For performance 5, the topic of our performance was a puppet show where the actions of members was based on the action of the puppet master. I came up with the concept of using a puppet with a soft circuit as I imagined that the frequency would change from the fluctuating frequencies of the pullable string with conductive thread. At first, I imagined that it would work if I utilized just a string, however, the conductivity of the provided conductive wire was much lower than anticipated, thus the hand knit method was needed. Furthermore, in order for me to have more control of the sound, I thought that only exchanging one string of the puppet was needed as changing all of them would create consistency of noise which may lack control or harmony with one another. This led to my first puppet which used the knit string. A video of this puppet’s action can be seen below where the sounds vary upon motion of the angle of pull.
(Above is a photo of the connections for this puppet)
As I thought that one puppet was too minimal for the performance as only one pitch could be made, I added a pompom to another puppet where the creation was a puppet that made pure high pitches at various frequencies. This would help me raise it up to the climax as well as add depth to the piece that was created.
When performing, I served as the puppet master where my puppets were represented by Daniel (spinning chair and hat), Ryan (cyborgish prop), and Jasmin (hat). They all moved in motions that were similar to the puppet where their instruments were dependent on realizing the movement. When performing, there was difficulty in seeing the actual movement and matching it immediately thus there would be a 0.2-0.5 second delay which added a bit of expressiveness in the sense that the harmonic sound can only be produced when holding motions longer such as making the puppet directly vertical to create a signal to the “puppets” to move in certain patterns. The progression of the piece included slowly approaching a climax of the puppeteer where the puppet’s spirit becomes free and they become an improvised state of being. The freedom of the puppets slowly deteriorate and the puppeteer remains in control until the end where his spirit drops. This leads to the descending part of the composition where there is a diminuendo in the sounds produce where Daniel slowly creates fading sounds with his hat. All in all, I think that this performance was rather successful in terms of visuals, sound, and composition via differences, however, I do agree with Professor Parren that I should’ve linked my sound with the mixer as the sound quality was separated which may have made the sound less independent.
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