Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Personal Space Project

         My personal space project consisted of students fighting for their hopes and dreams in a game of tug of war.  The battles were not about strength, but about willpower!  More often than not, many people share the same hopes and dreams you do.  However, there's only so much room on this earth for those same hopes and dreams.  So you must fight for them.
         This piece was more light-hearted and geared towards de-stressing more than anything else.  I wasn't trying to prove a point.  And everyone had HUGE, FAT smiles on their faces when they were playing, so I think I did my job :)





Response to Michael's Project

          Michael's Project was really funny.  So the students that he interviewed didn't know that the arguments were staged?  That's really awesome and funny!  Good job Michael.  People react so awkwardly when couples are fighting.  It was interesting to see them trying to avoid eye contact and sort of just let the argument happen.  Haha, you guys were totally wasting their time and they couldn't say anything about it.  I really thought Michael did a great job interpreting 'personal space,' because he invaded other people's personal space and made the results public.
          Michael's assistant also deserves some credit for this one.  She was really funny and a great instigator. Awesome!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Weekly Progress/ Documentation

          Soooooooooo we presented our alternate personas this week.  Here's a link to that blog: Alternate Persona.  I've also completed preparation for my personal/public space project.  Everything is all set and ready to go! WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!?

Least Favorite Place

          My least favorite place is definitely my middle school back in Chatsworth.  Thinking about that place makes me sick.  You're supposed to be in a good, healthy environment when you're growing up.  That place was a big, festering pit of despair.  I know that probably everyone's middle school experience was somewhat shitty, but I'm just associating my experience with the actual school I attended.  I'm sure that no matter where I went to middle school, I would have hated that place too.  But since I attended that school, I hate that school.
          I just had so many bad, confusing, weird, and blatantly terrible experiences there.  I'm going to blame most of it on puberty, but still, that place sucked.  I did have some really great teachers, like Mr. Horosny, but everyone else pretty much sucked.  Oh, and I got detention for hugging a boy one time.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Favorite Place

          My favorite place in this whole wide world is the beach.  And the San Rafael Wilderness.  And Heritage Park.  And the third reclining bench to the right in my back yard.  Mainly, I love being outside.  I can't pick a favorite spot, that would do injustice to the rest of the places I love.  Each of these spaces hold really vivid memories, some ridiculously awesome, some terrible, some both.  But just the fact that the mere thought of these places evokes some sort of gut feeling in me really stresses the significance of them.
          I've lived near the coast my entire life.  For the beach not to be a major part of my life is sort of insane.  I've been to beaches up and down the central California coast and experienced some of the warmest, most amazing weather in Malibu to some of the most terrible, windy, sand-fliningest beaches in Pismo.  But looking back, I'm glad to have those experiences.  Same with the San Rafael Wilderness.  I went backpacking one weekend on a well-traveled trail with my boyfriend and our friend, and it was forecasted to rain heavily the next day.  Our two day trip in April was cut short based on our judgment of what was safest.  On our way out, we passed by a troop of boy scouts who were really intent on moving forward and didn't seem to care that we said there would be heavy rain.  They ended up having to be air-lifted out of there, and I watched all of this on the evening news that night with my mom. Crazy!
          Oh, Heritage Park.  So many good times.  So many firsts, so many lasts.  The tower, the pirate ship, those swings, and the booze.  'Nuff said.  And the third bench to the right in my back yard, you ask?  Well that is my designated poolside spot.  That's where I lay in the sun and refuse to swim in my lake of a pool because it's so damn cold all the time.  Seriously, who needs a 75 foot long pool that's easily 4 lanes wide? It never gets to a reasonable swimming temperature.  So I hate it.  When I buy a stand up paddle board I'm just gonna paddle around in it.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Free Form

          My new job is going really great.  I recently got hired on as a Reservation Specialist at Channel Islands Outfitters a.k.a. Paddle Sports of Santa Barbara.  My office is located in Ventura, though.  So the drive has been pretty exhausting thus far.  But once I don't have class to rush back to, it will be sweet.  I don't understand why new jobs have to be so nerve racking.  I lost so much sleep before my first few shifts.  I let anxiety get the best of me sometimes.  I can proudly say that I am recovering and have not lost sleep for a few days.  Go me!
          I think I'm kicking ass at this job, too.  I'm getting people stoked on their kayaking trips out to the Channel Islands, and I'm learning some really great communication skills.  I get a few perks as well, including free kayak and stand up paddle board rentals out in SB Harbor and the company is paying for me and the rest of the new hires to hop on a boat out to Santa Cruz Island for a kayaking day-trip.  I'm scheduled to go out this next week. Hopefully the weather doesn't suck and everything goes smoothly!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Review of Alternate Identity: 2

         I thought Natalie's alternate identity of the Australian naturalist was a really great idea and very entertainig to watch. She incorporated humor into her whole project, which was awesome. I liked that Natalie seemed way into this project. It showed in terms of quality and thoroughness of her documentation. She videotaped stuf going on all over campus that I had no idea existed. So even though this project was poking fun at UCSB, I still learned a little bit.
          I really didn't find any project today particularly disappointing. Everyone did a great job, I think. The alternate personas that everyone came up with were generally pretty awesome. Good job everyone, way to wrap up this quarter.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Alternate Identity: Car Bum

          For my alternate identity, I decided to be a car bum.  Basically, I lived in my car.  I already had all the right gear, so I was way set.  I had my sleeping bag, plenty of sustenance, water, entertainment in the form of a book, puzzle, and rope, a pocket knife (just in case), extra layers, and of course, my headlamp. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.  It got a little warm in the midday, but I rolled down my windows and I was fine.  I used this time to catch up on some much needed sleep.  Seriously, all I did was sleep and read.  It was nice being mostly isolated and have time to clear my head and seriously have some 'me' time.  But don't get me wrong, it was really, really boring.
          As far as sleeping went, it wasn't the most comfortable bed ever, but I've slept on worse.  I also wouldn't recommend eating only trail mix, veggie chips, and almonds for very long.  I did bring along some Emergen-c for my daily vitamin intake.  So at least I technically got some nutrients.  All in all, I probably wouldn't do it again.  I wouldn't mind spending the night in my car again, but I wouldn't spend the whole day in there.
All set.
The beginning.
Locked in!
A very useful book.
Puzzles.
Trail mix.
Want any?
Rope tying! 
Fancy.
REALLY fancy!
Bye sun!
I love my headlamp.
Good night.

Reflections

          In our time of constant exposure to digital media in the forms of Facebook, blogs, and whatever other forums that provide the potential to freely express personal thoughts and perspectives, it becomes increasingly difficult to filter out all the bullshit and scams. Seriously, Myspace and Facebook are every creeper's dream come true. People can take on any identity they wish with little or no consequence (until their methods become sloppy and they get involved in less than favorable situations). I personally think it's a little frightening that anyone who knows basic hacking skills can have access to my digital/online life.
          But it can't be all bad, right? I think social networking forums are fantastic if they are used in the way they are meant to be used. What better way to spread the news that my new pair of shoes rock than through Facebook? I wasn't always a believer in social networking. I didn't get a Facebook until last year. But it has proven to be less harmful than I thought.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Review of Alternate Identity: 1

          I thought everyone's alternate identities that were presented today were very good and well thought out.  It is hard to pick a favorite because everyone did such a great job.  But if I must choose one, I think my favorite alternate identity was Andrea's frat boy because she seemed to be the most thorough in submerging herself into that lifestyle.  She had documentation of fellow frat boys coaching her on how to be all that is 'frat.'  She even slept at the frat house.  Even though Andrea's alternate identity looked really fun to act out, I'm sure it was still a lot of hard work.


          I don't really have a least favorite.  I honestly think that everyone did a great job.  I liked Maxwell's OCD video, Kate's cowgirl persona, Erika's alien thing, and I thought Eddie's lucha libre superhero was really funny.  I suppose I could say that Theo's sharpie tattoo identity wasn't stretching things very far and that Steffi's finger pens might have been more interesting if she had used things other than marking utensils.  But those are just simple critiques and shouldn't really matter.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Final

          Well, we didn't have a lecture today.  I don't know how I did on the final.  I couldn't remember all of the artists, but I did remember what each of the pieces were about.  This was the weirdest final format that I've ever had.  Kip flipped through those slides pretty fast.  But it turned out okay, I think.  That's all I have to say about the final.
          I wanted to hear more about how Kip felt about the alternate personas that people showed up as today.  They were all fun, but I kind of wanted to know more without asking. :)  It was a fun time today overall.  I liked seeing what the other classes produced throughout this quarter.  It was interesting to see how different they were than what we did in our class.  I think all of the TA's took the assignments in different directions and everyone produced interesting results.  Awesome!  Good job everyone!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Progress/ Documentation

          I changed my idea for the alternate persona at the last minute.  I decided to spend the night in my car. I will start in the afternoon and stay there all day until night. My whole marathon runner idea didn't really work out.  I won't have much time on Sunday, and zero time on Monday because I have to go in to work at 7 am to 1 pm, then drive from Ventura to SB for my class at 2 pm and then then 7A right after. Yeah right, there is no way I can do anything on Monday.  Sorry Desiree.
          On another subject, I'm making good progress on a painting I am working on.  I'm pretty stoked on it.  I'll post updates soon.

Free Form About Myself

          I don't really know who I am.  I know what I like and don't like, but who I am?  'Am' implies so much about a person.  It means they identify with something or someone or some idea bigger than themselves.  I think the alternate persona assignment can be read on two levels if my thoughts on 'am' are considered.  The alternate persona can serve as a break for those of us who know who we are, or it may serve as an experiment of who we want to be.  Or maybe I'm reading into it too much.
          I don't know who I want to be.  I barely know what I want to be.  All I know is that I don't want to live on the street and I don't want to sit in a cubicle for the rest of my working life.  Someone, please, make this whole 'career thing' more clear to me.  I can't see myself doing ANYTHING for 45 years in a row.  I know what I'm good at, what I'm sort of good at, what I want to be good at, and what I'm definitely not good at.  I guess that's a starting point.  Ideally, I want to be a yoga instructor with my own studio.  I want to teach yoga out on the ocean, on a surf board.  I don't know where I'm going with this blog post anymore. K bye.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Super Artist! Woosh!

          If I could be any artist, it would by Antoni Gaudí.  First of all, he gets to live in Spain.  Second of all, his architecture is crazy creative.  It's intricate and gaudy and in your face and I love it.  His architecture is so systematic yet so organic-feeling.  Seriously, it's amazing.
Palau Guell entrance
           His work is so funky looking, it makes me want to touch every single surface of it.  This building looks like it's melting and faces are trying to escape from within it.  I would love to know what he was thinking when he designed it.
Casa Batllo


           I really wish there was architecture even remotely as amazing here as these buildings designed by Gaudí.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Super Villain! Woosh!

          If I could be a super villain, it would be Magneto.  He is so totally rad.  Although he is considered a super villain, all he really wants to do is save the mutants from the same atrocities he experienced at Auschwitz in World War II.  If that means killing the "good guys," he does.  He used to be best friends with Xavier, also a mutant, but who has different beliefs on how to save the mutant race.  So they part ways.
          But Magneto is so cool because he can manipulate the electromagnetic force to do basically anything he wants.  He will blow you up or destroy your fancy car if you try to mess with the mutants.  On rare occasion, he can read the minds of others and communicate telepathically.  He's basically a genius who can wreck your life with his mind.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Super Hero! Woosh!

          If I could be any superhero it would be Aquaman.  I could just swim in the ocean, hang out with the fish, and not be terribly needed on land.  Since there aren't very many marine disasters occurring all over the place, my life would be pretty laid back.  I think being able to swim at hyper-speed and communicate telepathically with marine life are pretty awesome perks.
          Honestly, I wouldn't want to have to be saving people's lives all the time.  People put themselves in stupid situations, so why should they always deserve super-human intervention?  It's basically setting them up for failure.  Now, I'm not talking about feeding the hungry or getting medicine to the sick.  I'm talking about swooping out of the air to catch some bimbo who tripped and fell off a building.  Watch where you're stepping, dumb ass.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Wednesday, Schmednesday

Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. Long day. Tired. 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Monday, May 16, 2011

Kip's Lecture: 8

          Soooo our alarm prank was sort of funny.  Nobody really got the joke, but that's okay.  Kip's lecture was really great, as usual.  The One Year Performance by Tehching Hsieh and Linda Montano is totally crazy.  I can not even imagine being in the same room as someone for an entire year and not kill that person.  I suppose one could compare this performance to the concept of relying on someone's constant presence and care in order for you to not die, like mentally disabled people, but I do not think that was the point they were trying to make.  I did not really see the point in it, other than to see what it was like.  I know Linda Montano said she did it so that she could learn to live in the moment, but I don't know. It is what it is.
          I appreciated that Kip revisited some of the artists that we had discussed earlier in the quarter and made the whole 'art as life' idea come full circle. I'm sort of sad to see this class to come to an end.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Progress/Documentation

          This week, we:
  • did flash mobs
  • submitted waivers for the public space project
  • came up with some ideas for alternate identities
          I already reviewed and posted documentation of the flash mob assignment.  So I'm not going to do that here.  My idea for the public space project got rejected, but only because of the location I chose.  I resubmitted the waiver and have yet to hear back from Desiree.  Basically I want to make two swings and install them under the arches that form a sort of patio sitting area in Storke Plaza.  You can read why here.  So assuming that my proposal isn't shut down again, which it shouldn't be because my swings would in no way obstruct any type of normal traffic flow, you can come swing with me any time.
          For my alternate identity, I have decided I want to embody the spirit of a marathon runner.  I throw up my arms in victory whenever I reach a destination. Blah blah blah, I already talked about this.
          Since this blog is about progress, I think it's appropriate to mention that I got this job that I really wanted. It's perfect timing and pays really well. WOO!

Alternate Identity

          I have chosen to run perpetually for my alternate identity.  I will wear my running shoes, shirt, and shorts, wear a headband and wristbands and make myself a number that I will fasten to my shirt.  I will run everywhere: to class, in class, in the grocery store, around my apartment, etc.  Whenever I run through a doorway or reach a certain destination, I will throw up my arms in victory and celebrate.
          This will take place everywhere I go.  I find it interesting that it is not a social norm to run places, even if you're in a hurry.  If someone is running down the street, people look at that person oddly.  They think, "Why is that dork running?  Maybe he should have left home earlier."  Why is it looked down upon to run in public?  I am taking into account the fact that running in street clothes is probably what makes those people seem odd.  But if they were dressed in athletic attire, then all is well.
          But I am taking the norm of running in athletic clothing to a different context.  I will be running in normal running clothes, but in odd places.  Like through campus, in hallways, in stores and shops; all places where you're not supposed to run.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Alternate Identity Proposals

1.  So I have these random black feather wings that I got for a ridiculous discounted price after Halloween.  I knew I had wasted my money on them.  Until now.  I will dress up like a crow and CAW, peck, invade, and (pretend to) shit on you when you're minding your own business.  Because, guess what?  I'm a crow and you deserve it.
Classy.
2.  Maybe I'm in the Halloween spirit, but I like the idea of dressing up like a mummy.  Bandages, dirt, stank, grunts and all.  I could make my boyfriend take me out to a nice restaurant while I'm mummified.  I'm interested to see if living people would be accepting of the undead in the real world, where stuff like this actually happens.
Fear me!




3.  I could be perpetually running a marathon.  This would be extremely exhausting, but that's a good thing.  I will run everywhere!!! And every time I enter a room I will throw up my hands in victory. Yes!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Documentation Compilation

Say that ten times fast.

Boo boo bee boop. Hi Desiree!

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Flash Mobs Engage!

          Overall, I think our flash mob endeavor was a success. Duck, Duck, Goose was really fun, and so was the first gun stand off.  I think our ninja fight, the library thing, and the second shoot off were a little sub par.  But it was all still fun, and way better than sitting in class.
          I think what made Duck, Duck, Goose a success was our location.  The roundabout was a perfect central spot, and was even shaped to suit our performance.  I had the most fun with this one.  And it was just silly.  Our first shoot out was also a success because our location already had a lot of people there.  It seemed to have more of an impact than the second shoot out.
          The library thing was alright.  I thought it was a little unorganized, but once we got the system down, things went a little more smoothly.  The ninja fight was the same way.  Our location wasn't that great either.  And the way we went about it screamed amateur.  Basically we had a mob of thirty people suddenly walk into a small space and just plop down in a chair.  Obviously the people who were already there saw us all walk in there at once.  So I don't think the surprise factor was there at all for that one.  The second shoot out was alright too.  There were less people to scare, but things went smoothly.  I'm excited to see how Kip reacts to our class interruptions.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Free Form

          I can't believe I haven't ranted about Trader Joe's Pineapple Salsa on my blog yet.  It is AMAZING, and only $1.99!  Anyone who enjoys weird, tropical flavors, like me, should try this.  The first jar I bought, I finished in probably 3 days.  That's a lot of salsa.  The jar I am currently working on, I bought yesterday.  It is half empty now. NOOO!!!
          Seeing as I am not a typical chips and salsa eater, this was a huge feat for me.  But this salsa is so damn good that I can't stop eating it!  I've been snacking on it for the past 30 minutes and you bet I'm eating it right now as I'm writing this.  My only wish, though, is that it was spicier.  The label says that it's medium heat salsa, but I would refute this in a second.  (Maybe my Asian tongue has been tainted by all of the amazing kimchi I've eaten that my grandma makes.)  This salsa is so freaking good though, don't get me wrong.  There are chunks of pineapple and tomato, green chile, and all sorts of goodies.
My precious, my love: The Glory that is Pineapple Salsa.
          I like to pair my salsa with unsalted, white corn tortilla chips.  I have a family history of high blood pressure and I give myself anxiety for no reason, so I don't need salt coming in to that formula.  Actually, I just don't like salty tortilla chips.  There's really no reason other than I don't like tasting salt crystals.  I like salty food, but only if its the food that's salty, not the salt that's salty.
BAM!
          Bottom line: try TJ's Pineapple Salsa and use whatever chips you want. They're bomb and you're dumb to not try new food just because it sounds weird.

Progress/Documentation

          I chose to manifest my swing idea because I just like the idea of swings.  Growing up, swings were my favorite part of the playground.  Now, I find the pendulum motion really meditative and calming.  To install swings on a college campus would be to establish a space specifically for an escape from the immense responsibility associated with college.
          I also just haven't swung in a long time.  My ass is too big to comfortably fit on a playground swing. So to make these swings by hand would be catering to my own needs and, I'm sure, many other non-children-sized-ass people. C'mon, it'll be fun!  I really hope the department lets me do it.  They can come swing, too.

What ELSE am I doing besides 7A, you ask?

          In addition to 7A, I am also taking Intermediate Painting and Art History: Pre-Columbian Art of South America.  My other classes are going fairly well.  I really enjoy painting, but it is extremely time consuming.  I spend the majority of my studying time in the painting studio.  I am currently conceptualizing a non-objective painting and avoiding a photorealist painting, but I have to complete both in the next few weeks.  This schedule is making me slightly insane.  I barely have time to eat.  I think I have lost about 5 lbs this quarter simply because I lack the time.
Sort of the direction I want my painting to go in.
          Pre-Columbian Art of South America is alright.  I do enjoy learning about the iconography of the ancient peoples of Peru.  However, my professor kind of confuses me.  S/he goes on and on about how we should respect these ancient people and not "talk down" about their ways of life, but then s/he goes on to describe the artifacts with words like "cute."  I'm pretty sure s/he was bashing on religion  in class today.  Basically, I like the material, but I'm not sure about my professor.
Nasca Lines: just one subject we learned about.

Kip's Lecture: 7

          The lecture was unusually boring today.  I suppose it's because I've already seen a lot of the things Kip was presenting.  But I do appreciate the refresher on how to achieve a visual personal narrative.  Kip took the definition of a narrative from David Antin, who said a narrative entails:


  • a character that is faced with the possibility of transformation
  • the character seeks or avoids transformation
  • the transformation possibly elicits desire
  • the transformation possibly carries a consequence or implies a becomes a mistake/regret


          Duane Michals is an artist who works in narratives.  He creates photos and hand writes text underneath the images.  The text enhances the meaning of the images.  Sometimes, the text merely describes the sequence of the imagery.

          Other narrative artists Kip talked about were Hans Haacke, who made the statement on the toxicity of the Rhine river by creating the Rhinewater Purification Plant (1972)  and Jim Goldberg, who photographed people and let them write about themselves (who he took inspiration from).  Kip also discussed comics in far more detail today.  This was the only part of lecture that I found really interesting.
          I have a new respect for Bill Watterson, creator of Calvin and Hobbes.  I have always loved Calvin and Hobbes because the entire premise of these comics is centered on how weird adults are from the perspective of kids.  But the fact that Watterson believes that marketing cheapens the integrity of any comic strip is a really great moral stance for any artist to take.  I really love all of the political statements he makes.
Calvin and Hobbes: Now with Ritalin!

Personal/Public Space

          I decided that I want to go with my swing idea.  I will make two swings. The swings would be constructed out of ropes, climber's knots, and possibly wood/something to make the seat.  I will hang them from the floor of the second story of the Theater and Dance building (assuming my permit passes through approval).  The swings would face the direction of the SRB/ the courtyard outside of the 7A lecture room.  It's gonna be sweet!
          I'm sure Theater and Dance majors would love to come sit on my swings and just hang out if they happen to be passing by.  Conceptually, the swings would represent the "go with the flow" feeling that I have about life right now.  Everything is moving so fast, and there's no point in fighting it right now.  When you're on a swing and swinging, there's really no other option than to just succumb to momentum and gravity.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Ideas for Personal/Public Space Assignment

          I want to put a swing in the trees.  And swing on it.  Other people could swing on it too.  Why can't we swing in the trees? Why is swinging on campus any different than swinging in the park?

          I am using Remi Gaillard as my inspiration for this one.  I want to make a slug costume and slither around campus, ideally finding a way to leave some sort of slimy trail.  I will probably concentrate on keeping to the busiest areas of campus, where people genuinely become angry if you don’t move fast enough, like on the bike paths, in lines, in doorways, etc.

          I want to acquire a box large enough for me to fit in to.  I would remove one face of the box and put the box over me.  Likely, I will also have a skateboard.  I will crouch on the skateboard with the box over me, so it looks like the box is just moving around on its own.  I would leave a chalk line behind me, wherever I go.  It would be like tracking a package.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Flash Mobs

          I love flash mobs! I think it would be really really awesome if we could participate in one.  However, I would suggest that we try to get the other sections from 7A in on it as well.  It wouldn't be as awesome with only the 20-30 people in our section alone.  We could try to organize one to perform on a day where there is some sort of tabling event happening on campus, like in Storke Plaza.  Extravaganza would also be a cool forum in which to initiate one, but that is occurring on a Sunday, and it might not be as noticeable since everyone will be dancing or whatever anyway.
          Since dancing and freezing in place have already been done in flash mobs, we could do something else strange like hop up and down in one spot as the clock tower does its hourly chimes, or all point and stare at something in the same direction.  But I wouldn't be opposed to doing a dance routine, either.  However, if this exercise is going to happen next week, I think dancing may be a little too complicated for someone as uncoordinated as me.  I think this is a fun idea!  I don't really have any other ideas to initiate, but if I do, I will update this post with those ideas.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Let's Go to the Movies!

          I just watched Memento, directed by Christopher Nolan, for the first time this past weekend.  It was a total trip.  Even though I was a few jack and cokes deep, I still managed to understand the plot, which, I've heard, is a great feat for this film.  The whole story is acted out in reverse.  The film starts at the end of the story, and then begins a new scene that takes place earlier in time.  That scene then plays out until it reaches the point in time where the previous scene starts.  So, using a number line as an example, it's sort of like the film starts at 10, new scene at 7 to 10, then new scene at 4 to 7, then new scene at 1 to 4, then new scene at 1.  I appreciate the amount of thought it must have taken the writers to create a cohesive plot with such an unconventional sequence of time.
          Not only was the backwards use of time so creative, the utilization of both black & white and color scenes also added a completely different aspect of comprehension to the plot.  Certain parts of the story, specifically when the main character was exhibiting his "condition," were filmed without color.  When the sequence of events was actually being played out, however, the film ran in full color.  This, I feel, also helped with the understanding of the plot and was a great aesthetic choice on behalf of the creative directors.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

AAAHHH!!!

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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Sequence/Narrative Review

          I think the majority of our section presented really great projects.  Although Alex and Erika made all of us laugh, my favorite was Eddie's song about his sister.  He completely incorporated his own style and what he loves to do within the parameters of this assignment.  His lyrics contained some really great metaphors, some of which, I'm sure, are personal and therefore incomprehensible to the rest of us.  I liked the style of the song Eddie wrote because the lyrics were so sad and depressing but the tune that was played to carry the song was upbeat and engaging.
          I will also commend Alex for his recitation of Green Eggs and Ham.  He was very convincing as the character he portrayed and it was interesting to see the juxtaposition of the character’s personality with the events in the story.  His talent for acting is apparent and is enjoyable to experience.

         I’m glad that we were given a lot of freedom with this assignment.  But it definitely made this project a little more challenging.  I wish we were given more time for it.