Last month I went to an experimental show at the new EMPAC facility here at RPI, called Spectropia. As an assignment for my Audio/Video course I had to write a short review of the movie and my experience. Below, is that review.

Spectropia

The EMPAC website described Spectropia as “a highly imaginative live-mix cinema event, a “scratchable” movie performed by video DJs playing a movie “instrument”. Toni Dove’s sci-fi hybrid, features time travel, telepathy, and elements of film noir in a drama set in England, 2099 and in New York City, 1931, following the Great Crash.”. After  reading the description, I decided I would go watch the movie, which turned out to be more of an experimental interactive film.

Upon entering the theater, sitting down in front of the audience were two people in front of computers and a number of other unidentifiable machinery with glowing LED’s and pretty lights. Above them were three movie screens hanging form the ceiling. The movie started with an interesting intro describing the current situation and time, 2099. Half way through the intro, a woman from the front stands up and begins passionately waiving her arms and spinning her hands in the cool open air. Her hand and arm gestures appeared to be controlling the track of the movie. She seemed to be able to speed up, rewind, stop and play the movie with unidentifiable hand gestures. She gave us a short preview of what she was able to do with the technology and then continued on with the movie.

My first impression of the technology was that of amazement, but it soon wore off as the movie continued. At first I tried to pay attention to the movie but couldn’t keep my eyes off the crazed woman in front who was furiously waiving her hands in the air as if she was performing voodoo witchcraft or casting cryptic spells on our demon souls. Her movements were syncing with the computers to control the movie, which inevitably was tweaking out and appeared to be glitching like two manic depressive monkeys high on meth.

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I didn’t think it would get this bad. My roommate, whom I have posted about before, is smelling more foul than I have ever had to deal with. Tonight he walked in the door, passed me, and over to his side of the room. What followed was a thick smog of vile air, which unexpectedly smashed my face with the feeling of ten thousand needles being shoved into my nasal glands. His spoiled sour body odor chokingly smothered me to my knees, leaving me gasping for fresh air. I quickly turned my fan on high and mashed my face against the window screen. My stomach began to turn, I instantly dry heaved. What must he be carrying in his backpack? A rabies laden decaying raccoon carcass? No, forget that, maybe he bathed in a septic tank full of rotting green dog diarrhea and maggots. The odor absorber might as well not even exist right now. His overpowering stench must have crippled that thing to a shriveled piece of plastic. Even the odor absorber refuses to absorb his repugnant body odor.

I managed to hold my breath long enough to sneak out the door. I found myself sitting in my RA’s room talking to her about the situation. She gave me the following options:

1. She would speak to him about his hygiene.
2. I would speak to him about his hygiene.
3. I move into a different room with someone else.

Given that she needs to find an open bed/room for me, I opted to take choice number 2 for the time being. I had to swallow the nails and speak to him about it first… which is exactly what I did. I sat in my room and gathered my thoughts. I wanted to squeeze it all out in one breath so I could get back to breathing through a towel.
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First off, I would like to start off with making the claim that my roommate stinks! Not just stinks… he really stinks! I will rewind a little bit and go back to the first day I moved in.

The first day I moved into my dorm, he was sitting in the isolated 90 degree humid room playing his Nintendo DS and bathing in his own rancid stench. He wiped his Asian hand on his pants as I formally introduced myself, only to receive a weak claps from a sweaty palm. At first glance his hair shimmered more than the brunette on that L’Oreal Shampoo commercial. Given a closer look, I discovered his hair was drenched in a thick oil which could have only come from a full 7 days of video games and an absolute disregard for personal hygiene.

After I moved all my stuff in, he offered to show me the dining services on campus. Feeling a grumble in my tummy, I opted for a friendly lunch with my new roommate. He then did something that baffled me; before heading into the ~90 degree August sun, he wrapped himself in a thick green winter jacket. My initial thought was that of perplexity, but maybe he had good reason? I didn’t want to question his possible allergic reaction to UV rays.
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