For several decades, the realm of documentary and experimental art has been exploring the artistic, political, and historical potential hidden within the images and movies found in flea markets and ordinary people’s homes. In today's world, our relationship with images has evolved significantly, closely tied to the changing practices of early amateur photographers and filmmakers. With the widespread use of smartphones and tablets equipped with digital cameras, combined with internet connectivity, individuals have empowered images to circulate widely online. Taking photos or filming has become an everyday art form, accessible to the masses. However, the sheer volume of digital content and the ever-growing reservoir of personal images in the vast online landscape do not guarantee visibility. This visibility is still largely controlled by opaque algorithms and platform indexing techniques among other filters. The aim of this module is to direct our attention towards video content shared on social media platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Through screen recording techniques, we will analyze and enhance selected content. We will navigate the internet and explore various films within the realm of Desktop Movies, delve into the issue of attention in digital environments, and develop skills in using our screens as cameras, audio recorders, and multimedia canvases. Students will be guided to write a script leading to the production of a 5-10 minute desktop documentary. They will also have the opportunity to document their research by writing a short presentation text and producing a dozen images representative of their project.
↗ PAD for the module Review Syllabus and questions Presentations: Introduce yourself using the image you chose as your background wallpaper. Screening: Lena Windish - Searching for the Perfect Gentleman: An investigative Journey, 2019. (10 min) Screening: Clean with me After Dark, by Gabrielle Stemmer (21 min) Discussion about the movies lunch break Reading: Luka Beslagic (2019) "Computer Interface as Film: Post-Media Aesthetics of Desktop Documentary". Notes: Identify the properties of a desktop documentary Screening: 4 student works from 2024 BA Digital Spaces (45 min) Discussion: What kind of publishing platforms/social networks/channels do you use? What's your favorite content on the Internet? Do you produce images or videos that you share online? social networks Facebook Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) Snapchat BeReal Twitch Threads Tinder Grindr Mastodon YouTube WhatsApp Telegram Reddit Linkedin Pinterest Discord Patreon DayZ WoW Second Life ...
↗ PAD for the module Presentations: choose one social media platform from the list and one kind of content to present to the group. (60 min) Download: Davinci Resolve and QuickTime (Apple Store or here for Windows) Lecture: Discussion with alumna Michelle Müller (45 min) - or discussion about copyright issues Screening: Ekiem Barbier, Guilhem Causse, Quentin L'helgouc'h - Marlowe Drive, 2017. (34 min) lunch break Method: How to make documentaries out of screen recordings? (40 min) Exercise: Find 3 different audiovisual contents (preferably on 3 different channels) + link your content to at least two others, one in the history of art, one in contemporary visual culture. Discussion: Collective discussion about the materials
↗ PAD for the module Exercice: Speed-pitching game. You have 2 minutes to present your ideas to one of your classmates. They will give feedback for 2 minutes. Explain what is the topic, what is the critical edge, to which historical or theoritical content it connects? Screening: Gala Hernandez Lopez - "La mécanique des fluides", 2022. (38 min) Discussion: Collective discussion about the movie. lunch break Exercise: Start to define the aesthetic qualities of your documentary. Create a moodboard. Use screen capture (static) to start gathering/archiving material Screening (optional): "Watching The Pain of Others", Chloé Galibert-Laîné, 2018.
↗ PAD for the module The whole day is dedicated to writing the scenario for your documentary Meetings with the professor by appointment (see schedule) Template: Learn how to build a structure for your scenario + script 09:00 - see PAD to book appointment 09:30 - see PAD to book appointment 10:00 - see PAD to book appointment 10:30 - see PAD to book appointment 11:00 - see PAD to book appointment 11:30 - see PAD to book appointment 13:00 - see PAD to book appointment 13:30 - see PAD to book appointment 14:00 - see PAD to book appointment 14:30 - see PAD to book appointment 15:00 - see PAD to book appointment 15:30 - see PAD to book appointment 16:00 - see PAD to book appointment
↗ PAD for the module Presentations: Each group (3 students) screens their collage of unedited 1-minute clips. Discussion: Feedback session and questions - What patterns or themes emerge from the clips? What emotional tones recur? What is missing or redundant? How does this material connect to the intended narrative arc? lunch break Screening: Chloé Galibert-Laîné - GeoMarkr, 2022. (22 min) Exercise: Continue writing the scenario based on these questions - Are there recurring visual motifs or metaphors (e.g., windows, glitches, scrolling, maps)? What tone or rhythm do the clips establish? Which clips feel essential or surprising? How might voice, sound, or desktop gestures connect these moments? What is the central turning point? What emotional or conceptual resolution do you want to reach by the end? What do you hope the viewer will reflect on after watching? Discussion: Feedbacks about the schedule/class
↗ PAD for the module This day is dedicated to working on your script. You can request an individual meeting in room D1.02, just send me an email. All scenarios must be submitted no later than November 26 at 22:00.
↗ PAD for the module Presentations (15 minutes): Explain the topic of your movie, describe the context and narrative plot, show images to give an impression of the aesthetic you’d like to develop, and discuss the construction of the script. 09:00 – 09:20 - presentation 01 09:20 – 09:40 - presentation 02 09:40 – 10:00 - presentation 03 10:00 – 10:20 - coffee break 10:20 – 10:40 - presentation 04 10:40 – 11:00 - presentation 05 11:00 – 11:20 - presentation 06 11:20 – 11:40 - presentation 07 12:00 – 13:00 - lunch break 13:00 – 13:20 - presentation 08 13:20 – 13:40 - presentation 09 13:40 – 14:00 - presentation 10 14:00 – 14:20 - break 14:20 – 14:40 - presentation 11 14:40 – 15:00 - presentation 12 15:00 – 15:20 - presentation 13 15:20 – 15:40 - presentation 14
↗ PAD for the module Screening and Feedback: Group discussions on what we have seen during the midterm presentations and feedback on first raw montages from your peers. Atelier: The day is dedicated to working on your video editing both in group and individualy. 9:00-10:00 -- Group 1 10:00-11:00 -- Group 2 11:00-12:00 -- Group 3 13:00-14:00 -- Group 4 Recommanded screening: Life and Death of Óscar Pérez by Romain Champalaune, 2021 available on Youtube
↗ PAD for the module Screening and Feedback: Group discussions on what we have seen during the midterm presentations and feedback on first raw montages from your peers. Atelier: The day is dedicated to working on your video editing both in group and individualy. 9:00-10:00 -- Group 1 10:00-11:00 -- Group 2 11:00-12:00 -- Group 3 13:00-14:00 -- Group 4 Recommanded screening: Sitting in Darkness by Graeme Arnfield, 2015 available on Vimeo
Guest review: 5 minutes context and 5 min showing movie clip + half-day presence for the groups (two groups) !!! 9:00 Introduction mandatory for ALL !!! GROUP 01 - 6 people 1. 9:30 - 9:50 oli 2. 9:50 - 10:10 Anna 3. 10:10 - 10:30 Taylor break 4. 10:50 - 11:10 Amélie 5. 11:10 - 11:30 Nicolas 6. 11:30 - 11:50 Lukas lunch break GROUP 02 - 8 people 1. 13:10 - 13:30 Angela 2. 13:30 - 13:50 Sofia 3. 13:50 - 14:10 Lily 4. 14:10 - 14:30 Ming break 5. 14:50 - 15:10 Senem 6. 15:10 - 15:30 Robin 7. 15:30 - 15:50 8. 15:50 - 16:10 Laurel
↗ PAD for the module Individual Mentoring: from 13:00 to 16:30. Please send an email to book a slot and if possible send me in advance the current version of your movie.
↗ PAD for the module Round table: How is it going? At what stage is each movie? What still needs to be done? We also need to address how to write proper credits for the films and make sure everyone understands what is required. Group discussion 01: How will the videos be presented during the Open House? We need to decide whether all videos will be shown, what the physical setup will look like, whether the videos will play in a loop, and if visitors will be able to choose which video to watch. Group discussion 02: How will the module be documented? Should there be a dedicated website? What should the website look like? Who will be responsible for designing it? What materials and information need to be collected for it? Documentation task: Each group must produce two images and a short text that will be displayed on the website and upload this material to the server.
FINAL DEADLINE: ALL VIDEOS SHOULD BE UPLOADED TO THE SERVER BEFORE JANUARY 14, 2026 AT 9:00.