November 2009 Archives
"Problem Sleuth" @ MSPA
This is a "webcomic" I've been enjoying for some time now, and I thought I'd share it with the rest of you.
The design for the "comic" is based on old text adventure games. The "prompts" are taken from the viewers of the site. For more information on his method and his other work, check out the rest of the site, in particular the FAQ.
When approached in the right way, do you see text adventure games as a form of interactive art? For me it is hard to think of them otherwise.
For a good introduction to the genre, you can find ZORK, a very good example, here.
This is a "webcomic" I've been enjoying for some time now, and I thought I'd share it with the rest of you.
The design for the "comic" is based on old text adventure games. The "prompts" are taken from the viewers of the site. For more information on his method and his other work, check out the rest of the site, in particular the FAQ.
When approached in the right way, do you see text adventure games as a form of interactive art? For me it is hard to think of them otherwise.
For a good introduction to the genre, you can find ZORK, a very good example, here.
http://mediamill.cla.umn.edu/mediamill/embedqt/51563
Choose your own assignment. You may collaborate with like-minded
classmates on any of these projects, in which case you will be
evaluated as a group.
1. Organize and host an activity for a group of at least 4 people (friends, classmates, and/or strangers) where you work on building a fort, treehouse, or shelter together. What will your structure be used for? Invent a real or imagined use for it. Document your work through video or photographs. Present your documentation as an edited video piece, a blog/website with text and photos, or both.
2. Expand on or revise the ideas that informed your video project. Make an entirely new video that sets out to do the same thing more effectively. You may NOT use any of the same footage or audio material as your first video.
3. Start a band where every member wears a costume. (It could be just you.) Write at least two songs that relate to your costumed persona(s). Document your project in one of the following ways:
A) Perform your songs live for the class.
B) Organize an off-campus performance and videotape it.
C) Make a complete MySpace site with photos and mp3's.
4. Dream assignment: You can do whatever you want. However, your proposal must be approved by me. Bring a 250-400 word proposal explaining the concept of your piece, how you plan to realize it, and what form you'd like to present it in.
1. Organize and host an activity for a group of at least 4 people (friends, classmates, and/or strangers) where you work on building a fort, treehouse, or shelter together. What will your structure be used for? Invent a real or imagined use for it. Document your work through video or photographs. Present your documentation as an edited video piece, a blog/website with text and photos, or both.
2. Expand on or revise the ideas that informed your video project. Make an entirely new video that sets out to do the same thing more effectively. You may NOT use any of the same footage or audio material as your first video.
3. Start a band where every member wears a costume. (It could be just you.) Write at least two songs that relate to your costumed persona(s). Document your project in one of the following ways:
A) Perform your songs live for the class.
B) Organize an off-campus performance and videotape it.
C) Make a complete MySpace site with photos and mp3's.
4. Dream assignment: You can do whatever you want. However, your proposal must be approved by me. Bring a 250-400 word proposal explaining the concept of your piece, how you plan to realize it, and what form you'd like to present it in.
As I was searching for an interesting piece of art to write my response
on, a came across a photo that necessarily isn't art, but I found to be
hilarious. In the photo, there are three guys standing next to a painting of
Jesus Christ, who has his arms spread out to the sides. The three guys,
standing to the right of the painting, have their arms set in place to
represent a different letter. One has the shape of "M", one with the shape
of "C", and the other with "A". With the painting included, it spells out,
"YMCA", mocking the painting of Jesus. Underneath the photo itself it reads,
"Blasphemy. A ticket to hell has never been funnier." The use of the word,
"funnier" just makes it all the more enjoyable.
Ignoring the religious values that I have been brought up on, the
picture
is striking at first, but brings out a comical side to it all. I immediate
found the picture funny and these guys demoralize themselves by posing in
such a way. I can't imagine that there was much thought in the artistic
value of the picture in regards to technique or anything. The sole purpose
of the picture is only to entertain and get a few laughs at the guys in the
picture, and it does that perfectly, making it an effective picture. The
added text to the bottom of the photo pulls it all together by calling out
the stupidity of the guys in the photo and I feel was necessary to the
picture itself.
I have always enjoyed photos such as this one, and believe that it is
photos like this that do provide a comical side to art. There is a whole
series of "demotivational" pictures that pursue this idea and I would advise
anyone to look at a handful of them
Here is a link to the photo -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/princesspetulance/blasphemys...
Here is the video I made.
Here are is a digital copy of the Final Cut Pro handout I gave you in class.
I've updated the MediaMill section to be even more clear and complete.
