- Maker: Carlos Rodriguez Rosa
- Genre: Video
- Level: Graduate
- Program: Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media
- Course: WRIT 5340: Multimodality & Digital Media
- Instructor: Dr. Eric Mason
- Semester Created: Winter 2021
Description:
This project builds on the Home Page of the fictional grief support organization Where We Go Now. The website is a paratextual artifact set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe between the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. The organization is centered on the support group Steve Rogers led in the beginning of Avengers: Endgame, exploring how an organization of this kind would operate within the fictional world. This project also serves as an extension of a previous endeavor in the Transmedia Theory and Production course
This manifesto embodies the mission and vision of the organization, which is to “heal a grieving world.” Titled “Where We Go Now,” the piece is both a call to action and a statement of purpose. It inspires unity and solidarity, as well as encourages viewers to utilize the organization’s services.
Reflection:
As this project also serves as an extension of a previous endeavor in the Transmedia Theory and Production course, I had already extensively considered what the organization’s purposes are. I had considered the magnitude of the storyworld’s need for such an entity and how that knowledge shaped the structure, services, and ethos for its audience. I knew that it was a large organization and that it viewed grief support as a community effort, a value stemming from the title, “Where We Go Now.” I knew what the purpose and audience was, and I knew exactly what I wanted it to be. However, when it came time to record and edit, I was lost as to what it would look and sound like.
The video manifesto is intended to be found on the homepage of the fictional national website. With the placement, of course, came a pressure to perform and depict something grand and impactful. I composed the manifesto as a spoken word poem, centering on the solidarity that comes with experiencing grief. I thought the idea of a train worked best for the concept as the organization’s vision describes grief as a journey that does not have to be taken alone.
When choosing music and visuals, I primarily wanted them to match the writing. Through the various free-to-use videos I looked through, I focused on a sense of travel and movement both physically and emotionally. However, I didn’t want it to be cliché or boring. I wanted it to be sophisticated and taken seriously, something that could inspire hope. In this way, I believe the music highlighted the emotional aspect of the manifesto, providing a guiding spirit throughout piece.
In the end, I am happy with how the manifesto turned out. This project gave me the opportunity to further my knowledge of sound and video editing. I took on the task of learning how to use Adobe Audition and Adobe Premiere, and I do feel like I learned a lot about both the software and the art of visual and audio composing. I realized that the text wasn’t necessarily the backbone of the piece—there was no clear centerpiece. Instead, all elements worked together in tandem and resulted in a product that conveys its message in multiple ways.
