DATE DUE: ....All the presentations will be due the Final Exam day.
OBJECTIVE:
Many people make visual associations in the "mind's-eye" when they read narratives, poems, or listen to music. As an essay verbalizes a photograph, photographs can be used to visualize a response to poetry or music. This project is then an extended exercise in demonstrating a sense of photographic vision and use of a "visual vocabulary". A selection of poetry or purely instrumental music is to be interpreted with photographic images.
CONSIDERATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:
If you are basing your project on poetry, select a short poem by a known writer. Don't use a cliche poem like a well known childrens' rhymes. Expand your experiences by actually finding a poem that's new to you!If you are using music, select a short instrumental musical composition; or make an excerpt of a composition. You may edit and combine musical excerpts to fit the time restriction of no longer than 10 minutes. The only restriction to the choice of music is that it does not have any lyrics or understandable verbal components (humming is okay). The music should be purely instrumental or synthesized sounds. Selections from movies sound tracks are acceptable. The actual performance of the music does not necessarily have to be on the traditional instruments or in the traditional styles. Electronic instrumental transcriptions are equally acceptable.
Based upon what your reactions are to the poetry or music, develop a series of images which would serve as your interpretation of the work. Your reactions may either be a sequence of images (a story of sorts) or just emotional characterizations ("mood" pictures). Whatever the reaction, try to photograph images that are "equivalent" to your reaction. The images should communicate to a viewer how you related to the poem or music. You are trying to make images which generate emotional responses similar to those responses you had to the selected work.
You are not making images to illustrate the poem or music. You are not to make an collection of images which are pictorial representations of the texts. Nor are you to make a still-image version of a music video. Rather, you are presenting images which is a personal interpretation of how the poem or music makes you feel and think about.
Any topic of subject may be selected for the images. However, attempt to have a presentation with some sense of relevancy; either serious or humorous. As in most art forms, ideas which are concerned with people, situations, and interpersonal relations generally tend to produce the most enriching and lasting impressions. Put more plainly, avoid the appearance of having prints just randomly thrown together; and stating that this represents "your confusion" from the work. Try to avoid trite and trivial solutions to the project.
This project is not about creating a story or other specified format for presenting pictures, but trying to convey "moods" or impressions that you related to in reading the poem or listening to the music. So, besides having your pictures showing some activity, thing, or place, use the "photographic" qualities which help enhance your image. Consider camera angles, colors, quality of lighting, light/dark exposures, blurry "motion" images, softly out of focus, depth of fields, special effects, etc.
The selection of subject material should be based upon your evaluation as to its ease of translation into visuals. Obviously, if a story line is used as a basis for your images, there should be a beginning, middle and end. If you are presenting an observation, statement, or emotional expression, the logical temporal sequence may be of little relevance. More important, the sequence of the image presentation should be arranged in a manner to support and define a particular point of view. The viewer should be able to draw some kinds of conclusions about you and your images.
The number of prints is not limited one way or the other. You must decide how many (or how few) prints are necessary for an interesting and cohesive presentation. You must also decide in what manner you are going to present your images. You may choose any style for image presentation: it could be matted & framed, books, folding screens, note cards, post cards, dinner plates, t-shirts, or whatever.
Gage your efforts to your time and resources. Restrict yourself to a project which will be complete and comprehensive, as well as self-sufficient. In this case self-sufficient means that the presentation is somewhat self-explanatory and does not require extensive use of written explanations to be understood by the viewers. Image titles are acceptable.
You will show your prints with a copy of the poem to read with the images, or with the music as a background accompaniment. Remember the prints are more important than the poem or music. Cassette tape and CD players will be provided for the music. If you require anything other than the this system, you must provide it.
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