The other day Joline dropped a bomb on our class, saying that we she was thinking about dropping the curriculum for the rest of the semester and offered us the opportunity to propose a project that we would like to work on for the last month or so of school. She told us that while we should keep in mind that it should relate to New Media, we should not let that define our ideas. I think that this is a unique opportunity that should not be wasted. However, I really want to keep my project related to New Media in some way. I have very much enjoyed my time-based classes at the university and I was thinking that I would like to do an animation of some sort. Animations can take a lot of time and work, and I do not want to undertake something to large for the time we have left, so I think the narrative should be short, but with a strong message. I really like mixing serious and or controversial issues matched with comical animation. I feel like with that sort of combination you are able to attract viewer attention while still getting your voice out there and if done in the right manner, these shorts can be come very popular and even viral- which would fit nicely with the NM many to many theory through social networking (much like the Kony video). As far as actual subject matter, I have yet to determine. I need to decide on a political or social issue that people, more specifically myself, are concerned and care about. One possible idea is that while social networking is very popular and powerful, we must not forget about the world around us and personal, face to face interactions- an animation illustrating the concern for real-world social interaction. Another idea would be an animation focused around some campus issue or event- maybe communication between majors or even the parking issue although I would hope for something slightly more important.
Anyways, the idea must be developed further obviously, but I appreciate the ability to decide for myself what is important and what I wish to work on. If class time is spent as a workshop in developing ideas and design, I believe it will afford us, the students, to truly break out our boxes and try new, exciting things that can be inspirational and informative.