Our group has modified our idea slightly. Our piece is exploring people's tolerance of out-of-focus imagery on a screen. With the invention of Blue Ray and HD, life-like images are accessible, yet we often settle for pixelated YouTubes, fuzzy VHS movies, and grainy stations. Our project will consist of a screen with a single image that will go in and out of focus as you turn the dial. It will test the viewers tolerance for pixelation and focus.
The physical aspect of the project will resemble a tv screen and a tv dial. We are tentatively making a 8 x 12 pixel screen, which will have a sheet of mylar on top to blend the image (see top left). The focus will change through the brightness of the LEDs; brighter LEDs make for a stronger contrast and a sharper image, while dimmer LEDs and a softer contrast will cause the image to look out of focus. The images above are examples of how the contrast and brightness of the lights affect the sharpness of the image.
We will be displaying two eyes, that will also change in their apparent emotion as they fade in and out of focus. This also plays upon how we focus our eyes on and interact with the images on screen. My roommate refuses to wear contacts or glasses except when she's watching football so she can see the score. She chooses to live her daily life with blurry vision, except when it comes to what is most important to her. This situation is similar to what our screen deals with in that everyone interacts with images differently according to taste and emotion.
Images: Jim Campbell- http://www.jimcampbell.tv/
Good point about low quality YouTube... Anyway, I bet a lot of people can relate to the idea. But it seems like it needs... something. Like after I turn the dial to adjust the blur, then... what. I dunno if the viewer really sees this as a commentary on visual clarity tolerance or just a screen that gets clear and fuzzy alternately. I do like the small scale you're working with, though. That forces the viewer to move closer, much like we do when we need glasses or watch a low quality video. Nice.
ReplyDeleteI think this is an interesting idea but I'm just concerned that people are becoming increasingly less tolerant of blurry images. You mentioned Blue Ray and HD which I think hurts your concept. Youtube videos are often out of focus but, due to high demand, even that website now offers an option for HD. I think that the example of the girl not wearing her glasses may have come from more of a vanity aspect of her personality than a tolerance of blurriness in culture. That may be an interesting way to look at the concept though: Vanity in modern society promoting settling for a poorer quality of life.
ReplyDeletei think this is an interesting idea, but i worry that your image will be too blurry to really call into question the issues you are interested in...the piece might be to difficult to understand as you intend it.
ReplyDeleteThe connection to the eyes and changing emotions with the blurry images seems strange, but other than that I like the idea.
ReplyDeleteI like exploration into pixelation.
The push for crystal clear imagery is constant, but I think its beautiful when we can appreciate digital images for what they are, the colors and dots on paper, rather than what they're representing. It seems more sincere.
Accepting graininess as an intrinsic part of the experience rather than an unfortunate flaw in the technology.
This project to me is going to be more about accepting that blurry image rather than turning it immediately to the crispest setting, there's something frustrating about out of focus images but this will be about accepting it for what it is. Lookin' forward to it. I am very sleepy.