Reading Response #3

Reading response #3 is due Sunday, May 3, 5PM, as a comment to this post. Your response should consist of a three-paragraph statement that answers the following three questions (one paragraph per question):

1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.

2. What are the main points of the essay?

3. How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your own practice as a media artist?

Pick one of the following readings: Delehanty, Miller, Oliveros, Russolo, Spirn, Toop, Trachtenberg, Ximm; and post as a comment to this post by Sunday, May 3, 5 PM.

Reading Response #2

Hello, all.

I hope you are progressing well on your Drift 2 walks, and that you've
gathered a lot of great material. We didn't see many of you at the last
two help sessions, and I hope this is because you were all out walking.

This Sunday at 5 PM is the deadline for the second Reading Response.
Pick one of these articles (Cuper, Daniel, Hansen, Hill, Lippard,
Lopate, Peterson, Pinkowish, Self, This American Life) and write your
response as a comment to this post on the Course Blog:
http://film-116.blogspot.com/2009/04/reading-response-2.html

We hope to see many, many more of you on Monday, April 6, in B18 for the
third help session.

Reading Response #2

Reading responses on assigned readings will be due throughout the semester as comments to selected posts on the Course Blog. The responses will consist of three-paragraph statements on the readings or screenings, answering the following three questions (one paragraph per question):

1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.

2. What are the main points of the essay?

3. How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your own practice as a media artist?

Pick one of the following readings (Cuper, Daniel, Hansen, Hill, Lippard, Lopate, Peterson, Pinkowish, Self, This American Life) and post your response as comment to this post by Sunday, April 5, 5 PM.

Reading Response #1 due Sunday, February 22, 5 PM

Hello, again.

The first Reading Response is due this Sunday, February 22, at 5 PM.
You will post your response as a comment to the post linked HERE.

Reading Response #1 will consist of a three-paragraph statement on one
of the readings from the list below, answering the following three
questions (one paragraph per question):

1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.

2. What are the main points of the essay?

3. How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your
own practice as a media artist?

Choose one of these readings: Cosgrove, Cresswell, Cross, Debord,
Ferrington, Hall, Hart, Hiss, Peterson, Sant, Westerkamp.

Check the Research page for direct links to these readings:

Again, the deadline is Sunday, February 22, 5 PM.

Reading Response #1

Reading Response #1 will consist of a three-paragraph statement on one of the readings from the list below, answering the following three questions (one paragraph per question):

1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.

2. What are the main points of the essay?

3. How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your own practice as a media artist?

Post your Reading Response #1 to one of the following readings as a comment to this post: Cosgrove, Cresswell, Cross, Debord, Ferrington, Hall, Hart, Hiss, Peterson, Sant, Westerkamp.

Check the Research page for direct links to these readings.

The deadline is Sunday, February 22, 5 PM.

Individual Crits continue

Hello, all.

We continue the second round of Individual Crits tomorrow (Monday,
November 17). Unless otherwise noted, you will be meeting your Lab
Instructor in your lab room. If you are not scheduled for a crit
tomorrow, then use class time to work on Drift 2. I will be in my
office (B60) during class hours.

I will be presenting a brief overview on the work of Aaron Ximm in Carl
Bogner's FILM 202 class tomorrow, 11 am in the UWM Recital Hall (MUS
175). I'll also be performing a live, improvised mix of Ximm's field
recordings. All are welcome.

I moved the deadline for the third Reading Response to December 7 in
order to give you more time between now and the Final Screenings to
finish your Drift 2 blogs:

http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_schedule.html

I also added a link to an iMovie Guide on the Tutorials page. This
includes tips on how to remove the default "Ken Burns" effect on your
still imagery (page 42):

http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_tutorials.html
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3111952/iMovie-08-Getting-Started

Final Drift 2 Help Session

Hello, all.

We meet tomorrow (Monday, November 10) in B18 for the last remaining
Help Session for Drift 2. We hope to see you there to talk about any
technical, logistical, or aesthetic issues you may be having with Drift 2.

Wednesday, November 12, is the first round of required Individual Crits
with your Lab Instructor. The sign-up sheets are posted on my office
door, B60.

Today at 5 PM is the deadline for posting your Reading Response #2 to
your Research Blog. Choose one of the following readings: Cage,
Delehanty, Hill, Hiss, Lopate, Peterson, Self, Spirn, Wrights & Sites, Ximm.

Visiting Artist Aaron Ximm will be appearing in our class on Wednesday,
November 19, as a guest performer with the Milwaukee Phonographers
Union, who will perform a live, improvised soundscape comprised entirely
from unprocessed field recordings. We will have an informal Q&A
following the concert, so, even if you choose not to write your Response
on the Ximm article, please read it so that all of us will be ready to
engage in a good discussion.

See you tomorrow.

Drift 1 Practice Crit

Hello, all.

I hope you had a good and productive weekend, and that your Drift walks
were successful.

I've seen Reading Responses from a little less than half the class, so I
hope that I'll see more trickle in tonight and tomorrow.

Tomorrow we meet in B91 for a Drift 1 practice critique session, where
we will look at Drift 1 blogs from previous semesters and listen to some
field recordings.

See you tomorrow.

SonicStage Overview, Audacity Demo

Hello, all.

Tomorrow, September 24, we meet in B91 for a SonicStage overview and
Audacity demo. I also hope to give a brief demo on GoogleMaps, if we
have time.

Speaking of maps, remember that your Drift 1 blog must contain (or link
to) a Drift Map of some sort that includes:

* the outermost boundaries of your walk (including an overall
reference to City and State)
* the line(s) of your walk as determined by your Drift strategy
* key soundmarks / landmarks pinpointed with markers or symbols
* descriptions of these soundmarks / landmarks
* date/time you explored this site

The Drift Map may be a drawing, painting, collage, comic, manipulated
photo, or GoogleMap, and will be the first post on your Drift 1 Blog
(followed by your Drift Strategy). Each of the five field recordings
you post on your Blog must be accompanied by some visual element: a
detail from your Drift Map, a photo of the site, a sketch, or whatever.
Be creative, and have fun.

If you haven't gone on your Drift walk yet, you should this weekend.
Drift 1 is not due until October 13, but it's important that you gather
your raw recordings now (and a lot of them!) so that you will have
plenty of time to listen, edit, post, and troubleshoot. Record more
than you think you need, and for longer than you think you need. You'll
be glad you did.

All of this information can be found on the Drift 1 page:
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_drift_1.html

Remember to keep up with your readings. The first Reflective Response
must be posted to your Research blog by Sunday, September 28, 5 PM.
Pick one of the following articles for your Response: Cresswell, Cross,
Debord, Ferrington, Hart, Lippard, Russolo, This American Life, Toop,
Westerkamp. The questions, and links to the readings, can be found on
the Research page:
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_research.html

We'll see you tomorrow.

Open Lab Help Sessions, Wednesday, April 9

Hello, all.

The Reflective Responses are trickling in, and I hope to see more come through tomorrow before 3 PM.
http://tinyurl.com/3oomz5

Tomorrow is the first of two open lab help sessions for Drift 3, so we'd love to see you all there for help with troubleshooting or to get some feedback on your work in progress. Here is the schedule:

B-18: Steve, Lilly, and David
B-56: Seth, Julie, and Alex
B-65: Glenn

See you tomorrow.

Research Screenings, April 7, B91

Hello, all.

I hope that you all had a great Spring weekend, and that your Drift 3 walks were productive.

We meet tomorrow, Monday, April 7, in B91 for a series of screenings we hope will further illuminate some of the image and sound strategies we have been discussing in class.

The Reflective Response #4 (Screenings) is due Wednesday, April 9, 3 PM.
http://tinyurl.com/3oomz5

See you all tomorrow.

Reflective Response #4 (Screenings)

Pick one of the following films that we've seen in class:

Baillie, Bruce. Castro Street.
Baillie, Bruce. Valentin de la Sierras.
Brakhage, Stan. Cat's Cradle.
Bush, Paul. Incidents from the Life of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Clarke, Shirley. Bridges-Go-Round.
Connor, Bruce. Breakaway.
Gerhard Holthuis. HKG.
Jennings, Jim. Close Quarters.
King, Joe and Rose Pedlow. Sea Change.
Marcellvs L. Man.Road.River.
Menken, Marie. Glimpse of the Garden.
Pierce, Leighton. Pink Socks.
Richardson, Emily. Aspect.
Riedelsheimer, Thomas. Touch The Sound: A Sound Journey with Evelyn Glennie
Smith, John. Worst Case Scenario.

Write a three-paragraph statement answering the following three questions (one paragraph per question), as a comment to this post:

Please state your name (First and Last)

1. Identify the film you have selected and why you chose it.

2. What are the some of the key characteristics, images, scenes, transitions, events, edits, ideas, connections, etc., in this film?

3. How has this film inspired you (or frustrated you) in your practice as a media artist?

The deadline is Wednesday, April 9, 3 PM.

Mandatory Drift 2 Crit, Monday, March 24

Hello, all.

I hope that you had a great Spring Break and that you're all rested for a return to your studies.

We meet tomorrow, Monday, March 24, in the Lab Sections for MANDATORY critique sessions. We will be going over the five rough-cut sketches on your Drift 2 blog (as well as any finished silent videos if there is extra time), so make sure your Drift 2 blog is up and running by 3 PM tomorrow. Make sure your blog is fully public by going to a different computer and accessing your blog (without being signed in to PantherFile or Blogger). This is one surefire method of ensuring that others can see your materials online, not just you.

Crit Schedule (attendance will be taken):
Lab 1, B-91, David Witzling
Lab 2, B-65, Seth Warren-Crow
Lab 3, B-61, Steve Wetzel
Lab 4, B-68, Julie Murray
Lab 5, B-18, Lilly Czarnecki


Remember that you are using the following format for your Drift 2 blogs: firstlast0811602. The Directory has been updated, so you can check your URL (as well as check that I got your URL correct):
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/08116_directory.html

The final deadline for Drift 2 is Friday, March 28, 5 PM.

A reminder to use [08116] in the subject line of your e-mails, and to CC your lab instructor when sending me a note.

Also, please check the Technical Forum as a first step in troubleshooting any hardware/software issues you may be having:
http://www.freeforum101.com/forum/index.php?mforum=06116filmforum

Please note that the Late Policy (25 points per day after the deadline) only applies to Drifts 1, 2, and 3. The Late Policy does not apply to the Reflective Responses, so if you haven't completed one or more of the Reflective Responses so far (Mapping, Sound, or Image), please get those done and posted. (You won't be penalized as part of the Late Policy, but you will be docked a few points on your Participation Grade for not meeting the original deadline.)

We'll see you tomorrow.

Reflective Response #3 (Image)

Read the following articles on image: Bachman, GreenCine, MacDonald, Miller, Sontag, Trachtenberg (please note that the article, "What is Alternative Cinema," does not count as a possibility for your Reflective Response)�. Links to the articles here.

Pick one, and write a three-paragraph statement answering the following three questions (one paragraph per question), as a comment to this post (please state your full name, since some of your Google identities are a bit vague).

1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.

2. What are the main points of the essay?

3. How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your own practice as a media artist?

The deadline is Wednesday, March 12, 3 PM.

Prep for Help Sessions on Monday, February 18

Hello, all.

I hope you had a productive weekend, and that your Drift 1 walks resulted in a lot of great sounds and maps.

On Monday, February 18, we will have open Help Sessions focusing on specific areas of Drift 1. Here is the schedule:

* SonicStage: Steve Wetzel, MIT B-18
* Scanning Maps: David Witzling, B-18
* Audacity: Seth Warren-Crow, Julie Murray, Alex Torinus, B-56
* Blogger, PantherFile, GoogleMaps: Glenn Bach, B-65
* Drawing Maps: Lilly Czarnecki, B-68

Please note that these Help Sessions are not restricted to specific lab sections, and that you may attend any session or sessions you wish. Bring your work on your laptop or CD-R, or have it posted on your Blog or PantherFile for us to access.

I have updated the tutorials for PantherFile and Blogger. They are available here:
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_pantherfile.html
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_blogger.html

If we do not see you on Monday, it will be for one of two reasons:

1) Your Drift 1 walk was extremely fertile, your recordings were crisp and clean, you were able to transfer and edit your recordings with no difficulty, you were able to upload your MP3s and maps to PantherFile, and your Blog is solid and seamless.

or . . .

2) You weren't able to go out on your Drift walk yet (!) and you have no material with which to work.

If the reason is #1, then we will expect a fantastic Blog with engaging sounds and maps. If the reason is #2, then you are really behind and it will take an extremely concerted effort on your part to meet the first Drift 1 deadline a week from tomorrow.

Remember that the deadline for Reflective Response #2 (Sound) is due tomorrow at 3 PM. The readings from which you can choose are Delahanty, Ferrington, Hill, Peterson, Russolo, Toop, and Westerkamp. Remember that you are supposed to read ALL of the readings, and then pick one to write about. Don't just write about the first article you read, or simply pick one at random. Post your response as a comment to this post on the Course Blog:
http://film-116.blogspot.com/2008/01/reflective-response-2-sound.html

Finally, tomorrow is also the deadline to drop this class without a "W" appearing on your record. If this class is ending up on the bottom of your list of priorities, then it may be a good idea to drop, since things will not be getting any easier as we get into video editing in Drifts 2 and 3.

We hope to see many of you tomorrow.

Best,

Glenn

P.S. Remember to visit the Course Directory to make sure you have the correct URL for your Drift 1 Blog:
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/08116_directory.html

P.P.S. If you are planning to attend the map drawing workshop, please bring the following materials:

* Any and all notes and sketches pertaining to your Drift (if you feel like some vital info might be missing--street names, major building names etc., you can look this info up online to piece together what you do have.)

* Paper (regular 8 1/2 by 11 paper is great)

* Pencils and erasers

* Coloring tools: markers, crayons, colored pencils, paints, ink, etc.; whatever you like. (PRISMACOLOR dual-tip design markers work really well and do not bleed. These are available at the UWM bookstore and sold individually.)

* Black fine-tip marker or pen

Prep for Monday, February 11

Hello, all.

A reminder that Seth will lead a soldering session tomorrow, Monday, February 11, from 12:30-2:30 in B-18. Anyone who needs to make last-minute mic or windscreen adjustments is welcome.

We will meet in MUS 180 at 3 PM for an important announcement, and then we will break into the lab sections for mandatory field recording practice sessions. Attendance will be taken. (Remember to bring your gear!)

Some of you may ask: "If I have already gone on my Drift 1 walk this weekend, do I still need to attend?" The answer is yes. If you've already gotten the hang of your recorder and microphones, and you've had some success in collecting good, clean sounds, then your Lab instructor will ask you to share your experiences, both positive and negative, with the rest of the group. You can also help your peers with troubleshooting.

Tomorrow (3 PM) is also the deadline for your first Reflective Response (on mapping), covering one of the following articles: Cresswell, Cross, Debord, Hiss, Lopate, Lippard, or This American Life (note that Joseph Hart's essay, "A New Way of Walking," is not included among your possibilities). Post your response as a comment to this post on the Course Blog:
http://film-116.blogspot.com/2008/01/reflective-response-1.html

See you tomorrow.

Follow-up on past deadlines

Hello all.

Just a reminder that we still have quite a number of no-shows on the first three graded requirements for this class. To date, we have received only 56 replies for the Introductory Survey. This was due January 27th.

Only 61 students have registered for the Technical Forum. The deadline for this was January 30.

Only 41 students have posted the Tiny URL to their Drift Maps. This was due February 6.

You can still receive partial credit for following through on these. The Drift Map is worth 50 points, and won't be graded until the end of the semester, but it's important that you get it started now so that we can track your progress as you work through your Drifts. Your Drift Map URLs are linked on the Course Directory:
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/08116_directory.html

Monday, February 11, 3 PM, is the deadline to post your first Reflective Response on Mapping, choosing one article from Cresswell, Cross, Debord, Hiss, Lopate, Lippard, or This American Life. So far there are only six responses. If you decide to stay home this weekend rather than go out on your Drift walk, then you will have lots of time to finish your readings and craft your response.
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/08116_research.html

Remember to bring your production kits, mics, headphones, minidisc, and batteries to class on Monday.

See you then.

Glenn
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/08116_syllabus.html

Clarification on Reflective Responses

Just a quick note to clarify the reading assignments for the Reflective Responses.

The first Reflective Response is centered around the ideas of place, landscape and mapping, and is due February 11. Articles/programs for this response include Cresswell, Cross, Debord, Hiss, Lopate, Lippard, and This American Life.

The second Reflective Response is all about sound, and this is due February 18th. Articles for this response include Delahanty, Ferrington, Hill, Peterson, Russolo, Toop, and Westerkamp.

I have staggered the readings so that you are reading some articles on place and others on sound simultaneously. This way you are introduced to ideas and thoughts about both mapping and sound from the beginning, so that when you go out on Drift 1 after February 6th, you will already have lots of ideas and questions swirling around in your heads as you walk through the city pointing your microphones in interesting directions and collecting unique sounds.

So, for instance, if you've read the Ferrington article and it really sparked some ideas and you want to write about it, then wait until the second Response, which is not due until February 18. By the time we get to the deadline for the first Response, February 11, you will have read all of the articles on place/mapping and hopefully one or more will have sparked something in you as well.

In summary, you will be writing Response #1 on place/mapping, and Response #2 on sound.

We'll see you all on Monday, 3 PM, in MUS 180 for an overview of the first Drift assignment.

Reflective Response #2 (Sound)

Read the following articles on sound: Delehanty, Ferrington, Hill, Peterson, Russolo, Toop, and Westerkamp. Links to the articles here.

Pick one, and write a three-paragraph statement answering the following three questions (one paragraph per question), as a comment to this post.

1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.

2. What are the main points of the essay?

3. How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your own practice as a media artist?

The deadline is Monday, February 18, 3 PM.

Reflective Response #1 (Mapping)

Read (and listen to) the following articles on place and mapping: Cresswell, Cross, Debord, Hiss, Lopate, Lippard, This American Life. Links to the articles here.

Pick one, and write a three-paragraph statement answering the following three questions (one paragraph per question), as a comment to this post.

1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.

2. What are the main points of the essay?

3. How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your own practice as a media artist?

The deadline is Monday, February 11, 3 PM.