Video Art

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=861mwKsNMqA&feature=youtu.be

Highlike.org and NewMediaArt.eu

I really like that you introduced me to Highlike.org. I've found myself visiting it from time to time since you introduced it. I think its a great platform for artists to get their work out there and to create a collective of different kinds of pieces. It's like instagram or tumblr without the b*llsh*t... Here's a couple pieces I liked.



http://highlike.org/takanori-aiba-3/


http://highlike.org/erik-soderberg-2/

I wasn't quite as big a fan of Newmediaart.eu. To me, it lacked variety and didn't get my attention as much. I did, however, find an interesting piece:

http://www.newmediaart.eu/tra11.html

5 Music Genres

Disco: Bottin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO27eBydU1k

Bottin is a dj/producer who creates disco for the modern age. To me, disco comes from the sound of funk, which really can't be described by any means other than referencing other funky artists such as the Bee Gees and Gloria Gaynor.

Neo-Psychedelia: MGMT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9dSYgd5Elk

Though we didn't go in depth to what Neo-Psychedelia is, I understand it to be music that is experimental, trancy, and funky. MGMT definitely waxes neo-psychedelic as it portrays psychedelic music using the tools and techniques of the modern age. The sound is truly unique and hallucinatory sounding.

Girl Power: Haim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljg6g7BAdQo

To me, Haim is the modern girl-power band in the independent music world. It is an all girl band that plays music that is strong and almost punk-like. They're slowly rising in popularity but still maintain a small, female dominant following.

Virtual: Porter Robinson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAIDqt2aUek

Porter Robinson is definitely a virtual musician as he employs several different technologies to create his music. Not only does he use electronic means to mix sounds, some of his sounds, including the vocals on some of the tracks on "Worlds", were completely digitally created!

Post-Modern Crisis: Girl Talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bMM7tGV9MI

Girl talk, to me, is the epitome of the post-modern crisis. They feature hundreds of songs in their albums by mixing them together rapidly, overlapping, and transitionally. Their albums are meant to be listened to continuously and in order, giving it the illusion of a massive succession of songs ranging through time and genres.

Sheryl Oring

Sheryl Oring is an artist whose work includes several "installations" featuring typewriters. Her projects, such as Travel Desk (featured below), invite people to talk about important topics or issues and to transform them into physical art. "I Wish to Say" was probably one of her most famous works. Individuals were asked what they wished to say to the president and Sheryl typed them up onto a post card.

Oring's work is by no means a conventional art form. It really challenges what we traditionally think of as art. At the same time, though, it accomplishes the purposes of starting a conversation and valuing people's words.

Butoh

Butoh is a Japanese dance form that arose out of the bombings of Nagasake and Hiroshima during WWII. It involves body contortions, grotesque costuming and gnarled movements.

Sankai Juku - Butoh dance- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnR1FJ6yQq4

I find it to be kind of disturbing but very interesting. I can really see how it pertains to the nuclear bomb victims. It is a tribute as much as an art form.

The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground & Nico was an album recorded in 1967. It featured the Velvet Underground: Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, and Maureen Tucker and German Vocalist, Nico. Andy Worhol, who created the album artwork, promoted and influenced its creation.

I've listened to this album before, as a friend of mine had it on vinyl, and I enjoyed it as background music. It wasn't until now that I actually listened to it. There are some very absurd and kind of controversial topics brought up, and the music is very... experimental.

Dada Manifesto

The Dada Manifesto, written in 1916 by Hugo Ball is a statement that declares Dada and Dadaism to be both everything and nothing. It reads like nonsense but it makes a lot of sense as a declaration of such a nonsensical movement. Dada eee um. De laba. This manifesto was the beginning of the entire movement, leading to a surge of dadaism.

Steve Jobs Commencement

On June 12, 2005 Steve Jobs stood before the Standford class of 2005 to deliver their 114th annual commencement speech. In that speech he tells three stories. The first is about his experience with higher education, connecting the dots and finding his passion in calligraphy. The second story is about love and loss. He talks about being fired from his own company, starting over, and Pixar. "Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick," he says, "but don't lose faith." His final story is about death. He talks about living life to its fullest, preparing for his own death, and saying goodbye.

Steve Jobs has a lot of very good advice in this speech. Particularly as he refers to perserverence, education, life and death, and passion. I think this is an incredibly imporatant speech. First, as it reveals more about this man's character. And second, as it refers to everyone's life and human nature.

TI 99/4A

The Texas Instruments 99/4A was one of the precursors to modern computers. It was released in 1981. It was a newer model of the TI-99/4, and featured a graphics card that revolutionized the programming world.

Bill Cosby 1981- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CyfHZui0g8

Performance Art Project

https://vimeo.com/113577427

This project gave me a lot of trouble... It took me a long time to get a solid idea, and when I did, the anxiety about performing in public set in. Upon consideration of the theme of fun, we wanted to do something that involved the reenactment of video games. Most things had already been done (postmodern crisis!) such as Mario Kart or Pac Man, so we decided to kick it back to the early days of Nintendo with Donkey Kong! We decided on a location, gathered our supplies, and everything developed from there...

Alan Turing

Alan Turing was a British Mathematician who's contribution to World War II was not only a huge victory for England but a groundbreaking event in the history of computers. A brilliant computer scientist, Turing discovered a way to break the German code and turn the war around. He created "Colossus," the first real computer and eventually the Turing Machine, a precursor of modern technology. He was prosecuted in the UK for being a homosexual and wasn't pardoned until 60 years after his death.

Xerox Project

Grid Art Project

Wow, this project taught me a lot about being too ambitious and planning ahead...

For this assignment, I decided to make a multimedia piece with wood and chewing gum. I went to the store and got a 32 x 32 piece of wood and exactly 900 pieces of gum (which ended up not being enough because the proportions in the bags were off). I then came home and drew a 30 x 30 grid on the wood and began sticking gum on it according to a pixelated drawing that I made in photoshop.

I was doing fine until maybe the second line (60 pieces) and I became very sick of this project. The flavor of the gum was fake and starting to gross me out, but I was determined to finish it.

It was somewhere around the 200th piece that this project took a turn for the worse. Despite me brushing my teeth obsessively after every chewing session, disaster struck in the form of a broken filling and an excruciatingly painful cavity. After visiting the walk in dentist (who INSISTED I not chew another piece of gum for a long time) I decided to enlist the help of my friends. With the help of about 6 other people, We made some good progress, but the project is far from finished.

OTR- Buck Rodgers

For this assignment, I listened to "Buck Rodgers in the Twenty-fifth Century" (in the science fiction tab at otr.com) It was interesting to listen to a radio show like this because I don't think I've ever really listened to anything like this. Of course, we've read books and we've seen movies, but it was this in-between medium that was lost to my generation. First, writing for radio must have been very difficult. They had to create place, character, and even time, without any visual aids. I also thought it was interesting how advertisements were incorporated into these shows. Unlike today, where we have commercial breaks, Buck Rodgers had advertisements built in to the beginning and the end of the story. I thought it was especially funny how Wilma, the lab assistant, ends the show by suggesting they get a popsicle, leading straight into a detailed and obnoxious advertisement for fudgesicles. And finally, I think "Buck Rodgers" was an interesting listen especially because of how they make speculations about the future. Some things are so far fetched, its almost humorous that they think its possible, and some things they think will take 500 years and we've already achieved it

Vernacular Vs. Pictoral

Pictoral photography is artistic


Blessed Art Thou among Women, 1899 Gertrude Kasebier


Stieglitz and Emmy, 1907 Frank Eugene


Dance Study, ca. 1912 Adolph de Meyer

(all photos from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/pict/hd_pict.htm#slideshow1)

Vernacular is anything BUT artistic:

Anonymous, “Man in Noose” (date unknown) from the collection of Marc Boone Fitzerman.

Anonymous, “Kids on Porch” (date unknown) from the collection of Marc Boone Fitzerman.



Anonymous, “Farm Gathering” (date unknown), from the collection of Marc Boone Fitzerman.

Abe Morrell

At first, I though the "camera obscura" was a primitive parlor trick that wasn't good for anything except lead us to the invention of photography, but Abelardo Morell has clearly proved me wrong. Morell has essentially perfected the camera obscura and used it to create organic artwork by melding projections of an exterior and projecting them onto a new surface. The softness and realistic feel of the projections couldn't be achieved by any technological means, giving it a very unique and intriguing quality. My two favorite pieces were "View of Roman Sculpture in Palazzo del Conservatori, 2010" and "The View of Central Park Looking North- Series, 2008"

View of Roman Sculpture in Palazzo del Conservatori, 2010



I like this piece for a couple reasons. First, I think it illustrates a connection between ancient society, technology, and artwork. It also demonstrates the quality and detail of Morrell's tent camera because of the projection of a living being onto the rustic pattern of the floor. The juxtaposition intrigues me.

The View of Central Park Looking North- Series, 2008

 df This series was one of my favorite Morell piece because it captures all the emotion and nostalgia of this landscape and uses it to dress the room. This picture reminds me of a view from a window at a friend's house back in Minnesota. I remember the different feelings I got when I looked out the window. I felt kind of dry and depressed in the winter, and bright and happy in the summertime and I think it had something to do with the environment. This series puts that literally, because I can imagine standing in these rooms feeling those feelings again.

Mark J. Stock

After my first look through Mark J. Stock's photos, I was a little disappointed because I didn't see much variation. Of course, the colors and the composition changed, but I found myself thinking they were all "just smoke and squiggly lines" (the J word being one I steer clear of when talking about art). However, the second time I looked through the work, I paid more attention to the descriptions and how they relate to the pieces. I began to see the genius in the work.

Wave for Hokusai

I like this piece for several reasons. First, I loved Katsushika Hokusai's "The Great Wave off Kanagawa." I recall a large print of it in my grandparents living room when I was growing up. I've always appreciated it because of its historical, cultural, and artistic significance but Stock's take on the famous painting exposed me to a new aspect. I had not previously considered "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" as a study of a science, "turbulence cascade."This added a whole new dimension to both this piece and the original. Where I initially saw "just smoke" there had all along existed something very particular and scientific.

Refinery #53

I also really liked this piece, not for any particularly intelligent reason, but because of how well it captures the artist's ability and intentions. First, it demonstrates a great deal of technological talent. It must have taken a lot of handwork and expertise to achieve its complexity, particularly with the lighting. And secondly, I think this piece does a wonderful job of capturing the artist's intended emotion, "despair and loneliness." Within this tangle of tubes, I see a vast and lonely world. It definitely gives off a feeling of depression.

Gyorgy Ligeti

I'm actually very happy we were asked to blog about Gyorgy Ligeti. After my first 2001 a Space Odyssey experience, I checked out some of his work, particularly "Requiem," which was featured in the film. For this assignment, I chose to listen to another piece by him, "Lux Aeterna." It definitely has a lot of similarities to the 2001 score, as it easily identifies with Ligeti's unique experimental style. The word "ethereal" immediately comes to mind when I listen to one of his pieces. The words "Haunting" and "Dissonant" follow after. This is certainly so with "Lux Aeterna" as it features long complicated cords with dramatic dynamic changes, a combination that creates this otherworldly sound. In listening to this piece with high volume, I was made very aware of the descant soprano line which gives the piece a heavenly charm. Conversely, the low, droning bass notes  give it a haunting feeling that reminds me of a gong or one of those Tibetan singing bowls. At times I could physically feel the sound waves reverberating in my head. Overall, I kind of liked this piece. I wouldn't necessarily rush to buy it on iTunes, but I think it works really well as a score for a film or perhaps meditation music.

Flip Book Assignment

Wow, this project really was a test of my patience and a very enlightening learning experience. When I first got the assignment, I immediately had a series of ideas I wanted to try out. This led to a few sketch sessions to develop easy to draw characters so that I could easily recreate it multiple times. Unfortunately, the majority of these concept characters were too complex or not very creative. I decided to just get a book from the store and start with some more intangible concepts. I went to a local thrift shop and picked out a book, "How to Survive the Loss of a Love" by Melba Colgrove PhD, Harold H Bloomfield MD, and Peter McWilliams. I chose this particular book because it had an Oprah sticker on it and it had plenty of white space on the pages.

On a rainy afternoon, I sat down and dedicated several hours to drawing. This led my idea to make the flip book about the creative process. The style and complexity develop as the pages flip. It was a chain reaction that grew artistically. I was also able to incorporate one of the characters I created, the nameless smiley fish. I liked the way its shape helps its animation. The simple curves and lines were easy to change subtly to create the illusion of movement.
Finally, I wanted to make a note about the color. It really was a last minute decision that ended up working pretty successfully. When I incorporated the zooms into the animation, I made the cake bit difficult to color because of its size changes and proximity issues. When the "lens" was too close to the cake, it was going to be difficult (and probably messy) to color the entire page. I then came up with the fading and appearing effect which I thought looked very coral when animated.
Overall, I'm pretty proud of the final product. I'm not very confident in my drawing abilities and I think I need to take a class or something to improve on it but I think the overall composition was successful as a short piece.

The Great Train Robbery and Stop frame videos

The Great Train Robbery

Being a film major, I have seen this video several times and I have been shown time and again why it is important. It was the first film to use cross-cutting, on location shooting, camera movement, and composite editing. These things are all incredibly important and are used every day in filmmaking. It also is one of the first films to make full use of the narrative form, making it the precursor to today's favorite films. I personally think its historical significance is one of its only attributes, which are not to be belittled. There were elements in it that bore or confuse audiences today but that's simply because Edwin S. Porter didn't have the technology we do today. On a final note, the film's final shot will always have a place in classic filmmaking and is incredibly clever. I can imagine audiences seeing this for the first time and actually ducking for cover as it breaks the fourth wall in such a purposeful manner.



Stop Frame Videos

These first two videos are stop motion films I created

White Crayon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKs9EWqeIA4

Three Little Birds

https://vimeo.com/95236938

(Password: naples)

These two are videos I've found 

A Girl Named Elasticka

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fozbi03UExE

Fresh Guacamole

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNJdJIwCF_Y

Wicked Videos Response

Ever since the first time I saw the flying monkeys storm the stage and the great metal dragon blow smoke upon the audience, I was fascinated by the magic of Wicked. Now that was several years ago (about 2007) and not much has changed. When I left the theatre, I stopped by the gift shop and purchased a rather large and rather expensive book about the making of the musical. While I thought I knew everything about the show, these videos taught me in depth about some very specific aspects of the show.



This show was revolutionary and truly awe inspiring in many ways, particularly in the visual sense. The costumes, the set, the lighting, and everything else the audience gets to gaze at through the course of the show was truly incredible and I thought it was absolutely fascinating to hear about how some of these things were created. First, during the special effects video, one of the designers talks about the use of projections. Wicked was the first musical I had seen that had such incredible technology and completely necessarily.  How else would they show you a house flying through the sky? In addition to the special effects, I think the costumes are some of the most unforgettable on broadway. I was amazed to see exactly how many costumes were created for the show and how particular they had to be about it. I was particularly intrigued by the flying monkey video, in which they show how the growing wings were created. This is an excellent example of a perfect marriage of art and technology. Though I wont go into as much detail (as I could write for days on this musical) I think its very important to mention the awe inspiring set. Seeing the clockwork back drop or the wizards head in these videos will never compare to seeing them live. The effect is chilling.



These video did quite a bit for me as a filmmaker/storyteller, particularly in the sections on directing and writing. To me, Wicked is a life changing experience. I challenge you to leave the theatre after Defying Gravity without goosebumps. Almost the entirety of this shows success relies on the discoveries made by the creative team in the creation of the show. The director, Joe Mantello, says a few very note-worthy things about this process

I erase what I learn one day to show up with a fresh mind the next

This is a very interesting approach to directing, though I can really see how it would work out. A director is often so involved in his work that he is unable to pull himself away and look at it as a fresh audience member would. I think this is incredibly important, especially during the pre production phase and I could apply it to projects that I am working on. I must stand back, and look at my work with a fresh perspective.

The best idea wins

During my time in the theatre, I've had to work collaboratively on many shows. I remember the chaos that would ensue when we hit a point in a show that people have differing views. The director would sit back and listen. This doesn't happen in film so much. In fact, many professionals would advise against letting anyone else but the director or writer to have creative control. I think the sweet spot lies in a happy medium. In my experience, I've seen scenes or musical numbers take very interesting turns because someone in the ensemble or even a stage manager sees something that hadn't even occurred to the director. That is the magic of the creative process.

The book writer, Winnie Holzman, also has an interesting take on adaptations

Don't be too faithful to the material

I thought this was rather odd to hear, though it wasn't surprising. I thoroughly enjoyed Gregory Maguire's novel but there's no denying its a very different work than Wicked the musical. This is something that has always confused me because I've grown up with Hollywood film adaptations that rarely deviate from the original work for primarily commercial reasons. Wicked's producer chimes in on the subject saying "understand its essence, then throw it away." I think this is a very compelling method for approaching an adaptation that I may consider in my future works.

As I've said before, I could talk about this show for ages, but for now, I'll have just covered these bases. I really enjoyed this assignment because I got to look at how this show was created and more so, how I could apply these successes to my work as a filmmaker and story teller. Who knows, maybe one day I'll do the film adaptation...

Class Response 9/5/14

Research and compare the similarities and differences between the stock market crash in 1929 and the housing crisis in 2008

Well, let me start by saying this is a pretty big question and even after hours of research and thought, there's no way I'll be able to cover everything, as I'm not an economist and cannot begin to fully understand these two crises. Even worse, I find it very difficult to relate this question to the world of art and technology but I digress and shall try my best.

There are a few very obvious similarities and differences between these two different economic crises. First, its important to not the difference in time and the advancements that separate the two. The 2008 crash was entirely different from the one in 1929 because of the birth of the internet and our multimedia society. Because of social media, international news sources, and our advanced system of communication, word spread about the crises across the globe giving it more attention and the ability for people to collaborate and face our problems together.

Another major difference is that the crash in 1929 had to do primarily with the stock market while the one in 2008 had more to do with the housing market. The Economic Populist summarizes the differences pretty well, explaining that the crash of 1929 was due to the collapse of the "Main street economy" and everything that followed. In 2008, however, it was the financial sector that fell first, and a completely different order of effects occurred. (Economic Populist) Chuck Johnson from Tano Capital notes that in both situations, "Common to both crashes is the first step of easy and available credit." (Johnson)

One last, but very important, difference between these two situations is the amount and quality of government involvement. Being one of the first major economic disasters the US has had since its birth, the government could not have been fully prepared for what was going to happen. Not even skilled economists and brokers fully understood what was happening up to the point of the crash. In 2008, we've experienced a handful of financial troubles and in each situation the effected parties have learned and put in place precautions to prevent future calamities. Obviously though, we could never be TOO prepared. Its also important to note the differences in the Hoover administration and Bush/Obama administrations and how it effected their reaction to the situation. In 1929, the United States government was interfering in private business and economies for the first time something that still sparks debate today. The Hoover administration and all involved parties had to be resourceful and creative, leading to tax cuts and government regulations, much like the government did in 2008. In 1929, however, the government also implemented social and public welfare programs. In Johnson's essay, he writes, "The Hoover policy was to exhort people to think positively, to work harder and to accept personal and local responsibility to expand in order to offset the effects of the crash. He tried to carry the message to the nation that business was sound and that he intended to provide a framework in which the nation could continue to prosper." This is very different than the 2008 situation where panic and finger pointing were the initial reactions and it became all about the business, banks, and markets and less about the welfare of the people. (Johnson)

A comic illustrating one of the major differences (Pakos.me)

I would like to conclude by relating the subject to art and technology, as this course is designed. As I've said before in an earlier post, art will always work in tandem with society and culture. In both 1929 and 2008, society and consequentially, the culture, were effected in the aftermath of the crashes. As was mentioned in the video we watched in class on broadway, film and music, specifically, took on a somber tone in light of the depressing times. During the Great Depression, spirits were down and the art of its time began to reflect that. On a kind of obvious note, resources became less available because of the terrible economy. As a result, artists weren't being paid as much and were therefore unable to create. 2008, however, didn't exactly see the same consequences. The 2008 financial crisis effected different people on different levels. For the lower and middle classes, times were hard and they experienced something quite like the great depression. The upper class as a whole, however, didn't feel the shock in the same way and in this modern age, the upper class are the artists (at least in popular culture). Were someone to look back on this time, one would see almost no noticeable differences in the art before and after the crash because the pop artists and hollywood stars were not clearly effected. Not even the subject matter changed during this time.

http://pakos.me/2008/11/14/best-of-craigslist-do-not-eat-pringles-fat-free-potato-chips/

Johnson, Chuck 2008 http://www.tanocapital.com/news/2008/11/14/tano-capital-reseach-the-crash-of-2008-vs-1929-similarities.html

http://www.economicpopulist.org/content/great-crash-1929-vs-panic-2008

The Birth and Life of Opera

I have to admit, this was a pretty difficult video to watch. I wouldn't say that I like opera, nor that I hate it. Rather, I would say I have an appreciation for it. Opera has lead to the creation of so many fantastic things that it would be unfair to dismiss it as anything but a form of high art. Unfortunately, I found it really difficult to stay engaged at a few of the musical numbers presented in this video. Perhaps I'm not well enough acquainted with it. Perhaps its simply because I can't understand it due to the language barrier or a different background in music and theater. That being said, I powered through it and fortunately got some information about opera that intrigued and amazed me.

First of all, I loved hearing about the Camerata. As a person who can identify (to varying degrees) with quite a few of the individuals listed in the group (musician, writer, scientist, philosopher), the Camerata sounds like the kind of thing I'd be interested in being involved with today. To me, this seems like the kind of "think tank" that can lead to some pretty incredible discoveries, as it did with opera. It's the interaction of differing studies that leads to groundbreaking revelations. It's the kind of interaction that fascinates me and keeps me thirsty for knowledge.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the various reincarnations of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Since the first time I performed this myth in Ovid's Metamorphoses, I've been in love with the story and have since explored the various adaptations across pop culture. Though I knew of Offenbach's opera, I'm now recharged with a need to explore these other versions. It also brings to light that this is an incredibly universal story, so it's not surprising that I identified so heavily with it. The narrator puts it perfectly "the humanist manifesto... by creating beauty, mankind could potentially catch a glimpse of divine perfection." I highly agree with this statement and hope to see this tale stay alive for generations to come.

This film takes a lot of time emphasizing that opera is, as John Adams (American Composer) it, the "ideal form for dealing with the issues." As we saw with the french revolution, just a couple of hours in the opera house can rally people in a common cause. In a way, opera was an early form of political theatre. As we saw in Amadeus, opera could be something very much like "Saturday Night Live" in which theatre and music are used to criticize or expose certain truths. Because of its power, opera could very well be considered "high art" which, to me, means an art form with the power to inflict social, political, or even economical change. " La Muette de Portici" almost directly caused the Belgian revolution, making Daniel Auber a kind of revolutionary. Richard Wagner restored the dignity of the German people, making him a Nationalist hero. Opera had an immense amount of power in the height of existence and even today influences the world to some degree. Because of this video and how it reveals opera as a transformative force in society, I have realized the true importance of this fading art form.

Class Response 9/2/14

Why was Sigmund Freud important?

Sigmund Freud was important for quite a few reasons. So many that I will boil it down to how he was important for the world of art. Art has, since its first days, developed alongside society. As the dominant people's tastes and interests change, so does the artwork that is produced.That being said, with the emergence of Sigmund Freud and his theories, society began to think differently about sexuality. In the past, it would have been forbidden to even hint at sexuality the way that people were now beginning to do. Freud also opened the floodgates for the exploration of taboo subjects. After Freud introduced theories about psychology and sexuality that explored incest, the subconscious, and even more bizarre subjects, we began to see such concepts appear in the opera houses. Two very prime examples of this would be Elektra and Salome. In both operas, the characters develop an unusual and disturbing sexual relationship with their father, something that is the result of Freud's Oedipus theory. Suddenly, audiences became intrigued by these disturbing subjects. Even more so, I think the scene from Salome with St John the Baptist's head can be related to Freud's work, though I cannot even begin to analyze it specifically.

Watch the Madame Butterfly video and post comments.

Visually, I really liked this video. I've always been a fan of stop motion filmmaking and I thought the use of a hodgepodge of materials and gothic emotion made this a very interesting piece of art. I particularly liked the use of background and lighting to make it seem as if it took place in a hell-like realm. However, I was completely lost on the point. The plot and character relationships were pretty clear, but I found it difficult to see exactly what the artist was trying to say.

However, after a quick visit to the wikipedia page, I found that this video condenses the entirety of the original opera with a slightly different ending. Knowing this, I found it to be much more interesting and even had to watch it again to get the full effect. I really like the addition of the butterfly and the choice to have her dismantle herself rather than commit suicide with a sword. I think its a far more beautiful and artistic choice that really tied the video together.

Juan Carlos Delgado

Juan Carlos Delgado's work is actually a very good example of multimedia. In class we defined multimedia as "Time controlling tools working in synergy." Delgado's Cuatro Norte (2011), in particular, shows temporal change as temperature effects the copper. Together, the refrigerator and the copper (as well as a little help from the atmosphere of the room) created the effect of the ice, giving the piece its charm. In addition, 100 Cubes of White Light (2000) also shows an example of "time controlling tools working in synergy. The "tools" in this case would be the sun/moon and the cubes of light. Though the piece can stand on its own in either night or day, I think its important to note that time does have an interesting effect on it, presenting something different depending upon the time of the day.

Class response 08/28/14

Think of examples of "Deus ex machina"

"Deus ex machina" or, "god from the machine" occurs all throughout history and even appears in the modern age, both in fiction and, in a way, in reality. Throughout the history of storytelling, there have been instances in which seemingly unsolvable plot conflicts were solved by unexpected and often outrageous means. A few famous examples include Moses' parting of the Red Sea, Frodo and Sam's salvation by the eagles in The Lord of the Rings, and Dorthy's "there's no place like home" moment in The Wizard of Oz. In each instance, the story had come to a halt and the author solved the problem in an impractical manner. Even in modern times, writers and artists alike have employed the use of Deus ex machina to resolve conflict and complete the story. For example, in almost any hollywood blockbuster, such as a Marvel film or a book adaptation, everything will go wrong for the main actor and all hope will be lost but by some miracle, they will be triumphant. This happens in such films as X-Men: Days of Future Past, in which the mutant resistance is almost completely destroyed and suddenly they are warped to an alternate timeline, and Game of Thrones, of which any example I give will surely be a spoiler. I think the use of Deus ex machina can either be clever or unimaginative. Good writers will never use it haphazardly, as it shows they were written into a corner and created an excuse to end the story, instead, it should be used originally and with enough wit to justify the absurdity of it.

Are we in the neo-Baroque or Neo-Rococo era? Why?

I find this to be a difficult question to answer because the times are always changing and its almost impossible that we will ever revisit an era, at least not exactly. Instead, I believe each new period borrows from its predecessors and builds atop it. That being said, I believe it would be safe to say we are experiencing a blend of neo-Baroque and neo-Rococo, as well as numerous other influences. Its not hard to see that we are living in extravagant times. Some of the most obvious evidence of this can be found in the commercials constantly streaming on TV. Throughout the year, we're bombarded with these advertisements that feature jaw dropping effects and content. It seems every company is now competing for our attention, and trying to one up each other in the process. This is especially common for car, liquor, fashion and technology advertisements. I think this is also pretty evident in the music industry. Like the examples we watched in class, artists today are using every resource possible to create lavish and over the top music videos, concerts, and publicity. Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Nikki Minaj, and Miley Cyrus are amongst the most frivolous. Overall, I think its difficult to say definitively that either of these terms would fit our time. Though there are a lot of things going on that would qualify as neo-baroque/rococo, there's just too vast of a popular culture for it to be the dominant culture.

Discuss the concept of "Bread and Circus"

After just a few sentences into research on the term "Bread and circus(es)", I was immediately reminded of the Hunger Games, in which a spectacle is put on to distract the people from the evils hiding in the government. For a while, this kept the rich content and the poor obedient by simply drawing their attention towards pageantry and competition. With a little more research, I began to understand this concept as something much more subtle and despicable. Since the beginning of society, those in power have had to maintain it and carry out their intentions. As challenges presented themselves, some have had to turn to immoral means, such as bread and circus. The colosseum games in Rome and the performances of the Globe Theatre are two prime examples.
Terrifyingly enough, the use of "bread and circus" for organizations and individuals to achieve their means has not only persisted into today, but some might argue it has become even more prominent. We live in such a media-saturated world that we are constantly flooded with distractions and who's to say its not intentional. The government, whether officially or not, has power with the media and can use that power to manipulate it and consequentially, us. Quite recently, the world exploded in a series of serious tragedies around the world. In a matter of weeks, the Middle East erupted once again in chaos, there was a domestic battle in Ferguson, Missouri, and disorder struck in the Ukraine. In light of all of these tragedies, the media drew people's attention to more harmless things, such as the ALS ice bucket challenge or the Ebola scare. Though it would likely be called a conspiracy to suggest such connections, I think its important to note that the majority of people in this world can easily be distracted from serious issues, especially because of social networking and the internet.

Raul Cuero on Creativity

Raul Cuero on Creativity

Alix Honda 08/27/14

This interview with Raul Cuero not only covers his inspirational biographical information and superb take on creativity, but it also features several instances of REALLY solid wisdom and advice about life. I recorded my top favorite quotes from this interview and applied them to my life's journey.

"Changing the expectations by you doing something that the other person doesn't expect you to do. That's what creativity...it is based on the unknown."

I think that Cuero makes a really good point here, not only defining creativity, but showing how creativity leads to discovery and invention. As a filmmaker, I believe the success of my career as an artist depends on my ability to achieve things beyond people's expectations. The best work I can do is that which no one has ever seen before. 

"Man is limited by the scope that technology can give us"

At this point in the interview, Cuero changes the subject to warn of the dangers of technology, as it can limit our creativity. He then goes to suggest that the best way to achieve any sort of advancement is to explore our world and release ourselves from man made inhibitions. Early in the interview, as Cuero explains what he means by "nature is a universal aspect", he emphasizes the power of nature, something we cannot experience with technological restraints.

"You have to do everything with intensity"

I really appreciated this part of the interview because it was highly motivating and very sincere. He goes on to talk about how we must be fully committed to our goals and pursue them without fear or failing. Though I've heard variations on the same message, I think it rings especially true because I can apply that to my life goals. In order for me to achieve what I hope to, I'm going to act with intensity.

"Good things take time... Everything is a process... Never allow results to be the motive."

Like the quotation just before, this is a message I have heard several times, but in different fashions. However, something about the way he layered in the three components of the advice and the context of his life struck me. At the time of this interview, Cuero had already been through quite a bit. After following two very different life paths and a variety of tribulations, he had the experience and knowledge to convince me of the truth in his words. I have my whole life ahead of me and my whole career ahead of me. At this stage in my life, hastiness and goal-oriented thinking will do nothing but impede me. Instead, I am to take life day by day and follow my dreams as they present themselves daily.

Introduction

Introduction

Alix Honda 8/27/14

Welcome to my Art and Technology blog for the Fall Semester 2014. My name is Alix Honda and I am a Junior at the University of Tampa studying Film and Media Arts with a minor in Digital Arts. I am originally from St. Paul, Minnesota and just recently moved to Tampa in 2012. I enjoy anything creative, social, or adventurous which includes (but is not limited to) filmmaking, listening to and creating music, camping, and long boarding. My first impression of the class was that we were going to be doing some pretty radical thinking and creating some intense and meaningful projects. I get the sense that this is one of those classes where everyone will, in some way, have to leave their comfort zone. I've had a few classes like that before and in every case, I thoroughly enjoyed and greatly benefited from it. I'm not entirely sure what I should expect from this class, except that I am going to have a lot of projects that will require a good chunk of my time and a deal of content that I think I'm really going to be interested in. I also have a lot of similar interests as the professor, such as the Oculus Rift and and the theatre which will hopefully make for a good relationship and experience this semester.