Is this real life?: Media Fast Response

72 Hour Media Fast 

(January 20th-22nd, 2015)

I found the 72 Hour Media Fast to be near impossible. It was so hard to remember not to touch my phone or watch T.V. or browse around on my computer in my free time. It’s literally crazy how dependent I am on technology. Way more than I thought I was. I always knew, I was a phone addict, always on Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook. However, I use it for so much more than just that. 

I need my phone for an alarm clock or to just simply check the time. I use it to check my work schedule, and to set up the seating chart at work. I use my GPS whenever I’m lost while driving. I use technology to order food or find a restaurant to go to. I even use my phone to figure out a tip when I go to said restaurant. I found I have to do things the “old fashion way,” such as doing math myself, or actually setting my real alarm clock. T.V. was another hard thing to avoid, since all my roommates and I do is watch movies on Netflix. One thing I couldn’t get around was I had to use my computer for homework, which honestly, I would prefer the “old fashion way” for that. I like having hard copies and learning things “hand-on.” I find I learn a lot better this way. 

However, I did find myself more bored and anxious. I use my phone specifically as a security blanket when I’m around people I don’t know or when I’m in an unfamiliar place. I also realized how much my friends are addicted to their phones and media. While I was sitting there doing nothing, all of my roommates were on their phones, not being social or entertaining at all. It’s really sad and disgusting how dependent we as a society are on media.

Trippy Mayne....First Response Exercise: Norman McLaren

Stream of Conscious Video

• Music and Dance: It felt like the images were dancing. Music played a big part in the design. Music also sets the mood and tone. If the music was darker, the whole film would be entirely different. 
• Colors, Texture, and Speed: These elements also seemed to play important roles in the design of the film. Personally, I made image associations with hair, spots, fades, negative space, and nature. The warm colors and speed of the film made the images feel like they were alive. 
• Warm Colors: Specifically the emphasis on warm colors adds drastically to the mood and tone as well, which complimented and enhanced the music. 
• I'm glad I'm not epileptic. FLASHY. I felt very dizzy. It's like one part of you wants to look away because of all of the flashing and bright colors, yet at the same time, the other half of you equally doesn't want to look away and doesn't want the images to stop. I was dizzy, dizzy, dizzy. 
• The images were also thought-provoking. It made me consider what is "art." How does a film that just consists of colors and patterns get regarded as an art form and a style of filmmaking? I'm not the biggest fan of experimental filmmaking/Avant-garde/ abstract art. I am one of those people who just "don't get it." I liked the images of this film though. However, I'm glad it was paired with music. Otherwise, I don't think I would have liked the film. In my opinion, this film by Norman McLaren plays with the use of color tones, texture, music, and speed. I felt like it was the visual illustration of dancing itself.