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.

AAAHHH!!!

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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.

My Life, in 17 Syllables or Less

          I wanted to do something a little different for my narrative.  I've been feeling somewhat poetic lately, putting more of my thoughts into writing.  I have formulated some haikus about my current stance on life.  My haikus are relevant to my own life, yet they are still vague enough for most people to relate to.
          Why haikus?
          Well I've always been a pretty good writer.  Hell, I'm one of a few people who can actually apply my knowledge of the differences between all the its, it's and there, their, they're and thens and thans.  (IMO, if you CAN'T, then you don't belong in college.)  Anyway... I've always been a pretty good writer.  I enjoy creative writing and have an urge to delve deeper into this art.  Haikus are just one form of creative writing.  I appreciate the simplicity and the potential for haikus to contain so much depth in just a few words.  If I continue writing haikus, my goal would be to implant my personality into my words.  But, for now, I am exploring narrative the only way I know how.  But I have to start somewhere!

Five, seven, then five

Syllables has a haiku

If you didn't know

Life, made into art
So simple a strategy
Yet hard to achieve

My heart has blossomed

You fill me with happiness

Two lives now complete

Father Time please halt

Let me breathe for one minute

Before I am crushed

Carrot, donkey, huh?

Why not a horse and apple?

Horses pull carts too

Wham, bam, thank you Pam!

I'm going to miss Michael

The Office is dead

I am so grateful

For my sensitive mother

Happy Mother's Day

Twenty-one, Vegas!

What a typical setting

It's gonna be rad

Conjunctions, cheating?

Someone, please enlighten me

I'm still new at this

          It would be very impressive for someone to encompass their entire life into a single haiku.  If this feat is possible, then I would love the opportunity to learn how.  But, for now, I am content with the ones I have created.

Kip's Lecture: 6

          I love spoken word!  When it's good, anyway.  I had a blast listening to everyone perform today.  Each person had their own way of speaking and conveying their world through the medium of voice.  The people that are most memorable are the ones that obviously felt deeply about their performance.  Humor is difficult to achieve when trying to be taken seriously, but it can be done, as demonstrated by a few of the people we saw today.  I loved the first girl's performance (sorry, forgot your name) because she fooled the audience into thinking she had a certain personality and then turned it around on us.  She was also unintentionally hilarious (maybe intentionally, I don't know).
          Beau Sia was also awesome to listen to.  He speaks so deliberately and seems so sure of his words.  I really admire that in an artist.  I have such a difficult time speaking to people.  If I could record a conversation I were to have, but pause for ten minutes to write out my responses, then I feel like life would be so much easier.  I can't think on my feet and I have often ruined people's perception of me because I'm retarded with my words.  Speaking is definitely a skill that I would like to develop.  Even though I aced Speech Class, I can't stand in front of people without notes and just talk for an extended period of time.  My boyfriend can rant for days, though.  It's so frustrating!  I want to learn how!

Progress/Documentation

          Well, I presented my confession this week, but I already posted documentation of it.  I didn't want my presentation for this to be overly emotional, but that's what happened.  I'm sort of done thinking about it for now. I guess I'll repost it here:
          As I am reading through the class's blogs, I am finding a lot of criticism about my piece.  I agree, it could have been clearer.  As a side note, I juggled with the thought of having the class bow their heads with me as I read my letter, as one would if they were praying.  Perhaps this act would have immediately put my message into context.  Obviously, I decided against this.  I wanted my presentation to be vague, as is my relationship with God.  But even if my presentation was clearer, I don't think that would have mattered.  People generally don't react positively when God is brought into the classroom, or in public at all.  I honestly expected these reactions, and I'm glad that people felt strongly enough to write about my performance, even if they didn't like it.  Like Kip said in lecture, he would rather have people hate his work than be indifferent to it.  I will take all the formal criticisms I got relating to the performance as art and consider them in my future work.

A copy of my confession project:

I am sorry I have ignored You all these years.  You would pop up in the back of my mind, but I would quickly shoo You away.  I would think, not now, I’m busy.  I don’t have time to spend with You.  I am busy.  I have so much to do, how could I possibly spare an hour to talk with You?  Can’t You understand that?

What a silly question.

I am sorry for trying to bribe You.  If You would only turn your head this once, I promise never to do it again.  But I always do it again.  And before I do it again, I have that same conversation with You.  But today is when I say no more.  I will not shame myself anymore.  I am worn down by grief and guilt, and I don’t want that anymore.

I regret avoiding You.  I have only been harming myself.  I am sad that I am only realizing this now.

I am ashamed of being ashamed of You.  I am ashamed of trying to hide You from people.  You have done nothing but love me my entire life.  What kind of child does that to their Father?

I am angry with myself.  And that makes me angry towards everyone else.  What kind of way is that to live?  I know I can’t forgive myself unless You forgive me.  So I am asking for forgiveness.  Help me be what You made me to be.

I feel more at ease now.  I know that I need You in my life.  But with that realization also comes more realities.  How do I tell him that I can’t continue on the path we’ve created?  How do I act around people that know me without looking like a hypocrite?  Please help me shake these feelings of uncertainty.  Because I do know, deep down, that You will make everything okay.

          I am also currently working on a painting in my Intermediate Painting class.  I'm happy with the progress so far.  Here are some progress shots:

Identity/Personal Space Thoughts

I’m not totally thrilled for the Personal Space/Identity Assignment.  I feel like it’s a contest of who can get the most attention.  I really can’t identify with this concept.  The only reason that I would want attention is because my ideas are actually good and they have a positive impact on people.  For example, I really like the example of the student dressed in a tracksuit who raced the skateboarders on campus.  The idea was playful and it didn’t harm anyone or challenge people’s values.  I like that sort of performance.

My problem is that I don’t know how to approach this assignment.  I’m more of an introspective person.  I want to have a fun and playful idea, but I just can’t think of any.  I would rather leave public interaction out of it.  Like I would set up some sort of installation and merely observe or document people’s reactions to it.  That works for personal space, right?  I don’t know.  I want to hear what other people have come up with.  Maybe their ideas will inspire me somehow.