Time To Beef This Thing Up

As you both said in your previous comments it's time to beef this blog up a little bit so here we go. I've been thinking about thesis quite a bit lately but just have not had the time to make any new posts in regards to my thoughts lately. I'd like to start with the deliverable and how I may go about out putting this thesis idea.

As of right now I'm leaning mostly towards designing the final deliverable as an exhibition. I feel that if people were able to view the final product as an exhibition it could be quite interesting and would allow for a more complete understanding of the project. Essentially displaying all elements of the process and working people through my thought process.

Upon entering the exhibition they would be faced with a synopsis of the project. I imagine this being quite text heavy and adhered to a wall as a vinyl decal similar to the opening of the type show that just took place at 52 McCaul St. the other day.

A demonstration of the Chladny test would then take place either physically in the gallery space or through video projection. The exhibit would then follow a path through record cover history based on genre. The exhibit would be broken up in a colour coded manner distinguishing certain genre types from one another and allowing for a large overview of each genre and it's similarities. Headphones would hang on the wall to allow visitors to experience the music while viewing the cover art.

The exhibition would then flow into primary examples of how the Chladny test effects certain musical genres by determining the average tone within a given piece of music and then displaying that pattern on the wall.

There would be a program book to accompany the exhibit, to allow for patrons to understand this exhibit further as they continue return home.

I envision this exhibition being placed in a larger space than a typical gallery, this would be something that would be housed in a place like MOCCA or the AGO as a large scale instillation.

Here are a few sources of inspiration I've uncovered in my past few weeks of thinking about thesis.

Monocle Magazine Article On Slow Media

In the December 09/January 10 Issue of Monocle Magazine (Issue 29, Volume 3) they ran a feature entitled "Calm Down, Dear" which reported on 3 case studies of successful companies and groups involved in various forms of "Slow Media." The portion about The Vinyl Factory in London, England I found especially interesting. The fact that only 9 years ago EMI recordings was willing to sell off such a large factory because of dwindling vinyl sales seems absurd considering the huge influx in vinyl sales in the past few years since 2001. Obviously there is a large market still hungry for "the wax."

Research Methods Group Progress

Through out the term we have met up repeatedly whether it be through Skype or in person to discuss the project and our individual roles. On Wednesday of reading week we had our final in person meeting before the presentation and compiled all of our final data. In terms of my role within all of this I was the questionnaire designer/co-ordinater.

Our group has reached out to people who have attended the festival to gather information. We were able to gather info from age groups extending all the way from 18 to 82. We have had trouble reaching administrators and volunteers at the festival as what outlined by my previous post. Despite the lack of response from the administration I feel we have a great understanding as to how the festival functions from a street level view. We will be proposing a few changes to the overall functionality of the festival and it's physical characteristics (placement in the beaches, signage, website, etc...). I can say I've been extremely pleased with my group and their diligence with the project, we've all worked quite well together.

Slow Media

I have become increasingly intrigued in methods of slow media and how people continue to consume these forms in the face of technological advances in computers, television and personal devises. Despite all of these advances there are more magazine publication now than there have ever been (the big boys are hurting but independent publications keep popping up). Vinyl record sales are poised to surpass cd sales in certain markets. The DJ has revitalized an industry that was deemed dead only a few years ago. Theater is also increased attendance in the face of blockbuster hollywood films such as Avatar.

Things seem to be at a split right now where people seem to be putting on foot on the digital side while still holding on to the dog eared paper back. One such event that really struck me where both "real" and digital means met in tandem was on December 13th, 2009 in Arlington, Texas where the Dallas Cowboys football game was broadcast in 3D on the jumbotron in the stadium while the game was happening on the field below. To myself and many others this seams absolutely absurd but I guess it made sense to someone with a bit of authority.

This one foot in the future and one in the past won't get any easier as we go along but do we need to disrgard the things we already own and understand simply for the sake of "progress?" I would argue no we don't but we do need to look at where technology truly helps us and where things become simply the newest shiniest gadget on the block without any real benifit?

Will the IPad really help us? It's basically a laptop without a standard keyboard yet still people are calling for the death of print because of objects such as these. Will we still read books and continue to consume slow media as we progress further and further into the world of the microchip?

Frustration

Well apparently there is no one manning the e-mail or telephone number listed on the Beaches Jazz Festival website. I have repeatidly e-mailed and called with absolutely no response. I've even just sent the question directly with the e-mail in a hope that someone with just fill it out and send it back. These past few weeks of phoning have been perticularily frustrating and has set back our research to a certain extent waiting on people who obviously don't seem to be there.

Record Cover Styling

Within genres of music a visual style is prevalent throughout. For example Black Metal often is characterized by hand rendered lettering that is often quite organic yet jagged. Imagery is often dark and often set in nature. The natural world holds a close bond to Black Metal.



Other genres such as hardcore also show similarities in visual language. Varsity lettering is used throughout while imagery is often communal and interactive in terms of crowd participation while still be aggressive.



These trends continue throughout other music styles but these are two brief examples of what I am getting at. I believe there is a defined visual language that is based on sonic perception of sound, which therefore effects the creation of visuals for music.

University of California Chladni Test Explanation

An essay by the University of California explaining how the test works, there is also a video displayed that walks you through the steps of the test and how to create the patterns at certain frequencies.

When an object vibrates at one of its natural frequencies (a rate of vibration at which it naturally tends to move), standing wave patterns are formed within the object. These patterns are the result of wave interference, which occurs at the meeting of two waves traveling within the same medium in different directions. The resulting disturbance within the material at the point where the waves meet is the net effect of the two waves. At certain points in the material, the waves cancel each other out through destructive interference and there is no net disturbance. These points are called nodes, or nodal points. Around the nodes, the waves constructively interfere; the points with the greatest disturbance are called antinodes, or anti-nodal points.

For example, imagine a rope attached at one end to a fixed point. If you hold the free end of the rope and move it up and down, you create waves. You can force the rope to vibrate at different frequencies by changing the rate at which you shake it. At certain frequencies (the natural frequencies), rather than seeing waves that propagate along the rope, you would see parts of the rope stand still. This happens because your movement introduces waves that travel down the rope, but there are also reflected waves that travel in the other direction up the rope that create interference. The points where the rope is standing still are the nodes; around the nodes, the rope fluctuates up and down.

It is only when an object vibrates at a natural (also known as harmonic) frequency that resonance, which creates large amplitudes of vibration with minimal energy input, and standing wave patterns can be achieved. At other frequencies, the interference does not produce a regular pattern. Standing wave patterns can be seen in the figures formed on Chladni plates, named after Ernst Chladni, a German physicist who studied sound. He observed that sand sprinkled on a plate that is forced to vibrate at its harmonic frequencies displays clear patterns. As the plate vibrates, the sand bounces around until it reaches a place that is not moving—along the nodal points. However, when the plate vibrates at other frequencies that do not produce standing wave patterns, the sand continues to tumble about and does not fall into distinguishable figures.