When first going into this project I knew that I wanted to make a stop motion video. My interest peaked after watching multiple stop motion videos on Youtube, and most importantly after watching: My creative process started by just noting what others had done to produce similar videos. I then went to the drawing board to think about what type of stop motion I would go into. I thought that the most intriguing style would be a messy follow cam. From there I thought of all the cool effects I could do, such as making my subject float or have the camera spinning around the subject to change the location. All of this sounded fun and interesting but I was having a hard time developing a story that would engage the viewers. A crazy technical movie would work well but that takes an incredibly precise hand and plus, I wanted the video to seem fast paced and make the viewers feel like they are part of the action. That is when I developed the squirrel hunting story. My friend and I had recently been looking into what is called "squirrel fishing" and we thought of attempting this sport but never got around to it. I developed the idea of a follow-cam on a squirrel hunter, or "a day in the life of..." type video. I drew out a rough version of a timeline but then when we began shooting it became more of an impromtu chase. The story was meant to follow the squirrel hunter through a day of chasing a squirrel, and by the end he was supposed to die. I later changed the idea that this was just one day in which the squirrel hunter was not able to catch a squirrel, a "normal" day. I decided that letting my friend do whatever he felt like would be more effective in that it makes the video more humorous. His spontaniety in the movie keeps the mood light and entertaining. He is such a commical character, just his presence as the main subject works well with the idea of the video.
This video should come out light-hearted and funny. I'm hoping to cause a few laughs and giggles, or at least put a smirk on the viewer.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
One Laptop Per Child
The One Laptop Per Child (otherwise known as OLPC) is a program that is attempting to integrate modern technology in lesser developed countries. They are doing this by creating a laptop that is very inexpensive but also durable and useful at the same time. I am in agreement with everything this program stands for and I support the vision of OLPC. I think that this program is stepping in the right direction for helping poorer countries become better educated and more developed. Also the specs of the computer are withouta doubt ground breaking. The laptop can withstand heavy impacts and harsh conditions, which is what the laptops will most likely be experiencing in the countries that they are sent to. These can be used as an educational tool for the children of the globe. The laptops will teach the children how to become connected to the world around them along with basic educational skills. Overall, I support this laptop and the program. Although it would be nice to see the program attempting to be sustainable also, because this can just teach the world to consume at the same time.
http://www.heise.de/mobil/The-One-Laptop-per-Child-project-enters-its-critical-phase--/artikel/88916/0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM33EEAszHA
http://www.heise.de/mobil/The-One-Laptop-per-Child-project-enters-its-critical-phase--/artikel/88916/0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM33EEAszHA
Monday, March 2, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Stop Motion Videos
I've been googling and youtubing stop motion to get a general idea of what I have to do to have a successful video. Here are a couple videos that do the same thing I am attempting to do with my Squirrel Hunter project.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8JexiISPNk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJzU3NjDikY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8JexiISPNk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJzU3NjDikY
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Response to Benjamin
Carson Schoellkopf
DMST 2000
February 16, 2009
Walter Benjamin Response
From the start of this paper I was lost. But as I reread over the preface I understood that he was foreshadowing his paper completely by making a reference to Karl Marx. Walter Benjamin discusses the idea that Marx understood what was happening with society and what would happen. And by discussing how Marx foreshadowed the future, Benjamin is then able to go in talking about how different technology has created the same effect for itself. Also, another point that Benjamin goes on to discuss is how the reproduction of work has changed dramatically since the early times of visual art. I feel confused in that I first thought he was a supporter of reproduction but then he goes on to discuss how the reproduction of art actually devalues and jeopardizes the authenticity of the work itself.
In the first section of Benjamin’s paper he discusses how different forms of art have lead into one another. And he talks about how technology has advance so far as to come from just the beginning print to modern movies. I think that this is interesting because he talks about how one form of art has lead into the other. And by studying how the art has changed it is possible to see how the technology also transformed along with the art. I find this interesting because I have found myself almost working backwards in the process of learning new art. When I first became introduced to modern media I was interested in producing films, generally in the area of action sports. From there I then started to be interested in film and digital photography. In Benjamin’s paper he discusses how from pictures humans advanced into video. And then I found myself more interested in drawing then anything else. I thought it was interesting in that the depiction of the advancement of modern art I found myself working backwards.
Benjamin then goes on to discuss the importance of aura, which is where he really loses me. I understand what the aura of an image of piece of art is, but what I can’t seem to get is that I believe Benjamin is arguing the point that the reproduction of some art causes a loss of aura within the piece itself. I disagree with these statements in that I feel that sometimes the reproduction of a piece of work can sometimes create a different aura and possibly an even stronger one. Being a photographer I am constantly looking for photos that inspire me and cause me to think in a different way. What happens occasionally is that I will try to reproduce a similar image when I shoot. Although my picture may be somewhat of a reproduction I feel that it still has an aura of a different nature, it brings something new to the table.
What I did not understand the most from this entire essay is that in the end he attempts to connect everything with fascism. I do not understand what the point of his piece is when he talks about fascism and he only continues to perplex me when Benjamin finishes with the line about communism politicizing art. Overall the essay by Walter Benjamin is very confusing and hard to follow. I think I picked up on a few general ideas but for the most part it just seemed like a long rant about modern art.
DMST 2000
February 16, 2009
Walter Benjamin Response
From the start of this paper I was lost. But as I reread over the preface I understood that he was foreshadowing his paper completely by making a reference to Karl Marx. Walter Benjamin discusses the idea that Marx understood what was happening with society and what would happen. And by discussing how Marx foreshadowed the future, Benjamin is then able to go in talking about how different technology has created the same effect for itself. Also, another point that Benjamin goes on to discuss is how the reproduction of work has changed dramatically since the early times of visual art. I feel confused in that I first thought he was a supporter of reproduction but then he goes on to discuss how the reproduction of art actually devalues and jeopardizes the authenticity of the work itself.
In the first section of Benjamin’s paper he discusses how different forms of art have lead into one another. And he talks about how technology has advance so far as to come from just the beginning print to modern movies. I think that this is interesting because he talks about how one form of art has lead into the other. And by studying how the art has changed it is possible to see how the technology also transformed along with the art. I find this interesting because I have found myself almost working backwards in the process of learning new art. When I first became introduced to modern media I was interested in producing films, generally in the area of action sports. From there I then started to be interested in film and digital photography. In Benjamin’s paper he discusses how from pictures humans advanced into video. And then I found myself more interested in drawing then anything else. I thought it was interesting in that the depiction of the advancement of modern art I found myself working backwards.
Benjamin then goes on to discuss the importance of aura, which is where he really loses me. I understand what the aura of an image of piece of art is, but what I can’t seem to get is that I believe Benjamin is arguing the point that the reproduction of some art causes a loss of aura within the piece itself. I disagree with these statements in that I feel that sometimes the reproduction of a piece of work can sometimes create a different aura and possibly an even stronger one. Being a photographer I am constantly looking for photos that inspire me and cause me to think in a different way. What happens occasionally is that I will try to reproduce a similar image when I shoot. Although my picture may be somewhat of a reproduction I feel that it still has an aura of a different nature, it brings something new to the table.
What I did not understand the most from this entire essay is that in the end he attempts to connect everything with fascism. I do not understand what the point of his piece is when he talks about fascism and he only continues to perplex me when Benjamin finishes with the line about communism politicizing art. Overall the essay by Walter Benjamin is very confusing and hard to follow. I think I picked up on a few general ideas but for the most part it just seemed like a long rant about modern art.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Welcome to my blog site
Thanks for checking this out.
I will be regularly updating this blog for EMAD, but I will also contribute some of my own personal work outside of class to this blog.
Feel free to leave comments on anything, they are always greatly appreciated.
And for my first post here is my response to an essay by Henry Jenkins:
Carson Schoellkopf
Response to “Eight Traits”
Intro to EMAD
January 6, 2009
Henry Jenkins’ text written about the eight traits of new media was an eye-opening piece to the culture behind progressing technology and media. As he states in the beginning of his paper, most people when discussing modern technology and the progression of new media they tend to mention the tools used within the discipline, this has become more and more apparent over the past ten years. A notable point in new media history is when the iPod came out. This is because the iPod created a new way to share music with others, people were able to hold hundreds and hundreds of songs in a small hand held device. Having iPods help spread the diversity of music because people were able to share their music with others. Henry Jenkins points out that the focus of most people’s conversations about new media is the focus on tools such as the iPod, and he could not be more correct. His focus on our relationship with media drives a good point that to be fully engulfed in a modern technologic environment with a better understanding of it, is what we should push towards as we advance farther into the future.
In his first trait of the new media Jenkins talks about the overall progress and development of new media and technology. He states that in recent history there has been a boom in the progression and development of technology. One way to help understand new media is through the understanding of how it effects civilization. Jenkins says that a new technology will be introduced but won’t be recognized and used until later on. This is probably because it takes the next generation who grows up with the new technology to fully utilize what has been invented or developed. He also talks about how in the 20th century there was a gigantic boom in the development of this media and that as we catch up to it we are just going to keep pushing farther ahead faster.
Another trait that Henry Jenkins talks about is the everyday aspect of new media and technology. This incorporates how we perceive technology in every day situations, and it talks about how eventually there will be technology surrounding us every where. This has already begun to happen with iPods and laptops along with new web-surfing cell phones. These are all ways to “disconnect” from the real word. It is a way to shut out your surroundings and be in your own place. This might not be the best of things because human interaction is always important in daily life. But, the positive side to this increase in new media and technology in every day life is the fact that world becomes much smaller. In other words, people are able to stay connected all over the world, sites like facebook and myspace are both good media centers to go through to keep in touch with any one around the world. This is a major cause of globalization, which is thought to have some negative impacts, but also many positive impacts.
The last trait of new media is the inequality of it all. This is one of the most important points to pay attention to; this is because there is a lack of information flowing into poorer countries. Education is becoming very important in modern society, in the past most could get by just doing manual labor. But in today’s world having an education is very important to make a living. Not only is it important to have an educational for making a living but it is also proven that a more educated populace will be less likely to be aggressive and they are more likely to be self-sufficient. Where technology and media comes into it all is that in the modern world to receive an adequate education you need the new technology of today. Things such as the internet and laptops, along with calculators and other learning tools are very useful in becoming educated at the level of modern times. The problem with the inequality is that poor countries cannot afford to provide schools with computers and internet and in that sense the richest countries will constantly progress at faster and faster rates while the third world countries will start to fall behind. It is a vicious cycle, because to keep up with the major countries a technological education is necessary.
A lot of what the traits come down to are the divides among new media. There is the age barrier of new technology, along with the rich and poor divide, and how people can use technology to leave their surroundings and enter their own world. Henry Jenkins purpose of this paper seemed like it was trying to push the idea of understanding new media so that we can learn to create better technology and adapt to it faster. He supported the idea of incorporating into modern day society, for instance he talked about how the school system is based on old principals and ideas, when we really need a new type of system to incorporate media into the schools. New media is a great way to express oneself and many people believe the incorporation of technology into modern day life only enhances people’s experiences.
I will be regularly updating this blog for EMAD, but I will also contribute some of my own personal work outside of class to this blog.
Feel free to leave comments on anything, they are always greatly appreciated.
And for my first post here is my response to an essay by Henry Jenkins:
Carson Schoellkopf
Response to “Eight Traits”
Intro to EMAD
January 6, 2009
Henry Jenkins’ text written about the eight traits of new media was an eye-opening piece to the culture behind progressing technology and media. As he states in the beginning of his paper, most people when discussing modern technology and the progression of new media they tend to mention the tools used within the discipline, this has become more and more apparent over the past ten years. A notable point in new media history is when the iPod came out. This is because the iPod created a new way to share music with others, people were able to hold hundreds and hundreds of songs in a small hand held device. Having iPods help spread the diversity of music because people were able to share their music with others. Henry Jenkins points out that the focus of most people’s conversations about new media is the focus on tools such as the iPod, and he could not be more correct. His focus on our relationship with media drives a good point that to be fully engulfed in a modern technologic environment with a better understanding of it, is what we should push towards as we advance farther into the future.
In his first trait of the new media Jenkins talks about the overall progress and development of new media and technology. He states that in recent history there has been a boom in the progression and development of technology. One way to help understand new media is through the understanding of how it effects civilization. Jenkins says that a new technology will be introduced but won’t be recognized and used until later on. This is probably because it takes the next generation who grows up with the new technology to fully utilize what has been invented or developed. He also talks about how in the 20th century there was a gigantic boom in the development of this media and that as we catch up to it we are just going to keep pushing farther ahead faster.
Another trait that Henry Jenkins talks about is the everyday aspect of new media and technology. This incorporates how we perceive technology in every day situations, and it talks about how eventually there will be technology surrounding us every where. This has already begun to happen with iPods and laptops along with new web-surfing cell phones. These are all ways to “disconnect” from the real word. It is a way to shut out your surroundings and be in your own place. This might not be the best of things because human interaction is always important in daily life. But, the positive side to this increase in new media and technology in every day life is the fact that world becomes much smaller. In other words, people are able to stay connected all over the world, sites like facebook and myspace are both good media centers to go through to keep in touch with any one around the world. This is a major cause of globalization, which is thought to have some negative impacts, but also many positive impacts.
The last trait of new media is the inequality of it all. This is one of the most important points to pay attention to; this is because there is a lack of information flowing into poorer countries. Education is becoming very important in modern society, in the past most could get by just doing manual labor. But in today’s world having an education is very important to make a living. Not only is it important to have an educational for making a living but it is also proven that a more educated populace will be less likely to be aggressive and they are more likely to be self-sufficient. Where technology and media comes into it all is that in the modern world to receive an adequate education you need the new technology of today. Things such as the internet and laptops, along with calculators and other learning tools are very useful in becoming educated at the level of modern times. The problem with the inequality is that poor countries cannot afford to provide schools with computers and internet and in that sense the richest countries will constantly progress at faster and faster rates while the third world countries will start to fall behind. It is a vicious cycle, because to keep up with the major countries a technological education is necessary.
A lot of what the traits come down to are the divides among new media. There is the age barrier of new technology, along with the rich and poor divide, and how people can use technology to leave their surroundings and enter their own world. Henry Jenkins purpose of this paper seemed like it was trying to push the idea of understanding new media so that we can learn to create better technology and adapt to it faster. He supported the idea of incorporating into modern day society, for instance he talked about how the school system is based on old principals and ideas, when we really need a new type of system to incorporate media into the schools. New media is a great way to express oneself and many people believe the incorporation of technology into modern day life only enhances people’s experiences.
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