Fun_random_sounds - Julia Bradshaw

The impetus: a group of free sound effects in Microsoft creative fun pack was titled ‘fun_random_sounds’. However, these sounds, are neither ‘fun’ nor particularly ‘random’. For example, the sound of a door closing defies categorization as either fun or random.

This project is a response to my skeptical view of marketing language, particularly those marketers who appeal to the almost universal need to be creative by naming a software tool xyz creative or naming a mundane feature to imply excitement.

So I decided to create a project that would make use of these sound effects in a fun and random manner. Participants were filmed listening to the sound effects and then defining each sound effect in a binary manner: as either fun or random.

Who is Julia Bradshaw?

Born in Manchester England, I spent nine years living and working in Munich, Germany prior to moving to northern California.

Because of these international moves and my background in international project management, I have an interest in creating art about language and cultural exchanges.

I received my MFA in photography from San Jose State University in 2007 and I currently work with photography, video and performance.

I am assistant professor for photography at CSU Fresno in California.

Your film is about?

Having worked in marketing communications, I am hyper-sensitive to how corporations use language. Now I know longer work in the business, I can turn a critical lens towards marketing language in a more satirical manner.

This film concerns itself with over fanciful marketing language for a rather mundane slice of a product.

How did you start with film? And do you have an educational background in art or film?

I started using film in art-school, although my background is predominently in photography.

Could you explain how you work, what themes or concepts and what is important to you?

My work is 50percent thinking, 10percent making and 40percent refining.

Where do you get your ideas or influences from?

Language, the art-world, communication, being a foreigner...

How does the title relate to the work, and how do you find a fitting title?

The title is very important. The title is fun_random_sounds
The lowercase and long-dashes are a file name convention for file-folders in computers. The title stems from a file folder provided by Microsoft for free sound-effects for the free MovieMaker software that they bundle with the operating system. However, the title is absurd suggesting a fun depository of crazy sounds. The actual sound-effects are neither fun, nor particularly random. The file-folder name is therefore the source of the audio files and the inspiration for this film idea.