Comments on: Walking Forest Blues

By: Therapy again | Via Negativa

Therapy again | Via Negativa — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:44:45 +0000

[...] appreciate the dissenting views on the value of music in the comments to my previous video, and I’ll be curious to see if my inclusion of a piece of experimental electronica this time [...]

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:11:46 +0000

Hi Bev – I’m glad it worked for you. I didn’t spend as much time hunting for a soundtrack as I could’ve, but the track I found sounded right, bluesy without actually being a blues, a little torchy but not too.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:09:29 +0000

Thanks, Natalie. I appreciate the reactions of a fellow amateur video experimenter!

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:08:22 +0000

Clive, if you’d seen the video before I added the music, I think you might change your mind. Something about it just didn’t gel. But really, I need to start conceiving of the soundtrack as a whole, before I start making the video. That’s going to be my new procedure starting today.

That looks like a nice, slow-moving film – my favorite kind!

By: bev

bev — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:27:31 +0000

Super. I did like the music. For me, it seemed subdued enough to be a nice addition and somehow seemed to go with the whole piece, especially the part with the turkey. Thanks for the heads-up re: Ren’s poem animations.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:18:46 +0000

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. Fabuloso: the words, the voice, the forest creatures, the movie. I think I agree with Clive about the music, maybe it wasn’t necessary. Icing on an already perfect cake? But I’m not sure, maybe it’s okay.

By: Clive Hicks-Jenkins

Clive Hicks-Jenkins — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:59:20 +0000

Beautiful juxtaposition of words and imagery Dave. But I like the musicality and the pitch and timbre of your voice so much, that I felt the added track was an intrusive element. However, that might just be me. I’m a bit oversensitive to music being added to what’s already perfect, though I realise it’s the way of things these days. The way I see it, your voice says it all and the images accompany that beautifully. The ‘mood’ of the music just intrudes. Too busy. I may be in a minority of one here, so change nothing on my account. Just an observation.

However, just to shoot my argument (and my preference) down in flames, here’s a link to a trailer for a film that is certainly poetic in tone, and where the music doesn’t get in the way. Sleep Furiously is directed by Gideon Koppel, the son of my dear friend Pippi. In the trailer she’s calling for Jack, my own terrier, son of Daisy who is also present. Watch the bottom left of frame closely. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh9sGyYyTB8

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:49:25 +0000

Oh dear. Well, they do still give you the summer off, right? Sounds as if an extended bout of haphazard living might be in order.

(Sorry I don’t have a more thoughtful response. I know so many idealistic people who go into teaching, only to discover that education is the least of their responsiblities. The system is so fucked, I think it’s just incredibly hard for one person to make a difference.)

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:17:57 +0000

And this is part of why living haphazardly appeals to me. I can’t think of anything fresh to say about learning and teaching. Neither the learning I’m supposed to be fostering nor my own place in the world of pedagogy feels organic or honest to me just now.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:21:34 +0000

Hi Laura – No need to wish; you’ve written plenty of texts as good or better, though I notice you haven’t been linking your name to your Gaia blog lately.

I suspect we learn most when we don’t think we’re learning at all. But since you’re an actual teacher, it’s interesting to hear you express such skepticism about learning!