book

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

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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.