Race: A Video Composition

Race is a time-lapsed text-based video composition featuring my written performance in between the words "black" and "white" to explore  both words as racial concepts.  Through an integrated practice of mind-mapping and correlation the performance creates new words and concepts encouraging subjective reflections on the idea of race. Sonically this video work is accompanied by my composition of superimposed dissonant musical drones (C C# D Eb) composed using BEAP in Max that assists critical reflection of the moving images and alludes to the  composition being written on the musical staff as seen in the video.

"Method of correlation is a situational mode of organizing theological reflection that gives account of the context in which the theologian is doing his/her work. This situational mode essentially is the application of a theological insight to a specific problem raised by philosophical questions. By way of example, a philosophical issue in existentialism is human alienation, which directly correlates to the theological answer provided by christian reconciliation. Paul Tillich worked within this framework and e.g. sought to apply God’s ultimate concern to the human problem of despair and anxiety. Other theologians who worked within this framework are R.R. Ruether (women’s need for emancipation correlates with prophetic tradition) and J. Cone (emancipation of black Americans correlates with certain gospel truths)."

Harvey, Van A. A Handbook of Theological Terms: Their meaning and background exposed in over 300 articles. ”From The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, Christian Theological Systems, Mark Lewis Taylor” New York, NY. Scribner Paper Fiction. 1964

"Mind mapping is a whole-brain method for generating and organizing ideas, originated by Tony Buzan, and largely inspired by Da Vinci’s approach to note taking. You can use mind mapping for personal goal setting, daily planning, and interpersonal problem solving. It can help you at work, with your kids, or with any pursuit. The most marvelous application of mind mapping, however, is that through regular practice it trains you to be a more balanced thinker, à la Leonardo."

Gelb, Michael J. How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day. Random House Publishing Group. 2004

Race: The Floating Signifier is an important inspiration for Race as it seeks to investigate the very notion of race itself as its primary mode of inquiry to help set the stage for new thinking on race, race relations and the specific problem of racism. This approach is key to Race as it points to race being a "floating signifier" that needs to be interpreted for its elusiveness, malleability and language-like character.

RACE: A VIDEO COMPOSITION (DEFINITIONS)

In the following image the letters highlighted are the ones selected to make new words between “black” and “white”. This selection of letters are the correlation tools for creating subjective meaning. All definitions were selected from Oxford Languages-Google, Dictionary.com, and Wikipedia.

A CLOSER LOOK AT CORRELATION & MIND MAPPING

The following diagrams show a closer look at the practice of correlation represented by letters highlighted in red (adding letters to make new words between “black” and “white) and mind mapping represented by the gray oval, black circles and arrows directed toward the word “heel”.

RACE: A VIDEO COMPOSITION (LECTIO DIVINA SURVEY DATA TEXT)

In 2015 - 2016, to collect a sampling of subjective qualitative data about this video composition, a group of graduate music students were invited into a Lectio Divina survey process. Lectio Divinia is a spiritual way of listening that is often part of Christian religious practice. It was appropriated for this project due to my previous educational experience as a seminarian from 2011 - 2015. I thought this approach to data gathering would provide a sincere space for these graduate music students to share their diverse impressions of the video.

RACE: A VIDEO COMPOSITION (LECTIO DIVINA SURVEY DATA SOUND)

Listen to the survey data text spoken by a computer generated voice. Each response is preceded by the restatement of the Lectio Divinia question/prompt and offers a brief sound meditation.

1. Watch the video once with the intention of finding a single aspect that resonates with you.

2. The second time, watch with the purpose of finding the essence of the video. What do you think the video is generally trying to communicate about race?

3. The third and final time you watch, try to determine what the video means to you, and how it may influence your personal reflection on race.

RACE: A VIDEO COMPOSITION (A CLOSING TASK FOR READERS OF THIS EXPOSITION)

As a reader of this research exposition I invite you to attempt the Lectio Divinia survey process and add to the data set. Please share your text data with me via email at jeffcobbold@gmail.com with your first & last name and your text file of the three responses in the body of the email. Your data will be added anonymously to the data set and processed as a computer generated voice.