DMA Assignment #1 - Composition

"What is composition in general, what are the differences and common features of various types of composition, and what is unique about new media composition specifically?"

     Generally speaking, composition is the purposeful arrangement of different pieces or elements for the purpose of creating one cohesive whole.  But speaking generally makes you look stupid.  Composition can be any number of things to any number of people.

This guy likes to "compose" his toenail clippings into mosaics
of his dead relatives.  Different strokes... I guess?

     For example, Ludwig Van Beethoven was a composer, and the professional video editing software Avid is called "Avid Media Composer."  Both have the name of composer, but both are entirely different.  One is a world famous, long dead, deaf classical music composer, the other one is Beethoven.  Or, maybe it's the other way around, I may have messed that up.

Give me a break, alright?  They look, like... almost completely identical.

     But the point is, "composition" is merely a blanket term in which lie innumerable meanings to be discovered by the individuals who have so chosen to compose.  By my count, that's everyone.


     Yes, EVERYONE.


     You see, everything everyone wants to do is made up of different pieces and parts.  Even small things.  Let's say, I want to go out to dinner.  I can't just say that and it happens.  I need to bring together, a car, gas to run the car, money for the food, a restaurant at which to spend the money, and myself, to taken by the car, fueled by the gas, to the restaurant at which I'll spend the money.  All those things need to come together in order for me to go out to dinner.  Also, I should probably have some company.

Pictured: company.  Sigh...

   So obviously, just saying what composition means is not enough, and the important part is what it means to those who do it.  Uh-oh... Sounds like a segue into...

Talking About Myself!!!

     For me as a filmmaker, composition means many different things.  For example, on the screenwriting side, composition could be as simple as the formatting of the script.  Is it right?  Does it work towards telling the story I want it to tell?  Composition can even refer to the story of the script.  Do the elements of the script come together to tell the right story the way I want it told?  

     As a director, composition could mean the way the actors are placed within the frame of the camera.  Are they where they should be?  Is their placement conducive to the tone of the scene?  How/where are they going to move?  Will it offset the established tone?  How should I correct or work around this?

     All these choices that I have to make about my film come together to create what I consider the best possible iteration of the idea I want to express.  To me personally, that is composition.

Well, and this.  Mmm, burrito...