Favero, P. (2013) “Getting our hands dirty (again): Interactive documentaries and the meaning of images in the digital age”, Journal of Material Culture, no. 18, pg. 259-277

I looked into a journal article that focused on the study of the visual field in online screen production specifically documentary. Making sure that audiences and contributors see the need to increase an awareness of digital culture, interactivity and the functioning of Web 2.0 in this day of age.

Examples that were touched one was the ‘two-way flow of information’, which according to its standard definition, interactivity can be seen to consist primarily of four stages: observation, exploration, modification and reciprocal change (Meadows, 2003). While the first two may still perfectly fit within a broad definition of documentary film, the third and fourth are indeed more problematic. Allowing modification and reciprocal change (by the hands of the viewer/user) does seem to invalidate the mission of the documentary itself. As Favero briefly touches on, having modification and reciprocal change is a challenging and exciting part of interactive documentaries, which we as a group feel is the best part of Crash Course. Where the viewer/user can upload their own video/text/sound to the project (therefore modifying) and then sharing it to their friends so they can reciprocally do the same.The journal article touches on a project named Out my Window/High rise which is filmed in 360º technology, the video also allows viewers to move around and explore the various angles of the space in which the filming was carried out. Returning to the main room, viewers/visitors will find other links that may lead them to discover further personal details of the character’s life story as well as reflections on the meaning of life in high-rises, etc. This links with our window boxes that features the video or sound content, but the idea of personal details has given me influence to maybe implement some sort of link in every box that goes to a Facebook page, where all the members that have shared their stories are able to chat, comment, and socially interact. Where it also becomes a home for social interactivity, meeting new people and maybe giving more useful information to others on where to go/not go when travelling, ect.

In Out my Window/High Rise pieces of information are conveyed through a creative combination of photography, text and sound (in general, video is quite underrepresented in this work). By exploring further, viewers may select another character and enter a new world. Like all i-docs, Out of My Window allows/forces viewers to actively take possession of the material presented by designing a personal (non-linear) route of discovery. The project, however, contains more than just this set of visualisations. In the section entitled ‘My Window’, viewers are invited to actively participate in the project by posting photos of their own windows, hence sharing their own understanding of living in such urban world. By ‘tagging’ their own photographs with keywords (just like Facebook), viewers can let their own (photographically mediated) experiences enter into a dialogue with those of viewers located in other parts of the world. Which taps into to why our main focus of getting others to upload content is so beneficial.