Video Art - Three Dimensions

"Three Dimensions"   

   For our final project for Art and Technology class (*sob*) we had to create our own video art that would be at least one minute long (excluding credits) and less that three minutes long (including credits). It had to be somehow related to "Video Deconstruction."

   I must admit that I first I had no idea what to do for my video art project. I had never edited nor even handled with video before (except the for the Performance Art piece), so I was not sure what to do. One night I decided to experiment with my Mac's video camera and the effects that were available in Photo Booth, recording myself with the different special effect. Suddenly I remembered professor Echeverry's example in class, and, inspired by it, I did this: I recorded myself, using my Mac video camera, with my iPad also in video recording mode. This created the same effect that happens when two mirrors are placed facing each other! Then integrated the special effects in Photo Booth and amazing visuals were created. I then knew what I was going to do for my project. I recorded myself every night, doing different things until I decided that it was time to create the video art piece. I used the best recordings of myself and rearranged them in a sort of sequence, using iMovie. I also made the audio using Garage Band, synchronizing it with the video. I must admit that it was rather fun doing it; it really kept my creative juices flowing.

   Anyways, I want to talk more about the video art piece itself. I titled it "Three Dimensions" because it focuses on three effects from Photo Booth that I used, each seeming as I was in a different realm (with the projection effect). Actually, I came up with the name inspired by Marco Brambilla's "Civilization", in which heaven and hell are demonstrated in an eternal loop. The different "dimensions" and "realms" that Brambilla presents led me to title my piece "Three Dimensions." It really came out of nowhere but I believe it suits it. So, in terms of the "video deconstruction" aspect, there are many things to consider. First of all, for me "deconstruction" means the separation, division or the taking of a part of a whole and rearranging them in some other way (with the possibility of adding something as well). The first thing of technical deconstruction in the video is the quick cutting, since I took and "separated" small parts of the original recording and placed them in different order and speed. In other words, only small fragments of the part are seen and changed quickly (fragmentation). Going deeper and more abstract, I believe that each part or "dimension" includes some kind of deconstruction, even if it is just a moment. The first one, the one with the negative effect, I see the fact that the original person is negative while the negative of that one is displayed on the smaller person and so forth as an abstract deconstruction. The "negative" is actually separated from the "positive." It may not make much sense, but I admit that I see it that way. On the second one, I believe that there is deconstruction, since each projection of myself, as it gets smaller, is even more altered and deconstructed. It slowly becomes less distinguishable and fragmented. I must admit that I really cannot find some sort of deconstruction on the third one, yet I believe that it is one of the most powerful ones.

   So, it may seem rather simple but believe me: it was way harder than it looks!

  I really hope you like it!

  Good night and good luck with your final exams/projects! (If you have any that is.)

   Sincerely,

   Michelle

  

About Miku Hatsune

   After reading James Verini's "How Virtual Pop Star Hatsune Miku Blew Up in Japan", I definitely know and understand more about the famous Japanese star Miku Hatsune. What is the most surprising thing about this subject is that Miku is not human; she is a singing synthesizer software or application that is portrayed as a 5'2", 16 year-old girl, who weights 92 pounds, is skinny, has blue eyes and hair that is tied to two long ponytails that almost touch the ground. Her voice is created by Yahama's Vocaloid, a software technology that allows singing melodies and voices to be created by using small fragments of voices from true singers. Then the voice can be altered, changed and modified to create singing voices like that of Miku's. She is a singing sensation in many regions of Asia, even though she is inhuman.

   The interesting thing about Miku's story is that she started as a promotional and advertising strategy. At the time (and still today), almost any company and organization created in Japan contains an animated mascot or symbol and Miku Hatsune was initially formed to be Crypton Future Media's representative. This organization constructs virtual instrument applications, like the ones used to make the sound heard in video games and commercials. In 2007, Hiroyuki Itoh, Crypton Future Media's CEO, was searching for an effective way to promote his new virtual vocal software, one he had enhanced and constructed with the help of the Vocaloid 2. He believed that, in order for his program to be successful, he had to create a persona or symbol and he recruited a professional illustrator named Kei to create one that would attract young people's attention and make them interested in buying the Vocaloid 2. That is when Miku Hatsune was born: "Miku" meant "future", while "Hatsune"meant "first sound". He was officially "born" in August 31st in 2007, when her programing was finally distributed.

   Miku became a sensation, and the fact that she is not human or real contributed in that. Since she had no past, the fans could create it on their own. In addition, she could last for many years, while human singers could not last as long as a virtual singer. There is also an immense interaction by the followers, since they create art, manga, videos, among many more, their own version of Miku. This is actually referred as "secondary creativity". It is this interaction that truly makes Miku come alive and become more human. Miku's popularity grew so fast that, when Otaku created a site that allowed the fans to upload their videos and art, fans' creations were already posted that same day. In addition to more posts being uploaded to Otaku's site, many fan pages were also created, where they wrote songs for her to sing, and dance programs, like MikuMikuDance. It is estimated that 3,000 songs made from followers can be found on Japanese iTunes and Amazon and numerous homemade videos have been uploaded to Youtube. Also, many Miku merchandise is being sold in all parts of Japan, from T-shirts, toys, outfits and more. It is surprising that there is even Miku porn, which is disturbing. What is shocking is that people actually pay to go to a Miku concert, in which the virtual image of Miku is projected on a flat screen, while real musicians play their instruments. Her first one, in Tokyo in 2010, had everything sold  out. She has hosted six more concerts, in which about 3,000 fans attended.

   Many share the same opinion about the magic people find in Miku Hatsune: "She's rather more like a goddess: she has human parts, but she transcends human limitations. She is the great post-human popstar." Like in almost everything, many others completely disagree with the previous statement. However, Miku continues to be an overwhelming singing sensation in Japan.

A Miku Hatsune concert

A Miku Hatsune music video

Have a good night!

Sincerely,

Michelle