Certainly there is not another state in this Union that has commanded more attention and fostered more connotations about what it is and isn't than the monstrous Pacific Coast-hugging California. Whether it is through the media coverage or extreme sports or natural disasters or political spotlighting, California is a place and an ideal that cannot be ignored in the American and worldwide spectrum.
My object with this project is not to explain what California is or pretends to be. It is not meant to be a detailed assessment. I wanted to take a realistic look at my home through snapshots taken on a weekend excursion, in a way that allowed me to remain somewhat removed and aloof from the world outside the confines of my car. We listened to songs about California, and some of the lyrics accompany the pictures below.
Each of us are heavily influenced by our surroundings and environment, and I feel that through the attitudes and ideas presented through the photos and the music, I was able to portray California in a way that is both interesting and honest.
I am a Californian, whatever that may mean.
I really liked talking to you about this project in class. The manipulation of photos was a brilliant idea and very well executed. I wish that I could read into the depth of the images without your telling it to me, maybe more text would be enlightening? But I do like how some song lyrics coincide with the image and lend it meaning.
ReplyDeleteSong lyrics are so powerful, and I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Your use of the lyrics to tell a story about the photo was great. I like the idea of using a polaroid camera to take the pictures because the sense of something being disposable also lends itself to an interpretation of California as well.
ReplyDeleteI love the poloroids. I think the fact that it's a poloroid and kind of blurry fits the "california: I just don't care and in my mess is my beauty" image. However, I didn't get how a lot of the text fit the photos and I really did not like picture 3 because 1. it does not fit my image of California (I am from California so I have some pride issues there, maybe). 2. I don't think it fit in with the rest of the photos and 3. it was bleak and lacked color. Maybe that is the beauty of the photo, however.
ReplyDeleteThis project is great! The concept is great but the execution is even better. This is So aesthetically pleasing for me. I love the scribble of the lyrics and the whole feel. Great Great job, thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI like this project. I'm also from California, and this project feels authentic for me. My favorites are the ones of other cars on the road (and the one of the freeway sign). The Polaroids are great-- you really used the medium to create a better feel for your message. I also have a question: who wrote the lyrics on the cards? The handwriting on each seems so different, I assume you had friends write them out with you. Were they written by the people with you on your road trip?
ReplyDeleteThe grainy polaroid look and the sunset/twilight pictures especially give it a very nostalgic feel. As per the song lyrics I feel like certain ones were paired with their picture out of necessity (ie: lack of options)rather than them being a close fit.
ReplyDeletedefinitely captures the road trip feel. i also liked how some of the song lyrics didn't seem to go with some of the photos, as if there were associations and memories etc. that link the two that only could've been experienced by you and whoever was with you.
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