I’ve watched the short video about ten times. I think the concept of a short introductory and invitational video is brilliant, and timely. I have a few reservations about this one.
The introductory film illustrating conflict is curious. It seems to be an old film and hard to place, I would guess the action is somewhere in the Horn of Africa and maybe in the 1950s. One of the more striking and slightly ludicrous images, given the context, is of a man hitching up his shorts under his robe. Very human, but distinctly odd, it detracts from the idea of conflict somehow, I think.
I also think the significance of brain hemisphericity as a source of conflict needs more treatment than may be possible in the available time. Hemisphericity and its potential for inner and outer conflict are likely to be new concepts for many, and not intuitively obvious.
I think the sympathetic treatment given religion in the video is a real plus, but might have wider appeal if the symbology of religion was widened to include others besides Buddhism and old-fashioned Christianity.
It’s easy to carp and I admire Robert’s guts in making this and planting it on the site, like the flag planted at the site of the lunar landing. I hope more such publicity will follow, and that more of us can show initiative in getting the society better known and appreciated.
Hi Peter,
I agree with you about the weaknesses here. In practice there’s a balance to be struck between on the one hand making it short and punchy, delivering a strong message that relates to experience, and on the other making it accurate. My skills as a video maker are developing, but I’m also still pretty to new to it, and lack sophisticated software or equipment. The other factor to be balanced is that making a video like this, that lasts less than 2 minutes, took me something like 3 hours.
I hope that in future we can find some abler video makers who are willing to make such videos for the society. I like the way that modern technology allows us all to do these things in an amateurish sort of way, but there is still also room for some degree of specialisation!
Well done on accurate placing of the war scenes in the horn of Africa. They come from Movietone news footage of Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia in the 1930’s. I stumbled on it when searching for copyright-free footage of war scenes. You’re right that I should have cut the man hitching up his shorts!
I’ve watched the short video about ten times. I think the concept of a short introductory and invitational video is brilliant, and timely. I have a few reservations about this one.
The introductory film illustrating conflict is curious. It seems to be an old film and hard to place, I would guess the action is somewhere in the Horn of Africa and maybe in the 1950s. One of the more striking and slightly ludicrous images, given the context, is of a man hitching up his shorts under his robe. Very human, but distinctly odd, it detracts from the idea of conflict somehow, I think.
I also think the significance of brain hemisphericity as a source of conflict needs more treatment than may be possible in the available time. Hemisphericity and its potential for inner and outer conflict are likely to be new concepts for many, and not intuitively obvious.
I think the sympathetic treatment given religion in the video is a real plus, but might have wider appeal if the symbology of religion was widened to include others besides Buddhism and old-fashioned Christianity.
It’s easy to carp and I admire Robert’s guts in making this and planting it on the site, like the flag planted at the site of the lunar landing. I hope more such publicity will follow, and that more of us can show initiative in getting the society better known and appreciated.
Peter
Hi Peter,
I agree with you about the weaknesses here. In practice there’s a balance to be struck between on the one hand making it short and punchy, delivering a strong message that relates to experience, and on the other making it accurate. My skills as a video maker are developing, but I’m also still pretty to new to it, and lack sophisticated software or equipment. The other factor to be balanced is that making a video like this, that lasts less than 2 minutes, took me something like 3 hours.
I hope that in future we can find some abler video makers who are willing to make such videos for the society. I like the way that modern technology allows us all to do these things in an amateurish sort of way, but there is still also room for some degree of specialisation!
Well done on accurate placing of the war scenes in the horn of Africa. They come from Movietone news footage of Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia in the 1930’s. I stumbled on it when searching for copyright-free footage of war scenes. You’re right that I should have cut the man hitching up his shorts!
A very useful reply, Robert, expressed as always in your very kindly, temperate and instructive way. Migglism at its mightiest!
Peter