Reaction to Bejamin Franklin's: The Autobiography

What I found most fascinating about Franklin's writing came when I referred back to that of St. Augstine's. In comparison this text is more of a documentation of what his heritage is---his family lineage. Rather than any sort of personal reflection. What a typical autobiography entails is not quintessential in this work. Where as the piece we read by Augustine that is rather dramatic in introspection stating grand foibles he has a youth, temptations, struggles and inturn 'confessing', Franklin overall has an optimistic persuasion. At the very beginning he states how thankful he is for the life in which he has lived. Later he does discuss specific characters he met along the way and lessons that he learned as a youth----overall it seems as though he does not have much guilt or any brewing anguish towards the path he has taken in life---I can appreciate this greatly.

Reaction to Films---"Daughter-Rite"

It was a bit painful for me to view this film on Tuesday's screening. I felt that I could relate on some levels to the narrator. In many ways as I get older I find myself partaking in similar behavior to that of my mother.....and I'm not sure how thrilled I am about that aspect of my current self. It has been something close to my mind since living within driving distace of my childhood home rather than in undergraduate where there was no chance of seeing the family on a weekend. There was an overall since of melancholia that I interpreted from the interviews with the sisters. They were never able to develop a sincere relationship with their mother---although this seems to have brought them together as a family unit. I definitely found this film powerful. The use of silent home movies---the omniscent mother that we actually never see in her current state---almost how she was to the girls growing up always there in a way a burden but never really touchable.

Reaction to St. Augustine's Confessions

I was not sure what was factual and what was fiction. You have to remember that Saint Augustine was likely trying to sway the readers with this piece of literature. Why would he be completely honest with us? Especially if he is one of 'great faith' and associates himself with the church. As a reader of this text I do not make any sort of pact---I do not trust this work and take it with a grain of salt. Wouldn't this work be considered a tool for swaying the public, and glamorizing the conversion to a particular religion?

CHECK OUT: http://www.myspace.com/saintaugustineofhippo this is an interesting blog by someone who is I assume obsessed with Saint Augustine maybe he can answer our questions.

Sherman's March

Ross McElwee's documentary was captivating on many levels. Interesting that it is so multi-faceted he integrates a historical context as a basis and excuse for his film. Following the route that was taken by Sherman during the civil war leaving a 700 mile by 60 mile wide area of destruction, including none other than the town in which we reside---Columbia. Most southerners cringe at his name seeing him as an intruder who took part in devious crimes, yet McElwee (a southerner) relates to him. Even comparing his own failures in relations with the opposite sex to that of the failed business endeavors of this war 'hero'. McElwee is going through some sort of rite of passage---a quest-- in search for answers his own battle ground. Does he associate his own turmoil with that of Shermans---Sherman was in conflict he had relations with people in the towns his men were destroying. This inner-struggle McElwee fueled his ambition for this film---just like in the other screening 'Phantom Limb' and similar in Eakins chapter he accounts that successful autobiographical information comes from a sort of seperation of self or conflict-----is the only way to achieve an accurate autobiographical depiction?

Reaction to Registers of Self

Eakins in the beginnings of this chapter states that he is approaching the term autobiography 'in the spirit of a cultural anthropologist'. He has obviously struggled himself with the usage of 'I' found within literary works. When disecting the work of Lejeune, Eakins concludes that Nietszche can be held accountable for his logic. "The name shared by the text's protagonist, narrator, and author, the 'I' figure so named remains no less a creature of fiction---the end of autobiography." Eakin's seems somewhat cynical about this topic. What I found fascinating was his thoughts pertaing to the idea of there being multiple selves or dualism that we as humans can not deter from thus making it difficult for there to exist a singular "I". It is impossible to distinguish between the physical body and the mind. Eakins references Deny and Camus study of Madame I---as well as classifying the most successful autobiographical material being that which pertains to the author reflecting upon their own physical body-----a mangled leg or disfigured face. Does having some sort of deformity or physical ailment cause us literally to have a change within the context of our autobiographical information? Ironic that the film we screened on Tuesday "Phantom Limb" definately relates to this text---the narrarator/protagonist/"I"---has had the experience of losing his brother---comparing it to the physical ailment of losing a limb a part of his body is no longer present---this has plagued him and become part of his autobiographical information. Eakins would likely approve of film and enjoy this documentary claiming that in fact it is autobiographical.

Reaction to Atobiographical Pact (bis)

This text ties in with our discussion on the work of artist Janine Antoni that we had last week. I think if LeJeune was asked whether or not Antoni's work was autpbiogrphical he would be aggreeance that in fact it is. Although his writing deals with the concept of literature, it can be applied to visual arts as well. The original word autobiography was created to describe "life of an individual written by himself" or " text in which the author seems to express his life or his feelings" . Antoni's work especially 'Gnaw' falls into both of these descriptions, and therefore is an autobiographical work. LeJuene also describes a pact created by the observee/reader and the one who creates . What the author puts out there can most definately be misconstrued by the reader For visual artists and especially for those who draw upon concept and performance many times their work is misconceived ---there usually is much room for interpretation by the vewer which is at times downfall of a persons work because this leads to failure to express exactly what is desired. If you paint a picture of a pink bunny holding an icecream cone and show it to twelve people everyone will accept this work entirely differently. Maybe one of those twelve has a phobia of rabbits, maybe they are lactose intolerant and the sight of icecream makes them sick, maybe they are offended because they were burdoned with two enormous front teeth and can unfortunately relate to this furry creature. If someone were to write about a pink bunny holding an icecream cone---the reader of this article would create their own pleasant imagery of this in their mind---they have complete freedom of design---it can be edited to fit your own desires---if you have a problem with dairy products you will likely negate this.
Can't everything created by human hand be in some way considered autobiographical? "I’m interested in everyday body rituals and converting the most
basic sort of activities—eating, bathing, mopping—into sculptural processes.
Even in doing this, I imitate fine art rituals such as chiseling (with my teeth),
painting (with my hair and eyelashes), modeling and molding (with my own
body)"-----Janine Antoni artist statement.

How you know you spend too much time on the computer. on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

How you know you spend too much time on the computer. on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

REACTION TO LAB SEPT.11.07

Most disheartening was Justin Hall's 'Dark Night Flick'. His desperation and melancholia is acted out by way of his video blog. It seems that his only hope in this struggle is the internet, this thing that is so much bigger than him omniscent almost like a God salvation. I found myself viewing several posts on BBC's video blog site it is almost addictive in fact. Through this medium one does feel privledged to be allowed into these bloggers lives if only for a couple minutes. Was this the sort of intimacy 'Hall' relied on to ease his troubled mind. He spoke of having such a difficult time in every day real relationships. Is blogging a way to develop somewhat superficial relations getting what you need out of a person just mantaining some sort of social construct within your own without the risk of being exhausted or burdened by the presence of a literal human being. You can choose to turn your computer 'on' and 'off' you can edit yourself decide exactly how much you want the public to know is this the future of relevant relationships?
As far as the BBC film blogs found it fascinating that Maureen a British country woman has her discrepencies on the diminishing language that she is accustom to. Ironic that she is using a sophisticated means of technology to get her opinion out when the cause for her problem is due to the rapid change in culture catalyst by the technological world in deed. First blog in 1997 and look at the rapid progression has this been a variable in Maureens dilemna???? I think probably. The lexicon of our generation is being defined by the technology we use. Maureen mentions wicker baskets that would carry bushels of apples---this was utilized in the language of her younger years now no one know what she is referring to and she has found it difficult to understand references made by those in the computer generation. Are we at risk for losing some of our important language to spout out computer/internet/text message etc lingo? will this be the future

glaze tests on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

glaze tests on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Morgan Fischer Standard Gauge 1984

I thought this film was thoroughly enjoyable and informative about the processes used during the time Fischer work for the technicolor editing company in Hollywood. He sees dicarded materials such as still clips just as important as what was kept in the final product of the film. There is such a grueling time consuming process in film editing especially during Fischers hayday when it was all manualy done there was no final cut pro software that the information could be plugged into. He is drawn to 35mm stills that have there idiosyncracies, human error is present. These are the ones the editor learns form critques his own work. Can be easily related to my own area of study MFA---ceramic candidate. In this department there is a copius amout of time spent on glaze formulating and calculation along with testing of different bodies of clay before the work is even started. Usually these test are recorded in some sort of journal for documentation and then the test-tiles are tosted away, but to me they are infact minature works of art worth just as much apreciation as the final product of the ceramicist, in this way I can relate to Fischers eye for what is typically overlooked.

Autobiography: Essays Theoretical and Critical

'The camera, in Benjamin's well-known formulation, introduces us to unconscious optics as does psychoanalysis to unconscious impulse' -- found this citing of information extremely pertinent to the text, and to our class discussions. Can film relay a message straight from the creators inner-being----is this always intentional---can it be done without them being overtly aware of this? In Benning's film 'Girl Power' at the age of sixteen one of her first pieces was she conscious of how deafeningly autobiographical this could be to the viewer. Is the viewer's interpretation of the work itself the deciding factor as to whether or not it is a personal narrative?
In much of this writing there is the comparison between literary works and film. There is a dispute that film does not have the same magnitude for introspection and self-observation that literature does. I would have to disagree with this. I am able to relate just as candidly with character portrayls in films as in literary works. It is a different written work, allows a reader to be more of the visual creator of characters within the text----while divergent from this, films where visually the characters are thrusted upon you.
The author then describes how film is problematic within the contexts of autobiography. There is the circumsance of 'authorship' which states that within cinema there is almost always a crew responsible for the creation. While with a memoir, novel etc., there is typically only one person in production. This argument does make sense and holds validity. Although a majority of the time the crew of a film production are there solely for the purpose of one person vision/idea.
key words 'act value' 'spectatorship' 'authorship'
Fellini "I am my own still life, I am a film Everything and nothing in my work is autobiographical." From my own experience whether it be author or cinematographer if they are most passionate about their work it is unavoidable that in some way even if it be an abstract idea or done sub-consciously, undeniably they are in that work. They are the work.



posted by Leslie Hinton @ 11:48 AM

Lost Book Found::::Jem Cohen

Begins the film high above the city almost as if he is reflecting upon his concurrent situation, how he arrived at this particular spot. The events leading up to. He uses a great amount of still shots almost like a photo album. Reflects upon the characters he met while being a cart roller selling hot dogs and peanuts on the side of the street----becomes invisible to the passer byers. He starts to notice the things that were hidden to him prier to this job. I do infact think that this film is extremely autobiographical it was almost as if he was reading us his diary on his innermost thoughts and his own reaction to his environment. How he interacted with the city in which he lived. Where his mind was while he kept this boring job what he was preoccupations were. Made me question what I notice on a daily basis what sorts of characters I might run into, what words are inscribed on Columbia's pay phone change holders?

Reaction to: Reading Autobiography by Smith and Watson

Significant question to ask when reviewing an autobiogrphical work----Is the author of this piece trying to COAX me one way or the other----What was there intention during the creation? Are they encouraging me to be swayed? A critical reader needs to take into account the editor of the work, the preface, the field notes, footnotes, bibliography etc. These are extremely important variables that should be considered with text I usually am not so observant or take the time to surface such details, I think after reading this article I will be more sensitive.

Smith and Watson continue to go on extensively about the different meanings of the use 'I' and in what sorts of context 'Real, Historical, Narrating, Ideaological'. Touches on the importance of the 'addressee' how to go about gathering context clues from the layers presented by the author.
The most interesting point made to me specifically was the segment discussing Medium. This was unlike the article edited by James Olney who gives the overall impression that any other medium besides written word should be taken lightheartedly when it come to the autobiography. This section by Watson and Smith has just the opposite theme----'short feature, documentry films, theater pieces, installations, performance art in music, dance, and monologue, the painted or sculpted self-portrait, quilts, collages, mosaics, body art, murals, comics and cyber art.' These are all methods of construing a narrative. In the 21st century there needs to be a broader appreciation for the arts and as a viewer or observee an openmind and a longing to expose oneself to these practices. I would have to be more reciprocating to this text than the Olney, I think that if one has an intention to express ones own existence and story it can be done just as successfully in other mediums as in literature.

Reaction to Remediation: Understanding New Media

Reaction to Remediation: Understanding New Media
Immediacy, Hypermediacy, Remediation
Jay David bolter and Richard Grusin

The start of this article was a bit frustrating honestly to someone who works in a media so far removed from computers and technology. I am getting my masters degree in ceramics…..basically I work with mud on a daily basis. Creating a three-dimensional work of art by means of a mathematical grid seems so abstract to me. Virtual art / virtual reality being the new media progressing in the near future is what the current culture is leaning towards. Talk of this reminds me of the film Star Wars when a hologram is used of princess Lea in order to communicate information to R2D2 and Luke Sky Walker she is in the round a sculpture created by a robot.
This summer I visited the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, Massachusetts. A majority of the work was done either with a camera, computer, there was not a single painting, print of piece of pottery in the entire museum. Seems that the text and through my own experiences I am discovering that to be an artist in the 21sth century you must be technologically suave. but they due suggest that because of the old media ----new media can exist ---Microsoft’s Encarta would not exist if there had not been an original Encyclopedia.
It seems like it is not so much the artist that has changed but rather the viewer. In our society we need just like we discussed in the last class our need for constant stimulation we are being constantly fed with imagery, information in our daily lives, pose the question is photography making painting and painters unnecessary?
A window created by the masters mentioned in the text such as Durer with his wood cuts to the technique of tromped oil done by Vermeer, Da Vinci ----is this the same concept as our hyper-immediate window a computer screen makes as the user has multiple pages layered with accessible information easily available with the touch of a button. Would these artists been the computer geniuses of today?