Blair on Visual Argument

In an attempt to ensure that our long and complicated discussion of the Blair articles are instrumental in advancing our project, I have prepared a brief series of slides that are pulled from "The Rhetoric of Visual Arguments." I have injected the slides with questions that arise from my more rangy approach to visual rhetoric (an approach we've explored via Barthes, Edbauer, Massumi, Mitchell, Mitcheson, and Sirc). 

I hope to move forward, but I may be adding to this slide presentation over the next few weeks, as we are evolving our work on The Usual Suspects project. 

memes n' things

@ left is just one of many political memes that emerged in the wake of the Presidential Debate. How does this meme function, rhetorically? What does it suggest? What kinds of relationships are implied?



Here are some additional images from the same tumblr, useful for our discussion on The Usual Suspects  ...

1. Ryan (source)
2. Hillary (source)
3. Bill (source)
4. Candy (source)
5. Abe

Accumulation No. 1 (Kusama)

Yayoi Kusama. Accumulation No. 1. 1962
MoMA. October 9, 2012

i couldn't help it. after Casey's carpet shot, seeing this ... 
happy break, creatives!!

this is writing studies ...

My colleague, Michael Faris has created this course for students at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. It seems highly likely that there will be analysis of visual rhetorics at work in Gaga's repertoire. i thought you should know of it. You're welcome!

DIY filmmaking tutorial #2

Recently, my favorite video tutorial turned "private," but quick FB query prompted my colleague Steven Krause to share this remarkable series of screenshots w/ text that walk you through the process of moving your video and images onto a timeline to create a movie in iMovie. 

Much more rudimentary (basic ... easy?) is this very quick video, so if you're anxious to get a draft moving, try this: 

DIY filmmaking tutorial #1

Some of you say you're interested in syncing audio with your images/video for the Enchanting the Mundane project. This YouTube editor may be useful for you. Do note, however that you are unlikely to be able to use your ideal soundtrack but merely those open source options YouTube suggests. Look for the iMovie tutorial (upcoming) for options involving your own, beloved tracks. I may open a 3rd option, but this may involve some cost (Final Cut Pro). We'll see. For now ... 

YouTube video editor. It's awfully easy (too easy?!). Here is a little film i put together using clips from some of my earlier projects. i layed down some audio, and improvised from there. This little "work" may need revision to reach audiences, and but i agree with David Lynch on a film's responsibility re: not needing an introduction, but i am no DL (yet!), so but for now, this short piece is saying something to me ... about making it work, desire, juxtaposition & associational logics, ethnography and/as portal on cultural moments ... ). So i give you ...  DIY filmmaking: a love story ...

enchanting the mundane

counting squinkies

Soon to be posted in its completion, here is the official assignment prompt for Project #1: Enchanting the Mundane. Also listed under "assignments," @ right.