Travel is an exciting event that people always look forward to. What makes travel exciting? The fact that it’s an escape from reality, the excitement for unexpected yet pleasant discoveries, the special people that are around and together, unforgettable memories, and the list continues. Travel gives us a rush of adrenaline, while also granting us peace. It is being able to relax from the reality of one’s world and be set free in another. It is also special since it is worked towards, the efforts, the planning, the built-up excitement. It is something that one may expect as a reward. Again, a reward of freedom from the reality of the world. The reality, however, has taken an unexpected turn in 2020. As the Coronavirus pandemic hit Asia, and now Europe and America, travel has become an extreme luxury for many. Countries are under lockdown and airports are shut. Airplanes that used to crowd the sky are now sitting still, unknown when to fly next. People are stuck at home, some more willingly than others. A majority of one’s life now operates within the four walls of the rather safe house. Everything, almost everything, is virtual. Work, school, shopping, teaching, building relationships. Most things are finding their ways to go virtual. How is travel going to happen in such reality? A grim reality when an escape is more than ever longed for, it is impossible. The escape from reality and the freeing of the soul seem like a distant future. How do we travel? What is travel? How is travel being redefined? Now? In the near future? Perhaps forever? The answers to these questions are unknown, despite the speculations of possibilities from many. For now, all one can do is to trace down the roots of travel — escape. Travel is being redefined into a much broader scope of activities. It is no longer hopping on a flight and spending 4 days at a beach resort or touring around old cities. It is any activity that allows freedom for the soul, and an escape from reality. It can happen anywhere, as long as one wishes. Being deeply lost in a book, playing the guitar for hours till fingers are sore, listening to music that reminds of the better times, being deep in thought. Perhaps the virus is allowing the world to realize that travel is conceptual. As one searches for a short escape into peace in this grim reality, the realization occurs that it may happen regardless of physical place and space. Travel becomes what one defines it to be, and I define it as any activity that gives you freedom, even if it may be fleeting.
Hae Gi Choi 3035451193
Hello! I really like your choice of topic, it is very inspiring. The situation of unable to go outside is very relatable, but most of us usually think about it negatively. In your video essay, you have discussed the positive thing that this might be able to bring: If we are not able to travel outward, can we travel inward? Living in such a fast-paced busy world, we perhaps talk more to others than to ourselves. I think in your video essay you have articulate the point that this is a good time for us to reflect and have our own personal time, figuring out what is on our own mind.
Appreciate this inward-looking piece that offers audiences insight into your private life at home. Through the series of montages showing traveling “from within” the apartment, you have successfully captured the state of being present within this pandemic period and present the different spaces in a visually creative manner. The audio editing matched in tempo with the corresponding visuals, especially well done was the overlay of audio – musical soundtrack to the recorded audio of the video clip – which strengthened the overall presentation of this video.
In terms of content, however, it would be useful to see more demonstration of an ability to conceptualize your thesis on “travel” and develop the issues even further. This would require you to read more widely and in-depth about this topic. The two references you have currently are a good start, but there should be more than five. As a documentary, how do you see this piece relating to your context of place, and more broadly in space? How can we contextualize this piece in the period of the pandemic? What is the take-away point of this video?
Could you please add your 500-word statement.
Hi Annie, thank you for the feedback! I guess I misunderstood you since I thought my subtitles in the video were enough to replace the statement. I will upload the statement by tonight.