Monday, May 23, 2011

Montagnard Documentary: Music

This documentary was a challenge. My friend's camera was hard to get and thus I came to the meeting ill prepared. And setting up the camera was a challenge since I didn't have much time to learn. After the footage was captured, my computer lost the footage and the cable to the camera broke so the recapture had bad sound. With all these problems I had to stick with the music part and less on the dialogue. I tried to remember what was being said, but it was very difficult. All in all, all instruments were incorporated into my video and that was my goal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljMUST9E4Ng

Friday, May 6, 2011

Week 6: The Digital Frontier, is it bad for us?

The digital frontier, mostly tiny clusters of information swerving around the world with the use of the internet. Is it bad for us? Well there are many positives and worries, which are also negatives such as the "worry for control over information" and "worries about the future of secrecy and privacy". This all tags with the government, but there are also other worries. Should we be worried about the future of digital media? Yes, but not everyone.

There is a central fear that the younger generation will be too attached to the internet. Now, students and younger kids get online many times at a day and for large quantities of the day at a time. They never leave, sometimes I am one of those people. Their dependence keeps them out of contact with the real world and physical contact with other people.

Another fear is the fast widespread of information throughout the world. News papers, news videos, or informative documents can be downloaded within seconds of contact on the internet. Soem say its a good thing that everyone can now access information, but what if one wrong story was distributed, then it is hard to tell what is truthful and what is not. When googling a certain story, you can find numerous websites listed that have different point of views, stories, and sometimes personal accounts with what you are looking for. A negative would be assembling what is true throughout the recourses available. Facebook is now being used to spread information. To the right of the screen or more widely now, people are posting stories all over the Facebook walls and so people are finding everything out much faster.

In my opinion, digital media has lead to a lazier society. In places where internet is not as widespread or available, you find more traditions, such as in Mexico where internet is available but considerable more expensive and unreliable, you find that more people go out and do work and help others instead of sitting inside all day. It is true that we have become more dependent on digital media, and I am unsure how it will effect the government negatively, but the dependency puts a negative impact on society as a whole.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Week 5: More Examples of Digital Art and Artists

Digital art has become a wonderful tool for artists. Artists such as Issa Reinvents and Radiohead have used the internet to distribute their music recordings outside of the record labels. They sent their music on to websites where buyers can purchase the songs each at whatever amount they want. For most it remains around a dollar each, but for a rare circumstance, some fans have given donations as large as $10,000 to all of the their songs. A band was seen on a subway playing their music live by using iphone apps for instruments such as the electric guitar, bass and drum set. Their instruments were reported stolen and a quick and simple solution with the use of their digitals, they were able to continue to perform their same songs with many applause. Digital media has rose to the aid of artists. Although it can limit someone's imagination, it can also extend their grasp of reaching other people about their art and such as the band on the subway, it can show talent and creativeness towards getting around tight situations which are almost inevitable.

The media can also help with people who want to outreach but have no way of getting their message across public television. I watched a very well done video by a woman who was telling the public about the dangerous toxins that are found in cosmetics. Although I do not fully agree with the message, I do agree that she did a very good job with video and the internet was a great place to put it out there.

Now that all of this media such as propagating videos and music have dodged the record companies or other companies that normally finance such media are losing money and the recent several copyright charges prove that they want their power back. It is understandable that someone does own a certain art and to use without their permission. A comical graphic novel called Bound by Law seems to parody the frantic charges by companies over small matters such as a ring tone or an important documentary that could be educational about the Civil Rights Movement. Instead of outright attacking, it uses comedy and humor to show how ridiculous these laws get.

Project Brief

The Montagnards: Music

Recently, my class has been studying and familiarizing with the Montagnard Culture and learning to prepare for a documentary project. I have chosen to focus around the cultural music of the Dega people. I have always been interested and find myself listening to foreign music, not all of the time, but for serious part of my life. Since hearing about the Dega people, I would like to
understand and get exposed to their music.



Many of the Montagnard instruments include basic ones that we know of today such as gongs, bamboo flutes, and stringed instruments. They are most always accompanied by traditional dances that tell tales of their survival.. Their popular songs are not only for entertainment but to preserve their custom traditions.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Video Remix

My remix consisted of taking footage from a great documentary style film called Baracka. It starts with a dolly onto an old woman and then switches to over two boys playing together against the wind and then to a traditional style of dancing. This reflects how the old woman wishes and wants to view the youth as still traditional and not conforming to the contemporary style of dancing. After those segments, I cut to a club dancing and with a few cuts in between I was able to show what kids are doing now which is going to clubs, getting crazy and with the music, it feels kind of sad how they have transitioned over to the contemporary or modern style of dancing, which is how the old women feels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA78hNbct_A