Here is the link to the final Korsakow project, titled ‘LIFE’.

The posting of this marks the end of my studies at RMIT. Its been a very long, intricate and colorful, and did i mention LONG journey?

But, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘Life is a journey, not a destination.’

This is of course pretty important as it contributes 30% to your overall mark.
2. In my participation criteria from earlier in the semester, i noted a few areas i’d like to concentrate on this semester in order to a) pass and b) successfully utilize what is given to me and what i have learnt throughout this course – readings, playing, blogging, lectures and tutes, and group dynamics.

Throughout this semester, i feel i have been able to successfully fulfill each category in the previous participation. The readings (as difficult as they were sometimes to get a grasp of), were something i had to persevere through (Barthes), although through time management i managed to set some time aside to just sit down and go through the notes. I also found that discussing the readings with group members gave me another (or sometimes the right) perspective to the readings.
Examples of further reading and research was a trusty ‘Final Cut Pro for Dummies’ book, which came into SO much use as Cade and I knew the basics of it, but was certainly a great help in the editing process of our videos, as well as research into other K Films to keep ourselves motivated and for inspiration on styles, techniques and to reiterate to ourselves the ‘process’ of a K film.

While i encountered some visa problems which left me stuck overseas for 3 weeks (not to mention that damned icelandic-volcano-whos-name-no-one-can-pronounce-or-spell!), i managed to keep in touch with my team members over email and skype, so i was still able to contribute what i could and still managed to read up on notes from lectures and tutorials (what on earth did people do without the internet?!). Being able to go through other peoples blogs also allowed me to regain some sense of connection with uni and the semester.
Blogging and i have always had an iffy relationship, although this semester i really saw how useful it was to document our thoughts, brainstormings and progress on a blog, as it gave us the opportunity for invaluable reflection and the possibility of resolution if issues came up within a concept. It was also a good tool to write down our ideas prior to a meeting, so when the group met we could go through each others blogs to see who had done what, what each other had come up with, etc.

I’ve been incredibly lucky to have such a great group this semester as well, yes, we all get along very well, but more so to the fact that each of us are stronger in aspects another one of us may not be familiar with. Kapila is an audio genius, and Cade (who is a creative whirlwind) and myself were able to collaborate well and bounce ideas off each other, as well as work together in the layout and editing of the videos.

Playing became a very strong part of the K film production process. Whether it was with the interface, the filming techniques/angles/shots, the audio, different programs we could use (imovie, garageband, pro tools, and final cut) and what we were shooting. Making this K film enabled us to have a lot more creative control on what we wanted to end up with in comparison to other projects in the past, which also meant a lot more research, readings, and playing in order to get that self satisfaction for each of the videos. This however, in turn, really pushed us to ‘get out there’ and explore our potential.

I can’t really pinpoint one activity that influenced me as a ‘learner’, there were a few that really motivated me, but overall i’d have to say it was my general attitude towards the task at hand. There were times where i felt intimidated by Korsakow and SNU-ing (we all know i suffer from severe technophobia), but i managed to take a deep breath, and just persevere. Perhaps the main activities that influenced me the most was the program Korsakow and editing the video on Final Cut. Editing the video on Final Cut gave me the confidence to understand Korsakow, not just the basics of how it works, but also the confidence to play and experiment with it, where as previously i would just about get the basics, but wouldn’t be confident enough to play.

3. Overall, i feel i’ve managed to overcome my technophobia. The anxiety i used to get upon being introduced to a new program was intense enough to make me shy away from the project until it was almost too late. Controlling this fear is something i’ve learnt to do better, as sometimes, its gotten the best of me and eventually hindered my final projects. Severe technophobia, especially under time pressures!
Korsakow, i must say was very intimidating when first introduced, perhaps this has to do with my way of learning (i’m more of a practical learner) – if you try explaining it to me, i’ll freak out. I managed to sit myself down, take a deep breath, and just play.

I do have to say however i’m proud of my final cut pro editing skills! Its a program i’ve had experience with before, but i’ve done well with it! Cade and i did take turns editing, although Cade had more of a creative direction, while i had a system of chopping, rendering, and editing the audio and video.

Perhaps one thing i could’ve learnt to do better is manage the time it takes to film, edit and produce a K Film. Even though i’ve been in RMIT for a couple of years, the time it takes to produce anything to do with film always seems underestimated! The more time i had planned for the editing would’ve enabled me to of been more creative with the material we had – ultimately it could affect the final production, although with the end fast approaching, its very easy to wake up, have breakfast, go to the gym and just spend the whole day and evening sat infront of the computer editing and experimenting.

I’ve gotta say that overall i never actually thought i’d say this, but i’ve really enjoyed this semester. I’ve met great people, i’ve learnt SO much, and its just generally given me that warm, fuzzy feeling.

In my previous participation outline at the beginning of the semester, there were several points I made to persevere; readings, playing, blogging, classes and group dynamics.

So far, minus the slight obstacle of the stupid icelandic-volcano-who-no-one-can-spell-or-pronounce-its-name disrupting my flight back home and visa issues, i feel i’ve done pretty well!

Overall, i feel i’ve managed to overcome my technophobia. The anxiety i used to get upon being introduced to a new program was intense enough to make me shy away from the project until it was almost too late. Korsakow, i must say was very intimidating when first introduced, perhaps this has to do with my way of learning (i’m more of a practical learner) – if you try explaining it to me, i’ll freak out. I managed to sit myself down, take a deep breath, and just play. I’m now ‘comfortable’ using Korsakow, SNU-ing and everything in between, but there is always room for improvement!
I do have to say however i’m proud of my final cut pro editing skills! Thats one program that is exempt from my technophobia. : )

One thing i feel i could’ve done better is to read up more on the program, its purpose and how it does ‘what it does’. I could’ve reinforced more on myself in the ‘research’ criteria noted in my previous participation outline, although as noted above, me being a practical learner (and probably a little stubborn) may of hindered my further reading/research. If i had really emphasized on the research criteria, i may of found articles that would’ve helped the progress of our k-film.

Perhaps one thing i could’ve learnt to do better is manage the time it takes to film, edit and produce a K Film. Even though i’ve been in RMIT for a couple of years, the time it takes to produce anything to do with film always seems underestimated! The more time i had planned for the editing would’ve enabled me to of been more creative with the material we had – ultimately it could affect the final production, although with the end fast approaching, its very easy to wake up, have breakfast, go to the gym and just spend the whole day and evening sat infront of the computer editing and experimenting.

I’m getting increasingly more excited about the final product we’ll end up with!

I managed to transcibe the lyrics from the song our contact in London sent us, i think its very promising with the potential videos we could make with it, although as mentioned previously we should really be careful about being too literal with our interpretations of our material.

Its also interesting to see (on paper) the poetic-ness in hip hop/rap.
While studying Popular Music and Society it appeared that a lot of hip hop and rap music stemmed from negative experiences (originally), yet also held a sense of community within the african american and hispanic communities, yet today sees many songs of the same genre expressing other emotions/exploring other topics, such as this one, with the juxtapositions and contradictions of life.

We’ll be using an SLR camera to record, just because the quality is so much better than a digi, and without time constraints and bulkiness of rented out equipment, 60 videos, 60 ideas…heerrrreeeee we go!

What lies beyond death,
Whether there is reincarnation
Whether there is a resurrection for all that
Becomes rather meaningless

Life (repeat)

Its one word, one syllable,
Such a little sound, so many miracles
With such beauty and visuals
With so much hope, how do we stay so cynical?
Its at a stage that’s so critical
The faster evolution pushed life to the pinnacle
The worlds heating up to make the ice caps melt
and turn the lush green land into one big swimming pool

Life from Petra to Everest
we’re slow approaching the precipice
Life’s like a movie the script seems endless
A tale of greed money love lust and togetherness
Its a force, its a feeling, just the word helps to constitute the healing

With all its angels and demons for centuries we’ve tried
But can’t comprehend the meaning
The simplicity of breathing,
The heart race in action, the peace thats in sleeping

A baby’s first step, the first sight of your soulmate
The heartbreak in love lost
The beauty in weeping.

With all the evil and anarchy, the corporate corruption
The war of brutality, the economic crisis
The world burns gradually, evaporated halos
And clouding life’s clarity

water is colder, slows the osmosis
the worlds sick doctor, whats the prognosis?
life’s got a problem see if you can solve it
time minus lies equals hopeless

its a gift its a blessing
the beauty’s worth all the work and the stressing
its a message, a lesson
the world is a classroom the answers are guesses

Teachers are assholes, classmates are brethren’s
The chalk boards work, and your lunch times a session
a holiday, a respite, a date, when you’re sexing
retirements the drive home, deaths the day’s ending

Its a bitch, its a wanker
A drunk hippie hobo, its bullshit banter
Gave me food for thought, a new mantra
Peace is a state of mind and so is anger

Life is a stormy sea with no anchor
Love is the ship I sailed but I sank her
In all its deep set eloquence
its so gentle and delicate
Can’t prove if god exists thats irrelevant
You asked for proof of life, lifes the evidence

Don’t waste, grab your life and embrace it
Flavours so sweet, pessimists can’t taste it
Life isn’t always fair but lets face it
The good will outweigh the bad in most places

Death follows life and breath or vice versa
Vices in life are things that might curse ya
Cursed is mother nature by most man’s nurture
If she’s cursed most on this Earth, aw.

trust me (repeat)

Life (repeat)

Right….This Barthes extract is pretty complicated to understand, but even more complicated to regurgitate!
I might even be reading too far into this but after staring at the screen and re reading it over and over again I may of even tricked myself into thinking that it makes complete K Film sense.

To read is to find meanings, and to find meanings is to name them; but these named meanings are swept toward other names; names call to each other, reassemble, and their grouping calls for further naming…

It seems to describe Korsakow and the user, and how the user will be used to linear reading, rather than multi. The same in making this K film, it seems we have a predisposition to think literally, and linear, rather than multi-directional – what Korsakow does for the maker, which is a problem we’ve encountered already with constructing the concept of this project – while drawing up ideas for the videos, we sometimes catch ourselves out creating ideas that are too literal, when really we’re aiming for a more abstract final product, which (while abstract) still remains within some constraints i.e the topics the lyrics revolve around.

I MADE IT BACK!!!!
Didn’t get to sleep on the plane and i’m having climate shock i swear! Its damn cold but i managed to resuscitate my fingers from frostbite and get my korsakow online. Here it is.

My essay referring to the work done in Korsakow recently is here.

Ok, just a quick one to make note that I AM STILL ALIVE, although i’m still stuck overseas but i’ve managed to get a flight back to Melbourne tomorrow night!

*phew*

I found a K film by another IM1 student which i found to be very useful, mine is still coming along very slowly, but hopefully it should be more than finished tonight!

I especially like eric’s coin/circle film, i’ve always had a little thing for stop motion!

Back to work, hopefully all will go well, fingers crossed!!

Here is my Air vid!

I’m still stuck overseas, stupid Icelandic-volcano-with-a-name-no-one-can-spell-or-pronounce.

I’ve managed to keep in touch with my group members otherwise via e-mail, and checking up on everyone elses blogs to see whats going on in civilisation.

Cade’s blog had an interesting article on a lecture Adrian did, one I remember from a year or two ago on ‘the cone’, how linear text can be seen in a conical shape, with the user beginning at the wide cone end, with a wide variety of possibilities and links, however, as they progress, the possibilities become less, resulting in a ‘pre-determined end’. HYPERTEXT, on the other hand, works in reverse.

Perhaps this is something to keep in mind while making the K film, or even an obstacle we may encounter, with the possibilities increasing as the user progresses, we need to keep in mind that the idea of linear will no longer exist, therefore, we shouldn’t enter the K Film project ‘literally’….?!?