Senior Project @marvingonza-seniorproject - Tumblr Blog

The lyrics in the song by Robbie Robertson talk about a person who wants help and who wants to live. Like many persons suffering with PTSD, they also want to live even though it’s tough and difficult to endure. With PTSD nothing fades. Our bodies will not let us forget. Because of surging chemicals that reinforce every memory, we can’t walk away from the past anymore than you can walk away from us.

These are a few screenshots of my final video. The idea behind the look-and-feel is to simulate imagery from Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) cameras.

The Healing Process

PTSD is a healing process for both the service member and those around him/her. There is no set time for PTSD healing. Everyone’s healing journey is individual and depends on their own desire, determination and access to the therapeutic process best suited to them. Some recover, but unfortunately, some never do.

In version #2 of my video, I have incorporated incidental music (background music) to add atmosphere to the action, and to enhance the depiction of my story-advancing sequence. In particular, I have chosen Native American healing/spiritual music because of its powerful narration. The background song is called “Peyote Healing” by the Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Robbie Robertson. Traditional Native American healing systems are holistic ones that focus on balancing the mind, body and spirit.

Peyote Healing by Robbie Robertson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZel1_5FvU8

Artist’s Statement

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may develop when a person has been exposed to one or more life-threatening events such as natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, physical or sexual assault, and military combat. One in five veterans of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with PTSD that is nearly 300,000 veterans.

Inspired by the works of artists such as Bill Viola, videos from Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) cameras mounted on military aircraft, and Native American healing music, the objective of this video installation is to illustrate the emotional and psychological trauma that a service member suffering from PTSD might experience after military combat. Loneliness, intrusive memories, violent thoughts, persistent anxiety, all this would not be possible to achieve without the aid of the moving image on film, compelling music, and the spectator’s reaction.

PTSD is a healing process for both the service member and those around him/her. Some recover, but unfortunately, some never do. Every day, Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Marines survivors are taking steps to take back their lives, redefine their identities and let go of the past. I find Native American spiritual music to be such a great medicine to treat almost any condition whether it is psychological or physical. This music brings me to a place where I feel such a connection with my comrades, and also peace. Using a Lakota healing song as the background music, my intention is to invite the viewers to actively engage in this slice of real life.

Video Introduction (Version #1)

This is just a small piece of the 5 minute long video that I am working on. I used a small camera mounted on a helmet to give the illusion of a tactical camera. I was also trying to achieve a tunnel vision feeling. This scene is supposed to represent a flashback or a sudden and disturbing vivid memory of an event in the past that a service member suffering from PTSD might experience every now and then.

Sound: Radio conversation from Generation Kill credits.

Post-Production Time

I am using Adobe Premier Pro CS5 to edit my videos, sound, and special effects. I have used Final Cut Pro in the past so this has been a little stressful; however, both programs are somehow similar and it just takes a little time to get back on the wagon. I would like to create and use my own videos, but I am trying to simulate military combat action without looking too amateurishly. I might have to use a few public videos and sound to achieve a high quality combat feeling.

I hate this Weather!!

The weather has not cooperated with me lately. I have not been able to shoot the video scenes for my installation. That's very unfortunate and disappointing. Snow and ice were not part of the initial concept. I guess this is where "creativity" comes into place and I need to figure out something quick.

Collecting Materials

I have been collecting natural and man-made materials for my installation. Primarily, I have been looking for items that have a military look-and-feel like these two vintage trunks. I have also been looking for a military folding cot, but I have not been able to get one yet.

Video Installation Set Up #2

As posted before, the set up that I had in mind will not work due of space and time limitations. The concept of placing the installation in one room with 4 walls and 3 video projections would be too difficult to accomplish. Professor Ashcraft suggested to use only one projection, and to make the sculpture part of it.

Video Installation Layout #1

Update - Feb. 25, 2015

After my meeting with Professor Ashcraft, we determined that this set up for my installation will not work because of space limitations. Back to the drawing board.

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Feb. 22, 2015

This is what I have in mind to set up the video installation for my Senior Project. It would be helpful if the installation is placed in a confined space to create a controlled atmosphere that generates a sense of isolation or withdrawal.

PTSD Statistics

These statistics are part of my research on PTSD.

What is PTSD?

PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adult or childhood. Most survivors of trauma return to normal given a little time. However, some people will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own, or may even get worse over time. These individuals may develop PTSD. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person’s daily life.

About This Blog

Hi - my name is Marvin González. I am currently an undergraduate student majoring in Art and Visual Technology (AVT) with a concentration in New Media Art at George Mason University. This blog is a requirement for my Senior Project (AVT 497). It will be a tool to track, record, and present my ideas, progress, achievements, road-blocks, accomplishments, and failures.

We are on week #4 and I am still not 100 percent sure what am I going to do. My computer crashed right before school started so I am facing my first major road-block since all my programs were in there. I was told that the video/graphics card was done and that a repair was not recommended. So I need to think fast about a solution or I will have to run back and forth from home and school to complete my project.

In one of our class meetings, I mentioned that during my years at GMU, I developed an immense interest in video and sound art. I also found installation art to be fascinating because of its three-dimensional aspect and because how this artistic genre transforms the perception of a space. I would like to incorporate these techniques into my final project because it is something that I would like to explore more in detail.

The theme and concept pf my project are not defined yet, but I'd like to spend this semester exploring and researching topics such as PTSD, immigration, and racism and how to use video projections, sound, and natural materials to transform the perception of a space.

So, wish me luck!!!!

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