June 3, 2019: Artist Statement/ Project 2

Project 2: Soundscape

Artist Statement

Throughout my upbringing, playing games as a child allowed me the opportunity to become immersed into a fantasy world. Gaming provided me with an escape and has continued to play this role in my life today. For Project 2, I have created anSNES Classic Play-throughhighlighting familiar sounds and melodies we all know and love. 

This soundscape captures familiar melodies and sounds from classic SNES games I have enjoyed playing throughout my upbringing. The aim of this soundscape is to capture the attention of the audience and allow them the opportunity to define the melodies regardless of distortion and clipping of the audio. 

Gaming is known to trigger nostalgia due to the emotional attachment we associate with each game. Games have the tendency to bring forth heightened sensations of competitiveness, heroism, and competence. For this reason, it is not surprising that a sense of nostalgia is felt from playing video games. 

More often than not, gaming is a time consuming leisure activity that occupies time throughout our youth and early adulthood. At this stage in our lives, the development of our values and how we perceive ourselves is rampant. Though we experience growth and change, the classic games we once played remain the same. Due to their consistency, we are granted the opportunity to return to the nostalgic pastime we so deeply appreciated early on in our lives. 

Throughout the duration of the soundscape, the audience may recognize melodies from 15 classic SNES games. I hope to embody a familiar, nostalgic atmosphere that would enable the audience to reminisce in my preferred pastime. 

The following games were played in the development of this audio clip:

• Donkey Kong Country
• Kirby Super Star
• Kirby's Dream Course
• Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting
• Super Mario World
• Final Fantasy III
• Super Castlevania IV
• EarthBound
• F-ZERO
• Mega Man X
• Star Fox
• Star Fox 2
• Super Metroid
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
• Mario Paint

May 31, 2019: Critique Reflection

Following critique, I have decided to make the following changes:

• Though I do prefer the melodic, nostalgic tracks of classic SNES games, I have want to clip portions of each melody and have them blend well into the next melody.
• Towards the middle of the song, I tried slowing down parts but failed to lower their volume and without having done this, the distortions are more obvious than I would like them to be.
• I have to place the audios in an order that makes coherent sense. 
• I need to work on consistency throughout the duration of the recording.
• I may want to add a few more tracks that vary from melodies. 
• I may add the sounds of a controller clicking, or blowing into a cartridge ( which you're not supposed to do upon start up of the SNES console, it damages it in the long run but is a quick solution most use to play their favorite games.)

May 30, 2019: Beats with Rules

Brandon's Rules

Victoria's Rules

May 30, 2019: Rules In Class Exercise

10 rules:

• Generate sound with your knuckles to include in beat 
• Shuffle your shoes on the carpet
• SpongeBob SquarePants Production Music - Stadium Rave A - YouTube
• Zip/ Unzip a zipper of your choice for sound
• Pen Click 
• Pat hands against a surface of your choice (Desk, Thighs, etc)
• Chew gum (will provide gum if needed):)
• Drag writing utensil on desk
• Make popping noise with mouth/lips 
• 0:02Metal Gear Solid - Exclamation Point Sound Effect

May 30, 2019: Rough Draft for Project 2

SNES Classic Play through Rough Draft

May 29, 2019: Audacity HW Assignment

Audacity HW Assignment
Annoying and Pleasant Sounds

May 28, 2019: 10 Sounds

Project 2: SNES Classic Play Through (10 Sounds)

May 29, 2019: Audacity In Class Exercise

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

May 28, 2019: Brainstorming for Project 2

      For project 2, I'd like to focus on playing on memory. As a child, it was difficult to find an activity that I enjoyed enough to devote my time to. I used to try to read a book once a day, and I continued this routine every day after school until I was introduced to consoles. Though it may have been a change of pace, I truly enjoyed spending my evenings playing SNES classic games and it is something that I hold dear to this day. Gaming has changed drastically over the years. From the introduction of the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972 to the development of virtual reality today, gaming has changed for the better and continues to develop as time progresses.

      For my project, I'd like to focus on the sounds of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System released in 1991. Though I do not have the original console itself, I do have the SNES Classic Edition released late 2017. This SNES console includes over 30 classic SNES Games that were part of my upbringing which I admire to this day. For this piece, I'd like to combine sounds from the games on the SNES to allow the audience to feel nostalgia over not only my childhood, but the childhood they might have had as well if they have experienced this in their upbringings as well. Thus far, I plan on including sounds of Pacman, Metroid, Castlevania II, Kirby's Adventure, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Brothers Street Fighter, Donkey Kong Country, Final Fantasy II, Starfox, and Earthbound. The sounds I hope to capture will likely be recognizable by the audience if they have encountered any of the listed classes SNES games.

May 28, 2019: In Class Exercise on "Art of Noise" audio pieces

Duke Ellington Take the A Train 

Analysis:

The opening piano solo performed by Duke Ellington himself is ubiquitous in terms of how repetitive it is throughout the duration of the song. His piano solo is accompanied by the brass section providing a steady foundation for the tune with trombones and trumpets. The young woman who sings prior to the solo speaks of migrating to Harlem, which is known to be the birthplace of experimental progression of the arts and literature. Harlem is well known for the further development of jazz and is mentioned throughout the piece, highlighting its importance to the Jazz genre of music. 

What particular noises vs. sounds can you detect in the piece? 

• Trumpets with mute for horn
• Trombones
• Voice of a woman 
• Piano
• Drums

What is the effect of noise on your understanding of the content of the piece? 
The effect of noise on my understanding of the context of this piece lead me to being appreciative of the combination of instrumental sounds during this era. I used to play in jazz band in middle school and have had this genre a-tuned to my liking since my involvement in the band. Personally, I feel as though the composition of this piece was very well done regardless of how experimental it was for its time. Had Duke Ellington not experimented among his colleagues, the genre of Jazz would not be as developed as it is today. 

How would you characterize the work and why?
I would characterize the work as an experimental piece, as the genre of Jazz music was built on the foundation of improvisation. 

Does it function as art, music, or as an environment/space?
I believe that this piece functions as music, as it is a composition of several instruments and voices. This timeless piece is crafted in a way that allow the audience to gain. sense of appreciation for a composition that was not pre-existing in the prior era of music. 

Cartoon Network Teenage Mutant Titans,Teen Titans Go!

Analysis:
This snippet of "Teenage Mutant Titans,Teen Titans Go!" allows the audience to feel as if they are sharing the environment/space with the TMT characters involved. As the audio plays, I feel as though all sounds provided become immersive and allow he audience to engage with the characters themselves. It seems as though the TMT characters aside from Robin are not satisfied with the pizza free rule being implemented for the titans. Having listened to this snippet of the show, I feel as though I can share a similar opinion to the titans who are dissatisfied by Robin's decision. 

What particular noises vs. sounds can you detect in the piece?

• Screaming
• Mug Shattering
• Fellow Teenage Mutant Titans speaking
• Spilling of "Toxic ooze"
• Dinosaur
• Walking/ shuffling through ooze
• Sounds of disgust
• Sounds of discomfort
• Hospital monitors 
• Disagreements among TMT characters regarding pizza 

What is the effect of noise on your understanding of the content of the piece? 
The effect of noise on my understanding of the piece leads me to believe that this snippet of Cartoon Network's "Teenage Mutant Titans,Teen Titans Go!" is meant to be sporadic and unappealing. It is unappealing in the sense that there is utter chaos throughout the duration of the snippet and based on foley sound. one can understand that the situation continues escalate as time progresses. 

How would you characterize the work and why?
I would characterize the work as experiments and comical in the sense that the snippet of the show seems to revolve around the idea of pizza and how others perceive it and value it differently. I, too enjoy pizza and can share similar emotions to the TMT characters expressing their love for pizza. 

Does it function as art, music, or as an environment/space?
I believe that it functions as an environment space, as the audio for the clip makes me visualize being in a space with fellow pizza lovers who allow the situation to escalate and spiral out of their control due to their lack of self control. 

May 24, 2019: Reflection and Questions

Reflection:

Based on the feedback I received at critique, I would attempt to change the following:

• adjust the volume of sounds in the stop motion film. It was suggested that I lower the volume, however, that was deliberately louder. I would attempt to increase the volume over time to make that more obvious to the audience. 
• I would draw more art digitally over the  scenes I shot. Had I been more experienced with photoshop and layers, working frame by frame would’ve been less exhausting. 
• I would apply transitions if my device permitted it. I tried on several occasions to add things I needed onto the film but after editing for 40+ hours, my computer could not handle it and blue screened. 
• I would research how to convert the film project to an earlier version of Adobe to avoid all issues I ran into. 
• I would add another scene or two involving  irrational fear. 

Ears have Walls:

• What is the relationship between the idea of sound as a habitat and sound as immersive?Sound as a habitat typically involve the crackling of leaves and twigs to alert one of their surroundings, while sound as immersive is typically consisting of noises one may not pay much of their attention to as they are sounds they hear on a daily basis. 

• What does the author mean by "there is no sound that is the sound of one object alone"? (p. 135).In order for sound to be considered sound, it must derive from another object. The author states that “All sounds are the result of collisions, abrasions, impingements or mingling of objects.” This statement supports their claim stating "there is no sound that is the sound of one object alone".

• What sort of power does sound have, as opposed to vision?Sound is immersive in the sense that one may struggle to not listen to a sound versus being able to avoid a situation where they can simply look the other way if there is something one would rather not see. You have a choice with vision, you can close your eyes but cannot close your ears the same way.  

• What does the author mean by the title "Ears Have Walls"?The author makes it clear that sound is spatial, thus making the distribution of sound itself based on existing boundaries. “Ears have walls” is a phrase dedicated to acknowledging that there is intricacy and depth to perception of sound. 

May 24, 2019: Stop Motion Project

Phobias and Annoyances

Phobias and Annoyances is a stop motion film which features irrational fears viewers might have had as children, as well as fears that may continue on until present day. This short film also includes annoyances that people may partake in without realizing it. This stop motion film includes scenes and sounds that are meant to intentionally make the audience experience discomfort to some degree. By incorporating scenes highlighting the motion of pen clicking to the sound of obnoxious chewing of food, the film becomes an annoyance in itself. Irrational fears are often thought of as elusive due to the fact that most fears included in the film can be ruled out. In no instance will one find a monster scrambling through their closet, nor will they encounter a shark in a swimming pool. 

As an artist, I am interested in pushing the boundaries of what can be viewed as art through this film, as well as the boundaries of the type of art I create. A common theme in my prior works of art are typically of growth, healing, as well as transformation in some way, shape or form. This stop motion film was experimental in regards to the theme of which I chose to portray throughout the duration of the film. Throughout the film, varying angles allow the viewer to experience these instances in a manner that brings them up close to facing their fears and pet peeves. The overall goal of this work was to purposely have the audience encounter sights and sounds they would otherwise avoid or dislike.

May 23, 2019: Stop Motion Film Rough Draft Reflection

My stop motion film will likely not change much. I plan on incorporating edits of photos where I drew over them frame by frame to include animation to some degree throughout the duration of the film. A few changes I made in regards to my storyboard would be the use of a white board over a chalk board. I searched all over campus and within Norman Hall, there was said to have been classrooms that still had chalkboards set up. However, with recent renovations, most classrooms had their old fashioned chalkboards replaced with whiteboards. Another change to my story board would be including a scene with stairs in lieu of an escalator as I had originally planned. Unfortunately, the escalators were blocked off at Library West leading to a shift in the vision I had set for this project. Though these minor setbacks exist, I am trying my best to pull it together and make the film cohesive.

May 20, 2019: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

May 20, 2019: Storyboard/Proposals for Stop Motion Film

Storyboard for Stop Motion Film 

       For this stop motion film, I would like to focus on irrational fears we may have experienced as children, as well as annoyances that we may have towards the actions of others on a day to day basis. The purpose of this short film is to engage the viewer with each scene as if they were completing the actions or witnessing them to ultimately lead to discomfort to be felt by the audience. I plan to edit sound of the film to seem as if it is gradually increasing in volume throughout the film. I want to incorporate all sounds simultaneously and have a gradual build up that will lead to chaos. For each scene, I am more geared towards using a first person view of each irrational fear to make sure that the audience feels as if they are living through their irrational fears and annoyances with no way to escape them throughout the duration of the stop motion film. 

May 17, 2019: Time Map

In Class Exercise: Outdoor Observation Notes

Time Map

For my artwork, I decided to portray emotions and thoughts that may cross my mind throughout a 24 hour period of time. Though recordings of natural observations and sounds around me were written down for this exercise, one force that remained persistent throughout the exercise was my thought process and how it could not rest for the duration of this exercise. This image is supposed to bring forth attention to what one may feel when they are not in a good mindset. Unfortunately, this happens more often than not throughout the day and as I have been working to combat the symptoms of PTSD. 

May 15, 2019: Gif Upload

May 14. 2019: Radiolab Reflection

Toward the conclusion of the Radiolab podcast, the act of prayer, meditation, art and love were said to lead people to falling into a transcendent state. Once this occurs, an individual may disregard the essence of time as it comes to a stand still when their time spent with loved ones or when they embrace their passions. Time becomes an eternal moment when perceived in this manner. Time is measured in several forms, whether it be subjective, objective or transmitted. Time is diverse and comprehensible in different forms. The intricacy of time is due to the complexity of the relativity of time and our understanding of time.

May 14, 2019: Outdoor Observation

As a method of brainstorming and conceptualizing for my Time Map assignment, I went outdoors to embrace the sights, sounds and scents around me. Upon exiting the building, leaves swaying along to the light breeze in the air were consistent throughout the time I spent outdoors. Among the leaves, there were birds flying and chirping and butterflies grounded along branches of bushes enclosing the walkways. It appeared to be a nice day with the absence of clouds from the sky, which is rare having experienced last years stormy weather daily during the summer term.

Regardless of the sounds of nature present during the outdoor observation, there was a consistent disruptive sound that seemed to mask the delightful sights and sounds of nature. It seems that there is a construction sight along the facade of the building, where one can hear hammering of metal beams, machinery beeping and buzzing, along with dust lingering in the air from the site. Though the aspects of nature I observed were minuscule compared to that of the sight, the observations made were still of importance to the overall development of my list of sights, sounds and scents.

May 13, 2019

Victoria Padilla (b. 1999)

Learning to Fly, 2019

Installation 

        As an artist, I am drawn to creating works that are immersive and allow the viewer to acquaint themselves with internal and external forces that have been consistent throughout my upbringing through expression in my work. This installation is a portrayal of growth and transformation which features peep show wooden boxes highlighting significant stages of my life.This 10 ft x 8 ft installation was my first art project with WARP in Spring of 2019.  

       Since my first project, I continued to show interest in sculpture and incorporated sculpture in my projects in some way or form. Though I have not been exposed to sculpting prior to this spring, I have enjoyed using this art medium and hope to become well rounded in this art medium. 

Quick and the Dead exhibition

Adrian Piper, What Will Become of Me, 1985, ongoing

 This work is a collection of hair follicles, nail clipping and skin of Adrian Piper. This installation is continually being worked on as the artist continues to collect material for their artwork. Piper seems to intend on finishing their piece upon the date of their death. I find this artwork particularly interesting due to its portrayal of the passage of time and change among us. This piece shows an accumulation of  what makes us human and parts of our bodies that continue to grow throughout our lifespans and beyond. Though this work collects parts of our bodies that we often discard and shed, this collection can be compared to the essence of time itself as we live our lives day by day. As we discard hair follicles and nail clippings over time, we discard and utilize time itself  as time progresses.