Assignment #1: Remix/Mashup – 15 points
Length: 2 – 3 minutes, tagged with your name and blog URL at the end
Due Thursday, January 29th by 4pm:
1. Video compressed and embedded on your blog
2. Project statement printed and handed in as a hard copy
Using only found footage/sound in FCP, create either a remix or a mashup that contains a critique or commentary on the source material. The goal for this assignment is to explore the power of editing, juxtaposition and metaphor, opportunities presented by fair use exceptions to copyright law, and to participate in a critical engagement with media. No original material may be used.
In approaching to your project, consider which techniques you might employ:
- Détournement: Using the techniques contained in the source material to create a new message in opposition to that of the original
- Identity correction: Using the process of remixing to reimagine and re-create a public figure’s persona
- Compilation: Assembling multiple pieces of footage in sequence as a means to draw connections and parallels between seemingly disparate sources
- Dance remix: Creating audio/visual music from non-musical source material
- Overdubbing: Blending audio from one (or more) sources with video from another to create juxtaposition and commentary
- Others???
Your video should have two primary aims: 1) Critique/commentary and 2) A sense of development over time. So, the most successful projects will avoid a “one-note” presentation; rather, they will exhibit a narrative, visual, or aesthetic progression over the course of the video, with attention to achieving complexity and depth.
Criteria for evaluation:
- Clarity of critique/commentary
- Attention to editing techniques and principles
- Clear sense of progression and development
- Attention to high quality compression/playback
- Strong sense of unity – all elements serve a purpose in conveying the overall message
- Video meets requirements of Fair Use
Project Statement
In addition to your video, prepare a 1 - 2 page, double spaced paper in which you describe a) the critique you are attempting to convey and b) the techniques you are using to achieve that goal. Be specific, using examples from your video. What connections are you attempting to draw? How?
Comments and Project Critiques
For this assignment, and assignments throughout the course, you will be asked to view and comment upon your classmates’ work on their blogs outside of class. You do not need to comment on all videos, but you should comment on at least three. This needs to be done by the next class meeting after the due date.
Comments should be constructive, thoughtful, and candid – consider these comments part of the critique process.
An informal discussion about the works as a whole will then take place the next class meeting after the deadline. Be prepared to talk about what you’ve seen at that time. Each student will also receive an individual critique from me.