Vidding Thoughts of the Day

[pipsqueaky]

I have been thinking quite a lot lately about context in vidding. Specifically, how much should you rely on context when making a vid?

Comments

[sisabet]

Vid thoughts!! That I understand!!! Wheee!

I think you are on to a very big thing here with the context vrs. context free dilemma. Deciding how you will illustrate a point and a lyric and remain true the source and also artistically valid is key when determining your style. I think the ideal situation is when you can not only find the most visually striking moment - but when the context also clearly supports the meaning of the clip - and sometimes the clip with the flower is going to be much more poignant and visually interesting than the embrace - it is much more indicative of the caring in the lyric and it is unexpected and therefore interesting.

Context - it is very important - except when you need to decontextualize clips and it isn't. The sublime is when you are able to make a vid that people who do not watch the show get and that only improves when viewed with context in mind. Seah and Margie's "Kryptonite" comes to mind immediately as an example, but there are a ton of other vids.

And I know, intellectually, that if I

[pipsqueaky]

Context - it is very important - except when you need to decontextualize clips and it isn't.

Heh, yes, exactly. And I am actually having this problem right now in my current vid. (clip #1:) "ooooh, check out the CONTEXT! do you remember this scene? do ya? oh, the pain!" (clip #2:) "okay, now I need you to completely forget about the context! seriously!" I guess it's just a matter of deciding how much (if any) of that flip-flopping is acceptable, and to what degree.

The sublime is when you are able to make a vid that people who do not watch the show get and that only improves when viewed with context in mind.

These are my favorite types of vids. I LOVE it when I can watch something that rewards fans of the show with a deeper understanding, and yet I can show it to my non-fannish friends and have them go "whoa, cool!" (I consider "Cowboy" to be one of these vids.) Unfortunately, although they are fun to watch, they are also hella difficult to make

[sdwolfpup]

Very interesting post, and one that in a lot of ways could have come from my own..uh..fingers. Heh.

FWIW, I personally like 'Reasons Why' better (though they're both good, they just accomplish different things). I know a lot of that has to do with the fact that as I've continued to vid, I've become a Context Addict. I actually have trouble breaking *out* of context now and it seems like my vids are tuning into a more and more narrow audience.

Shoot, that's one of the best things about moving to a new fandom for me -- I'm going back to focusing on the pretty visuals and not just the meaning behind them.

I really, really empathize with this, too: I am one of those people who really has to work hard in order to move past a superficial understanding of a book or movie or vid or, well, anything.I am one of those people who really has to work hard in order to move past a superficial understanding of a book or movie or vid or, well, anything.I often feel like I need crib notes to get going sometimes in appreciating some vids/books

[pipsqueaky]

First of all, ICON LOVE! <3 <3 <3

Secondly, you were indeed a great deal of help. I wasn't really looking for concrete answers anyway; I mainly posted this just to (hopefully) start an intriguing discussion and learn from other vidders' perspectives.

I know a lot of that has to do with the fact that as I've continued to vid, I've become a Context Addict.Which is pretty funny, because the opposite has happened to me. I mean, as far as watching other people's work, my appreciation for context has definitely grown; but when it comes to my own stuff, I keep getting more and more reluctant to move past the superficial and obvious. And I have no idea why that is. I'm just a freak

[kitkatbyte]

Very interesting post.

I'm personally of the opinion that if someone is watching a fanvid, they are probably a big enough fan of the show to understand the context. So if the context helps you to reach *them* in a more dramatic way, then I would go with that.

I personally always assume that my audience will know the show and know it well. But that also mean that when I show my vids to RL people who don't know the show, they don't really get them. But really, if someone doesn't know the show, it's best to just impress them with your technical skills and not worry about the rest, imho.

So in most cases I would go with the subtle contexty clip, the flower in your case. Sometimes your goal is different.. convids, for example, are intended for a broad audience and should require little knowledge of context. I guess the trick is to decide who your audience is ahead of time. And if nothing else, use whatever you like best. The most important opinion of your vid is your own. Don't sell yourself short for someone else's benefit.

[wickedwords]

To me, the choice of whether to go for context or pretty depends a lot on who you've decided that you're making the vid for

[laurashapiro]

Just echoing wickedwords here: for me, the decision whether to use a contextual or out-of-context clip has everything to do with who the vid's audience is. And that varies from vid to vid. Every time I come up with a vid idea, the very first question I ask myself is, "Who is this for?" And I keep asking it throughout the clip selection and editing process, to remind myself always of my goals -- the same way I try to keep the vid's theme in mind all the time. So for every clip, I'm asking myself "Does this make the point I'm trying to make?" but also "Will my audience understand it?"

sisabet talked about the ideal situation, where a clip is heavy with context but will work for people who lack that context. I agree. I would add that this applies to more clips than you'd think. In the example you gave above, I think many viewers would understand the flower on the pillow whether they'd ever seen the show or not. Putting a flower on a pillow is an inherently romantic action, it seems to me (unless you're Angelus!), and a wide segment of your audience will

[wendylouwho]

What an interesting conversation. I've enjoyed reading it and just felt like adding my two cents. I guess in my mind I am vidding for the BtVS viewers. I look at a clip and think it would fit in perfect for the song, but when I think about my audience, I know they know which scene my clip is from and where I may want to convey love with a hug, my clip may actually be taken from a scene where a hug turns into a bite. I know my audience will know this and I feel like the mood or the flow is broken. I am not necessarily concrete on this, but I do find my mind often going in that direction.

Thanks for letting me join in the conversation.