Process Piece

 Jam Sesh Process

When considering what we could do for the audio documentary, there were many thought that came to mind. Chasing children and hearing them get ready for bed, hearing the process of writing a poetry slam, and hearing the process of beginning to write a song. We decided to go with the latter. We all crammed into Colby’s warm home as he and his friend Seth began to pluck away at their instruments. Initially, things felt clunky and unobserved, but it felt good as things began to take mold. It immediately became clear that a process was not only prevalent, but necessary in creating.

As we dove further into the art of documenting processes, we were able to more easily recognize the numerous characteristics of a task such as this. Through the process we recorded of two young mens’ jam session and also the assigned viewings from last week, we could see that throughout the world people participate in common processes, however, the differences lie in preferences, circumstances, and social norms. For example, when viewing The Mercandantes’ Five we follow an unsuspecting bunch of children who originate from various parts of the globe. The short film is a series of juxtaposed sequences of the five children getting ready for the day. One example of a micro-process represented in the film is breakfast time. Utensils used range from hands or bread in India to a spoon in Africa. Vastly different, yes, yet all achieve the same purpose: to eat the first meal of the day. While watching, I assumed the final product of the process would be the children at school. However, we come to find out they all end up in their respective houses of worship. A simple yet surprising process, indeed.

The process of creating something from nothing, of spontaneously working with someone in the moment to produce a work of art is wonderful. The making of an impromptu song was fun, and the solitary audio aspect offers a unique way to tell the story. This reminds of a popular YouTuber, the pianist Kyle Landry, that has gained a significant following. Kyle Landry on YouTube has done several covers of very popular songs, but he also has a series of videos where he does musical improvisation. He sits down and begins to play. He chooses a chord progression, a melody, and just has fun with it. This process can be a bit more difficult with two people instead of one. What can be uncertain and rough at first in musical improvisation, can quickly find its voice and develop into something truly original and wonderful. Following the different stages of creating and improving on a song, the process changes and progresses as one chord flows to the next.

The Missed Steak: The Exquisite Corpse

 A conversation via text message can either be incredibly compelling or absolutely boring, mainly depending on your individual role in the conversation. To tell a story through this medium, however, is something completely different all together. It was a fun (and actually somewhat challenging) assignment to concoct a story that could be told in such a way. In this case, we had nothing but dialogue as our method of delivery - not unlike the story “Kidnapped” we read on the “Hoot” app. This assignment was different, however, as the two of us had to play off of each other for creative inspiration.

In DJ Spooky’s text, “Totems without Taboos: The Exquisite Corpse,” we were introduced to the idea of creating a work of art and then letting someone else expound on it. He conveyed the idea that everything we may create is simply a remix of something done in the past. We are, in the end, products of our experiences and what we’ve seen. In a way you could say our little assignment here was another remix of “Kidnapped.” Regardless, we were able to work together and bounce ideas back and forth – essentially remixing the other’s ideas – to create a new story. This, believe it or not, can be hard to do. Many of us are hardwired to create on our own, but it is imperative to be able to build off of one another and work together. After going through our various exercises to come up with fun short story ideas, we figured we’d have a lot of fun staging a conversation between a girl and her dinner. It was as if the more wonky fairy tales of the Brother’s Grimm, or even something as modern as the film “Sausage Party” (in which talking food ignorantly desires nothing else but to be eaten by humans) acted as some sort of inspiration.

Our creative process for this assignment was a bit different than most others. Due to the fact that we had to rely on each other’s creative responses, the assignment to produce a story was mostly done in the moment. However, this could not have been done without some collaboration/inspiration time. After we decided on the characters and interaction we were going for, we discussed together the individual characteristics of our characters so we would know how to react and play that role. As a result, we were able to bring to life our characters.

An interesting aspect of our dialogue is the use of personification. The conversation we created is between a young girl and a piece of steak from the girl’s dinner. Through texting, emojis, bitmojis, and GIFs, we were able to portray the meat as any other average person of our day.

Music Mosaic

As a young girl I was put into piano lessons contrary to my will. Perhaps that’s a dramatic way to put it, but that’s how I saw it at the time. Like many other LDS mothers, my own wanted all her children to know how to read notes, execute more than just a staccato melody and hopefully be somewhat able to play the hymns. I cannot say I could do this even after a year or two. I quit piano lessons and didn’t return until a few years later. I wasn’t expecting the passion I would soon develop for the piano.

It didn’t take long before the simple black and white keyboard transformed into my trusted confidant and soothing friend. Pieces such as Claude Debussy’s Clair de Lune took me to a place much further and higher than the small black bench I performed on. Each time I played this piece the rises and falls of the melody put me in a trance where all I could feel in my body and see in my mind was the music.

I chose this piece for this assignment because I feel that Debussy has translated my life into a song. My mind’s eye interprets this song to represent the phases of a woman’s life. I decided to explore the feminine, what that meant to me and how I could portray that through art.

Each image represents a different phase of a woman’s life. They range from feelings of anger, independence, and happiness to more concrete phases such as childbirth and menstrual cycles.

Similar to what is discussed in Annie Dillard’s “Seeing”, I wanted to take a more thoughtful look into what I visualized as I listened to the music. I decided to use watercolor paints, a medium I was previously unfamiliar with, for many of the pieces to first, challenge myself and second, convey what my mind’s eye saw. I visualized the piano to be the painter and the notes of Clair de Lune to be a painting itself. The melody is soft and ethereal. The way I blended and melted colors was to represent this aspect of the music.

In the black and white line drawings I decided to not use color so the images presented would remain simple and straightforward. Because I personally feel that I am represented in this song, I decided to represent my cultures in some of the images I created; for example, the lips drawn with a traditional Maori tattoo on the chin. In traditional Maori culture, this tattoo or “moko” represents social class and superiority of the women wearing them. They are a silent call for proper respect to be paid to these women.

The colors, shapes, and objects drawn are all used as tools to represent the feelings and images Clair de Lune creates in my mind. By doing this I hope to have promoted the acknowledgment of the power and existence of the feminine.

NBC's The Office: Therapy for Life

When you create a team made up of an inappropriately witty boss, an uptight accountant, an overconfident salesman, and an alcoholic supplier relations representative (to name a few), one is likely to expect this combination to be your average American workspace. NBC’s The Office is this and so much more. Throughout its nine seasons, this TV show has provided numerous comical learning experiences. As an avid Office fan myself, I have come to the conclusion that above all this riveting mockumentary promotes and encourages healthy, functional relationships. After being a loyal consumer for over ten years I have observed how directors, writers, producers, cast and crew have brought this to fruition. The Office inspires good relationships through its portrayal of relationships between characters and spurring loyalty within relationships of viewers.

For those unfamiliar with The Office it may be beneficial to understand the basic storyline. After all, how will you be able to understand how this show promotes healthy relationships if we just jump into my argument before giving you a basic backstory. The show follows a mediocre paper supply company, Dunder Mifflin, in a small town in Pennsylvania. The introductory season starts with a small cast and as seasons progress we are slowly acquainted with more and more characters. One is able to follow the working dynamic of the employees of Dunder Mufflin and how their own relationships progress and digress. Each character has their own story, their own strengths and weaknesses. In the end, the wide range of emotions and personalities creates an addictive storyline to follow.

Traditional documentaries often times focus on relationships between people. Whether it be personally or amongst many. As viewers we are mere observers left to interpret and learn. As a mockumentary, The Office provides viewers this opportunity. The characteristics of the genre itself is what I’d first like to dive into. Episodically we are introduced to various aspects and occurrences that affect the dynamic of the lovely bunch that makes up Dunder Mifflin Scranton. For example, the questionable love triangle between Dwight Schrute, Angela Martin, and Andy Bernard. If we consider the ups and downs of this relationship there is a lot to be learned. Originally on the down low for quite some time, Dwight and Angela maintained a secretive relationship keeping it from most in the office. Ding ding! Red flag! Lesson #1: if love is intentionally hidden, I concur it is not true love.

Later in the relationship when Dwight and Angela have a falling out over a murdered kitten (long story), it doesn’t take Angela very long to move on to another man. Her intention? To make Dwight jealous. Ding ding! Red flag! *Ahem loyalty issues. Lesson #2: Establish loyalty, people!

Enter Andy Bernard. After a broken engagement to Andy, another secret affair with Dwight, and plenty other odd details that do not need to be mentioned at this time, Angela and Dwight get married. Ding ding! Not a red flag, but wedding bells. Lesson #3: True love triumphs all! This is just one example to prove how watching The Office and observing the odd relationships portrayed provides meaningful lessons.

As an avid fan, it is inevitable for me to not address personal experiences I’ve had with this show. Recently, I had an experience where The Office promoted loyalty and honesty between my now-husband and I. While we were dating I introduced him to The Office. We watched it faithfully together, sometimes substituting it for homework, which I actually recommend. Why? Quality time. Anyway, I digress. One night we were watching the second to last episode of the entire series. To add some suspense, the very next morning I was leaving on a trip to the South Pacific for three weeks. I asked him to promise me to not watch the episode until I returned home. I knew it was a lot to ask of him, but I had to be there for his reaction. Throughout that trip, the few times we talked he assured me he hadn’t broken our promise. As soon as I returned to wifi-filled America, we watched the final episode. The wait was well worth it. Our loyalty and honesty with one another is now much stronger. I wouldn’t be lying if I said this helped in deciding to marry him and form that new relationship.

In conclusion, NBC’s The Office portrayal of a second-rate paper supply company not only comedically entertains its viewers, but also gives them opportunities to analyze relationships between characters and learn what they can do to improve their own relationships with others. The dysfunctionality between the characters, when looked at more closely proves to be not much more dysfunctional than our own non-fictional relationships.