Most of these ideas aren’t flushed out very well, but I like the idea of the final media object being a music video (inspired by Kraftwerk and Nick Cave works)
(I don’t know if this is possible?) Using photogrammetry to capture unique items that I made or crafted together, maybe like a vodo doll. Then use motion capture to capture movement of a persons body either dancing or doing regular tasks and use that to control the motion of the object captured using photogrammetry.
(I don’t know if this is possible?) Have a person dance and track their motions in a green screen space that is not just two dimensional. Create a virtual 3D space either using unity or photogrammetry etc. Use the dancers movements to control the space they are dancing in.
Have a music video plot be people going through their daily lives but access this crazy world through a portal. When they enter this world they become the other people by switching certain things (like the way someone walks get mapped onto someone else or someone’s heartrate/breathing pattern gets mapped onto someone else)
A audio and video exploration into the popular phenomenon of grima (the creeps) which is sounds combined with textures that create repulsion and disgust unique to an individual.
My goal was to try to offer a more tangible definition to the phenomenon of grima to see if see if there can be some joy found in this shared disgust. Grima is related to misophonia, but it is a different experience. Not everyone experiences the same reaction to the same grima triggers; however, there are certain experiences which many people claim as a trigger which are the experiences documented in the video. So my goal was to make a video to document these grima inducing sensations and then also use the video to see who is affected by what sounds/textures.
This project was inspired by the trend of ASMR, research by Francis Fesmire, and several projects discussed in class about unspoken phenomenon that humans share such as Stacy Greene’s lipstick photography.
First, I collected a list of grima inducing sensations via social media, word of mouth, and online websites such as Reddit. I gathered all the materials and tried to group them into similar groups while recording (such as all fork videos). It was important to record these sounds as realistically as possible, so I used the binaural microphone in the recording studio to capture the best sound quality. Capturing texture was also important, but I struggled with lighting so the color correction is a little off.
I wanted to compile these sensations into a format that was easily shareable, since this bonding experience is important to the foundation of the project. Being able to use this as a fun game to test yourself or see others who share the same triggers I think is a unique experience that should be talked about more. Additionally, having it in such a format will make it easier to conduct further research on what triggers affect people in the future. This was the final result: An Exploration of Grima
The next steps of the project are still in the drafting phase. Using the video created, I wished to capture data from people watching the video. I did a couple of tests and created some mockups but they are not great yet. I tried to capture users heartbeats while watching the video to see if heartbeats increased while watching their own triggers; however, I ran into some technical issues using the stethoscope and translating that data into visuals.
HEARTBEAT MOCKUP:
Next, I tried having people watch the video and tap on a microphone whenever they disliked a noise. They were suppose to tap faster the more they did not like a noise. I took the data from 2 people and compiled it in a visual alongside the video.
PHYSICAL TAPPING MOCKUP:
There is definitely more to be improved on regarding lots of aspects of this project. Technically, I would like to improve lighting conditions, keep these conditions consistent, and highlight the textures of the objects better. I think the execution and format of the project worked well for my goal, but I think increasing the scale in both experiences and participants would be ideal. Lastly, I would love to solidify a participatory aspect to this project where people can record their data while watching the video, whether that be figuring out the heartbeat monitor, updating a counter of sensations disliked in real-time etc.
My plan for the typology project is to explore the phenomenon that has tried to be defined by many names but I am calling “Anti-ASMR” (as referenced to by some on the internet). It will take the form of a video compilation of terrible sounds, and possibly (if I have time) a compilation of people’s reaction to these sounds.
Names and definitions some people associate with this:
Misophonia: (Not what I am studying, but related) is a disorder in which certain sounds trigger emotional or physiological responses that some might perceive as unreasonable given the circumstance. Those who have misophonia might describe it as when a sound “drives you crazy.” Their reactions can range from anger and annoyance to panic and the need to flee. Misophonia may cause a reaction to sounds such as dripping water, chewing, snapping gum, or repetitive noises, such as pencil tapping.
Hyperacusis: (Not what I am studying, but related-ish) Not specific to a certain sound is a highly debilitating rare hearing disorder characterized by an increased sensitivity to certain frequencies and volume ranges of sound (a collapsed tolerance to usual environmental sound). A person with severe hyperacusis has difficulty tolerating everyday sounds, which become painful or loud. Hyperacusis is often associated with autism.
Grima (Spanish term that is exactly what I’m exploring): Great article putting into words this feeling
But although grima is most often associated with sounds, some participants said grima was triggered by the feel of certain objects – as foam rubber does for Schweiger. Some were objects associated with loud noises, but others were objects that don’t make noise, such as cork, velvet or sponges.
I think it is fascinating that we don’t have a word for this in English which is an obvious sign that this phenomenon lacks a lot of research. Most projects that I have seen that are similar to my idea (like this video) contain sounds that almost everyone finds somewhat annoying/disgusting. What sets this typology apart from others is the fact that most of these sounds except one or two don’t bother me personally at all. However, I know that many of these actions are largely despised among groups of people even though the subject is rarely talked about. I think I find it so fascinating because it is like we all have our own personal kryptonite of which we share with certain individuals (for example, my sister and I share a trigger but we don’t share it with our parents). Also, I think there’s something wonderful in the fact of discovering we are not alone in these weird repulsions many of us have. Therefore, I am planning to record a compilation of sounds and textures of mundane things that commonly give people a negative physical reaction in order to better study this phenomenon.
To do this I plan to record myself making many of these unpleasant sounds using both the binaural microphone for audio in order to simulate texture and the way humans hear such sounds and a DSLR camera to highlight the texture in the objects themselves. The actions will be filmed in a plain, ideally white, and, well lit area that has no background noise. Only the hands of the person performing the action will be shown. The objects and actions mentioned are gathered from sources from my personal social media, word of mouth, and from online sources such as Reddit.
Symptoms People Have Said They Experience:
Shivers
Goosebumps
Have to bite their tongue
Tongue swell up
Gagging
Repulsive reaction
Feeling of “makes me want to turn inside out” “makes me feel like my teeth are going to fall out.” “My nerves are trying to burrow out of my body”
Thinking about these triggers is enough to feel them
What Sounds/Textures I Plan to Record:
Unpolished dry wooden spoons against dry skin
Nail files on nails
Styrofoam against Styrofoam
Styrofoam against cardboard
Styrofoam against Felt
Scratching Styrofoam
Scratching Vinyl/3D Folders
Water bottle with ridges (especially when wet)
Glossy photos (like for the dole show) scraped against nails
An example of nonhuman photography I’ve been in close proximity of is photography taken using computer algorithms. One example that I’ve experienced but am not sure counts is generative images. Since they use real images to create a completely new one, this may not qualify as technology but is a type of not completely human Art form that I think of often in these types of conversations. I definitely agree with Zylinska that these new forms of capture open of new questions and opportunities. Specifically, such as the new questions regarding the history being described in the article about Angkor Wat. Having new forms of capture that may be “nonhuman photography” I believe does not destroy photography or ruin any art forms, but instead, as Zylinska stated, creates new opportunities for discovery of information and for humans to work alongside of technology. Just because humans may be giving up some control, does not invalidate the future of photography, capture, or art. All of the information in the article I believe further serves the excitement for a future where technology and humans can work together to discover new information, opportunities, and perspectives.
These images are from a small sample of stuff from underneath my fingernail. According to Donna it is mostly skin, however when looking much closer bacteria can be seen on the nail (which is normal for human skin).
I thought this experience was extremely interesting, especially in regards to expanding my mind on the definition of capture. Typically, I have avoided lots of science related things often because they intimidate me. However, analyzing images by using these systems provides a completely new perspective on seeing the world. Moreover, it is inspiring to see the intersections between art and science and how art and science can benefit each other. Primarily, I have always been motivated by how art can help progress in efforts to stop climate change. This experience has motivated me further in these beliefs, specifically how artists can help put scientific discoveries into more tangible explanations for society. Also, science can help give a drive or a goal to certain mediums, approaches, and art projects. For a while I have doubted the ability for art and science to benefit each other, and often I think artists can feel an inferiority to STEM. Overall, this experience has inspired my capabilities as an artist to collaborate.
The medium of capture can substantially influence a typology since different aesthetics and data can be depicted which can influence a viewers interpretation of the image. For example, choosing a medium which captures an image using infrared will expose different data and could possibly reveal information about a typology that would differ if images were captured with a DSLR camera. To a certain extent I believe photography is objective and can be scientifically reliable; however, I still believe that the operator of a medium of capture has to make decisions which can influence what is depicted in the image. Different exposures, lighting conditions, and angles are just a few examples how even just one medium of capture can have images of a single subject that significantly vary in their aesthetics. Though they may all reveal the same data about a subject, their is still room for alterations, different aesthetics, and different impacts from the images; therefore, I believe contemporary captures are a partially subjective medium. Choosing different mediums of capture, such as film, digital, x-ray, etc., is a choice by the operator; however, one would argue that the expected result is predictable and scientifically reliable in this situation. To this extent photography and capture can be reliable, but there are still choices made, sometimes not even registered as choices, when capturing an image that can influence the result which consequently contribute to this medium being partially subjective.
I thought the project Variable 4 by James Bulley and Daniel Jones was extremely interesting in utilizing data, sometimes unseen, to create music. I similar project is the musical works of Brian Foo where he creates songs with data, often data that is unseen. There is a pretty substantial amount of songs he has created, but I specifically find the song Music Eclipticalis intriguing where Foo using positions of stars to create a song. Not all of his work is groundbreaking or pushed to the farthest limits, but he has a lot of interesting ideas in this realm of music from data so I’d recommend checking him out.
With the advancing technology as discussed in the article such as GANS, Google Clips, and Pinterest Lens, the relationship between user and camera becomes more grey. When it comes to questions of ownership and authorship, I think these terms have to be clearly defined. Since these cameras have the agency to take photos of their own, are they the authors, are those that have created these certain algorithms for them to learn authors themselves, etc. As technology advances, it seems that these discussion lean toward the reality that humanity may have to work alongside machines rather than controlling them and using them as tools. I would argue that this does not eliminate the role of the user though, since images can always be altered by a variety of factors which can be done through the users intention or artistic vision. Although the reality of the photographer we traditionally know is shifting, I do believe the user has input in the relationship with the camera and therefore their role can have an impact on the images captured. Overall, I am still formulating my opinion on cameras that have their own agency. However, though some may interpret this technology as bleak for photographers or may push back against this technology, I believe it can be viewed optimistically as a chance for a new kind of collaboration with technology.
These images are from a project Carnegie Mellon student Clelia Knox did where they experimented with images captured from a security camera. In this project Clelia “Experiments with a thermal security camera. Draped an ice cold wet sheet over [their] body to create a blurred effect of [their] body moving below the surface.” I find this project very interesting, but my context on this project is very limited. I found this project on the artist’s public Instagram, and I am not aware of other contexts in which these images were shown/meant to be shown. Additionally, I am not sure of whose in possession of the security camera nor how the artist acquired the images. I found this project very interesting because, for me, it seems like its commenting on the security we are all under all the time. Moreover, I found it interesting since these images from security cameras are often considered as evidence of truth; however, this project reveals the subjectivity of the images these devices capture.
