ants indirectly and commented on the effectiveness of my editing.

The feedback received provided me with a new confidence in observing and my ideation. Whilst observing other peoples presentations has taught me of different ways to look at the brief. It is interesting how one instruction can provoke so many thoughts and perspectives.

Lights are designed to direct. Look around the room you are in right now, I would suggest that at least 90% of light sources you can see have a directional purpose. What I mean by this is that they are designed and organised for specific functionable reasons. For example, as I sit in my study the two easterly facing windows provide morning light, whilst the skylight gives afternoon. The green circular light on my laptop charger indicates the level of charge I have. The alarm clock numbers are illuminated by a soft blue colour as to not appear blindingly bright at night time. My phone has auto brightness settings to change its brightness depending on the environment it is in.

I have discovered through the progression of assessment 2, the implications of light and how they effect our day to day activity. Subconsciously we follow their directions daily. Often used as warning signals lights provide symbols which humans are programmed to understand. Traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, dishwasher warnings, fuel lights.

Lights are everywhere, both artificial and natural all you have to do is look for it.

As I continue assessment 2, I am beginning to develop more and more questions about my 4 chosen words. The notion of strength provokes the idea of how it is perceived dependant on who is asked. Twenty year old Sam stated “Its obvious isn’t it? A simple test of how much weight someone can lift or how many chin ups you can do measures strength easily”. Suggesting that the only method of demonstrating strength is through physical ability. However when speaking to my fifty-four year old mother she referred primarily to mental strength, “It takes strength to forgive and forget, to move on, to grow as a person and to keep going when times are tougher than you ever imagined”. An extremely different take on the definition of strength. This idea is demonstrated through my assessment, the perception had. Why is it that some people view it differently? Is it based on their personal experiences in life, their age, gender, expectations, priorities? Each part of their life determines what they see strength as and whether they themselves have it.

Today we explored the program Audacity. Developing basic skills, how to use loops, edit pitch and import sounds. We began to hear the endless possibilities available from a singular sound as each of us created a different loop. Receiving multiple strange looks as we walked throughout building 12 playing our different creations. Observing the echoes provided by the walls and the effect each material had when reflecting off it.

I have decided upon 4 words for the assessment, strength, inner peace, light and green. While all seem straight forward, there are many ways to interpret each. In particular, I am interested in the exploration of the word strength. Whilst you immediately think of physical strength and the ability to lift heavy objects, strength can be taken a step further. Mental strength is something which cannot be measured and is more often than not unseen. The simple act of getting up in the morning often take a large amount of will power. Such will power is shown everyday un our lives and often we don’t recognise it ourselves.

Edith Sitwell “My personal hobbies are reading, listening to music and silence”.

Throughout this assessment I have discovered that if someone can hear silence, they are not listening closely enough. In most situations when the word ‘silence’ is used, it is being referred to as a lack of speaking, music and dominant noises. However, it is an extremely rare circumstance that silence is ever actually achieved.

Recently I visited the silent reading room in the state library. A room which in its own title claims to be silent. However during a 15minute period of sitting and listening I heard the creaking of chairs, turning of pages, footsteps, doors opening, table adjusted, faint whispers, digital click of tourists taking photos, the recoil of someones headphones and heavy breathing. The room was far from silent, however almost as close as you can get to it.

On the contrary if you were to enter a completely natural environment alone, the earth still provides noise. Wind in the trees, wind pushing leaves along the ground, birds singing above, the air itself appears to have a sound surrounding you.

Our ability to hear silence is actually our ability to block out the noises around us.

During my site visit I went to a playground in Albert Park. As seen on my poster, I focused primarily on the voices encompassing the area. I noticed that one noise made my the human voice can depict a vast number of emotions. A child’s scream could relate to joy, fear, pain, anger, excitement or sadness. The tonal differentiation completely altering our perception. Of course once you add the sense of sight, a greater understanding can be had through the reading of facial expressions.

The same can be said about laughter, whilst you would presume laughter primarily illustrates happiness, this is not always the case. Parents for example, have mastered what I like to call the ‘exhale laugh’. One which pushes a lot of air out of your mouth without making a large noise. Often done as a smirk or with sarcasm. Within the playground parents constantly did this laugh when watching their children do something or say something ridiculous. It was also present within conversations between different parents as they compete to be the best mother.

Nearby, a tennis court held lessons to young teenagers. Next to this was a young adult yoga class. It appeared to me as though the landscape was designed as a progression of our lives. Beginning as an innocent child in the playground, to learning skills on the tennis court, progressing to a young adult at yoga and then back to the playground as a parent. What was interesting about this however, is the differentiation between the way people spoke in each section. Parents develop a subconscious voice for when addressing children. Using simplistic words and speaking slowly but with great expression. However at yoga, it was clear that the instructor whilst being younger than the attendees, had the greatest authority. At each stage, their was a person of power, someone in control of the situation and their voices reflected this.

When you stop and listen to your surroundings, you begin to notice the noises you subconsciously make and ignore yourself. Each a product of your ears choosing what to listen to.

Reflection 2: WEEK 2: 08.03.2018

This week I experimented with the association between eyes and ears. I visited a playground sitting with my eyes shut and simply listening to the sound. Whilst I could guess what each sound was, my orientation was lost. Sound echoes through tunnels, rebounds of slides and appeared to surround me at every angle. Children screamed, laughed and cried constantly.

I then switched, blocking my ears and simply observing my surroundings. The contrast was incredible, whilst I could grasp a greater understanding as to where to previous sounds had been formed, I was reading the emotions of children by their faces as opposed to their voices.

Posing the question, do we draw conclusions of situation via our sense of sound or sight. A combination of both can be understood, however each provides an entirely different resource of information.