Putting it generally, ontography is the collection, correlation and recording of beings and things, as well as their nature and essence. When we apply this idea to list, we can see it as “a group of items loosely joined by not by logic or power or use”, but on the basis of purely existing (Bogost 2012, pg. 38). Almost like a gathering of sorts, collecting and connecting things based on them just, being, not requiring any sort of description or clarification (Bogost 2012, pg 38). So I won’t!
Okay, so maybe I will clarify and describe my work!
The prompt for this piece was “things that I find/found myself thinking about when I space out trying to concentrate”. Ironically, I found it difficult to think of the things I thought about when spacing out, without spacing out into something that wasn’t applicable, so I decided to just jot down any memorable images, things, moods or places that came to mind when I was concentrating on other things, which led to the ideas in this video.
When it came to constructing the flow and order of these scenes, I was inspired by Hannah Brasier’s ‘Sometimes I See Palm Trees‘. All the images and videos in that piece are linked through commonalities, such as colour or prompts. I decided to have my scenes flow in a similar way, but without the branching choice aspect, they are just loosely connected, without any real clarification or description. I would love to know how you think the scene flow,s and know if you feel like there’s any rhyme or reason to it.,
Both Jack and Joeseph’s feedback from last week helped in the creation of this experiment, as they suggested using cutting to black alongside purposeful audio, as well as shot length experimentation and build-up, both of which I feel more comfortable playing around with thanks to their suggestions.
Reflection References
Bogost, I., 2012. ‘Ontography’ in Alien Phenomenology. Or What It’s Like to be a Thing. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. pp. 35-50.
Brasier, H., 2018, Sometimes I See Palm Trees,
Video References
Banana Ripening Time Lapse (Free to Use HD Stock Video Footage), Untitled Artist, Attribution 3.0 CC, https://archive.org/details/BananaRipening/Banana+Master+H264.mp4
BBC Sound Effect Library – Autumn, Atmosphere: Quiet birds, insects, light breeze, V2 Rocket launching – 1975 (500B)
Beachfront B-roll: Fall Leaves (Free to Use HD Stock Video Footage), Beachfront B-Roll: Free Stock Footage, YouTube CC, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCuBFNMgjfc&ab_channel=BeachfrontB-Roll%3AFreeStockFootage
Bright Sky and Clouds, Jeffery Beach (Beachouse Productions), Attribution 3.0 CC, https://archive.org/details/BrightSkyAndClouds
Cat On His Way To The Morning Hunt (Wide Screen 16:9), Untitled Artist, Attribution 3.0 CC, https://archive.org/details/CEP441
Kalidescope Clouds, Ivan Bridgewater, Attribution 3.0 CC, https://archive.org/details/IMB_SF_R42_C2
Scuba diving Strytan in Iceland, Marc Herbrechter, YouTube CC, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az_6Ua0ioK8&ab_channel=MarcHerbrechter
Seagull Flying Wide Shot, Jeffery Beach (Beachouse Productions), Attribution 3.0 CC, https://archive.org/details/SeagullFlyingWideShot/SeagullsWideMaster_h264.mp4
Space – Free HD Stock Footage (No Copyright), Free HD Stock Footage, YouTube CC, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_stpyQo3H2A
The Spiral Lamp, Marcio T, Youtube CC, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK_ANFy0Ls4&ab_channel=MarcioT