Project #4 Metatext

For project #4, I have used the required “everyday” and “personal”, and have involved other people. I have used a series of text messages from a six week period. They are both sent and received messages between my family and friends and me. They show the everyday, sometimes mundane and utilitarian, the emotional, sometimes touching, and also the humorous and absurd.

The involvement with others is apparent, but I have decided to blur the line between different people and different chunks of conversation by using a consistent design throughout. This adds a mysterious element, and makes for some strange juxtaposition between different messages and ideas.

My project turns the uncreative (text messages from my phone) into something creative, presented in a multimedia fashion. With Windows Movie Maker, I have incorporated the text, with is inherently a modern and highly digitalized way of communicating, into a simple, “reminiscent of the past” type of presentation. I have used a simple, traditional font, grayscale colors and a grainy texture, along with the sound of typing, to purposefully clash with the contemporary idea of text messaging.

My project presents the identities of my correspondents and me, which may, or may not be, difficult to determine. The “chatter” is streamed into one big conversation, with some conversation boundaries clear, and others not.

I enjoyed this project a lot. It was fun to try and creatively express the everyday in a new way. It involves the reader in way that makes them wonder, perhaps bores them a bit, but hopefully entertains them in some small way!