Debate response

The lack of sound brings forth the decisions that Obama and Romney (along with their campaign teams) make when addressing the questions within their debate. Regardless of what the moderator or competitor asks, each candidate responded in a prepared physical manner. Neither of the candidates seems surprised or unsure, but rather confident and eager to respond.
The greatest choice that watching only visuals presents is who the candidates choose to speak to when speaking. Romney generally speaks to Jim or looks directly at Obama. Obama, however, continuously stares into the camera, thus speaking to the viewers at home, and the viewers in the audience, if there is a video projection there. This makes it seem as though Romney is attempting to have a conversation with the President, while Obama is trying to reassure the people who sided with him four years ago.
In addition, the candidates differ when judging the amount of movement they express. While Obama is composed and relaxed, Romney has a sense of controlled enthusiasm. He reacts more openly when he believed Obama was incorrect, and Obama uses hand gestures, but combines them with a stoic stance.

Silent Debate

I hate the way they move, the way they freeze after they say something and dramatically move their hands as if there words are small diamonds falling on a nation of eager listeners.

Romney looks angry. He should be. His suit makes he look like a rectangle.
Obama looks relaxed. too relaxed. hes trying to be the president of the united states.

I wonder what makes that guys heard race.
His face stays open. eyebrows up. Do they choreograph that stuff too?

Romneys face looks like white privilege. His hands are in fists like hes angrily pounding the table making demands.

Romney looks at Obama

Obama looks at the audience.

Obama keeps making this invisible orb circle with his hands. Im sure hes talking about the middle class.

I feel like I want to do a voice over like Wizzard People Dear Readers.

(if you didnt catch that reference click here... if you did click here)

It feels way to grand. I keep thinking about what Marshall Mcluhan suggested and was immediatly laughed at.

What if what we watched was Obama and Romney sitting down over a beer just taking passionately about what they believe America needs.  It will never happen though. Too much of a risk.

Romney is focusing all this attention on Obama... staring him down. Obama looks so passive in comparison.

It all feels really rehearsed.

They look like puppets. I mean I guess they are.

"On Photography" response

"Shooting a lighthouse from a boat"

This series of images shows a situation in which I lacked a sense of control, but chose to shoot regardless. The act of presenting such an instance to others points to the notion that no matter what one does to control a situation, there will always be chance involved because of the environment and technology photographers work with. This set plants the photographer in a specific location, which has affected the outcome of the images.

Responce Photo Sontag

On Photography Photograph

In reality this flower has already died, In the photographs reality it will always stay at its prime.

Presidential debate assignment

Watching Obama and Romey debate for 10 minutes without audio really makes me notice things I didn't notice before. One of the most prominent things that I noticed is how their hands kept me intrigued somehow. It was almost like the same method used to keep a.d.d. people to concentrate in visual media  Ie. in excessive scene cuts in movies and television. I find this very interesting because from the amount of energy put out in their hand gestures I kind of get the feeling like they have a hand gesture instructor. When Obama or Romney have something really definitive to say they will stare into the camera and have more defined and blunt hand movements to possibly match the levels of earnestness in what they are saying.

Romney seems to shake his head more than Obama does. I get a feeling like he is refuting a claim that Obama made. They both understand the television medium enough to know that appearance and stature is just as important as what they have to say. This assignment reminds me of when Marshall McLuhan critiqued the first televised presidential debate (Nixon-Kennedy). His main points were how the party that could understand the television medium the best would essentially win. What he meant was who ever looked the best could win over people. It’s kind of sad, in the way that is all it takes. On the radio it sounded like Nixon won, because of his sterner voice, but on television it looked like Kennedy won because he seemed to look better, he had taken a couple precautions. He had a make up artist, Nixon didn’t. This effected Nixon’s credibility because he was sweating profusely which made him seem nervous, where on the other hand Kennedy had make up on which helped out in that area. Kennedy also critiqued his outfit by figuring out what his background was going to be so he could stand out on color tv and more importantly black and white, because at the time that is what most people had.  Nixon wore a grey suite which in that specific case made him blend in with the scene, Whereas Kennedy stood out. 

      The way a presidential candidates present themselves is extremely important, especially when they are defending themselves. I say that because it’s easier to gage someones vibe when they are dealing with a problem. The way in which they deal with that problem is a key signifier on how they will solve more to come. It is also important because we all have problems and watching someone solve a problem is really relatable and therefore its easier to judge their character by it. 

Sontag-Photograph commentary

I used this image to represent Sontag's expression of experiencing a photograph before reality. This photo represents an old and familiar setting. The film was exposed to light too soon and the reality that this place is now a part of the past is truly represented in this photograph. I truly enjoy the idea of a photograph appearing as so; as if it almost admits it is a photograph instead of attempting to simply mimic a real moment. The overexposed photograph seems to somewhat be free in it's photographic qualities.