MOMI Visit

I was luckily able to tag along to the MOMI with the class to view so many coo aspects of media production and the different processes, inventions and history behind each. I was very familiar with the MOMI, as I went on a trip there in JHS. However, it stood out in a much more significant manner now, being that i actually took a media class in college, at the time when i wasn't 12 without a care in the world or what the trip was about.
 As I took a look around with my section leader and class, I noticed one thing that really caught my attention. I even stayed back a bit longer to really take a good look at it and to examine the way it works. This was the Feral fount. This was a few sculptures mounted on extended rods on a revolving wheel, kind f like the way a ferris wheel spins around, except MUCH faster. The mechanism was quite clever in my opinion and i have never seen anything like it. The lights would be on, for you to see it in its natural state, what was built, then the lights go out. When the lights go out with some source of lighting that's really minimal, you can actually see a production of a moving image. This looks completely different with the lights on. Moreover, what is the point of this mechanism? Lets think about how a video is made. We know that lighting is important and when huts the surface, there is shutter than opens exposing light and closes, blocking out light. This is how a camera works. Therefore, the image is being produced throughout the ongoing blinking of the lights to replicate a shutter and how it works to present to us the image that the feral fount is creating.
 Upon existing the MOMI, there were a few of the actual dolls or mechanical dolls used in particular movies, such as the exorcist, black swan, etc. There were an array of old video games that i did experiment with as well as viewing sculptures, blue prints and mini figures/3d models of old and modern house building designs. These to me were pretty fascinating to me because of attention to detail.
 Overall, I decided to take another trip to the MOMI one day. I find it to be so enjoyable with fun things to try out like the ADR station, for example, where you can dub sounds. That was one of the more sillier experiments. I would highly recommend anyone to take a trip here, should they want to explore and learn a lot more about the magic, science and art behind media.

The struggle to HN

Media 160 final from Nell Francis on Vimeo.

Audio Project / Interview

Sound walking through the Upper east side

Swish, beep, woof!, this is a manhattan bound 6 local train. I took a walk through the upper east side near hunter college on a rainy day. I specifically waited for a rainy day because the sound of rain is soothing to me and thought it would add more sounds. Upon my walk I thought deeply into synchronizing my hearing with the environment, I stood holding an umbrella, leaning against the stone wall of hunter college along lexington avenue. Upon listening, I payed attention to textures such as the swishing of cars through rain water, the opening of umbrellas, the tapping of rain against each possible object in the city. It was a crisp, yet soft crisp sound. It was relaxing, well, until a fire truck blazed down a block probably 1 block away judging from the left side of my ear. That fire truck was the unexpected distraction. it broke my trance but I easily sunk back into tapping, opening, squishing rain boots against the concrete, and unidentified conversation of students. You can just stop and breathe and listen and just tell that you're in the city. I mean, yes I was there, but the car beeps, the continuous and high number of wheels rolling through the streets, the heavy traffic can be heard easily and amplified by rain, by the tires against water which also amplifies the sound of the speed in which each car passed. all of this accompanied by splashing, and of course passing by the lexington avenue train station where the 6 train is higher up, I can hear the automative train conductor saying... "this is a manhattan bound 6 local train.. the next stop is..." The sounds of taxi's rolling up and car doors opening for civilians due to the rain definitely is a give away if the location while buses passed down Lexington avenue with the sounds of it lowering elevation and opening its doors. Not to mention, the heels clicking of those who are probably work professionals, both men and woman in a faster and faster pace, to get through the rain and to a dry area as soon as possible. I won't lie, I didn't close my eyes for all of this walk, of course to cross the street, I had to be assertive as hell to make sure that a nyc taxi didn't lick me over on the corner of 61st and Lexington avenue. Time of day could have been possibly judged by the heavy foot traffic. Street traffic is not applicable in my opinion due to nyc being the city that never sleeps. This was a day time walk, and I would love to discover what this neighborhood sounds like at night while raining. Through all of this beautiful noisy chaos, what I found the most unique about the neighborhood is the synchrony. There was no specific sound, to be honest that stood out to besides the unexpected fire truck or a college individuals laughter at a joke that their friend told them while passing by. The synchrony is quite tremendous in it's various movements which create sounds. It felt like a song where the continuous rain falling and vehicles passing were the basis, like the instrumentals, while conversation, different shoe sounds and walking patterns with that one poor dog peeing and barking in the rain is the top layer. It was so much to focus on but very eye opening, or well, I should say- Ear opening.

DEFINE A SPACE :)

Define Project from Nell Francis on Vimeo.