Presentation - Talesrunner

“Mission to Earth”

1) Using "Mission to Earth" as an example, what is new or different about digital cinema compared to traditional film-making? Consider the story, the structure and the appearance of the film.

“Mission to Earth” filmed by Lev Manovich and It is the most famous example in the digital cinema. The story is about a woman came from other planet and aims at recording the life in earth.This woman needs to write weekly reports to her leader.She keeps doing these weekly reports for a while but finally she found out that no one is going to read her reports about the life in earth.She is still not given up in recording different activates in earth and what she has seen in here.

Mission to earth 

http://www.ntticc.or.jp/Archive/2003/Future_Cinema/Works/missiontoearth.html

Digital cinema refers to the use of digital technology to project or distribute the motion pictures as opposed to the historical use of motion picture film. A movie can be filmed though hard drives or the Internet.Digital cinema is completely different from traditional film-making because there are a lot of special layout in the “Mission to Earth” scenes.The angle is slightly different from the traditional film-making.In “Mission to Earth”,we can saw a lot of small windows in the same scene and different windows carry different content.The contents included images, colors painting,video clips and drawings.All the different windows interact with each other and form a complete vision on the “Mission to Earth” story.Also,there is a scene gives the image on “Composition with Red, Yellow, and Blue” y Piet Mondrian.It is really successful for reminding the audience and they can get some inspirations from “Mission to earth”.

 “Composition with Red, Yellow, and Blue” 

“Composition with Red, Yellow, and Blue” 

Also,the story of “Mission to Earth” do not have any complex structure because it is nothing related to the structure.Traditional film-making attaches great importance on the structure and the film must contains introduction,elucidation of the theme,transition to another viewpoints and make a conclusion.In traditional film-making,it usually carry some big turning point in the last thirty to forty minutes and it changes the whole picture of the film.In the “Mission to Earth”,we can not assume it just like the normal hollywood movie because there is nothing like that kind of film.For sure,It just contains some scenes that telling the audience the changing of time but the picture and the life of the woman is about the same.It is definitely quite funny because the scene keeps showing over and over.It used to maintain the pattern of woman’s twenty years life in the “Mission to earth”.

2. What other art forms (eg. early film, digital art, painting, websites etc) does this film remind you of? Explain each similarity.

In my opinion,“Mission to Earth” just reminds me about first - person documentary.The woman just simply become the main character in the movie (First - person).The “Mission to Earth” records the daily life of the woman about the twenty years life in earth.I can see the director wants to record the different emotions and feelings of the woman when she is alone in this world - Earth.In her eyes, I can tell she is thinking of somethings and wants to express herself.She felt very lonely and sad because she just like not belong to somewhere - her planet or even earth.I do not know why but I felt kind of difficult to speak out somethings while watching how unhappy she was.It felt like the painting below.

I am so lonely

http://alwayslonliness.blogspot.hk/2013/03/lonely-paintings.html

Bibliography:

Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_cinema

Technologised Bodies

     First of all,I think the technologised bodies are more popular than ten years ago.It is because the technology is improving time by time ,the latest advancement give us a brand-new vision on how the technology helps humans.Our bodies can be enhanced by different technologies such as cyberbody,inter-skin suits,stelarc,ping body and Inter-Discommunication Machine.These technologised bodies are the famous example in the history.

     Technologised Bodies provides an opportunity to those disable people become a normal person. Technologised Bodies enhance their ability and help them overcome the original limitations.It is because the bodies were investigated in two ways - Computer & Biotechnology. The technology gives us the power to expose the human bodies potential in artificial methods.There are a lot of examples in this kind of technologised bodies such as cyborg,prosthesis,the inter - skin system.

The description of inter - skin system

       In today class,teacher shows us a cyprus-born performance artist Stelarc. He performances in a lot of ways such a third cell - cultivated ear implantation surgery in his left arm,corporate with a pneumatic six-legged spider-like walking machine and control the machine by the arm gestures.I think Stelarc is very brave to practice his own idea on technologised bodies and he takes risk on putting the ear in his arm.This behavior just tell us Stelarc uses his own body to project the vision of what technologised bodies are and his thought on behavior art. Stelarc knows he needs to prove the technologised bodies are worth to allocate into a kind of art and finally he uses his body parts becoming a “hub” or “media” to transport the information of technologised bodies.This action brings other attentions and the curious about this topic - technologies bodies.It is a great method to promote the art on technologised bodies and the ideas behind different performance artists.  

Photo of the third cell - cultivated ear

Photo of the cyborg 

        Besides,I watched a online video about a teenager wearing the technologised body “Touchy”.“Touchy” is a human camera and wore by a young man.If there is someone touches the young man’s skin,he can see the world outside.“Touchy” is produced by a concept.“Touchy” is all about the experiment between the relationships of giving and taking by transforming a human into a camera.When somebody touches the skin of “Touchy” user,the “Touchy” turn on and become able to see or take photos.The photos show what the young man can saw though the “Touchy” and save the amazing moments.
  
        In my opinion,the “Touchy” video clip shows how important the human interaction is and the disadvantages about humans depending on the social network Facebook,Sina,Twitter for communication.The human connection should not be limited by any of the electronic devices or social networks.It should be using the face - to - face way to talk to others,not just typing on the keyboard.I get the ideas from the “Touchy” video clip because there is a part that a girl touches the boy and playing around the Tokyo.The girl is a completely stranger to the boy but the girl still touches the boy.This action indicates the first - person connection is so important in human social life,it just cannot replaced by the internet or apps.I think the human interaction needs actual face - to - face communication and also the way using the internet.Two human communication and connection types should be balanced.I believe that we should increase the percentage of using the physical communication in our daily life.

Touchy

Bibliography:
Technologized Images, Technologized Bodies:http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=KeDg77S28LwC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=technologized+bodies+example&source=bl&ots=5ezuz-1P_6&sig=an4fMWJ41qCtvWQB3kOWweBrL7o&hl=en&sa=X&ei=z9NxVImTFoOG8QWN64HwBQ&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=technologized%20bodies%20example&f=false (Retrieved Nov 18, 2014)

Video Games - just playing?

 In today’s class,we have discussed about five shooter games such as America’s Army, Under Siege, Doom, postal and remission.There are a few shooter games I think they are good for us,teenagers or children,but some games are not good enough to play.The biggest reason is that some shooter games are too violent,bloody and I am afraid that the shooter games may affected the behavior of the teenagers or players.While the players playing those game for more than 3 months and play it everyday,I strongly believe that there is a serious long term effect.What I am talking about the long term effect is players would change their behavior and thought towards the violence side.Officially I am not talking about everyone who have ever played those games is going to change their mind.But friendly speaking,I think their thought and acting will change more or less.

   I think America’s Army,Under Siege and Postal are the worst video games.The reasons are very simple - too violence and not realistic.In America’s Army case, the original purpose of the game is encouraging the american teenagers become soldiers.But the game is too unrealistic because the exploiters want to show how the soldiers do in the war in a not bloody scene.Everybody knows about the real situation in the war - bloody and save themselves and companions.The soldiers may lose their arms,legs or even all limbs but the America’s Army just disregarding all the worst situation that may happened in real-life.The game shows you with the perfect situation and scene - kill the enemies successfully and not mention any bad things that may happened in the soldiers side.Is this procedure good? I think No.I feel like the America’s Army want to get the more people join the army but not really want them to know what is the real WAR life.

America’s Army

America’s Army icon

            In my opinion,Under Siege and Postal is too bloody and violence.These two games may put the players in a illusion,just like they can be the killer in the game and figure out a murder plan.It is enough to change their value on life so this kind of video game can be used as drugs to teenager. 

Under Siege

Under Siege  screen capture

   ‘Doom’is in the middle level because I think the theme is quite good.This first-person shooter game is about the player becomes a space marine and attacks the demons “Doom guy" from hell.It doesn't contain any killing human behavior or something that really happen in the real life. Also,’Doom’ just carry a heroism thought in order to kill demons (carry some bad intensions).The game can be used as a self-esteem building method.

Doom poster

Doom screen capture

     I think the ‘Remission’ is the best first-person shooter game in the game list.The aim of this game is to provide a chance for the cancer patient express their anger and sadness.In the game,players need to find and kill the cancer cells.When the patients playing the remission,it makes the patients think positively.” We can kill the cancer cells in the game and in the life.” In my opinion,the game helps patients release their sadness and pressure. Therefore,I think  ‘Remission’  is the best first-person shooter game.

Remission main character

 Remission game capture

      My group mates love to play ‘Tamagotchi’.Tamagotchi is a digital pet game.We have to feed our pet,clean their house and do exercise with them.It is so funny that we just like  fostering a kid.Obviously,it builds up our sense of responsibility when we were little.

Tamagotchi characters

Tamagotchi sample

The ROLE of digital media in political issue

    Recently,the ‘Student Strike’ and ‘Occupy Central’ are happening in Hong Kong. Everyone is focus on this two issues and even a lot of international media,for example,

Times,BBC News or ABC News.They do the exact same thing,which is uploading the photos and the latest situation to the internet.The most convenient promotion method for the student strike and occupy central participants are using Facebook, Instagram,Whatsapp and Sina Weibo.The social media acts as a supporter,promoter,information source and communication platform.Everyone can express their opinion towards the topic of Occupy Central and the Student Strike,they do not need to be afraid their right of speech is losing.Social Media deliver the latest message and encourage the flip-flopper support the student strike and occupy central.Also,every citizens may be encouraged by different posts,photos and videos,which are being uploaded in the social media.Thats why the social media can encourage us supporting the strike and make us believe what we are doing right now is a correct decision. 

     In my case,I never support any governmental activates or protest.This time I decided to stand up and support the student strike and occupy central.I knew my university studies maybe affected by the campaign and my parents maybe worry about my safety.But after I saw the police using the pepper spray to the unarmed people and a video that the police using the pepper spray against an elderly men within 1 meter.This action is very rube and dangerous because the speed of the spray may cause damage to the eyes.

The Student Strike (學聯罷課) Background:

   The Hong Kong Federation of Students advocate the first period of student strike starting from 22 September to 26 September.The Student Strike wants to encourage student realize the situation of Hong Kong nowadays and as a way to express their own opinion.The Student Strike aims to establish civil nomination as a valid nomination method for the 2017 Chief Executive election; start to reform of the Legislative Council (LegCo), abolishing all functional constituency seats; make an official apology to the Hong Kong people, and withdraw the injustice resolution on the electoral reform and finally get a  official response from CY Leung*.

Occupy Central (佔領中環) Background:

Occupy Central Logo

    Occupy Central is organized for almost one year time by Benny Tai and other leaders.It aims to foment democratic change by attacking the heart of Central,the financial hub of Hong Kong*. In recent, the Occupy Central and the Student Strike combine together because there are different people with multi-identity support the campaign and start occupying street in MongKok,Causeway Bay and Admiralty.When the police conduct violent clearance with pepper spray and tear gas,the situation is changed badly.

     Now,Occupy Central is also called ‘Umbrella Revolution’.

    Finally,I think the digital media enlarged the participation of the political issue. It is because the citizens know more about the background of the political topic and the idea of the campaign.While every citizens understand what is going on in the society,they may want to stand up and say their opinion out loud rather than living in silent.Digital Media provides us a lot of opportunities to understand the purpose and reasons.

*Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Hong_Kong_class_boycott_campaign

*Chinese Expert:Occupy Central Campaign in hong Kong May Be Inspired By Anti-China forces -http://en.ria.ru/analysis/20140929/193431795/Chinese-Expert-Occupy-Central-Campaign-in-Hong-Kong-May-Be.html

Digital Games - But are they ART?

    
   First of all, I think there are several special features we can call it "Art",including:Art is using to express our feelings,interactive activities and tell complex message in an easy way.

   While I am reading Adams's article, I found out his definition on "Digital games - But are they art?" is a must-have content of Art. Besides, Art can teach people in a moral way, pass the cultural values to the next generation and express the author feelings. Art is a one-shot work, which cannot be done twice. 

    Adam thinks Digital Games can be art but digital games failed one condition - games can't just like art in the society development.Adam mentioned that Art can be a framework for criticism and establish the principles.*

    In my opinion, digital games can be Art because the games designer design a lot of mission situation and colorful costume.Those things can be expressed as Art.We can find the fusion of popular culture and games mission.Video games is a special collaboration  to express Art in a  digital platform and Computer graphics.

photo: http://venturebeat.com/2013/04/17/u-s-digital-game-revenues-were-stable-in-march-superdata-says/

*Adams.E,Will Computer Games Ever Be A Legitimate Art Form?

“Modern Times, Then and Now”

     Honestly, I have never watch any performance by Charlie Chaplin before this topic came up. Thats why I really get a chance to watch Modern Times in Youtube.The video clip I have seen was Charlie Chaplin - Eating Machine. I found the video clip is very interesting and enlightening.

     In the video clip, I just heard different background music but no any human voice.Charlie Chaplin just sit in an EATING MACHINE and eat food without using his hands.At first,the eating machine works in the normal way but near the end of the video clip the machine goes wrong.The eating machine loss control and the operators are very busy fixing it.Charlie Chaplin just a normal worker in the factory and work with efforts everyday.But the new technology replace his efforts and become an important role in the factory.Those workers are not useful for the factory and Charlie Chaplin character is one of them.

     I can get an idea from the eating machine situation.That is while we rely on the new technology and using machine to replace our daily life,we experienced the same ending just like Charlie Chaplin in the future."Modern Time" tell us what situation we are going through right now but it was published in 1936.Thus,Charlie Chaplin already has a view about the future life just like us,he is so amazing to come up the idea.