Why ?
open documentary
ATTANON WONGLUANG # 3320483004 MA DESIGN CRITICAL PRACTICE
‘ Because the essence of technology is nothing technological, essential reflection upon technology and decisive confrontation with it must happen in realm that is, on the one hand, akin to the essence of technology and, on the other, fundamentally different from it.’ (Heidegger 1977 P.35)
As technology is embedded in our everyday life, and people tend to forget the meaning of technology. As a consequence, more and more people begin to question technology, we control technology or technology control us?, are we free from technology or are we tie to them? and if we are tie to technology, how can we be free from them? In order to answer these questions, we have to understand our relationship to them and understand its essence. This essay aims to introduce the possibility to open our relationship with technology and answer the question why open network is better than close one, by comparing the theoretical research with the project I’ve developed namely, ‘BBC open documentary’. This essay is divided into sixth sections altogether. The first section is the part where the terminology of technology from Heidegger, 1977 is discuss and the relationship between human and technology is illustrate. The second section describe the role of communication technology such as computer, internet, cyberspace. Also a possibility of how to be free from technology is introduce. The third section is the introduction of BBC open documentary project, a collaborate project between Goldsmiths and BBC, starting from the description of BBC network itself in this section. The fourth section explains about the concept of ‘BBC open documentary’ and its sub-project called ‘Future documentary’ I’ve developed. The fifth section shows four scenario of how to use both ‘BBC open documentary’ and ‘Future documentary’. And the sixth section explains about the benefit of BBC and its users. Lastly, it is the brief conclusion.
Section 1 :How technology control us ?
People tend to think of modern technology as a mode of revealing. People use technology to reveal nature, unlike
Before I discuss further on why open network is better than the close one and how to be free from technology
the old time that nature reveal itself to human which I would explain in more detail.
that constructed our life, I would trace back to the history of technology in order to understand the relationship between
The way of producing goods in modern world is far dif-
technology and human. So, what is technology mean to
ference from the past. Heidegger M.(1977) mentioned that
us? According to Heidegger, M. in his essay ‘the question
‘enframing means the gathering together of that setting-
concerning technology’(1977), In general people under-
upon which sets upon man, i.e., challenges him forth, to
stand technology in term of instrumental which would bring
reveal the real, in the mode of ordering, as standing re-
the imagination to existence. In the ancient doctrine, tech-
serve.’ In the past we designed something from the reason
nology can refer to ‘a mean to the end’ or to explain, tech-
of what it is but in modern world people design something
nology leads to the end of each product in the production
by creating a frame and complete the requirement within
process.
that frame. The example of how people ‘enframing’ and pushing technology forward in term of architectural design,
Furthermore, the process of making in ancient time
was mentioned by Jennifer S.(1999) that ‘Crawford’s de-
based on Aristotle’s four causality. I would give a process of
scription views malls as places of consumer domination. Yet
making ceramics cup as an example in order to explain four
this position on ‘the mall’s fantasy machine’ is architectur-
causality.
First is the material cause (hyle) is the clay,
ally determinist, viewing consumers as passive rather than
second is the formalis cause (eidos) is a shape of the cup,
active and even imaginative users of space and products.
third is purpose (telos) is the purpose of a cup which to hold
Crawford did not interview shoppers but rather looked at
water and fourth is ‘cause efficiens’ is the craft man who
how the mall trade catagories them. This methodology
shape up the cup. All those four causes are being respon-
makes it very difficult to find creative uses of mallspace’.
sible for each other in order to make something into pres-
And she also mentioned that ‘Other scholars have tracked
ent, especially the ‘cause efficiens’ which would be the
mall users differently, finding they are not duped into con-
one that combine all causes together and give something
sumption, but rather that they use space within malls, with-
to existence. But after the invention of modern technology
out buying, for other purpose such as socialise. We can not
the relationship between four causes that have changed.
deny that technology have brought us this far and give birth
to many innovations which help us solve problems. On the other hand, the thing that could be the negative effect of developing technology by ‘enframing’ is the lack of understanding in its essence. It is true that technology could make life easier and more convenient but the misunderstood of technology will lead to the improper use of them. And the reason why people are not free to technology is that they don’t understand the essence of technology and accept them as they were, so people can’t escape form them and still remain tied to technology.
‘ Enframing ’ human - reveal - nature
Section 2 : computer, cyberspace and how to be free
early internet network were close platform; network pro-
from technology?
vider generate all of contents, users can only be able to receive it. Jennifer S.(1999) pointed out that ‘cyberspace is heavily dominated by elite group, yet often presented as if
In mid-20th century the first computer have been cre-
open to all; its privatized spaces presented as if they are
ated and bring people to the arrival of the age of cyber-
public’. Hence, it draw a question of how to untie people to
space. Originally computer was a programmable machine
the technology? And how to open up the relationship be-
that automatically carry out set of a sequence of logical
tween user and the network? In order to answer this ques-
operation. After a development of programmable com-
tion, I’d like to introduce the term ‘ecotechnic’ by Jean-Luc
puter, as a consequence many kind of electronic products
Nancy.
were created and gave people a better life(an easier life).
‘ecotechnics’ displays what is henceforth possible: either
Therefore, computers have become a fundamental elec-
eocotechnics takes on the sense of autism of a ‘great
tronic objects in almost every household. In late 90’s, the
monad’ in a process of indefinite self-expansion and/or it
internet was created. According to Oxford English diction-
takes on the sense of the disruption of all closure of signifi-
ary, the internet is ‘a global computer network providing a
cation, a disruption that opens them up to coming
variety of information and communication facilities, consist-
of(necessarily unprecedented) sense.’ To explain ‘ecotech-
ing of interconnected networks using standardized commu-
nics’ in term of the internet network, the internet network is
nication protocols’. And ‘Internet also carries a vast range
where everyone can be connected within the system. But
of information resources and services, such as the inter-
everyone is unique and difference. It is a great opportunity
linked hypertext documents of the World Wide Web (WWW)
to open up the possibility for users to corporate, share, pro-
and the infrastructure to support electronic mail.’ As a con-
duce and help building a greater network. Thus, the idea of
sequence, internet become a part of people’s everyday
collaborative between people across the network can be
life routine because of the efficiency network of the internet
imply to the ‘open source’ platform.
that made communication easier. In term of technology, most of the people still don’t understand the essence of the internet so they use internet just the way that internet network provider created. Most of the
Nancy(1997)
stated
that
‘the
more
‘ ecotechnics ’ open up to sense
clearly
Open source platform is widely used in many area from non-electronic activity such as recipe sharing to the software programming. According to Oxford English dictionary, ‘open source’ mean ‘denoting software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redis-
‘ open-source ’ open up the world
tributed and modified.’ Therefore, users can be free from the frame that constructed by technology and ‘open source’ also open up the possibility for creative use of them. Further more, Product which base on open source platform would never come to the end but will grow bigger and it can be re-represent all of the time. Finally I would apply the idea of open source platform to the BBC network.
Section 3 : BBC network
documentary makers can arrange and direct the true events based on their perspective. Hence, documentary
BBC (British broadcasting corporation) is largest the
film was considered as a close product even though it re-
public service broadcaster in the world which based in
corded the true events but it was produced from one
United Kingdom. BBC provide many services including 8 na-
perspective(from director/ documentary maker). Roland
tional TV channels plus regional programming, 10 national
Barthes(1977) pointed out that ‘ text is made of multiple
radio stations, 40 local radio stations and an extensive web-
writings, drawn from many cultures and entering into mutual
site. More specifically on BBC website, there are 16 catego-
relations of dialogue, parody, contestation, but there is
ries including online radio station, news network, entertain-
tane place where this multiplicity is focused and that place
ment and also educational content.
In term of cyber
is the reader, not the author. The reader is the space on
space, BBC website is such a massive network of informa-
which all the quotations that make up a writing are
tion and media broadcasting to the public which is easy to
inscribed without any of them being lost; a text’s unity lies
access for the audiences. According to Jennifer S.(1999)
not in its origin but in its destination.’ Documentary makers
mentioned that ‘An efficient home-delivery media system,
are similar to author but they both have a difference
in contrast, tends to make shut-in of otherwise healthy indi-
method of represent their idea in a difference medium. Au-
vidual; the more people receive news in isolation, the more
diences or readers who were received the content from
they become susceptible to manipulation by those who
author/director whether it is text or motion picture, they all
control the media.’ Therefore, to make BBC network more
have a difference understanding. As BBC network is a mas-
open and transparent would gain more trust from the
sive platform that participated with users worldwide. Thus, it
people. Thus, the new platform which I would design for
is appropriate to open up the network and give rise to a
BBC network is ‘BBC open documentary’.
new possibility to share the perspective from the audiences
What is documentary? Documentary film is a non-
across the world.
fictional motion picture that documented history or event in form of moving images. Documentary film have a broad categories such as history, nature, education, science and many more. Documentary film was described as filmmaking practice but become more narrative-base on the true events. Unlike film, which based on fictional script but
‘ documentary ’ is a close product
Section 4 : What is BBC open documentary ? and ‘Future documentary’? The concept of ‘BBC open documentary’ is the open platform that allow user to watch and make their owns documentary. Open documentary platform allow users to search through BBC archive which contain more than 1million hours of media material (including audio/visual and
home
find
documentary
make
future
sign in
audio) since 1980’s. As I mentioned before, documentary film is a close product that deliver only one perspective from director or maker. Nevertheless, some audience might agree or not agree with the content, some might questioned or want to add some information regarding the documentary film that they have watched. Moreover, open documentary designed to encourage users to share more than one perspective; user can make their own documentary by referencing multiple documentaries in order to present their owns perspective. Furthermore, tagging system that platform provided would link all documentary both in the BBC archive and user made documentary. Therefore, it would create a documentary network which user can trace back to the origin and go further to relevant documentary across the network. Users can also search for the documentary by effective search engine that can search through time & space. Time & space search engine allow users to choose the time line and places of documentary that have been created, and users also be able to search by category or any other specific detail.
Featured documentary
future trailer
Show case no.1 nanan kan oihd khoidf ofig of ofgiu o ofw dfoi o odifuo od
let’s share clips ajdhfl lkdk kddkdkd kdie l kjei
recently added
highest rated
most watched
Open
recommended by BBC
Documentary
lastest documentaries and trailers
(14)
Drawing Mick jagger and CO Reference : BBC
Education
2010
Show case no.1 : This is the showcase efhh kekfk jhehfowqdf o ok flk fie k k k
London
bookmark
26mins
report
like
(14)
‘Food’ Al Green and CO Reference : BBC
Education
2010
Show case no.1 : This is the showcase efhh kekfk jhehfowqdf o ok flk fie k k
London
bookmark
26mins
read more..
Make Create my own documentary
report
like
The war in Libya is moving towards stalemate, warns the head of the US military, even though air strikes have destroyed 30-40% of Libya's ground forces.
Documentary making guide How to make your own documentary
(14)
The politic Jim Morrison and CO Education Reference : BBC
2010
Show case no.1 : This is the showcase efhh kekfk jhehfowqdf o ok flk fie k k
London
bookmark
26mins
like
more 1, 2, 3, ....., 60
report
prev next
Open documentary platform also provide a web based editing tool to empower user to create their own documentary. The tool that provided is a simple-to- use tool, yet fully equipped with necessary feature to create a pro-
Beta
( Editing Suite ) Search
Clips
Help ?
Link
Documenatry
publish
Trailer
My Account My bookmark
fessional documentary. Moreover, open documentary plat-
How to draw a lion? Politc of robot number 56 why are we doing this? World food
form encourage user with a study session of documentary
My history Search History
and user can be link to useful site of BBC main page such as
animation (69) artists' moving image (34) music (32)
BBC education of BBC film network. In order to create a
My project Nw project - add clip
documentary fil for beginner user who never have any ex-
tag
add info.
‘FOOD’ project - add clip -manage clip -tagging
perience concerning video editing, this platform also provide a video tutorials of how to use video editing tool. When users are ready to create their own documentary, they
My upload
Open
Documentary
Text
Video A
The war in Libya is moving towards stalemate, warns the head of the US military, even though air strikes have destroyed 30-40% of Libya's ground forces.
Transitions
Video B Audio
need to register and agree on terms and conditions of this platform then user can use their own footages or select the already existed documentary within the network and break it into clips, combine them and/or make a collage from
Beta
( Editing Suite )
those clips. Editing tool also provide a toolbar on the right Search
hand side showing the useful information of user’s account
Clips
Help ?
Link
Trailer Find aDocumenatry documentary
publish
Look up Documentaries:
My bookmark by category
SEARCH
such as the current project that they are working on, a list of
animation (69) artists' moving image (34) music (32) drama (130) comedy (71) documentary (46) -----------------------------------------------------view all films
Breadmaking B
history of documentary that have been viewed and a book-
yasmin 2007 scotland
11minutes
Breadmaking by a unique community with learn disabilities in Edinburgh.
by organisation or event
mark list. Next to the user account is the hidden search tool
people festivals & events partners organisations
bar which would slide out when user click on the button, previous page so user doesn’t have to go back and forth
Documentaries
Show last:
0
year
month
My project
tag
add info.
Open
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Text
Video A
documentary they can save it in their account or publish to
Video B
Transitions
Audio
(14)
‘Food’ Al Green and CO Reference : BBC
Education
2010
Show case no.1 : This is the showcase efhh kekfk jhehfowqdf o ok flk fie k k
London
bookmark
26mins
rate
report
2011
My history Search History
Nw project - add clip
Documentary
between editing tool and search page. After user finish their BBC open documentary platform.
5years
50 40 30 20 10
How to draw a lion? Politc of robot number 56 why are we doing this? World food
animation (69) artists' moving image (34) music (32)
Links: Crab sandwich，Can We Cook Like a Chef? ... << MORE
search tool bar fully work as same as time & space search in
My Account
The war in Libya is moving towards stalemate, warns the head of the US military, even though air strikes have destroyed 30-40% of Libya's ground forces.
‘FOOD’ project - add clip -manage clip -tagging
My upload
Open
Documentary The war in Libya is moving towards stalemate, warns the head of the US military, even though air strikes have destroyed 30-40% of Libya's ground forces.
In order to publish documentary to BBC open docu-
inside the BBC network due to the copyright issue. Thus, in
mentary platform, user needs to complete the submission
order to watch documentary, user have to watch from BBC
form concerning detail and description of the documen-
network only. The restriction of watching documentary is
tary. And also they need to agree on terms and conditions
narrow down the usage of the platform to be more an edu-
which user has to be aware of clearance, rights and copy-
cational purpose not the commercial one. However, BBC
right contents such as ‘you must have a written permission
open documentary only open up the possibility to edit and
to use everything and everyone that appears in your film’.
combine between user’s footage and clips of existing
Later on, the documentary that have been submitted to the
documentary on BBC archive. I would also design a new
platform will listed on a recently added documentary on
way of documentary making, ‘the future documentary’.
feature page(the first page of open documentary). Furthermore, next to the documentary on the feature page, there will be the details of that documentary including director’s
Submission
name, date, description and rating along side those details will be button of ‘bookmark’, ‘rate’ and ‘report’. User can
Account : Mick_Jagger
report an inappropriate documentary which featured on
Please complete the submission form before you submit documentary/trailer
this platform and BBC would determine whether it would be deleted or go back to the feature page again. Beside the director’s name will locate the ownership of that documentary, if that documentary was created by combined clips
last log-in 18/04/2011
Name: Title (documentary): ducumentary year:
month
year
Description: (100 words)
form five difference documentaries, the co-ownership would show five of director’s name from that five difference documentaries and also BBC. In conclusion of BBC open documentary, this open platform allow user to access, edit, cut, combine and pub-
Reference: Reference: Reference: Reference: Reference:
lish BBC documentary from BBC archive. And create a documentary network which user can study on how documentary were related trough time & space. All of the documentary that have been done in this platform will kept
I agree with all terms & conditions
publish
‘Future documentary’ is the concept of the incorporative of people across BBC network in order to make a new documentary. To explain in more detail, future documentary platform allow user from all over the global network to share the source. Especially for the director or documentary
home
find
documentary
make
future
sign in
Make
film maker who unable to collect the sufficient material in
Create my own documentary
order to complete the documentary. To get start the proj-
Documentary making guide How to make your own documentary
ect on future documentary, founders of the project need to FUTURE documentary
propose the idea by making a short-length trailer concerning the content, mood and tone of the documentary that they want to make. Future documentary provide the same
future trailer
recently added
trailer is 2 minuets. All the finished trailer will feature in the ‘future documentary’ first page and beside the trailer, there will be a submit button for other user to submit their clips. User who want to submit the clip needs to complete the submission form then the clips will go directly to the founder’s account. Moreover, the founder could decide whether they will use the clips or not, the clips that were
most watched
most watched
submit
lastest documentaries and trailers
tool as BBC open documentary expect for limited length of
completed documentary
most watched
Jim Morrison and CO Education Reference : BBC
2010
Show case no.1 : This is the showcase efhh kekfk jhehfowqdf o ok flk fie k k
2010
Show case no.1 : This is the showcase efhh kekfk jhehfowqdf o ok flk fie k k The politic Jim Morrison and CO Education Reference : BBC
London
bookmark
26mins
rate
London
bookmark
26mins
rate
Show case no.1 : This is the showcase efhh kekfk jhehfowqdf o ok flk fie k k
London
bookmark
report
(14)
submit
2010
report
(14)
submit
Cook,serve and eat (part2) Jim Morrison and CO Education Reference : BBC
(14)
submit
cook, serve and eat
Open
Documentary The war in Libya is moving towards stalemate, warns the head of the US military, even though air strikes have destroyed 30-40% of Libya's ground forces.
26mins
rate
more 1, 2, 3, ....., 60
report
prev next
used in the documentary will automatically credited as a co-ownership of that completed documentary. Later on when founder publish the documentary to the BBC network, it will automatically store in the network and also feature in both BBC open documentary page and future documentary page. Hence, user of BBC documentary network can watch and learn more about the collaborative documentary that made by multiple users and multiple perspectives.
‘ future documentary ’ open up new possibilities
Section 5 : How to use ‘BBC open documentary’ and ‘future documentary’ ? In order to explain the instruction of how to use BBC
name and BBC’s documentary(every director of clips which he used). Scenario #2 (beginner)
open documentary and future documentary, I would set up four differences scenarios to explain in more details.
The second scenario is focusing on the use of beginner who has barely experience of documentary film making. A
Scenario #1 (education)
girl watched BBC documentary about cycling in the north part of England and got inspired to create her own every-
The first scenario is focusing on educational purpose. If
day life’s cycling documentary. She uses her video camera
teacher want to create a documentary about drawing for
to record her own cycling trail over the city of London. Then
the student in their class, he can accesses to BBC open
she has to sign in to her account and upload her own clips
documentary by go to BBC learning for teacher site and he
of cycling onto the platform. Then after the submission, her
will finds a link to open documentary page. After he gets in
documentary will be feature on the feature page. So other
to the main page, he can searches for a variety of docu-
user can find her documentary by searching through search
mentary concerning a difference technique of drawing. He
engine and on the feature page. Note: her documentary
can chooses contents that he wants and save bookmark to
will show only her name as an ownership because of all of
his account. Then sign in to the editing tool, now he can
the clips were taken by herself.
select the clip from his bookmark tool bar and drag the clip to the tool so he can cut, trim, arrange and also adding sound narration. After finish editing the documentary he needs to complete the submission form in order to publish his documentary. Students who want view the documentary which may helpful for their educational research. They can access to BBC learning for student where they can find the drawing documentary that teacher have made. Note: all of the clips in this documentary are the combination of BBC documentary so in the ownership will show director’s
‘ open documentary ’ presents multiple perspectives
Scenario #3 (perspective)
future documentary platform in order to collects the sources which he needs. Thus, he proposes his idea of
The third scenario is focusing on a difference perspec-
making ‘food’ documentary by create a ‘future trailer’. A
tive of a multiple users. A guy want to make a documentary
completed trailer will feature on future documentary page
about food but he’s realise that food have been prepared
so other users who saw it and want to participate with his
and cooked in a difference way. So he decide to make a
idea can submit their clips to his account. The clips that
documentary to contrast a difference perspective of how
other user send to his account will show in the tool bar of
people making food. First, he search through BBC network
editing tool. So he can use the clips that suitable for his idea
to find the ‘food’ documentary that suit his idea then book-
to make the documentary and when he publish it, it will
mark it to his account. After sign in to the account, he uses
appear both on the first page and future documentary
the BBC documentary clip concerning a proper way of
page. Note: All the clips that he used to made the docu-
cooking fish and ships then contrast to his own clip of cook-
mentary came from other user and his own footages, so the
ing frozen food by using microwave. His documentary is
ownership will show only his name and the owner of the
presents a difference perspective between two process of
clips that have been used but not BBC.
cooking food. And after he publishes his documentary to the network, again it will feature on the feature page. Note: the ownership of this documentary would be his name and the director of BBC’s documentary name. Scenario #4 (future documentary) The last scenario is mainly about how to use future documentary platform and how to create future trailer. A guy wants to make a documentary about food from all over the world, he wants to know what is the difference of material and process of cooking food. But he can’t travel around the world to collect footages of food ,and he can’t find appropriate clips on BBC archive. Moreover, he decides to use
Section 6 : What is the benefit of user and BBC? Beside the idea of open up the people and free their relationship to technology, BBC open documentary network also have a great potential of bringing good things to the community. The open documentary could further bring user from cyber space(online) to a real world. Jennifer S.(1999) pointed out that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;some of virtual space, created with concern about the physical environment, are not dissociated from place. Nor are they cyberspaces of retreat. Online relationships can be strong, and may continue offline. These spaces are not unreal for people who use them in their work. From a good experience of corroborative work could make it possible for directors from open documentary platform to work together in a real environment(offline) and produce a good documentary to community. The BBC open documentary platform also gives a good benefit to BBC. It bridges the gap between entertainment and a serious educational, the platform could create an playful education environment and help people to learn more about documentary. Moreover, BBC archive have store more than one millions hours of motion picture and documentary which some of them have been forgotten. It is a good opportunity for BBC archive to open up the possibility to bring the old documentary out to public and let the user re-represent them. BBC will also got a credit in the documentary that user made by using BBC documentary.
Why ?
open documentary
In conclusion, technology is truly drive the society but
difference system in order to create their product. In term of
to develop technology by ‘enframing’ could lead to a
open documentary platform, users of platform can imply as
great danger. However, in term of documentary film
a multiplicity of labor, the platform also provide the educa-
making, both ‘BBC open documentary’ and ‘Future docu-
tional tools in order to allow users to compose themselves
mentary’ are free people form technology by open up a
and finally, it open up the ability of labor to realise the alter-
new possibility of documentary making from one perspec-
natively.
tive to multiple. However, open documentary network was owed to the technology and Internet networking which could make this open platform become real. Hence people form all over the world could help each other building the greater network by participating within the virtual space networking. As the idea of ‘ecotechnics’, Jean-Luc Nancy. Nancy(1997) mentioned that ‘either ‘ecotchnics’ is the entire sense of labor – of a labor henceforth infinite, dazed by its own infinitude and by its indefinitely growing totalization – or else ‘ecotechnics’ open labor up to sense, in operates labor unto the infinity of sence’. In the past, people tend to understand technology as a massive machine that constructed the whole system. Nevertheless, ‘ecotechnics’ have lead the way to look at technology in a difference way; as a multiple of labors, ‘ecotechnics’ expose the material and the labor of people’s making thing, in the same time ‘ecotechnics’ can become an infinite multiplicity of
Bibliography
Barthes, R. 1977. Image Music Text. London: Fontana Press.
Heidegger, M. 1977. The Question Concerning Technology. New York:Harper & row, Publisher.
Nancy, J.L. 1977. The sense of the world. Minneapolis: The University of Minnesota Press.
Oxford
Dictionaries(online).
Oxford
University
Press.
http://oxforddictionaries.com/ accessed on 13/05/2011.
Light, J.S. 1999. From city space to cyberspace, in Crang M., Crang P.and May J. Virtual geographies, pp. 109-130. London: Routledge.