John Cage's article "the future of music:credo" focuses on earlier music of the late 18th,19th century and how artist tend to go back to styles within these periods. Cage instructs that artist shall explore the future of sound properties. Cage talks about artists using sounds just for effect reasoning, lacking rhythm and uniquness. He also talks about how we are "shielded from new sound experiences". In the article he defines what a "Thereministes" is and argues that instead of exploring new sounds within the field, we try to create things that have been done in the past.
I found this article relevant to what I have experienced as a die-hard fan of music and film. In music as far as sound playing a factor, I often hear the repetiveness of certain percussion being used to create a particular tone. I have always believed that a tone or mood can be conveyed by exploring a range of dissonance and consonance. While pursuing my drift 1 and 2 projects I try to remove myself from recording spaces that are too familiar. Reason why is that I can see how one will be limited and have less control of creating something new. Considering what John Cage says about encountering something new, I try to think outside the box, so when it comes to the editing stage, my chances of creating new rhythms will be high. I find exploring areas that are not familiar to me, very helpful as it motivates me to keep my eyes and ears open. In drift 2 I hope to come across sounds and imagery that are far better than what was captured in Drift 1.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
10 Questions
1. Are there any back roads that lead to something interesting?
Each road would have its own uniqueness as to what it could provide sound wise. There was not one path I would take that would make it better compared to the other paths taken.
2. Is there a house that has a very unique and interesting architecture?
None that I had walked by.
3. Are there any places where sound takes on a strange quality?
No.
4. Where can I find the strangest sight within my Drift area?
Mitchell Park.
5. What differences are there on Lake Michigan between night and day?
I have not tested this as an experiment.
6. Are there any places where one can make a complete 180 degree turn and only see nature?
No, except for Mitchell Park.
7. Are there any buildings that will give me access to a high and panoramic view?
No
8. Is there some kind of elaborate garden in the area?
N/A
9. Are there any kind of monuments in the area?
No
10. Are there any bodies of water (other than Lake Michigan) in the area?
There were small ponds in the Mitchell Park area where ducks would chill-out
Each road would have its own uniqueness as to what it could provide sound wise. There was not one path I would take that would make it better compared to the other paths taken.
2. Is there a house that has a very unique and interesting architecture?
None that I had walked by.
3. Are there any places where sound takes on a strange quality?
No.
4. Where can I find the strangest sight within my Drift area?
Mitchell Park.
5. What differences are there on Lake Michigan between night and day?
I have not tested this as an experiment.
6. Are there any places where one can make a complete 180 degree turn and only see nature?
No, except for Mitchell Park.
7. Are there any buildings that will give me access to a high and panoramic view?
No
8. Is there some kind of elaborate garden in the area?
N/A
9. Are there any kind of monuments in the area?
No
10. Are there any bodies of water (other than Lake Michigan) in the area?
There were small ponds in the Mitchell Park area where ducks would chill-out
Drift Assesment
1. Describe two situations that aggravated, bothered, shocked or otherwise stressed you during Drift 1. (Please note that the situation CANNOT be technology-related.)
I would sometimes get annoyed by noise distractions that would occur while I was pursuing a recording out in the field. I would sometimes have cars pass by that were very noise or I would have people stare while I recorded. On one of the dritf 1 sounds I had posted, specifically the chainsaw recording I was shocked by the turn-out being that I had to record close by a fence. I had thought I would not receive as much details of the buzzing chainsaw because of a fence that bordered the shack. Otherwise patience was the key for myself while capturing sounds within the field.
2. Describe, with details, two situations during Drift 1 in which you felt unusually peaceful, at ease, or contemplative.
The first situation was when I recorded the sounds of a man working on his car while a dog was barking out of a window. I remember the sky had just darken and the neighborhood was just beginning to come alive with people walking around. I felt more at ease because I knew people would be less distracted as to what I was doing with my microphones aimed in various angles. The second time I recorded sound at ease in a crowded setting was inside of a grocery store. I had just got so comfortable within the store that I would record around 10 minutes of ambient sound and action in the same period.
3. Describe three surprises or unexpected situations you encountered on your Drift and in the days that followed. The surprise could stem from your expectations that conflicted with "on the ground" realities, cultural or social issues of which you were previously unaware, feelings and reactions that you did not expect to have, appearances and soundings of things you did not expect, good or bad outcomes of "on the spot" decisions you had to make, or the discovery of "deeper" realities in the materials you brought home. (Again, skip anything technology-related!)
I was really surprised when I had came across an argument coming from a house. At first I did not realize where the noise had came from until the sound had traveled then I would find myself standing underneath a window, where the sound was coming from. I would quickly press the record button and set up the microphone so that I could receive good quality. During this time it was daylight and I was wondering if I would be caught in the action of recording sounds from the argument between mother and son. As I would come aware of my surroundings, that when I would see neighbors 2 houses down staring at me in curiosity. But I would just continue recording as if I were trying to do something non-related to recording or being conscious.
4. Describe your favorite experience, situation, place, or recollection from your Drift. Be specific about what happened, how you felt, how you reacted, and why you think this particular experience affected you so much.
My favorite experience would have to be when I was recording birds feeding each other. This was not posted to my drift 1 blog because there were certain challenges that I was unable to control. On this day I were walking down a street on the south side were it was quiet and you could hear almost anything. It would sound like birds were having a meeting in a specific tree. I say this because the noises of the birds and from where I was standing was very close. The chirping sounds were colorful and loud. What had interrupted this recording is that a guy across the street from where the birds were located was preparing for a rummage sale. In the middle of my recording you would hear this blast of music coming from the guys TV. As I would try to mix the soundtrack the sound from the TV overlapped the noises of the birds.
I would sometimes get annoyed by noise distractions that would occur while I was pursuing a recording out in the field. I would sometimes have cars pass by that were very noise or I would have people stare while I recorded. On one of the dritf 1 sounds I had posted, specifically the chainsaw recording I was shocked by the turn-out being that I had to record close by a fence. I had thought I would not receive as much details of the buzzing chainsaw because of a fence that bordered the shack. Otherwise patience was the key for myself while capturing sounds within the field.
2. Describe, with details, two situations during Drift 1 in which you felt unusually peaceful, at ease, or contemplative.
The first situation was when I recorded the sounds of a man working on his car while a dog was barking out of a window. I remember the sky had just darken and the neighborhood was just beginning to come alive with people walking around. I felt more at ease because I knew people would be less distracted as to what I was doing with my microphones aimed in various angles. The second time I recorded sound at ease in a crowded setting was inside of a grocery store. I had just got so comfortable within the store that I would record around 10 minutes of ambient sound and action in the same period.
3. Describe three surprises or unexpected situations you encountered on your Drift and in the days that followed. The surprise could stem from your expectations that conflicted with "on the ground" realities, cultural or social issues of which you were previously unaware, feelings and reactions that you did not expect to have, appearances and soundings of things you did not expect, good or bad outcomes of "on the spot" decisions you had to make, or the discovery of "deeper" realities in the materials you brought home. (Again, skip anything technology-related!)
I was really surprised when I had came across an argument coming from a house. At first I did not realize where the noise had came from until the sound had traveled then I would find myself standing underneath a window, where the sound was coming from. I would quickly press the record button and set up the microphone so that I could receive good quality. During this time it was daylight and I was wondering if I would be caught in the action of recording sounds from the argument between mother and son. As I would come aware of my surroundings, that when I would see neighbors 2 houses down staring at me in curiosity. But I would just continue recording as if I were trying to do something non-related to recording or being conscious.
4. Describe your favorite experience, situation, place, or recollection from your Drift. Be specific about what happened, how you felt, how you reacted, and why you think this particular experience affected you so much.
My favorite experience would have to be when I was recording birds feeding each other. This was not posted to my drift 1 blog because there were certain challenges that I was unable to control. On this day I were walking down a street on the south side were it was quiet and you could hear almost anything. It would sound like birds were having a meeting in a specific tree. I say this because the noises of the birds and from where I was standing was very close. The chirping sounds were colorful and loud. What had interrupted this recording is that a guy across the street from where the birds were located was preparing for a rummage sale. In the middle of my recording you would hear this blast of music coming from the guys TV. As I would try to mix the soundtrack the sound from the TV overlapped the noises of the birds.
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