The Bae 2 - Baesed from Vincent Briffa on Vimeo.

Blog #3 - Sound Walk

Having just moved to Brooklyn from Midtown Manhattan, I chose to keep my sound walk simple and take a jaunt around my neighborhood in order to experience the differences my new home held. What struck me as the biggest difference wasn't the new noises I heard, but the lack thereof. The streets were quieter, and this was the middle of the day. Second, because of the noise level of the natural sounds, any artificial one, perhaps a cars speakers or the noise of a broken street lamp, stood out.These sounds that normally would have been background noise in Manhattan suddenly became sound signals that my attention was constantly drawn to, which in the end taught me a little about my new home. For instance the music being played was predominantly in Spanish, confirming my belief this new place reflected my own background. Behind these noises many other sounds caught my attention, including the yells of children, birds and squirrels rustling around, and lastly, a sounds that's almost impossible to hear in Manhattan, the wind as it moved and touched different objects around me. Overall it was a interesting introduction to my new home and definitely helped me appreciate the low-stress life outside of the city, something I'm sure I'll come to appreciate more and more.

Blog #4 - Editing

I chose a scene from “Run Lola Run” because of the importance of this one scene that is repeated several times throughout the movie and displays the rudimentary, as well as complex aspects to editing. In this scene, Lola is running in order to save her boyfriend Manny, who desperately needs money, and in the three renditions of the scene, different interactions lead to altered scenarios. The editing is key in this clip because of the different aspects the scene employs. Animation, flash-forwards, and parallel editing are all used, creating an intimate moment with Lola as she runs, and one that stays fresh even though it is only somewhat altered later. Many of the clips are held longer than expected, as they show the immense distance Lola must cover as well as her speed. Rarely do we see where Lola is running, instead it is what she has covered that the editor shows us, implying the unknown ahead and the distance she’s ran behind. Edits of close-ups of her face let us see the emotion she experiences, which is a natural contrast to the removed shots as she dashes across the screen. The music, a rhythmic house beat captures mood implied by her desperate sprint, as well as an interesting correlation to a heartbeat which similarly is repeated over and over. All in all the editing sets the tone for the entire sequence, as well as the movie which as the title implies, is a desperate plea for Lola to run faster and faster.

Clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp31HyNt6jE

MOMI Visit Writeup

Picture the images you’ve seen in cinema, often these will be your favorite actor or actress in a pivotal role looking flawless, however there’s much more than meets the eye, no human being walks in front of a camera looking the way Hollywood actors do. This impeccable look can be attributed to the hair and makeup department of the films production team, and more recently special effects that can transform a normal looking Andy Serkis into the Gollum we know and love. During a visit to the Museum of the Moving Image, you’ll stumble upon a portion of their collection dedicated to the costume department of film, a place where the reality of Chewbacca or The Elephant Man is revealed. Not only does this department deal with extravagant displays of transformation but also subtle ones, such as Orson Welles transformation from young, pioneering news man to old and believably different man. This portion of the exhibit walks you through the steps of a bust that is used to alter an actor’s appearance to the product that is applied to their face to deal with the harsh lighting of a film set. Although they note that much of these practices have changed since they were first implemented, it’s noted that many are still used to this day. When examining the displays they have, it becomes apparent there is much more than we think going on in front of the camera, it isn’t only just an actors believable portrayal of a part, but the impeccable detail and utensils that go into creating their appearance, and this is just another portion, a further testament, to the complex completion of the moving image. 

-Vincent Briffa

Artist Statement

Through my work, I am translating the written word, oftentimes complex, into an image with which the reader is able to comprehend my critique or analysis of modern culture. I aim to bridge the gap between what an essayist conveys and the stroke of a painter, both of whom I believe are working towards a similar goal. I accomplish my final pieces through altering photographs, advertisements, and the meanings portrayed by every day life, in order to delve deeper into what I find interesting and problematic. Using a minimalist approach, I attempt to capture the style of work that advertisement and branding uses in order to berate us into daily submission. Iconic symbols can have a whole new meaning when rearranged or placed in a foreign setting, often challenging the viewer to see them in a new way. Consumerism and technology take on a new, dimmer light when placed in an unfamiliar context. I am inspired not only by other artists such as Barbara Kruger, who combines social commentary and photographs or drawings in order to create a recognizable and compelling piece, but also by writers like Tom Wolfe, a novelist and essayist that directly disputes and satirizes common social norms. My final works therefore are produced in the style of the pop era, embodying bold and clever advertising campaigns in order to effectively convey my thoughts in a way that is intriguing, yet simple.