Here is my Project Brief 2- a self-portrait

My Project Brief 2 focussed on a singular key aspect of my personality and the many ways I express it, this being my desire to take care of others. The majority of my video is comprised of a video of me performing a ‘kata’ from my martial arts, which is to me a way of ensuring I am able to protect my loved ones physically. This desire is echoed in my title and chosen text, Protéger and Je protège ceux qui ne peuvent protéger eux-mêmes, respectively. The former means ‘to protect’ and the latter, ‘I protect those who cannot protect themselves’, a variation on a line from a show that has inspired me. The choice to express these in French is an expression of my love for the language and the difficulties in deciphering something so abstract as self-identity. All the audio from my project is in either French or Japanese. The narration over the kata opposed to the photos is slow and clear, showing the simplicity of physically protecting someone as opposed to the confusion and dissonance of the more emotional or abstract ways of protecting someone, such as being a guide, shown by my photo with my cousins in the woods, or emotional support, shown with my photos where I’m cooking for someone. By creating a visual link through poses and editing I linked the ideas of physical protection with activities that represented protection or support. I think the use of photos that cycle quickly, flashing back to the video periodically clearly show the link between ideas that builds the theme. The confusion of the audio and the video in combination show the confused and unclear nature of helping others emotionally or morally. I think the project could have been improved with a greater range of ways in which support or protection can be provided.