media2 – Plain and White

Presentation

In week 5 there was no class, the first project brief presentation was done on Thursday. I have to say everyone’s video was stunning, the content were amazing. They all looked very articulated. I was worried though that my video kind of looked different, but I hoped it still would satisfy the audience.

But everyone still kept in touch in the Facebook group, and Kim gave us a photo of ‘some speculations on participatory documentary environments’, and one point got me

This form of documentary responds not to big issues and individual portraits, but the micro and the multiple

After seeing this I got a little bit more clearance of what an open space documentary is. It doesn’t have to be a ‘grand’ or involves ‘the bigger cause’, it focuses on the micro, the smaller, unseen community, that has their special uniqueness, but never represented. I don’t have to make my videos really flash, i just have to collaborate with my ‘subject’ to make the most collaborative video I can make.

During my first week, Kim gave my class an introductory reading about what this class is all about. And that is participation.

In the classical tale of documentary, the art form works as a representative of a community, group, or a problem that the author wants to address. Usually the author researches, brainstorm and plan a narrative in which the filming would follow with. Open Space Documentary takes an alternate path, a curved one that slides off as a meander but eventually arriving at the same end. It works through collaborative means, between the author and the subject.

The docuentary does not work by the idea of one director, and then advanced and supported by footage and interviews, rather the community participants become the authors.

They deploy story-telling strategies all the while engaging and creating something new through their communication. I think that open space documentary actually lets the community shape the narrative. Through the participatory method, the practice is “reciprocal, localized, reflective and multi-voiced”. not an argument but as a way to consider a concept or a place.

Taking this studio is a huge step for me. Communication skill is the bread and butter of a media practitioner, because creating media involves a lot of other people. It’s going to be a challenge, but i hope it might as well be a goddamn worthy one. Lastly, here’s a quote from the second reading that Kim gave us, it pins really well in my head right now.

What matters is that you remain close to what is human, to what your life has taught you to believe, and that you develop your own ideas and authorial voice

cheers,

Tag: media2

Week 5 Update

Presentation

Documentary as an open space