http://mith.umd.edu/digitalstorytelling/2012/10/14/arguing-with-archives-comments/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=arguing-with-archives-comments HDCC 208B / Seminar in Digital Cultures and Creativity / Fall 2012 Mon, 11 May 2015 07:39:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 http://mith.umd.edu/digitalstorytelling/2012/10/14/arguing-with-archives-comments/#comment-67 Beena Mon, 15 Oct 2012 02:48:56 +0000 http://mith.umd.edu/digitalstorytelling/?p=988#comment-67 Kelsey, it does appear that these students were brainwashed into the nonsensical nature that is a commemoration of Beethoven's birthday. However, that is far from the real truth. These students are not students at all, but marionnettes, mere humans turned into robotic puppets as part of an experiment by University of Maryland's Digital Cultures and Creativity Honors Program. Notice their in sync (albeit sloppy) movements - their harmonizing - that superficial gleam of happiness in their eyes? All the work of master puppeteers at the program. Where are the strings, you ask? After all, it was Pinocchio who affirmed his freedom by singing that he had no strings to hold him down. No such luck for these six students; their "strings" are laser magnets programmed from Maryland to force them to dance in their awkward motions. The shakiness and blurriness of the camera stems from that problem, as well - DCC has formed a barrier around its puppeteering hubs that is so penetrating that it radiates light waves which are too tiny to be seen by the human eye but come out pixelated on camera. The singers do not sound at their best - possibly because DCC students may have been on their lunch break instead of manning the station, causing a bit of lag in the puppets' normally solid and precise motions. Kelsey, it does appear that these students were brainwashed into the nonsensical nature that is a commemoration of Beethoven’s birthday. However, that is far from the real truth. These students are not students at all, but marionnettes, mere humans turned into robotic puppets as part of an experiment by University of Maryland’s Digital Cultures and Creativity Honors Program. Notice their in sync (albeit sloppy) movements – their harmonizing – that superficial gleam of happiness in their eyes? All the work of master puppeteers at the program. Where are the strings, you ask? After all, it was Pinocchio who affirmed his freedom by singing that he had no strings to hold him down. No such luck for these six students; their “strings” are laser magnets programmed from Maryland to force them to dance in their awkward motions. The shakiness and blurriness of the camera stems from that problem, as well – DCC has formed a barrier around its puppeteering hubs that is so penetrating that it radiates light waves which are too tiny to be seen by the human eye but come out pixelated on camera. The singers do not sound at their best – possibly because DCC students may have been on their lunch break instead of manning the station, causing a bit of lag in the puppets’ normally solid and precise motions.

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