This blog will talk about the week.
This semester started off well since most of the classes so far show potential of developing into subjects with content that can be useful to me in the near future. The Australian music subject is a good example of this since it seems we will be learning a lot about how the industry works, where the money is and how to get it. The movie sound subject is good because it is a skill I want to know, and we are also required to make our own movies which is also useful. Overall, most classes show a lot of promise. Forum is... unique still.
In the movie subject we had a look at Luke Harrold's honours project, a witty short film describing the monotony of factory work. Having worked in a factory myself, I can sympathize with Luke but cannot understand how one can work full time in such a place; it is hell. The sounds were done on an early Pentium but sounded decent. They were recorded individually and placed over the images after. There was hardly any sound from when the scenes were actually shot. The one thing I felt was missing was a sound for the lentil bags falling on top of each other, but apart from that it was well synchronized. We were also given some sheets to read including a list of some movies which have well worked sound. I rewatched one of these movies (Raging Bull, with Robert De Niro) with the sound in mind and noticed some nice passages. The title sequence is especially effective, with soft orchestral music playing to images of a hooded boxer shadow-boxing in a ring. Apart from the "oldschool" fighting scenes that did not really impress the movie is a very good one.
In forum we got introduced to the concept of making instruments by hand. This is not really my cup of tea, but then again forum hardly ever was. I can see how there are lessons to be learned here, how knowing how to make sound with some batteries and a speaker can be good to know, but the sound quality of these "instruments" (electric circuits) is poorer than even the most basic 1960 synths. We got shown a demonstration of some of the concepts in action and I was not sold; it sounded like PC speaker gone horribly wrong, and PC speaker is pretty wrong. This time could be used to analyze successful (oops the S word, that is NEVER to be used in an academic environment) music, but of course this is not what an academic environment is meant to teach. How then, I wonder, are we ever expected to become successful musicians? I have not heard the word chorus mentioned once in a lesson and I feel sorry for those who intend to go down the musician or producer path. Or maybe we are NOT meant to be successful musicians? Maybe the academic environment is meant for those with an academic industry interest? Hmmmmmm...
However, as previously mentioned, the semester shows a lot of potential for developing into a useful one, but forum is still questionable.
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2 comments:
Perhaps you need to redefine what it means to be successful, as Johnny Cage did. He wrote a piece for organ which goes for hundreds of years, thereby guaranteeing that future generations will hear his composition and uphold his deity. You see, the truth is out there. If we are successful producers or musicians, it doesn't last long. However, if we record someone eating a packet of chips and then create a sound installation composition that loops the sound for three millennia, we are not only capturing the moment in all its glory but preserving truth itself. I know these are lofty concepts, but I feel you're ready for them. Best written in 6/8, not 4/4 however.
That John sure offers wise words. Every darn tootin thing you learn in life could come in handy one day.
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