Capturing Communities in Words and Images:

I never thought I would join debate, much less policy debate. Policy debate is a lot like condensed milk; too much and I get sick. A lot of the time the actual policy in question is not discussed much. Instead whether the other team is being topical is argued vehemently throughout the debate. I find I went against all my principles when I had to win the debate based on voter fairness and not the subject matter. Upon entering the building I could hear a shuffling of papers. Everyone’s brow was scrunched and their hands clenched tightly to far too many papers for one person to carry. I could hear faint whisperings of people repeating their arguments at 350 words a minute. Down the hall everyone stood huddled in groups, reading their “scripts” with such harmony and so in tune with each other it sounded like a canopy of hummingbirds. It was odd to find music even in muffled speed-reading. Suddenly the hall quieted as the room arrangements were being taped to the wall. With a loud, thick slab the paper stuck to the wall and then just as swiftly as it was quiet, a rush emanated through the hall for the room schedules. Fingers ran up and down the sheets, each eye scanning for their own names. It wasn’t so easy to spot the room because the names were arranged by taking the first initial of both peoples’ names and then the college the team they were from. Aside from giving the room numbers the sheets also reveal the position a team will take during the round. My partner ran to find out our room, room 231 of the main building, affirmative. We didn’t have far to go but we still couldn’t take our sweet time getting there.

More »

Post by Hipparchia | December 16th, 2008 | Category: Final Project Essay and Photos, Final Projects | Comments (9)

Thoughts had during the pictures (aka field notes):

The speed reading was terrifying. Every so often they would take a loud, deep gasp. So many words uttered in one breath and one gasp only to utter so many more. Their chests shuddered and fingers shook. Nerves were at the front of every debate but they were veiled by a confident composure. The debaters are impersonal. A connection, if any is distant and professional as it should be. I like the subtlety. Connections are made in the community not during the actual debate but in the process before or celebration after. It’s a community built on competing against one another; on rising above the ranks. Still at the end of every battle comes the handshake. “Thank you for the debate.” Although still impersonal the shake is strong and reminiscent of the trial.

Post by Hipparchia | December 9th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (1)

Community changed to debate team because the suggestions made for the internet community are impossible to do.

Amit- 1 word to describe debate: critical. Loves the competition. From London, England. Attends WVU. Major is Finance and Economics.

Jessy- From West Point. Is interested in debate because it is challanging and fosters greater intellectual thought.

The debate community is one unlike any other. Its connections are built on the common love for rivalry and competition. To capture this community is to capture the very essence of what makes us human. Debating and language transcends all cultures. These are only some images and I only posted one interview. I plan to write the final paper as story based on one debate member.

Post by Hipparchia | November 30th, 2008 | Category: Work-in-Progress | Comments (2)

Interviews in brief:

Ilya- 20. Attends Baruch. Event is not living up to his expectations. Cold. Came with the intention to look at people and make friends. Participates in other online communities (underground NYC).

Johnathon- Dressed as the stock market. 1st event. Part of several online communities. 27 years of age Expects a fun march and to meet people. The reason for the mask is that it represents us when we should be representing ourselves.

Ed- Blue eyes. Expects “craziness”. 28. From Williams burgh.

Michael- 21 years old, first event

Smurf Waldo- Danny. 20 years old. Not first event. Expects a lot of partying.

Morgan- girl in black. 26 years old. 1st event. Loves it.

Mehe- Green person. 27 years old. Didn’t get disappointed– event lived up to her expectations and more. Part of multiple internet communities.

Questions I have in mind:

Is this more about social debauchery than a social movement toward community?

What is the function?

If the function is just to “party” than what social implications does this have?

Can a mass community function orderly or does it collapse on itself and hence ceases to be a community?

Can an “internet community” meet and maintain its “internet community” status?

Initial feelings from the event:

Disappointed. Event was more about aimlessness than in previous events. Lots of wandering around. From previous events I could always feel a deeper purpose to the event but here there was nothing to scratch beneath the surface.

Post by Hipparchia | November 11th, 2008 | Category: Work-in-Progress | Leave a comment

Already the Internet is a force to be reckoned with. Along with changing the way economy functions globally, it has also transformed human interaction. No more do humans have to be in the same general proximity to trade, communicate, and interact overall. This growing community is making an outstanding impact on the way we conduct our everyday life. I would like to tap into this element and photograph moments in which an Internet community breaks the bonds of cyberspace.

Interactions between these “familiar strangers” are quite unusual. There is a warmth, cocoon of understanding, and a strange comfort that radiates from this community when they finally do meet. I have been to several events in the past and each time has proved time and time again that people are no longer inhibited by their geography.

My goal is to attend a few internet/reality upcoming events. There will be an event on Halloween that will last approximately 24 hours in which Internet people will join and band together for a day of getting to know each other away from the computer screen.

Along with this event I hope to capture other moments. I first became interested in this not as a spectator but as a participant. The events have so much soul that it becomes impossible not to become a member. The community made me feel like I wasn’t just existing but I was truly living. Even so the community remains undercover, which is perhaps a part of its majestic quality but I would like to uncover some of the hidden beauty. There lies much that is veiled but such a splendid community is not meant to stay in the shadows and I would love to be part of exposing these untapped free activities that essentially bring people to life and bring life to people.

Post by Hipparchia | October 28th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (3)