DJ Spooky in Ann Arbor

First let me start off by saying, What a performance! Dj Spooky is definitely well educated about technology and the many different uses for multi - media platforms. For him though, it is not just about the music and Djing, it is about something deeper than that. Upon entering the room I thought, like Brandon's blog before me, that Dj Spooky was just going to DJ and I would have to sit there and listen to an array of beats. However, I was completely wrong. Dj Spooky spoke about his love for McLuhan because of his use of the cut - up technique. He referred to this ability to edit as a "rhythm science."  He also spoke about his love for his new upcoming project with apple. He mentioned how all of the technology on the table before him would be combined into one single app on the iphone. This shows that there is no limit to how far technology can go in the future. What do you guys think will be next?
Dj Spooky also explained how dj techniques could be applied to storytelling, and sample editing into videoclips as seen on youtube. This whole process of mixing, collage, layering, and sampling are all examples of digital literacy. I already mentioned how DJing is a science but it is an art form as well. Here is where the visuals come into play.

As we were watching the live performance of the string cortet, DJ Spooky shows optical illusions that created a sort of hypnotic vibe for the audience. It was not just the music that kept the audience engaged, it was the whole ensemble of the visual and the audio combined. Toward the end of his performance he explained this significance even further by talking about how graphic design can influence imagination. Record companies in the 30's use to sell records with blank grey sleeves and now the graphic designs accompanied with each cd or album cover are essential for explaining the genre of music that is being sold. This relates back to the topic we discussed in class about the effects font, color, text, and image all have on an audience. Basically to sum it all up, DJ Spooky was not just an ordinary DJ but he is also a composer, writer, and multi - media artist. He uses visual information, historical facts, music, and technology to create several well - known works throughout his lifetime. Personally, I am extremely glad I went to his performance because it helped put a new spin on the multi - media industry and it also was interesting to see how much of what DJ Spooky said correlated to the discussions we have in class.

http://www.djspooky.com/hype.php