Notes for class.

1. October 21, 2014

2. Today
1) Cindy Selfe and some Semiotics
2) Audio Assignment
3) Some NPR– what is it that they do that makes it so
great?
4) Time permitting: reverse engineered storyboard

3. The Original Selfie

4. Selfe tells us…
…lots of things.
Before I take you into a specific aspect of the reading,
are there any particular questions about the piece or
comments on things you found
interesting/important?

5. Semiotics
One of the things that Selfe stresses in this piece that
is important for our considerations here is
semiotics/semiotic channels.
So what does she mean by “Semiotic?”
Let’s talk that out.

6. Semiotics
Traditional Semiotics emerge from the works of
Ferdinand de Sassure, a mindbending Swiss linguist.
Semiotics, per Sassure, basically state that we
understand not through literal expression but through
a system of signs and symbols.

7. But, but… sound?
So there are these things that Selfe refers to as
semiotic “channels.” The underpining here is that
“Semiotics” is about expression of symbols and signs,
but how many symbols and signs are literally
alphabetic text?

9. LISTEN

10. Semiotic Channels
You can imagine semiotic channels as the delivery
system for symbols and signs. They are primarily:
1)Aural (sound)
2)Visual (static images are one channel, video is
another)
3) Alphabetic (letters and words)
4)Tactile (think of a video game controller that
shakes)

11. To this point…
… smell is the least rhetorically used potential
semiotic channel, though people make choices about
fragrances every day.
Imagine trying to make an argument only with smell.

12. We move to audio…
Your next major assignment is an audio piece. More
specifically, we’re going to be making 3-6 minute NPR
style reports about something related to our focal
topics.
Let’s alt-tab and look at the actual assignment.

13. Pro Tips:
When creating with audio, background noise
and distractions are like poor penmanship:
you want to record with a good microphone
(at the very least get a headset with a mic–
don’t tape into a laptop’s built-in speaker
because we’ll hear your computer fan)

14. Pro Tips:
“Ums” and coughing/clearing your throat is
pretty much unacceptable in a polished audio
project. You should expect to spend time
shaping and editing your audio. Don’t expect
to record your project in one take.

15. Pro Tips:
One thing that we don’t always notice about
ourselves is when we breathe as we talk/how
we sound as we run out of air. Learn from Tay
Zonday– don’t breathe in right in front of the
microphone. Likewise, if you’re starting to
lose speaking volume, look away and breathe.

16. Let’s listen…
…to a little of that NPR.
Alt-tab time.

17. Let’s listen…
Go to the website at NPR.com.
Look around for a feature piece, plug in your
headphones, and give it a listen. As you do,
try to figure out, comparing it to the piece we
all listened to, what sorts of tropes and tricks
you hear in the NPR productions? What
makes them compelling?

18. With the remaining time…
… we will brainstorm for your project. Pull up
your research blog. We might need it. Then
open a blank Word document.

19. Free writing
I’m going to give you a prompt. I want you to
keep writing about it, even if you’re writing
things like “I can’t think of anything” until I
tell you to stop, at which point, of course, you
will stop.

20. Prompt 1
Look over your blog, and think about your
focal topic. What are issues or concepts
related to the topic that you feel you could
cover in roughly 5 minutes?

21. Prompt 2
Look at that list. Pick 2 or 3 things from it you
find most interesting. Recopy them, then start
writing about ways you think you could
elaborate on each.

22. Prompt 3
Think about anecdotes. Are there good,
contained stories you could share about any
of the things on your list? If there are, start
sketching that out.

23. Prompt 4
Pick the topic you find most compelling. Start
writing out how you’d begin the piece.

24. Prompt 5
Pick a topic you like from what is left, and
spend a few minutes thinking about what
you’d use other than the primary vocal to
texture the sound experience.

25. For Thursday
We’re going to spend some time in
Photoshop. I’m going to take you through
opening, setting up a file, and what each of
the buttons on the toolbar do. I’ll then take
requests/model ways to improve on your
typography projects.