In every project we have done throughout this semester,
there has always been a balance between creating something beautiful and doing
so with a specific purpose in mind. For most of my projects, the meaning has
methodically driven the art. For my fireside chat, however; this process was
reversed in that I started with the ambiguous idea of projections and built my
presentation from there.
In creating my fireside chat, I looked back at our
discussion of “Embracing the Shake” and how that artist tended to substitute
and push the typical norms of certain artistic media. In order to spark my
idea, I looked at ways I could manipulate the medium of film in order to
express my belief. I was also inspired by an image I ran into called “Prot-jection”
where light is manipulated to involve the viewer with the projection.
From that thought process, I looked towards film and tried
to break up the medium into its individual aspects. I understood that film was
just manipulated light projected onto a screen. For the most part, we as film
students try to understand the techniques and methods required to manipulate the
light itself. However, we tend to ignore the projections onto the screen in
terms of their artistic potential. Since we have been so focused on the impact
of film to create change, I saw an opportunity to display such a belief
literally by showing projections in my life that, with the benefit of
hindsight, have shaped the person I am. In many respects, life is similar to
film if we are substitute the silver screen for us in terms of a canvas. We are
constantly bombarded by projections cast by certain institutions, groups,
events, and people. Although we can rise above our surroundings so to speak, every
change in life is a result of a worldview shaping projection. If that is the
case, then I believe that it is essential for us in life to project onto others
good, true, thought provoking principles that will be a catalyst for change.
Whether this is done through impactful films, activity in the community, love
in the home, or any other positive behavior, positive light can spread far
beyond one’s sphere of influence.
Originally, I had a smaller projector that would allow me
more range (and safety from standing on boxes) in being able to walk in front
of the light and interact with the piece. I had envisioned wearing a white shirt
and having the projections involving me be cast on that surface. Thus, I would
shape myself to the poses and size of the projected me and establish my
artistic message. If I were to take this project a step further, I would not
only have the lower angle projector, but also include video so I could
dynamically interact with the projection. With the tackboard and poetry (since
I tend to ramble and stutter), however, I feel that I was able to adequately
get my message across.
