After a lot of technical difficulties I have my visual artefact up on YouTube. Originally, I intended it to be one video – Dystopic Day, Utopic Day – but I thought I better get Dystopic Day up and hopefully I will have time to add Utopic Day. If not I will add to this blog the concept behind the contrasting video.
#1 by sian on October 15th, 2009
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This makes a great pair with Andy’s! Technology contributing to, rather than countering, urban alienation? I’m thinking there must be some clever way of linking commute and compute here, but this needs more work and perhaps a view of your utopian day first : )
Excellent video, Silvana, and the soundtrack is perfect.
#2 by Tony McNeill on October 15th, 2009
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Nice vid – interesting that it’s meatspace that’s dystopia (well, the London transport system) and the virtual that provides a more amenable alternative. I got an early train recently and was struck by the strange beauty of the empty London underground see – http://twitpic.com/3th8h
#3 by Sarah Payne on October 15th, 2009
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I liked this and found it very watchable. I agree with the message that connectivity and the freedom that it promises does not seem to filter down into our working lives. Maybe it is only going to improve our ‘playtime’ and if so will it have any true meaning?
#4 by Silvana on October 15th, 2009
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I like your pic, Tony. The underground can be beautiful and futuristic off-peak, especially the newer stations but it is a nightmare during rush hour. I don’t know why more companies don’t have their staff work from home instead of making them battle through rush hour to come into town.
#5 by sibyller on October 15th, 2009
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A great video. I forgot what London is like! The underground is something else.
#6 by andym on October 16th, 2009
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Although I adopted similar themes, I liked the way you used pace and shake in your video to demonstrate the chaos that can be commuting. I found that clever. You’ve reminded me of why I like visiting London, but not living there.
Since you have presented this as Dystopia, I’m now going to look out for Part 2 – Utopia. I take it you will use different camera techniques and music. I’m intrigued by your work – and I like it.
#7 by Henry on October 16th, 2009
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Great vid Silvana – I guess Utopia will be sitting in a rocking chair, with cat and book/laptop on lap and a coffee mug/biscuits on a side table.
No rushing imagery, just tranquillity?
#8 by tracy on October 16th, 2009
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I love it, very evocative and atmospheric. I like how you chose your moments to pause and comment. And I am always asking the BC why we can’t web or video conference. We all flew to Athens last year for a 3 day meeting that could have easily been hosted remotely. We regularly fly to Bangkok for a single 3 hr meeting! Our carbon footprint is disgusting thanks for all those air miles and yet we like to think we are digitally cutting edge.
#9 by Nicola Osborne on October 17th, 2009
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I really enjoyed this Silvana and I think it’s really brave to do video in such a comparatively short window – I always find filming/editing really challenging so I’m really impressed.
I think it’s really interesting how this bad day isn’t to do with work but the stress of the formal periphery around work. I think as work, life and personal interests blend together more and more the idea of working culture and what you can/should enjoy about your work will change and evolve even more.
#10 by johns on October 18th, 2009
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Really enjoyed this Silvana- the fast forward shakey camera effect with music was dystopic indeed- made me feel lucky to be cycling to work!
#11 by jen on October 18th, 2009
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I really like your sousveillance film-making strategy, Silvana, and how you show the boundaries of digital culture as permeable and laced through with the analogue, and the ‘meatspace’ infrastructure. Off to see utopic day now!
#12 by arthur on October 18th, 2009
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I liked the video. The hustle and bustle and the rush hours of commuting life come over very well. I like the way being on the move is punctuated by all too human captions. It exhausted me watching it and really brought the dystopic side of London life to mind for me again.
#13 by lesleyf on October 21st, 2009
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Silvanna, really enjoyed the manic feel to your video and completely identified with every single aspect.
As you were running around frantically I did notice the man in your life seemed somewhat less frantic and only had the cat to feed! perhaps there is another message we should be getting about gender roles.
differnet location but same same same. great stuff!
looking forward to utopic day – am trying to imagine what this will be like.