you've made a very visually complex video here. I'm pleased to see you've done lots of experimenting with various manipulations to the still image to create some really interesting interactions. I must say, I'm not exactly sure where you've arrived, or what your use of Yves Saint Lawrence and his quote as a reference point produces, but there are some interesting emotional textures you've created.
First of all, this video bears some resemblance to the videos of Doug Ischar, who you might be interested in. (https://vimeo.com/dougischar) His work also explores various historical figures and invests them with lots of personal meaning, which I assume is what you're doing here, though I'm having a little trouble accessing it.
The quote you used definitely sets the tone, and the images you manipulate seem to speak to a certain solitude. Because you focus so much on the face, and particularly on the closed eyes, this solitude seems to be one of psychological interiority. What I'm not so sure of is how you're using the life of Yves Saint Lawrence as an association. I take it this is meant as a kind of loving portrait of him, but I think we might need a little more information. I don't have an intimate knowledge of him or his work, and while I don't think it's the right decision to illustrate this in a didactic way, giving some poetic direction to the viewer would certainly strengthen this.
I think some of the manipulations you've done here, while visually interesting, may actually be working against the tone I think you're trying to create. Particularly the cut-out mouth, which really resembles Terry Gilliam's animations for Monty Python. I don't know if the slapstick surrealism of Gilliam is the kind of association you really want here, and if you do, I don't yet see to what end you're using it.
The mirror effect, which you use at various points in the video, feels a little more effective. Certainly, when examining interiority, the idea of "reflection", even if it's a bit of a pun, is useful. You move the mirroring in a way that the subject actually disappears, which I think could also be a useful metaphor, but it's maybe not articulated with enough strength here. I think the idea that one might disappear into self-reflection, or examination, is a really interesting one.
The soundtrack really creates a great deal of the tone here. I assume you collaged this from various sources you've also manipulated. I'm not quite sure what certain aspects of it are accomplishing. It seems like you've taken some quotes or bits of speech, whether from Saint Lawrence or someone else, and heavily manipulated them by changing speed and reversing them at times. This creates a feeling of intoxication, and makes the text indecipherable. I don't know if this is a positive thing, especially if it's supposed to convey any concrete information. Because it's sometimes coupled with the comical image of the moving cut-out mouth, I assume we're supposed to understand it as YSL speaking, but he's totally cut off from his ability to communicate with us, for whatever reason. I think this is doing some interesting things, but I find myself desiring some clarity, even if it's still held at a distance.
Shree,
ReplyDeleteyou've made a very visually complex video here. I'm pleased to see you've done lots of experimenting with various manipulations to the still image to create some really interesting interactions. I must say, I'm not exactly sure where you've arrived, or what your use of Yves Saint Lawrence and his quote as a reference point produces, but there are some interesting emotional textures you've created.
First of all, this video bears some resemblance to the videos of Doug Ischar, who you might be interested in. (https://vimeo.com/dougischar) His work also explores various historical figures and invests them with lots of personal meaning, which I assume is what you're doing here, though I'm having a little trouble accessing it.
The quote you used definitely sets the tone, and the images you manipulate seem to speak to a certain solitude. Because you focus so much on the face, and particularly on the closed eyes, this solitude seems to be one of psychological interiority. What I'm not so sure of is how you're using the life of Yves Saint Lawrence as an association. I take it this is meant as a kind of loving portrait of him, but I think we might need a little more information. I don't have an intimate knowledge of him or his work, and while I don't think it's the right decision to illustrate this in a didactic way, giving some poetic direction to the viewer would certainly strengthen this.
I think some of the manipulations you've done here, while visually interesting, may actually be working against the tone I think you're trying to create. Particularly the cut-out mouth, which really resembles Terry Gilliam's animations for Monty Python. I don't know if the slapstick surrealism of Gilliam is the kind of association you really want here, and if you do, I don't yet see to what end you're using it.
The mirror effect, which you use at various points in the video, feels a little more effective. Certainly, when examining interiority, the idea of "reflection", even if it's a bit of a pun, is useful. You move the mirroring in a way that the subject actually disappears, which I think could also be a useful metaphor, but it's maybe not articulated with enough strength here. I think the idea that one might disappear into self-reflection, or examination, is a really interesting one.
The soundtrack really creates a great deal of the tone here. I assume you collaged this from various sources you've also manipulated. I'm not quite sure what certain aspects of it are accomplishing. It seems like you've taken some quotes or bits of speech, whether from Saint Lawrence or someone else, and heavily manipulated them by changing speed and reversing them at times. This creates a feeling of intoxication, and makes the text indecipherable. I don't know if this is a positive thing, especially if it's supposed to convey any concrete information. Because it's sometimes coupled with the comical image of the moving cut-out mouth, I assume we're supposed to understand it as YSL speaking, but he's totally cut off from his ability to communicate with us, for whatever reason. I think this is doing some interesting things, but I find myself desiring some clarity, even if it's still held at a distance.