Dorothy:text on method: Difference between revisions
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This short essay sums up what I have produced in the first year at Lens-based media design course, and addresses some focus on the future research and up-coming projects. <br/> | This short essay sums up what I have produced in the first year at Lens-based media design course, and addresses some focus on the future research and up-coming projects. <br/> | ||
<br/> | <br/> | ||
== Current Project == | |||
Currently I am researching on history and issues in documentary. Experimental documentary is interesting for me, and is similar to the type of work I have in mind to produce in future. I have been watching films that mix abstract expression with facts or narratives, as well as direct cinema film – for instance, Tongues Untied (1989), The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (1987). <br/> | Currently I am researching on history and issues in documentary. Experimental documentary is interesting for me, and is similar to the type of work I have in mind to produce in future. I have been watching films that mix abstract expression with facts or narratives, as well as direct cinema film – for instance, Tongues Untied (1989), The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (1987). <br/> | ||
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Meanwhile I am at the stage looking for potential subjects to talk and explore further on the theme of diasporic experience. As I regard this work as a collaboration as well, between me and the subject, thus I would like to develop a relationship before filming the actual work itself. <br/> | Meanwhile I am at the stage looking for potential subjects to talk and explore further on the theme of diasporic experience. As I regard this work as a collaboration as well, between me and the subject, thus I would like to develop a relationship before filming the actual work itself. <br/> | ||
==Projects in 2017/18== | |||
The new project is stemmed from my previous moving image work ‘Letter to the Outsider’, a film reflecting on the notion of imprisonment and perception of space, with images of few repurposed prisons in Netherlands. During shooting I encountered a Syrian refugee who works in a former prison turned hotel, we later become friends. According to him the visitors all have different purpose, like revisiting as a guard, or satisfying certain fetish; there are also people booked this hotel without knowing its history, but later spooked by its interior. <br/> | The new project is stemmed from my previous moving image work ‘Letter to the Outsider’, a film reflecting on the notion of imprisonment and perception of space, with images of few repurposed prisons in Netherlands. During shooting I encountered a Syrian refugee who works in a former prison turned hotel, we later become friends. According to him the visitors all have different purpose, like revisiting as a guard, or satisfying certain fetish; there are also people booked this hotel without knowing its history, but later spooked by its interior. <br/> | ||
<br/>After talking to him I became more interested in human perception on space, given in this very extreme case where the hotel was turned from Het Veer – that was the place for inmates with severe psychological issues. And I also would like to work with refugees or displaced people, and their thoughts on the foreign country that now they call home. Apart from the theme, the long takes that explored and represented the various former prisons also inspired me to work on the matter of space again. <br/> | <br/>After talking to him I became more interested in human perception on space, given in this very extreme case where the hotel was turned from Het Veer – that was the place for inmates with severe psychological issues. And I also would like to work with refugees or displaced people, and their thoughts on the foreign country that now they call home. Apart from the theme, the long takes that explored and represented the various former prisons also inspired me to work on the matter of space again. <br/> | ||
<br/> | <br/> | ||
During the process of film making I got quite a lot of input from tutors on the technical side, for example the file format and editing software etc. After that I also have discussed the script and film with many more people, also the audience, which is very fruitful, and I would certainly have more confidence to make certain decisions for the next project - lengthen the takes, or have a rather metaphorical take on things. <br/> | During the process of film making I got quite a lot of input from tutors on the technical side, for example the file format and editing software etc. After that I also have discussed the script and film with many more people, also the audience, which is very fruitful, and I would certainly have more confidence to make certain decisions for the next project - lengthen the takes, or have a rather metaphorical take on things. <br/> | ||
==The Context== | |||
My works often consist both documentary aspect and a rather personal, poetic or even fiction aspect, meanwhile the actual place and person in the image are kept anonymous. I see these works as documentaries on human condition, instead of about a specific person or event. I try to relate that practice to experimental documentary and slow cinema, though my projects are rather short films. <br/> | My works often consist both documentary aspect and a rather personal, poetic or even fiction aspect, meanwhile the actual place and person in the image are kept anonymous. I see these works as documentaries on human condition, instead of about a specific person or event. I try to relate that practice to experimental documentary and slow cinema, though my projects are rather short films. <br/> | ||
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<br/> | <br/> | ||
==Research strands== | |||
Recently I am studying documentary history and related theories, the process helps me to see the development of the genre, its limitation and breakthroughs. That also points me to watch various films that attempt to experiment with the genre. for instance, Tongues Untied (1989), The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (1987). And I realise that I am very much interested in films made outside the West on identity and post-colonialism aspects – which I attempt in the previous two works – Letter to the Outsider and Songs from Home, the latter was a series of videos of non-Dutch women singing in their mother tongue in the Netherlands, temporarily occupying the space with their voice. <br/> | Recently I am studying documentary history and related theories, the process helps me to see the development of the genre, its limitation and breakthroughs. That also points me to watch various films that attempt to experiment with the genre. for instance, Tongues Untied (1989), The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (1987). And I realise that I am very much interested in films made outside the West on identity and post-colonialism aspects – which I attempt in the previous two works – Letter to the Outsider and Songs from Home, the latter was a series of videos of non-Dutch women singing in their mother tongue in the Netherlands, temporarily occupying the space with their voice. <br/> | ||
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After this I would like to study more on ethnographic film, as well as the ethnofiction, though I do not see my next project as an ethnographic film, I am always very interested in its methodology and relation to anthology. I might start from watching several films of Jean Rouch, who coined this genre - and later move to more experimental attempts. <br/> | After this I would like to study more on ethnographic film, as well as the ethnofiction, though I do not see my next project as an ethnographic film, I am always very interested in its methodology and relation to anthology. I might start from watching several films of Jean Rouch, who coined this genre - and later move to more experimental attempts. <br/> | ||
==Bibliography== | |||
Bibliography | |||
*Aufderheide, P (2007) Documentary Film. Oxford: Oxford UP<br/> | *Aufderheide, P (2007) Documentary Film. Oxford: Oxford UP<br/> | ||
*Harbord, J (2009) Chris Marker: La Jetee. London: Afterall Books<br/> | *Harbord, J (2009) Chris Marker: La Jetee. London: Afterall Books<br/> | ||
*Renov, M (2004) The Subject of Documentary. Minnesota: U of Minnesota P<br/> | *Renov, M (2004) The Subject of Documentary. Minnesota: U of Minnesota P<br/> | ||
*Russell, C (1999) Experimental Ethnography. Duke: Duke UP | *Russell, C (1999) Experimental Ethnography. Duke: Duke UP | ||
Revision as of 13:23, 23 May 2018
This short essay sums up what I have produced in the first year at Lens-based media design course, and addresses some focus on the future research and up-coming projects.
Current Project
Currently I am researching on history and issues in documentary. Experimental documentary is interesting for me, and is similar to the type of work I have in mind to produce in future. I have been watching films that mix abstract expression with facts or narratives, as well as direct cinema film – for instance, Tongues Untied (1989), The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (1987).
In future, I am planning to make a new short moving image work, the film would consist long takes of displaced people’s current home, with the voice-over of them illustrating the former home they had. With this work, I wish to explore the notion of diaspora itself, as well as the interaction and signification between the image and text, when they are actually pointing at different spaces at one time.
Meanwhile I am at the stage looking for potential subjects to talk and explore further on the theme of diasporic experience. As I regard this work as a collaboration as well, between me and the subject, thus I would like to develop a relationship before filming the actual work itself.
Projects in 2017/18
The new project is stemmed from my previous moving image work ‘Letter to the Outsider’, a film reflecting on the notion of imprisonment and perception of space, with images of few repurposed prisons in Netherlands. During shooting I encountered a Syrian refugee who works in a former prison turned hotel, we later become friends. According to him the visitors all have different purpose, like revisiting as a guard, or satisfying certain fetish; there are also people booked this hotel without knowing its history, but later spooked by its interior.
After talking to him I became more interested in human perception on space, given in this very extreme case where the hotel was turned from Het Veer – that was the place for inmates with severe psychological issues. And I also would like to work with refugees or displaced people, and their thoughts on the foreign country that now they call home. Apart from the theme, the long takes that explored and represented the various former prisons also inspired me to work on the matter of space again.
During the process of film making I got quite a lot of input from tutors on the technical side, for example the file format and editing software etc. After that I also have discussed the script and film with many more people, also the audience, which is very fruitful, and I would certainly have more confidence to make certain decisions for the next project - lengthen the takes, or have a rather metaphorical take on things.
The Context
My works often consist both documentary aspect and a rather personal, poetic or even fiction aspect, meanwhile the actual place and person in the image are kept anonymous. I see these works as documentaries on human condition, instead of about a specific person or event. I try to relate that practice to experimental documentary and slow cinema, though my projects are rather short films.
At the same time the narrative structures of my previous projects are close to essay film tradition, where the footages are heavily interpreted by the author. My previous project Letter to the Outsider was an example where the voice over adds the element of diaspora experience to the footage. I see essay films like Blue (1993), Heart of a Dog (2015) and of course La Jetee (1962) as reference points of the genre. These films also provide examples of how non-linear and personal narratives work in moving image.
Research strands
Recently I am studying documentary history and related theories, the process helps me to see the development of the genre, its limitation and breakthroughs. That also points me to watch various films that attempt to experiment with the genre. for instance, Tongues Untied (1989), The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (1987). And I realise that I am very much interested in films made outside the West on identity and post-colonialism aspects – which I attempt in the previous two works – Letter to the Outsider and Songs from Home, the latter was a series of videos of non-Dutch women singing in their mother tongue in the Netherlands, temporarily occupying the space with their voice.
After this I would like to study more on ethnographic film, as well as the ethnofiction, though I do not see my next project as an ethnographic film, I am always very interested in its methodology and relation to anthology. I might start from watching several films of Jean Rouch, who coined this genre - and later move to more experimental attempts.
Bibliography
- Aufderheide, P (2007) Documentary Film. Oxford: Oxford UP
- Harbord, J (2009) Chris Marker: La Jetee. London: Afterall Books
- Renov, M (2004) The Subject of Documentary. Minnesota: U of Minnesota P
- Russell, C (1999) Experimental Ethnography. Duke: Duke UP