ASSIGNMENT 7- VIDEO PROJECT

Video One:



Video Two:

Assignment #8

http://changethis.com/manifesto/show/66.01.Brainwashed

In the Article Brainwashed: Seven Ways to Reinvent yourself, Seth Gordin talks about the seven pillars to reinventing yourself.

            He talks about Acknowledging the Lizard. This is talking about our primal brain that drives us to conform. He says that we do not like to be laughed at and we do not like our work to be laughed at. This he says is something we need to acknowledge so that we can ignore it.

            He also talks about the need to connect. He says that it is easier to connect to people in todays society. With this there is also a lot of room to get lost in using these resources in a productive manor. This I feel is exactly what is happening with Facebook. I feel that the potential use for Facebook has been lost.

            Gordin also talks about the need to fail I feel that this is a very important pillar. In todays society the amount of crap media available is astronomical. I feel that this can sometimes scare people into taking chances for fear of being lost in the jumble of garbage. He talks about how you need to not be afraid to fail especially in public to get anywhere.

I feel that these blog assignments are a waste of time and pretty much worthless to the class. For one everyone I talk to says that they wait until the last night to do them. This just makes it busy work. I mean for example I am writing this the last night, it doesn’t mean that I don’t do the reading and the work just that it turns it into busy work and something that I see as just another assignment to complete. I do on one had enjoy the readings like the finding your howl, this reading and reading for blog 9.

            I think that a good alternative to these would be to have us make a blog and then post our creative assignments on them. This in a way is like creating a mini portfolio and may encourage students to put more time into each of our weekly assignments. I feel that this would give us more time to work on the weekly assignments and also give them more value. I think if you feel that you have to keep the blogs as a way to add points to the grading scale then have them due weekly so that it does not turn into mini project that just seems like busy work. 

Assignment #9

http://changethis.com/manifesto/show/45.02.FreakFactor

This article by David Rendall is about his search for self improvement through looking at ones strengths and weaknesses and not associating good or bad to them but rather seeing how a weakness can be beneficial. He has three different options for self-improvement: Fix weaknesses, Build on strengths, and do both.

3. Flawless: There’s Nothing Wrong With You

            I feel that this suggestion to overcome a weakness is a good approach and is valid. In this section he says how sometimes we need to see our weaknesses as strengths and not as something debilitating. So many of us see something like disorganization as a bad habit and something that is not good but he talks about how this negative connotation to disorganization is not true. He makes the reference that Albert Einstein was a messy person and contrasts the negatives of messiness with the positive of creativeness. I feel that this is a good way for me to look at myself. I personally am a very messy person but I do feel like when I am in a creative state I like to have things around me be messier. This is a way for me to put all my ideas out in front of me and have a more cohesive environment.

4. Forget It: Don’t Try to Fix your Weakness.

            For this suggestion I feel that it is not necessarily the best way to search for self improvement. I feel that in trying to overcome or fix a weakness you can learn more about yourself and find out truths within yourself. He even uses a quote by George Eliot, “It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” I feel that can happen in trying to fix a weakness. Also for some I feel that sometimes a weakness can be impeding on your search for improving your self. If you do not address it and try to make a fix then you are not seeing everything from all angles. He only has four things that he argues as reasons to not fix a weakness and I don’t feel that any of them are reason enough to not try and fix a problem.

5. Foundation: Build on Your Strengths.

            This suggestion is very important and a valid way to exercise self-improvement. I feel that he makes a very good point throughout his manifesto that realizing your strengths and trying to view your weaknesses as strengths is important not only to success but to improving ourselves. I think that it is important to realize what you are good at and build on them. He states that you have the greatest potential in your areas of strength. I feel that this is completely valid. In my life I feel that the gravity I feel towards playing music is because I am somewhat good at it. It is a strength to be able to play things, something that not everyone can do. I implement this in my life by trying to play all different types of instruments and keeping up with playing piano and cello.

            Some of the weaknesses I have come across as far as the creative process is concerned is working in a group. It is not that I don’t work well with others but when an idea is present in my mind I have a set vision and want to fulfill that vision. I realize that others have the same feelings but with different visions and I think that is an area on which I could improve. Being able to collaborate to make something better than what I can think of. I feel that this class has helped me with this. I collaborate with my group members and we collaborate our strengths and create things outside of our own personal capabilities. Some of my strengths in the creative process is always having a steady flow of ideas. My gears are always turning, ideas are normally too abundant to even shuffle though in my own head. I am always thinking of little things to turn into skits or a song or a poem. I feel that this is a strength but could also turn into a weakness if I do not focus my ideas and actually take chances with some of them. 

Assignment #7

For this assignment I choose a scene from the movie Natural Born Killers.

Natural Born Killers - Mickey & Mallory Knox

     This scene is the point in the movie where we as an audience realize that there is no going back. This scene is showing that by the binding of two evils. The movie follows an unusual timeline and there are many flashbacks and jumping around and at times can be hard to follow if you are not paying attention. But in this scene the theme I feel is said right out to you. They say time to grow up, the past is behind us. This is more didactic, they are telling you what they are trying to convey. However the rest of the scene is more active because of the way the storyline is set up. You are wondering what the road to hell is going to be, you are wanting to actively pay attention to what is going on because of the confusion that the movie puts you through.

     The theme of no going back and the as Mickey puts it, “The Road to Hell.” is shown in this scene through the use of line, shape, space, and movement. The scene uses space to show this. They choose to shoot it on a bridge over a huge valley. For one this reinforces the part when Mickey ask Mallory to marry him. He says this is our church. It makes it more believable because of the grandness that they are in, mountains, river, etc. The space also puts into perspective how two small beings compared to nature can cause so much havoc. It is the binding of an unstoppable evil. It is also kind of ironic how they are murderers and think that God is on their side. It goes along with their delusions throughout the movie. 

     The scene also uses line and movement to convey this theme of the road being over and a new evil being born. The camera angles are all very askew. They use the road behind each Mallory and Mickey to go along with the theme of this is the end. They also mix movement of the camera into the feelings throughout the scene. When Mickey cuts Mallory’s hand the camera jerks around like it is flinching, mimicking her movements. This is showing tension and release. Movement of the camera is also used in the scene with the panning of them at the lookout point from top to bottom. This is in a way foreshadowing the downward spiral they will have to dive into head first. 

Assignment #6

For this assignment I choose to use the cartoon Tom and Jerry.  These two pictures are using color and lighting to contrast the events happening in the scenes. In the first picture the scene uses warm hues like orange, red, yellow, and browns to signify a happy scene. Tom and Jerry are also smiling at each other instead of chasing each other around. The scene is also brighter in color compared to the other scene, signifying the happier tone of the shot. They do this by having a higher saturation in the colors. The shadows in the first image are also made to look like there is natural light in the room. As if there was a big window. This again adds to the light mood of the clip where Jerry and Tom are getting along. The shadow is only behind them though not on them. This can be seen as a symbol of the two-sided nature to their relationship. They are civil now but as soon as Tom stops playing the piano he starts to chase Jerry again.

            The other clip is of when Tom and Jerry are fighting.  The scene is using cooler more dull hues to symbolize us that there is conflict in the scene. Compared to the other scene when warm colors were used and they were getting along this scene is colder to signify conflict. The colors are not very bright and the use of the red candle emphasizes this lack of color. The colors are de-saturated to add to this dull effect. The lighting is very flat. It seems like the scene is lit from artificial light. This lack of bright light symbolizes there is conflict in the scene. Tom has just hit Jerry on the head with a spoon. There are very few shadows in this scene, but the few shadows that do exist are all pointing away from Tom. I think this is to symbolize his power over Jerry in this clip. The lack of color, brightness, and saturation also adds to this effect. 

Assignment #5

In the scene from the movie Amelie from blog three I feel that the director does follow the 180 rule because for most of the shots the camera is either following or in front of them. But there are many jump cuts in the scene because there are a lot of things being described. They need to jump to them to add coherence between the dialog and the chaotic visuals. In order to make all of these jump cuts work they defiantly use the rule of 30. They change the camera angle at least 30 degrees many times in the scene. For instance the 180 rule is used when the scene starts with the camera to the back of the blind man. Then it jumps all the way across the line of 180 to Amelie who is behind the blind man. Then it jumps back to her walking up behind the blind man to help him cross the street. I feel that this is all coherent because we are introducing the characters of the scene and how they are going to interact. I think that the director also uses the rule of thirds when he places the two of them in the frame together. Each is taking up the edge thirds of the screen. This makes it easy to follow with all of the jump cuts we know where they are going to be in the frame each time. I think that the director of the scene is very talented. Without seeing the whole movie one would be able to realize how happy the blind man is when she is giving him sight of the city street around him. I also feel that to accomplish a scene where there are so many jump cuts and it is so fast and so many things are going on  and not have it be confusing is accomplishing a feat. That is why I feel it is a great example of the use of the rule of 180 and of 30.

Assignment #4

Helter Skelter by Siouxsie and The Banshees

Helter Skelter by The Beatles 

            For this assignment, I chose to do the song Helter Skelter by The Beatles. Siouxsie and the Banshees a punk band from the seventies covered the song but I feel in a different way. The main tempo for both songs is upbeat and medium to fast time. The both are using the symbol as a main source of keeping the beat. The Beatles version uses the electric guitar in the beginning to set the time. Whereas in the Banshees cover the beginning is slow, unpredictable then it goes into a punk, thrash, groovy time signature.

The instrumentation for both is similar. They both use the simple band instruments: guitar, base, drums, and vocals. Where they differ is how they use them. The Beatles guitar and the guitar in The Banshees are using different pedals and effects. In addition, the vocals are somewhat the same, both using layers and harmonies of vocals. This is almost adding a gestalt effect adding to the overall sound and making us excited while listening to the song.

            The organization and the emotional architecture are what I feel differ the most. In The Beatles version, they start the song and it goes right into the beat, electric guitar leading from the start. In The Banshees version, it is more slow and unpredictable in the beginning then it goes into the punk rock beat, which is steadier. Like any punk music, songs normally end quickly not fading out. The Beatles use the highs and lows in the end to fade the song in and out and in and out. Whereas the Banshees do this in the beginning. The Banshees also end the song with a bang. They both have similar interior structure, it is mostly high beat and high emotion through out the middle of the songs.

            I like both versions I feel if I had to choose it would be the Siouxsie and the Banshees version. I like that the song ends in with a bang, I also like that you don’t really know what is going on in the beginning. I just like the way that Siouxsie and the Banshees choose to cover an extremely successful bands song. 

Assignment #3

This clip is from the movie Amelie.


I couldn't post the screenplay for some reason, so I uploaded it.
click here to download

I love this movie. Every time I watch this scene I cant help but feel happy. This is the point in the movie where Amelie decides to do good deeds and help others. She sees the Blind Man and decided to give him something he can never have, sight. She walks around the street describing anything and everything to him as his face lights up with joy. I feel that this scene puts space to good use. When the Blind Man is tapping his cane on the street we can hear it very sharply at first then it starts to sound like it is in an empty room, very hollow and void. This is playing with our perception of where we are. We are looking at a busy city street but it sounds like an empty room. Almost like how the blind man must feel. This clip also uses time well. The music’s speed in the background goes perfectly with the tempo they are walking. It makes us feel like it could be playing on the street. The clip also uses recognition with everything she is describing there is a sound the goes along with it. This is to give us two cues, visual and audible. Movement is uses with the camera angle. It is following Amelie and the man and tells us how fast they are walking and the mood of the scene. Its almost like we are feeling how the man she is helping must feel. Overwhelmed and filled with pure excitement.

This is DESIGN at its best.

Mine sweeper from robertanderson on Vimeo.

From Massoud Hassani & DesignGuide.tv, a wind-blown, wooden, bamboo-spiked ball, based on homemade childhood toys, that decommissions land mines by blowing them up, and maps its path along the way. 


The ball loses a spike or two with each detonation. On-board GPS, reporting to a web site, is used to chart a safe course. As a child in Afghanistan, where there are literally millions of landmines, Hassani made similar toys that did at times wind up in minefields, inspiring this Mine Sweeper.

Assignment #1

Villan or Antagonist: The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.


COLOR:

The color green relates to the Wicked Witch, obviously because of her skin color but also because her character has a green smoke/ fog around her when she appears or vanishes from a scene. This makes me think of Disney and how most of their evil characters have some sort of green smoke or fog that relates to them or shows their presence. The green makes you think putrid, evil, and toxic. So the green is to signify evil but we can also say that it is to signify the envy that the Wicked Witch has towards Dorothy. Not only for her shoes but also for her beauty and youth. 

LIGHT:

The witch is cast in a shadow. She wears a wide brimmed hat that shadows her face even when she is in the day. Even though she is mostly in her dark, damp, castle. She is wearing a black cloak, which further accentuates the darkness, and shadow she is cast in. The Wicked Witch is the darkness in sharp comparison to the light that is the Good Witch Glinda of the North. This dichotomy is what makes it apparent that she is evil in the story. Whenever the witch appears in the movie she is accompanied by darkness. Either the sky becomes grey or it seems that a storm is close by. The black cloak and darkness also distract us from other features of the witch and make us focus only on her face. This is important because it is the easiest way to convey an evil mood. 

SHAPE:

A repeated shape is used in the Wicked Witch character. She has a pointed triangle shaped hat, her nose is pointed and triangular, she rides a broom, which is triangular in shape. Her nails are also pointed and look sharp. These repeated points and sharp edges that are used around the witch give an evil feeling, just like the color green and the shadow that she is cast in. I think that the triangle is used repeatedly because sharp edges give a sense of danger, almost animalistic. Curved edges are more kind and human like. This even further gives the Wicked Witch of the West an evil demeanor.

 Hero or Protagonist: Dorothy


COLOR:

In comparison to the Wicked Witch, Dorothy is wearing white with blue-checkered overalls. This is analogous to the witches green hue. With the red slippers that are one of the main elements the film they all three create a split complimentary color scheme. This strengthens the use of color in the whole film by having these three main factors in the movie connected. The light blue and the white she is wearing make for a more interesting character to look at. We are not only focused on her face like the witch, but we see her as a whole unit, including the ruby slippers. We can say that the reason that a checkered plaid pattern is used because it gives us a sense of comfort, a tablecloth at a picnic for instance, the blue pattern is familiar.

LIGHT:

The light that is surrounding Dorothy always seems to be more luminescent than what is around her. She has a kind of glow about her. Even when they are in the dark forest she seems to have a sort of diffused spotlight on her. This light she emits seems to carry to the characters around her, symbolizing that her goodness is being spread out to the others.  Not anything direct or focused just a general lightness. I think that this is symbolic because she is a young fair woman and fighting against the dark evil witch so anywhere that you can contrast that it strengthens that relationship. So by having her have a paler complexion and a light about her, it helps depict her as the protagonist and the general do-gooder character. I choose the picture of the glass bottles because they seemed to have a glow about them, that is diffused. 

SHAPE:

Again in contrast to the Wicked Witch Dorothy has a more circular and curved appearance. I chose this picture because I felt that it displayed the different kinds of curves that are represented. Her face is more rounded with rounded features. She is carrying a basket with her. Her hair is wavy and curly. Also her dress is flowing and has a more organic look. This I feel again is to symbolize the kindness and humanity that Dorothy’s character has. The curved shape is easy on the eyes and gives a sense of continuation, which is comforting and focuses attention because your eye continues to follow the same line. Unlike with the witch, when we look at her hat for instance, it has a vanishing point and it sharp to the eyes.