online video

By Daniele Giampà, 12 November, 2014
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Abstract (in English)

TheCoevas Strumentist di Parole is an group of authors or, as they define themselves, a literary band which created an interactive novel called TheCoevasIo interattivo (TheCoevas I interactive). The novel which was published in 2011 on the blog of the authors is accompanied by a medium-length documentary and is also published in form of printed book. Another characteristic of the novel is the variety of the online versions: iWork Apple, Powerpoint and pdf. As they explain in the interview, the project as a whole is conceived as an experiment of different ways of expressions and the work of writing is similar to the musical composition of a band. The very freedom of creativity is granted to the readers who can choose various audio-visual effects and narrative paths following their emotional and individual choices according to the demands of extemporaneity.

Abstract (in original language)

TheCoevas Strumentisti di Parole è un gruppo di autori o una band letteraria, come si definiscono loro, che ha creato un romanzo interattivo intitolato TheCoevasIo interattivo. Il romanzo che è stato pubblicato nel 2011 sul blog degli autori è accompagnato da un mediometraggio ed è anche stato pubblicato in forma di libro cartaceo. Altra particolarità del romanzo è la varietà delle versioni online: iWork Apple, Powerpoint e pdf. Come spiegano nell’intervista, il progetto nell’insieme è inteso come una sperimentazione di diverse forme espressive e il lavoro di scrittura è simile a una composizione musicale di una band. Questa libertà creativa viene concessa anche ai loro lettori che possono scegliere diversi effetti audio-visivi e percorsi narrativi in base a scelte emotive e individuali secondo le esigenze dell’estemporaneità.

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Description (in English)

F2F might seem retro to you. It struck me as very 1991. The idea of a hypertext that is heavy on the text seemed to lose its charm as soon as images, moving animation, video and sound could also be included. One of the downsides to the speed of the evolution of hypertext, is that whole possible genres and subgenres were not given the chance to grow. What happened to the web-film-essay? Well, it never happened. Sure, there are some text-book-market CD-ROMs and the like that do something similar, but they use video more as mere illustration. What about a film essay that would incorporate the mystery the moving image rather than try to compete with it? What about utilizing images and sounds that potentially resist the text? What about playing with the clips like a video artist would?

F2F gravitates towards Deleuze's theories of framing and the face, and brings into alignment filmmakers who, unwittingly or not, deconstruct the face. But it also spins off into links on Robert Smithson, mirrors, Issey Miyake, creative urbanism, Max Ernst, romance . . . . One of the plusses about doing this essay in hypertext form, is that it allowed me to incorporate or even memorialize various ambivalences I had while writing these ideas down in linear form. There were clearly at least two essays that could come of it all. But, rather than pairing up with one and bumping the other off, we're all still here.

Pull Quotes

"The city's relation to the face, the major trope of which is 'the faceless crowd,' is productive of one of the great cliches of the movies. . . ."

Technical notes

Flash player

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Description (in English)

Web essay with video content on the various permutations of _Laura_ story through multiple media.  _Laura_ is discussed as a parable of information exchange, with a focus on how sound is transmitted through and across multiple film texts, repetition and desire, noise and the cosmic.

Pull Quotes

Laura is a parable of molding information.
-- Anytime information reaches a certain point of saturation, anytime information cannot be contained, it becomes noise. (Just as "information wants to be free" so too does it tend toward noise, before moving onto more ethereal realms)
-- Laura-- intersecting with histories of radio, voice on film, popular song, modernist and postmodernist storytelling, television and the internet-- exists in a liminal area between noise and non-noise, repetition and renewal, information and perception, human and machine.

Technical notes

QuickTime, RealMedia

Contributors note

Content and concept Joe Milutis

Interface design Melissa Scherrer