ITAP Lecture 9: Image & text

This lecture explained to me how can meaning of the image or a photograph could be changed by use of the text. Jim Goldberg a magnum photographer done a series of photographs, where she let people who were photographed write on them, whatever they want to say or express, giving them freedom of speech. For many some photographs can be meaningless but when adding some writing to it, everything seems to get brighter and understandable. We can also change the meaning of the image by adding some text to it. 

In editorial photography text is an important factor, due to images being based on what articles are about. I, as a photographer in my group had to work on understanding the text and creating reliable responses so readers can visually react to the reading part. 

ITAP Lecture 7: Development of Ideas and Structure in Moving Image (Principle: 5: Digital Story Telling)

Now days lots of stories are told through digital means. I will take Batman for example; it started off from traditional story telling through paper in this particular case it was a comic book. Batman creators have released many issues of famous comics, to the moment when the films were released. Many producers take inspiration from different medias for their movies, which also makes both more popular. Films based on Batman comics will make the books more popular, as this can be an advertisement for drawn version and films will already have some sort of a fan base and audience, as it would be aimed at people who are already familiar with characters and the story.

Engaging the audience in the media created is important task for any creator and producer. Therefore DVDs are sold in many different formats, people can purchase an extended versions, collectors editions or purchase some additional interviews and “behind the scenes” videos. YouTube is one of the most famous part of promoting any media, as trailer, interviews, reviews etc. are posted on there, and most importantly people can watch it for free. I found some teaser videos before, which just tease the customer, who then will go off and buy the product.

Not as famous as films and comics Batman also had set of TV series, which were broadcasted in 1960’s for two years, having about 120 episodes. Films are more contemporary. Following films release there were games produced, especially now, when gaming industry got bigger. This sort of action would help to build bigger fan base for the produces and help them get financially settled. Audience can relate to the characters and engage in the story through games, which can be great fun for some.

There are many ways producers can engage audience, and with digital world growing bigger and bigger, they have chance of thinking new and original ways of getting their audience involved.

ITAP Lecture 7: Development of Ideas and Structure in Moving Image (Principle: 1: Story Development: Three Act Structure)

Three-act structure helps to keep films well-organized and understandable for viewers. Some directors create films which not necessary have a conventional order, which is Beginning-Middle-End. I have watched Mr. Nobody created by Jaco Van Dormael, which is a contemporary movie released in 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU_aIfityBQ, the story follows little boy who had to decide on who does he wants to live with, he didn’t make that decision and the film shows 3 different life paths he could off lived on, so therefore the story keeps coming back to the beginning 3 times.

For more conventional example of the film I will use Alice in Wonderland by Tim Burton. The task for this principle was to identify 3 act structure in recent film and this is what I will do.

3 Act structure in Alice in Wonderland (2010)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjMkNrX60mA

ACT 1 - Beginning (about 15 mins):

Little Alice explains her mad dream to her dad

13 years later she goes to her engagement party

she cant make a decision about marriage and runs away following white rabbit in a waist coat

ACT2 - middle (about 1hr 15 mins):

Alice falls to Wonderland

She gets to mad tea party

Red Queen kidnaps Mad Hatter

Alice gets to Red Queens castle

Alice meets White Queen

Hatter rescue action

Fight with red queen

Piece is restored to Wonderland and Alice gets back to the world of living

ACT3 - Ending (about 15 mins)

She disagrees to the marriage

Makes plans about the business with her dad’s co-worker

She leaves the country to work on the business she set with her dad’s co-worker

Criterion 1 in the story: Alice decides to follow the white rabbit in a waistcoat

Criterion 2 in the story: The state of equilibrium is disturbed by Alice falling down the rabbit hole and entering the Wonderland, the new equilibrium is set when she comes back to world of living and decides not to marry Hamish and set a business with her dad’s friend.

Criterion 3: She grows up emotionally following the events at Wonderland, trying to save Mad Hatter and slaying the Jabberwocky. 

TAP Lecture 6: “Production and Outcomes” influences and reactions (Principle2: Delivery)

Artists have to choose particular platform they want to work in in order to deliver their pieces and outcomes in most effective way for them. There are plenty of areas people can work in.

I will use Ralph Steadman as an example, I really enjoy encoding his work for hidden messages and he worked in multiple areas of illustration, which let him stay on top and up to date with newest works and products. He works together with journalist Hunter S. Thompson, and creates illustrations for his articles and books. This shows already two formats, as articles is editorial and books are into publishing.    

I will use the illustration of a mad tea party from Alice in Wonderland as an example, as this is the most clear and visible meaning for his work.

This is an illustration for children’s book, however we can clearly see its political meaning. Rabbit is dressed in a jacked with a tie, which brings an idea of some businessman, however his trousers I would say are more “trampy” looking which contrasts with the top of his costume. Mad hatter sitting there with classes with English flag on them is bringing in mind England and any political issues this country faces. Headphones are making him look contemporary and up to date with fashion. The fact he has his middle finger up makes him look controversial. Alice sitting there in the chair looking really bored and annoyed changes the look for the whole story, however when we read the books it gives away a whole different idea. This is how the platform can change the meaning of the image. This is linked to text and image.

Steadman gave us visual interpretation of being mad by writing A MAD TEA PARTY upside down.

With his work Steadman shows that you can work on different platforms and still be able to pass some of the message through, no matter in what area you are working in. Steadman doesn’t only work in publishing and editorial, he designed set of postal stamps (one of them presented on the right) as well as packaging like label for a beer called Flying Dog (bottom right) and Cardinal “Spiced” Zin’ wine (below).

ITAP Lecture 6: “Production and Outcomes” influences and reactions (Principle 1: Interpretation)

Most artists while creating piece try to pass through some message to the viewers. Many artists change the meaning of the pieces which were already created, by interpreting it differently, and using their own way and means to apply to the content.

For example I will put here painting of Salvador Dali and Magritte which obviously inspired the designer of Volkswagen’s advert. 

  

This is one of the famous pieces done by Magritte, who aimed typical everyday situations into something surreal, therefore challenging many conventions of the viewers and passing her message through effectively. I understand it as a man who looses his head due to any problems he might off faced during his lifetime.

Here is an advert of Volkswagen car, which has clear influence my Magritte’s work. The man without head and hourglass instead shows that Volkswagen’s cars workers are taking their time to provide great service to the customers. The drawing of the car, with the clouds, which looks like its cut out, is a clear link to other Magritte’s pieces.

This here clearly show the idea of Rene’s work. The idea of the clouds being used to fill the object shows dream like creations. The eye, brings in mind person who is a “day dreamer”. So in the Volkswagen advertisement the car is supposed to make us feel like this is a dream car.

his one here is another advertisement by Volkswagen, this one however is more linked to Salvador Dali’s work. Especially the fuel meter, reminds us of melting clocks which were drawn in a piece by Dali.

We can see now how easily someone idea of a meaning can be interpreted into something completely different with brand new aim and purpose.