Calling Cards – An Interactive Amusement Playfield
on the Relationship between Music and Image
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This page contains a description of the interactive cd-rom that proposes an exploration of the relationship between music and image.
(Note: This cd-rom was developed in English only)
INTERACTIVE CD-ROM:
Starting from the score composed for the experimental animation film "Calling Cards", by Steve Subotnick – watch the original version by clicking here–, the author developed the work inspired by the concept of "Theme with variations".
The film's abstract content suggested a composition that favors the free manipulation of its content and form. If you want to watch a short demo film of this cd-rom, check this video :
The work starts from an initial provocation right on the second screen of the cd-rom:
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In other words:
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Do you believe that there is a relationship of meaning between image and music?
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Can image and music determine each other?
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Do you believe that it is possible to change the meaning of any audiovisual work of art by altering these relationships?
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Would you like to change and give a new meaning according to your particular vision to the images and music contained in this cd-rom?
After a new screen with the index, the "explorer" will have access to the original version proposed by the author and its possibilities of manipulation and variation, creating new relationships between music and image, namely:
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- An editing bay with the possibility to re-edit the shape of the music in relation to the film (in its original form):
When starting the session, the movie runs on the left part of the screen and the user stops the movie in the desired position. At the top, there is a ruler that contains images from the film and also iconic images that visually translate the original score by analogy, so that the explorer can find an approximate snippet of the music that he wants to attach to the still frame.
The score was all fragmented into small sections that the user can freely attach to the still frames, moving forward and repeating the process, until defining its version, being able to save up to 3 new versions of its own:
Music editing bay
Help screen (available throughout the cd)
- A session that offers the possibility to re-edit the form of the film in relation to the music (in its original form) by dragging image modules (from the upper ruler) in a new order on the empty film at the bottom. At the end the "explorer" will be able to save up to 3 new versions:​​
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A possibility of editing the images in real time as the original music is played. The "explorer" clicks on images of the condensed film track at the top and the corresponding snippet is displayed immediately.
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A conventional score of the original music that scrolls automatically as the music plays:
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A Paintedscore was created by merging the conventional version of the score with images taken from the film. In fact, this Paintedscore consists in another possibility of interaction for the "explorer", as the "explorer" can improvise a new form of music by randomly playing parts of the music by clicking on the Paintedscore, which glows when clicked and plays the corresponding snippet. This would be an experience musically analogous to Jack Pollock's painting process.
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And also a video wall:​
For other reflections about the Music-Image relationship, click here.
Final remarks:
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This work actually consists of a provocation, and proposes an aesthetic reflection on the relationships of meaning resulting from the interaction between music and image.
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The design, editing in Macromedia Director (including programming in Lingo), graphical interface and audio editing were carried out by the author himself.