Conversation Today

I really feel like these conversations helps shape who I am, at least literarily (that isn't a word).

I feel like it's important to hold onto the notion of why creating something new is good...when to create something new...not to just create something different TO BE DIFFERENT, but to create it to express something I couldn't before.

I feel like this whole conversation was so analytical and abstract...I loved it.

I feel like I want to more history behind the movements I love, I feel like I want to research the various forms of literature...I feel like I want to be part of a revolution right now, much like I feel after listening to Europe's "The Final Countdown" (that probably doesn't help anyone take me seriously).

I think it's important to remember where we come from; to remember that at one point, all we consider to be standard was new and "novel." I feel that we all need to understand that literature, art, film, etc are all living evolving creatures: none of them stand still for time.

It might seem like right now we're changing everything - changing the entire name of the game, creating things that are completely new.

But in the grand scheme of things we're one step. ONE TINY STEP in the evolution of literature...it's not like we're reinventing the wheel here, just re-designing it.

Authorship

"…readers expect, and search for, the identification of an author in a text at least in part as a means to assist them in their own sense of differentiation and establishment of a sense of self. … If everything embodied in a text is so novel, so new, as to be alien to and entirely external to a reader's experience then that text will likely remain opaque and difficult to engage. Readers will be unable to differentiate the author in such manner that they are able to internalise the authorial voice and establish the required internal dynamic where meaning, and differentiation of self, can arise." SB


I was really affected by this quote...after reading the whole piece, I read through the quotes we could pick from and I liked this one the most (PS - That article was tough to get through...).

I'm not really sure if I can agree fully with this statement...I believe that knowing who an author is can lead to a better understanding of a text and I suppose eventually lead to a better established "sense of self." However, I don't feel that this always happens - For instance, I particularly love some books because they are extremely personal, and by reading the book, I feel that I know the author more. Sometimes this leads me to forming a new line of thought about myself, but many times, it just changes how I view the book. Frankly, there are many books I have read that I can't recall the author perfectly on the spot (I'm ashamed to say). I've never been that great with names, but it doesn't change the way I feel about the book or the way it's impacted my life...

I will say this though, I really feel the second part of the quote is dead on. When the subject matter being written about, or moreover, the way in which the text is being written, alienates the reader, it cannot have an impact. I think that's what we've been driving at all semester.

When something is jargon-filled and dense, when it makes no relation to the reader at all, when a piece is so abstract or obtuse that no thought process aids the reader in figuring things out, it is a failure. It is the duty of the author, if he or she wishes to reach an audience, to gear their writing in some way shape or form. If I can't connect to a piece I can't learn from it. This doesn't mean that every piece has to be the same or even "normal." In fact, for me at least, many of the experimental or "new" literatures seem to be the ones that can reach me best.

Oddly enough, this article was hard for me to make a connection with simply because of the way in which it is composed: DENSE.

Furthermore, I understand what is being said about authorial voice. If I cannot understand that voice, I cannot derive any sense of meaning. Is a piece sarcastic or serious? Am I supposed to feel that the authorial voice is human and flawed or perfect...I know I'm going a bit out of the range of what was being discussed in this particular piece, but seriously...If I can't see or feel the author in a piece, does it even matter anymore? Can I pull something from it if I don't understand what I'm SUPPOSED to be feeling?

Here is where I am conflicted again...I like the thought of having an androgynous voice. I like reading anonymous literature, I like viewing anonymous paintings, etc. I feel like I am free to interpret anything I want...

When some of my professors tell me that in Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" the river is a vagina and the boat is a penis, I snicker. I don't see it, but that's the beauty. We can disagree. I don't want to know the author's every intention...because it's a constantly evolving influence. They create a living breathing idea instead of something so concrete, so dead.

This article made me think about a lot of things...which is good...I just wish I could read it and feel smart for understanding it all, but really, even on my second read, I feel a little lost.

Ideal

So now the question is: In the ideal world, if we could continue forever, what would I wanna do?
AND/OR
What am I going to do with what I've learned?

In this world where classes never end (I shudder to think...) I think I would want to learn how to make longer pieces, almost film like...not quite though. I think I would want to learn how to put it all together...remembering my letter twisting roots and continuing with video poetry full of sound and wonderment.

What AM I going to do with what I've learned...that's a whole other question...

Since I'm hoping to go to grad school, I really want to bring a new eye and a new perspective to classic literature and new students...I want to explore Shakespeare in a new way...how would he have used this technology and why? I want to reassess the way in which I create my art...what can I do with my photography, music and writing with animation? How can I showcase what I love and what I do in one forum?

Of course, on the business end, I'll most likely be putting together some slideshows for the couples I shoot for...Cause people eat that stuff up...hahaha.

I don't want to forget the things I have learned here. I want to incorporate these new techniques along with the classic literature and minority lit I have studied - I want to use each perspective to analyze the others, and I want to feel comfortable creating something using flash that expresses who I am...

I might rename this blog, or maybe even start a new one, but I think this won't be the last of me and my animations, especially if this final one goes the way I'm thinking...

What I know now...

What do I know now that I didn't know at the beginning of the semester? How has my view of words and writing changed since the beginning of the semester? What has changed for me?

First and foremost, I've obviously changed the way I view animation - I used to feel as if it was all whimsical and childlike, but I realize that animation can showcase deep artistic emotion. Before now, I don't think that poetry ever meant anything but words on a page...I feel like a new genre has been born in my mind's eye.

How has my view of writing changed? I think the best way to answer this question is to figure out where I started:

I had just started to begun questioning what "text" was after delving into the realm of the graphic novel...After reading Fun Home, Persepolis, Maus, etc I found myself asking what text was. I was primed to have my world-view changed when I started this class, and I feel like that's exactly what happened.

Because of technology, because of the internet, because of the constantly consumerist environment we live in, poetry and literature has become youtube friendly. It wouldn't be fair to call my flash animations text without acknowledging the visual and artistic value...I can't just call them paintings...

I dunno, I get caught up in my thinking when I try to reflect on stuff like this. I obviously am thinking more deeply about what all this means to me - it's hard to define (I guess a lot like literature these days...)

Basically, I've learned how to combine my visual and textual arts. I know how to create something that isn't quite film, isn't quite literature...isn't quite anything...

I feel like I've found a flexibility in what I consider to be "English" in terms of studies...

I don't know if I view words themselves differently...I was raised in the Sesame Street generation where words became different things all the time...no culture shock there.

I guess it's just realizing there is a new and different way for expressing myself and that I can reach someone else or showcase my work when it isn't on paper.

Does that answer my question? Not quite sure...but it's a thought.

Uhm..confused

So after reading the feedback, everyone pretty much wants me to get deeper with my animation, but I was hoping to keep it light. I guess people have a problem with the fact I'm using my camera and photography to show who I am, but I never ask who I am, I ask what I create and how do I create....I didn't want to imply that I AM the pictures I take, or that I'm that shallow.

I wanted it to look cool and be simple without being boring. I wanted to focus on what I make money on as opposed to showing my personal work...I like it to be about work instead of about me.

So I guess I need to know what you think...am I supposed to be going into the depths of my soul over this? I thought it was supposed to be more on the simple side, cause I am saving the depths of my soul for my final project...did I miss the mark? I NEED some feedback here, because I wasn't expecting this kind of reaction.

~Lia

Short project

So here is my short project thus far...

Let me know what you think!!!!

Final Project

How did I NOT already post this??!?!?!

I have a really clear view of what I'd like to complete.

I would like to display some ASL poetry, that still remains unwritten. I want it to be a personal poem, but I really feel like visually displaying by poetry with a visual language and using flash software will really make something special.

I'd like to focus on the meaning rather than just directly translating what I'm saying when I'm signing...I don't want this to just be a "foreign film" I want to create something special...Just worried about the video thing.

Homework

So crap, I didn't look at the calendar, so I didn't do the homework and reading for today. After working for about 5 hours yesterday finishing up the conversation project, I put a curse on my computer and forgot to even look...

So, I'll be posting that tomorrow sometime, when I have time to read and write something that doesn't sound horribly rushed and lackluster: I want to actually write a decent response.

Conversation Project

So here's the finished animation I completed it today.

CONVERSATION

How far we are....

We still have substantial work to do, but I'm planning to finish it tonight and tomorrow. It's been difficult with e-mail communication and trying to work on it together, but I think we're working it out.

It will be finished by Thursday with no problem....

~Lia & Jenna