A conversation with Lauren Miralles-Snow, MSP Master of Arts graduate (May, 2020)
Graduate Committee: Dr. Larisa Mann (Chair), Prof. Ali Castellini, Prof. Laura Zaylea
Tell us about the work that you do. How did you get started with media production?
My first introduction to media production in its most basic form was taking photos and videos on my phone and editing them for fun, which I am sure many people can relate to! In college, I started to crave a more tangible and less calculated medium of media and started taking photos with disposable film cameras. I started to fall in love with documenting life and eventually I craved to learn more about shooting photos, video, and all the creative planning that goes into it. I got to learn the ins and outs at Temple in the MSP program!
What are your goals as a media maker?
When I am making media I find that I always strive towards these three goals: To support and lift up the person or the subject that I am focusing on, to work as collaboratively as possible, and to produce a cohesive and tangible concept or vibe, I want my projects to have a clear style and aesthetic.
What are one or two of your favorite projects and/or papers you have worked on using or related to emerging media technologies?
My favorite personal and academic project that I worked on that included emerging media technologies was my MSP graduate thesis called “Who Are You Wearing”. It focused on the origins and transformation of workwear clothing. I utilized the technology of projection mapping and mapped archival footage onto classic workwear like the blue-collar work shirt and coveralls. I did this in hopes of creating a more visually interesting and tangible connection between the clothes and their history.
Still image from Who Are You Wearing? By Lauren Miralles-Snow
What was the most fun, interesting, and/or rewarding part of making this project? What were the biggest challenges?
I worked on this project in a public studio in Philly and it was so rewarding when people would walk by the studio, peek inside, and say “Woah what is this?”, and when I would explain the goals of the project they would tell me how they had never thought to think about the history of a garment and that the video on the clothing really brought it to life. The most challenging aspects of this project were taking on the production needs, for the most part, alone and it was tough having to change my plans when the pandemic hit. Before the pandemic hit, I was hauling a massive projector from place to place, setting up C-stands with garments, setting up the technology on my own which was difficult at times. When the pandemic hit, I had to cut a lot of the plans I made for the project like interviewing workers in Philly, but the pandemic did force me to figure out new ways to execute my project. I will also say that having access to the projection mapping software and a quality projector would have been so challenging if it weren’t for Temple. Thank you, Temple!
What is the hardest thing about working with emerging media technologies in general?
The software can be very intimidating so it’s hard to get started, and sometimes you are working with hefty technology, literally, it is heavy and bulky to carry around and work with.
How does theory inform your creative practice?
Theory about class, power, culture, and signs inform my practice. We live in an incredibly visual culture and everything we see, we subconsciously deduce the meaning because we learned x represents y through the cultures we grew up in. I like to investigate that!
What advice do you have for people looking to work with emerging media technologies?
Even though emerging media technologies are intimidating to dive into, it is so worth it because it introduces your mind to a new framework for thinking and creating. It can also really set you apart in the job market!
What do you hope an audience will take away from your work?
I hope they will learn something new and I also hope the work will inspire them to be a more critical consumer of media and culture.
What will you be working on next?
Currently, I am freelancing photography and videography work. I am a music and art enthusiast, so I have been working towards uplifting local Philly artists through my media work!
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To see more work by Lauren Miralles-Snow, please visit:
Who Are You Wearing? Pt. 1
https://laurenmirallesnow.myportfolio.com/whoareyouwearingWho Are You Wearing? Pt. 2
https://laurenmirallesnow.myportfolio.com/who-are-you-wearing-pt-2Who Are You Wearing: Graduate Paper
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Return to Emerge, Volume 4 (2020)