#digs16 Lookings Audio Assignment

Lookings Audio Overview

Part of seeing what is on an ordinary block is seeing that everything visible has a history. It arrived at the spot where you found it at some time, was crafted or whittled or forged at some time, filled a certain role or existed for a particular functon. It was touched by someone (or no one), and touches someone (or no one) now. It is evidence. The other part of seeing what is on the block is appreciated how limited our own view is.
— Alexandra Horowitz, from On Looking

Hold Still, Keep Going by Bill Wolff

Lookings Audio Specifics

Each student is required to conduct at least 1 looking during the course of the project by re-seeing a space or object with an expert in a field relating to your subject matter. The inspiration for this part of the assignment is Horowitz’s On Looking. From your looking experience, create an audio story, such as those on This American Life and RadioLab (we’ll be discussing both on 3/3)  that combines your expert’s descriptions with your own narrative interpretations.

These stories must adhere to the following criteria:

  • run 2-3 minutes long
  • include clips from your looking experience, your own original narration, and additional background audio (all additional audio must be free to use, in the public domain, and/or Creative Commons licensed)
  • extend your transmedia story in interesting ways

Like Horowitz, you have the option of moving through through a particular space (such as a museum or a market or a riverbed) with an expert with the goal of seeing that space anew. Or, you can have the expert take you through looking at an object (such as a record or a fruit stand or a betamax tape) or an event (such as a dodgeball game). Whichever you choose, the key is to have that person describe what they are seeing with their own eyes as a way to open yours (and your listeners) to a new understanding of what is being seen.

The idea of an expert is flexible here: they don’t need to be as expert as those in Horowitz’ book. An experienced pastry shop owner or produce seller or record store owner can be considered an expert. A person who frequents a location so often it feels like their home can be an expert. So can a referee or team member or museum curator. Anyone who has familiarity with the space or activity associated with your investigation and can describe what they are seeing in a new way.

Your audio can be recorded using your phone, though I strongly recommend using one of the nine Zoom H4N recorders that can be rented in the basement of Merion along with an external microphone (we will experiment with these). Audio can be edited using software of your choice, though if you are new to audio editing, I recommend the free audio editor, Audacity. Creative Commons licensed music for the purposes of background audio or soundtracks can be found on Jamendo. Rough drafts and final drafts will be uploaded to SoundCloud and embedded in your transmediated digital story.

Audio Draft Specifics

Rough Draft

Please complete the first half of your audio story (that is, 1 minute to 1 minute and 30 seconds), which is to be created after you compose a transcript that contains your introduction, your narration, clips from the looking, and music selections. The transcript should be formatted as depicted on page 18 of Radio: An Illustrated Guide (see the Readings page):

still from Radio: An Illustrated Guide

All music selections must come from Archive.org, Freesound, Jamendo, or MusOpen. The music must be in the public domain or hold a Creative Commons License. If you are unsure if you can use a music selection, tweet BW a link to the music and he’ll let you know.

You may use whatever audio edit software you wish. Export the file as .mp3 or .wav (16 bit) file. Upload the file to SoundCloud and email Bill a link to it.

Specifics for Rough Draft 2 and Final Draft

Your video final draft must:

  • be 2 – 3 minutes long (plus credits)
  • be composed as if it were a mini This American Life episode, having an introductory narrative and a concluding one in which you reflect on what was just heard, such as
  • contain statements seamlessly worked into your introductory and concluding narratives that the audio is part of a larger project; in the concluding statement mention the URL of the full story and that more info can be found in the description

Specifics when Uploading Rough Draft 2 and the Final Video to YouTube

  • Upload the video to SoundCloud
  • Place a complete meaningful title of your audio in the form field when uploading.
  • In the Description form field, add the following (copy and paste from a Word doc so that you have spell-checked it):
    • start with a clearly written and well-edited one-two sentence description of the audio and the larger story the audio is a part of
    • a link to the full transmedia story, including the title
    • include a complete list of credits and sources (if any)
    • please use paragraphs and complete sentences
    • do not mention the audio was created for a class
  • Add at least five meaningful tags.
  • Make the audio public and allow embedding and comments

Assignment Due Dates

The due dates are:

  • 3/1: Must know the person you will be doing the looking with and have the looking scheduled
  • 3/5 – 3/18: Lookings must be conducted during this window; do not complete them before
  • 4/7: Audio rough draft 1 due online
  • 4/21: Audio rough draft 2 due as part of completed transmediated story draft

To Go Significantly Beyond the Required Coursework

As part of the Grading Criteria, to obtain an A in the course, you must “demonstrate activity that goes significantly beyond the required course work in one or more course objectives.”

Here are a few ways you might be able to demonstrate going beyond the required coursework through the use of video work in addition to the main video assignment:

  • create one or more short audio bursts (no more than 15 seconds) clipped from your looking that can be used at certain parts to enhance your transmedia story
  • create a series of Vines that, in 6 second bits, tell a story over time
  • create a sound essay that  showcases the sounds associated with your space (silence, cheers, crickets, crackles, rippling water, etc.)
  • something else you come up with :-)

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