Groundhog video by Molly and I (Naomi)

Of you are bored and would like to watch the best video EVER MADE, look no further. It is about a groundhog.

Gregory.

Also, the actual footage is slowed down and reversed. If that explains anything.

Response to Origins of Video Art

What stuck out most to me while reading this article was how universal video art has become as technology has advanced. When video recording equipment first came out it was very bulky and expensive This left the video recording to only broadcasters, large corporations, and institutions. As technology has advanced since then video recording equipment has become more lightweight and the actual recording is crisp. You can now find people recording on handheld digital cameras and cell phones. Something that is so commonplace to us now would shock older generations who got a taste of video. Back then you would have to pick a setting, set up, and then shoot, which is still used now in television and movies but is much easier with the new and advanced equipment, but nowadays basically anybody with a cellphone who comes across something that they want to record can do so in a matter of seconds and a click of a button. There are also ways that people can record what they want with filters and special effects on their cellphone. An example of this would be the app where you can film something with your phone and have the ability to use action movie effects on that particular subject.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-HSLTJOz2o

Response to origins of video art

            There are a few points that this reading brought up that I found particularly interested. The first of them is the distinction and dissidence that was made between video art and TV broadcasting. In the times that she is talking about, television shows focus much revolved much more around the conservative “nuclear family.” This was for the most part an unrealistic and picture-perfect portrayal of life in America and something the video art wanted to move away from. Video art was more interested in what different and interesting things they could do the video technology.

            Another point I found interesting is the change in availability of video technology and what that meant for it. As the reading says, video equipment started off being very expensive and were mostly owned by big broadcasters, corporations, etc… this therefore meant that they were the ones who controlled what people saw. However as time has gone on, video equipment has much more affordable and transportable and has allowed many more people to make videos. To go even further, the rise of the internet and websites like Facebook and YouTube have allowed an almost absurdly high amount of people to share what they have recorded and made in a way that wouldn’t have been thought possible a number of years ago. I think one of the reasons why video is so powerful and has lasted so long is because, especially with more and more technological advancements, there is so many different things that you can do with it. For example, the fairly new app Vine shows us all the interesting things we can do with seven seconds and cut editing.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v_vjGvZh7k         

Response to Origins of Video Art

The Origins of Video Art discusses the history of videography over approximately the last 100 years, which covers periods of technological advances, social activism, and many different art forms. The author focuses on the relationship between video as an art medium and the relationship and developing video imaging technology. I found the parts about technology changes most interesting because I am more fascinated by the behind the scenes work involved in video art than the art itself. I think the editing techniques that have evolved out of technical capabilities are truly magnificent. The author points to broadcasting, consumer electronics, and video surveillance (just to name a few) as some of the commonplace uses of video. The author goes on to discuss how one artist, Paik modified circuitry of televisions as a form of art in an exhibit. His exhibit sounds incredible and unique. The idea of the same broadcast simultaneously playing with different aspects is really fascinating. It has a way of playing the mind and demonstrates how I light distortion changes how the viewer interprets the piece. Since this piece debuted back in 1963, I was intrigued about Paik’s more modern works, which led me to the internet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rPZYGuCFdw

This video shows Puik’s Electronic Superhighway from 1995- also shown here (http://americanart.si.edu/education/rs/artwork/) . According to the caption of this video, this piece is displayed in the National Portrait Gallery (I was actually there this past summer!)- though I don’t recall seeing it, so it may not be displayed anymore. Nonetheless, the piece reminds me of the one describe in The Origins of Video Art, except this piece has way more than 20 TVs. I think it’s a fascinating contrast at how TV has advanced and also how the uses of video art vary across America.  I recognized that our thoughts about places are largely formed by what we hear and see about them in video- Oklahoma is a great example of this. Conversely, the video art forms that represent each area put a face to that demographic and communicate it to the world. All in all, video art has a larger global affect than just passing time. 

Response to The Origins of Video Art

I really enjoyed reading this article. For one thing, I liked how Chris described the story of Paik's performance when he cuts off John Cage's bow-tie. In addition, this article really made me think about the time when VHS was all that we had and how some of the VHS tapes that my family and I recorded are now lost forever because we never tried to retrieve it. I agree that television has helped video to stay alive because of sound and music. However I think that the rest of what television isn't helping at, the way video can visually show things that we normally wouldn't consider to be art; for instance what Paik did with sound and distorting TV hardware, is ultimately what is keeping it alive. This video is about promoting an interesting idea of using HDR in video."HDR Video provides filmmakers with many exciting new opportunities. Not only can HDR video create interesting effects, it can also allow for even exposure where artificial lighting is unavailable or impractical. For example, when a subject is backlit, one camera could be set to properly expose the subject, the other the sky, resulting in video with perfect exposure throughout."I think this relates to the passage because it describes the essence of how new technology is altering video as an art form. When I watched this video it seems to me like HDR makes images look more futuristic and roboty (I made up my own word lol).
        
HDR Video Demonstration Using Two Canon 5D mark II's from Soviet Montage on Vimeo.

Response to The Origins of Video Art

In the introduction, the author said the video 's is affected by technology development and cultural influences. At the beginning of the technology, it was just original about what was recorded. Nowadays, people tend to see more development out of the video technology rather than the video itself. We are able to use tools and technology to edit it.  It is more widely used as commercials and televisions. It argues television is a crucial case for the survival of the video. The incorporate of sound and music made television more attractive. In my opinion, television is recording a created event that is planned to get recorded , but video is more realistic, and capturing the details and actions in front of the camera. The function for video and its artistic meaning can never be replaced. 

This video is introducing the history of the typography. I found out accidently, like video, that typography was also invented by German. The video uses a good way to illustrate the content itself, and it cooperates actions with the words. It is like one of the artists mentioned in the article that video art has its meaning as painting and sculpture, which video is more genuine.