Due Date: 14/08/2017

Task Two – Prompt Post

• In this post, you should outline what your process of collection will be. This process should be informed by an idea from the Mason reading, Bogost reading or Patrick Pound exhibition.

Royal Arcade is the place that Vivian (my partner) chose. We decided to record media every two hours from the opening time until the closing time.

Thus, here are some time points in a day that I selected to take photos and videos:

9.00 am-11.00 am-13.00 pm-15.00 pm-17.00 pm

As Mason mentioned in the report, it is important to distinguish between the creations of the foreground and the background, moreover, the differences between some “things” and its surroundings are also crucial. Thus, when I went to Royal Arcade for the first time, observing the surrounding environment is the first thing what I did. Royal Arcade is located in the Bourke Street and it is just a corridor in the middle of malls. To be honest, although there is a sign with ‘Royal Arcade’ on the wall in the front of the door, it is not very noticeable, even I looked for it for almost half an hour. Royal Arcade is hidden by the surrounding big shopping malls, such as David Jones, Myer, H&M. It is precisely because of this; Royal Arcade is an oasis of serenity amid chaos and becomes the suitable place for rest.

I think different time zones could provide some obvious differences in the Royal Arcade. Thus, I would like to take some photos when it opens in the morning, the lunchtime at noon and the peak time in the afternoon to do some observations.

There was an idea flashed in my mind, maybe I could set a specific theme to take photos. As Patrick Pound exhibition in NGV, the photography exhibition gave me a deep impression. The photographer took a series of photos that about shadow, people, camera, damaged things. It gives me a big hint to begin my work and this is the reason why there is an elephant doll appears in each photo. I choose the elephant doll as the themes because of its cute appearance and I believe that this series of photos would be impressive.

Bogost proposed that the only one ontographical approach and the most basic one is name objects. When I went to Royal Arcade for the first time, the subjects that gave me the deep impression and wanted to record have appeared in my mind, such as the dessert shop, café and the clock on the wall. The best method that helps me to have a clear clue is to name them. Moreover, to follow Bogost’s suggestion, which is listing is the simplest method to such recording, I listed dot points mentioned above and some subjects made me impressive in the Royal Arcade on the paper to avoided forgetting.

 

• You should list what you know, don’t know and expect to see and/or hear in your location and your pair’s location. You should not do any formal research to find out about their location – you should speculate from your own knowing of the world.

Royal Arcade:

Know：In the city; surrounded by shopping malls; the corridor with many shops

Do not know: there is a wall clock and it rings every fifteen minutes; two café, one dessert shop and one bread shop in the Royal Arcade; there is a gallery can through to Elizabeth Street; the sunshine cannot come through the window, so bright lights is important.

Expect to see/hear: People have brunch in café; many brand name shops; people go shopping, especially women; the Royal Arcade with two or three levels, even more.

Queen Victoria Market:

Know: one of the biggest food markets in Victoria; contains vegetables, fruits, meat, seafood, fast food (burger, sandwich etc.), bakery products; cafes; there are chairs in the front of café and along the street

Do not know: the market opens at around 6 a.m.; there are the least number of customers at that time; there are some advertisements; the market divided into different parts and there are some guideposts

Expect to see/hear: People buy food in the morning, especially at the moment of the opening; bargaining between customers and sellers; the variety of fruits and vegetables; people have the meal at the dining hall or sit along the street