I started this assignment by browsing many audio resources and stumbled across the Nintendo Complete Original Soundtracks on the Internet Archive. I listened to many while I decided which to choose but waited until I found one that I could envision, which was intially, not actually the one your listening to as you read this. At first, I wanted to use another song in this collection called, “Wizardry III “Adventurer’s Inn III” ” because it sounded so peaceful, magical, and like walking through the gardens on the grounds of an enchanted castle. As you can imagine, finding an image for ALL that was very difficult and none were just quite what I was imagining. But as I was listening to the collection and searching for my castle, “Dragon Quest IV “Minuet”” started to play, and I was suddenly transported to the front row of a beautiful ballet performance as the orchestra plays effortlessly. The ending specifically is where I see the image above, as the music gets quieter the dancers form their line and rest their hands as they freeze into a pose in waiting for the next song to begin.
This work, “The Ballet of Shadows”, is adapted from “Dragon Quest IV “Minuet”” and “Ballerinas Dancing on Stage” by Fabrício Lira. “The Ballet of Shadows” is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 by Emily Murray.
Hi Emily,
Thank you for sharing your experience with searching for media for this assignment. I think it’s important for us to acknowledge that even though an idea we have is interesting it may not be possible to execute, and I feel you have pivoted beautifully. That said, I do have a very small laptop so the image you chose to embed is not viewable on my screen all at once, I had to scroll to experience the full effect, and I feel this makes the experience less immersive. However, the audio you chose to include is beautiful and invoked visions of ballets I have seen in the past, making up for the fact that I can’t see the entire image at one time. Thank you for sharing! 😊
Hi Emily!
As I was experiencing your take on why you paired your photo with the chosen audio, I was able to follow along easily with the context you were providing. I truly believe in the power of storytelling because, although you chose not to pair “Wizardry III ‘Adventurer’s Inn III’” with “Ballerinas Dancing on Stage” by Fabrício Lira and instead went with your third choice, I do gravitate more towards the second audio option. I love the majestic ambiance it provides; it almost brings the picture to life to tell its own story without the need for much explanation. The secondary audio choice brings a more realistic approach to the ballerinas in the picture, where I can imagine the point of view from the ballerina’s perspective instead of the audience’s. I feel like you chose right to create an immersive experience that led through the valleys of the performers’ steps and prances. The discipline, focus, and sharp-edged anticipation of ensuring the next move is better than the one prior. Well done!
A beautiful eeriness is my initial impression, I could easily image ballet dancers performing to this song, which makes it even more shocking in the fact that the music is from an old Nintendo game. There is a strong synchronicity of the image and the sound. Both feel beautiful yet somewhat haunting. The black and white image of the ballet dancers and the image just showing their backs against the dark void of the theater invokes melancholy. The music is more upbeat and almost whimsical but I still feel the undertone of sorrow. The music enhances the image and gives more weight to that sorrowful feeling.
As to what could occur if the music was changed, it really depends on what music it’s put on. If its more fast paced and upbeat, it could lead to the feeling altering to that of amusement and entertainment. Put darker and more dreary music and it really pushes the image to invoke darker feelings.