assignment #6: embedded video project

Here is a screenshot from my latest video project:

and here is the project: landscape | portrait

update, in case you have trouble with the hyperlink above, you can try and either click the link below or copy and paste the full url into your browser and see if that works:
http://www.unr.edu/art/site/areas_of_emphasis/digital_media/projects/lisa_kurt.html

Like my previous projects, this project focuses on the contrasts between what is natural/nature and what is machine/manmade. Most of the videos were captured so that there is an avoidance in 'seeing' machines or anything manmade with two exceptions. The sounds are primarily that of machine and human noise and sound- at times soft and repeating while others are overbearing and grating as the viewer is watching what appear to be serene scenes of nature; this was an intentional component in capturing the video. I was somewhat inspired by the Paul and Marlene Kos video, Lightning, where they capture and attempt to manipulate a natural occurrence, lightning, to fit into the narrative of their video project.

In developing this project, initially my goal was to only capture nature in terms of what was seen and that the only evidence of machine or man would be in the sounds captured. In recording various scenes, it became more difficult to avoid any evidence of humans by sight and began to be drawn to certain aspects of machines/human evidence. It was interesting how much these manmade objects invaded space and not just the sound we take in.

The taffy machine in the center video was the most obnoxious of the machines encountered near the shoreline. The store blared pop music as the machine whirred and people were transfixed by the machine's rhythm; it was interesting how reminiscent it was of other rhythms captured- such as the waves rolling, yet it was entirely the opposite of the intended focus. Because it kept coming to mind and was such a contrast to the rest of the footage shot, it fit in with my ideas about invasiveness and I was drawn to it, so it was included. The sea lion laying on the dock is another piece where it was impossible to record him without also getting in the dock and surrounding equipment. It was interesting that this creature chose such a vulnerable and noisy place to nap yet it seemed like he was used to it- maybe resigned to it. Though I knew that I would be able to capture machine/manmade sounds while focusing on viewing nature- I was surprised by the sheer volume of sound that was captured- it was much stronger than anticipated.

In thinking about the editing and timing for the videos- the top row is set so that those would begin the play and the left most is the longest as it has the most subtle sounds. The rest of the videos are coordinated so that any of them could play at any time and setting the taffy machine in the center encourages the viewer to see it's mesmerizing, hard-to-avoid qualities. The idea that it seemed to be at the center of attention in such a naturally beautiful area of the coast was disturbing- though I admit I felt a bit obsessed with it myself and fell into the same trance everyone around me did.