Essay 3
For my essay 3, I really want to incorporate music. Since I am a musician, I feel that I can really tell a good story with just music, no words. I haven’t thought about a story yet, but I plan to go around and film some shots of everyday life to see what exactly I can come up with. I will film the shots, then depending on the visuals, and the atmosphere I would like to portray, I will write scores to each scene.
Music can depict images very vividly. Moods of scenes will be easily interpreted by viewers. However, I don’t to just stick with one genre. I would like to string together scenes with completely different vibes. I would like to jump from depressing and gloomy, to romantic and triumphant.
However, the final product will tell a story; a story that makes sense, and has a definitive plot and characters. Maybe I can do some animation? Then I won’t have to find actors..
If possible, I’d like to hear some suggestions. I’m pretty open to where this essay will be going as of now. Maybe when I start filming, things will happen to fall into place and then I can work from there. Or maybe work backwards? Write music and then try to capture shots that would align with mood of the song? hmm…
4 responses so far
What comes first: the images or the music? That’s a creative process question, and an interesting one, and it just depends, I think, on where/how you want to draw your inspiration.
I could imagine that either could work well.
Your third paragraph captures my writing-teacher interest. Yeah, so, what’s your point here? I think you should have a sense of the story you want to tell before you start filming/composing. At least a sense of theme. Will it be about how music is a conduit for emotion, or how everyday life is lyrical? Either of these is an example of a start, but as you work with the material (imagery and music) that emerges, keep massaging it into meaning. I think the “essay” part needs that story/plot/logic (of some sort, but with lyric essays it’s fluid)/meaning.
I’m interested in this: how is everyday life, our most mundane experiences, ‘lyrical”? What does it mean for life to be lyrical? How can you express what it means for the quotidian to be lyrical, not through words, but through music and moving images? These are interesting questions that come to my mind after reading your proposal. Not sure if they’re where you were headed or what you were thinking, but they’re what come up for me.
It’s an interesting challenge to write an essay without any words at all for an audience of “readers.”
Dear Kris,
This idea of music without any words is very interesting. I agree that music can depict images very vividly, and it can enhance a story beyond its limits. I don’t know if you have watched it, but one of Professor Smith’s students (Hiroshi) posted a video that inspired him, and it was done with music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5ekUyxxpBt0
I think your intentions are different, but I thought it was nicely done.
I also think that to start filming first would be easier, its like going on a hunt for a story with the intention of putting a soundtrack to it. I think the possibilities to your essay are endless, and it all depends on your personal point of view where you want to take it and how you want to put it together. Some things just dont need words. Hope you find them. Excited to see what you come up with!
Sincerely,
Sofia
Hey Kris,
As someone who has no artistic ability in any form I’m very interested to see what you come up with for your project. The creative process that comes with being a musician or a painter or a writer always intrigued me. Do you just see or hear something and that gets you thinking about a new piece of music? Or do you think of the music first and then see something that you can relate to it? Maybe you can explore your creative process in general through your piece.
I agree with Sofia that it would probably be easier to start filming first and then find a story and add a soundtrack to that. Can’t wait to see what you end up doing for this project.
Sincerely,
Iordan
Hey Kris,
I agree – telling a story with music is going to be dope. I think that it would be more interesting to focus on one specific issue or topic or snapshot of life than to jump around. I guess it depends on what kind of music you write and what you are going for…
Here is a link to a music video from an Icelandic band that I absolutely love. Their videos absolutely hit home for me and are beautifully done and, because they are in a foreign language, carries on with the idea of telling a story with no words.
http://vimeo.com/3986821
Hopefully that gives you some inspiration or at least some insight into what I mean by focusing on one thing rather than jumping around…
See you later!
Hutch