MEDIA 1
BLOG REFLECTIVE PORTFOLIO
5 posts:
Week 1 – Lectorial: Attention
http://www.mediafactory.org.au/yuting-xiao/2015/03/03/week-1-lectorial/
Week 2 – Extra Thoughts: A Study In Silence
http://www.mediafactory.org.au/yuting-xiao/2015/03/03/week-1-lectorial/
Week 6 – Lectorial: Collaboration
http://www.mediafactory.org.au/yuting-xiao/2015/04/14/week-6-lectorial-collaboration/
Week 8 – Lectorial: Narrative/non-narrative
http://www.mediafactory.org.au/yuting-xiao/2015/04/28/week-8-lectorial-narrativenon-narrative/
Week 12 – Lectorial: Media Materialism
http://www.mediafactory.org.au/yuting-xiao/2015/05/26/week-12-lectorial-media-materialism/
Learning graph:
1. How much have I learnt about making media objects/stories?
2. What is my ability to work independently in unfamiliar ways or with new systems and tools?
3. How much do I understand and think critically and creatively about what I make?
4. What is my understanding of the role/value of the blog?
Final reflection:
Light bulb moments around
i) What you’ve learned
ii) How you learn
iii) What you find the most challenging
iv) What you’ve discovered about your own creative practice
For me, the Media 1 course was a good introduction and insight into the RMIT Media course as well as the university discipline in general.
In the course, I’ve learned more about both theoretical and practical knowledge about media, finding the lectorial topics really interesting and also really enjoying getting to use the tech equipment that is available to us.
Practically, I’ve learnt technical skills using the RMIT cameras and audio recorders as well as improved on editing skills through observing my classmates’ products and through my individual research. I would say the main lesson I have learnt through the practical project brief is the importance of audio. After having trouble getting crisp interview audio in Project Brief 3, I was motivated to explore the Zoom recorders more and have now learned to set up the film environment as well as editing skills to allow optimal audio quality. In terms of editing, the biggest discovery I have had is the value of incorporating found footage; how it can add much more depth to a piece or create whole new meanings. Theoretically, I have found the lectorial discussions about various ideas surrounding media highly relevant and interesting.
On a more general level, I’ve learned more about working in a collaborative atmosphere. Working on Project Brief 4 was a valuable experience in working creatively in a more professional university setting, during which I learnt the importance of communication and honesty in sharing thoughts when it comes to building up a product from a relatively broad, vague idea.
The most challenging, or perhaps eye opening aspect of this course was learning to focus on creating products that I personally enjoy and am proud of, and not products that I think an audience will like or how “good” it is. During Project Brief 1, I think I thought too much about fitting my pieces into the general scope of what my peers were creating, and not enough on what really define me as a person. It’s been difficult to transition from a high school mentality where certain creations were considered “good” or “right” or “normal”. However, the more I have been apart of the university environment, the more I have realised that everyone is an individual. There is no determining “right” or “good” quality – everyone is so different and will have very different approaches to the same task. Yet, each product is good in their own way. I’ve ended up appreciating the products that have the most individuality and stay the most true to the person creating it – and I think that’s a concept that I will need to keep reminding myself for a while.
Through this course, I have discovered that although I’m not the type of person that knows what to say about myself – hence the difficulty when it came to writing reflections. However, as I’ve become more accustomed to doing them, I’ve discovered that I do benefit significantly from thinking back through my choices and work. The trial and error and discovery nature of the project briefs was also a valuable learning experience for me, as it was a change from the high school environment where guidelines are given strictly for tasks. In hindsight, not knowing the exact direction of where I was going to go with the projects and having to gradually figure it out step by step was a needed learning curve.
As for my creative practice, the main thing I’ve discovered is to push myself to think outside the box, reinterpret prompts and break the boundaries more. My approach to the project briefs this semester have been largely to follow the rules and take a more conventional approach so far, but after screening my peers’ work and seeing how some of them have used abstract themes really well has inspired me to think in a more creative way and think deeper about the material I am creating.
