Week 12: Fragmented

Let me start this post by saying that I feel extremely proud about the fact that Bruce McDonald, producer of “The Tracey Fragments,” graduated from Ryerson! 

“The Tracey Fragments” is very out of the ordinary. I have never seen any other movie like it before. I find that the split screens and fragmented scenes fit very well with the character of Tracey. She is a completely lost and broken girl, and the way in which the movie is made is a reflection of her character. You get glimpses of her in every scene, and she says and does things that made me really question her, but every scene does not provide an answer to the questions and worries I have about Tracey. Similarly, the movie gives you bits and pieces – fragmented clips that together tell a story. The split screens are distracting and made me think that I knew more than I was supposed to know. They increased my level of engagement with the film and bothered me at the same time. The fact that I watched it on YouTube added to the effect of the already fragmented film and characters. It was frustrating, but yet interesting, because I tended to pay attention to where my mind was focusing as I watched it, and tried to figure out why I made the choices I did. I watched some Tracey Re-Fragmented videos on YouTube as well, and this, along with the comments that people posted below every video on YouTube really helped clarify the meaning of the film for me. 

I <3 Digital Culture

I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about just how much potential there is in the digital world that we live in. If it wasn’t for YouTube, I would never have had the experience I did watching the clips of “The Tracey Fragments” and “Re-Fragmented.” The user interactivity feature on YouTube not only allows for a space where great discussion can occur (and of course, not-so-great discussion as well) but also allows for people who watch the videos (which is so easy and ever-so-convenient) to develop a greater understanding of what the videos mean and how people perceive them. I am a frequent user of YouTube, on my laptop as well as on my Blackberry, and I am so grateful for the technological advancements I am privileged to integrate into my life. I feel completely naked without my Blackberry, my sister says I go through withdrawal whenever I do not have it within arms reach (so I guess the term “Crackberry” does have some relevance). I love Google, YouTube, and am sucked into the entertaining potential of Facebook every time I have something more important to do. I am an avid consumer of digital culture, and (although I do see the flaws with it), I love it. 

-OVER AND OUT- 

Signed: Non-Analog