Check out this 'First Act' episode about superheroes.
http://www.box.net/shared/1vxerhf9r7 <- my audio response
Well blogger wont let me post my image. But it is the same one as below, entitled Deyanira.
Given the following joke as a prompt, these are the two videos my group created.
JOKE #1
In the Hospital the relatives gathered in the waiting room, where
their family member lay gravely ill. Finally, the doctor came in
looking tired and somber.
"I'm afraid I am the bearer of bad news," he said as he surveyed
the worried faces, "The only hope left for your loved one at this
time is a brain transplant. It's an experimental procedure,
semi-risky, and you will have to pay for the brain yourselves."
The family members sat silent as they absorbed the news. After a
length of time, someone asked, "Well, how much does a brain
cost?" The Doctor quickly responded, "$5000 for a male brain, and
$200 for a female brain."
The moment turned awkward. Men in the room tried not to smile,
avoiding eye contact with the women, but some actually smirked. A
man, unable to control his curiosity, blurted out the question
everyone wanted to ask, "Why is the male brain so much more?"
The doctor smiled at the childish innocence and then to the
entire group said, "It's just standard pricing procedure. We have
to mark down the price of the female brains, because they've been
used."
Ian's Script
Childish Idiocy (My Script)
Reflections on my gaming presentation:
My group pitched the idea of 'Winning: Charlie Sheen's Coke Adventures'. I don't think we completely explained that we wanted the game to be a new modern twist on an old classic. Its a throwback to the old sidescroll Mario games. People eventually caught on, but I wish we would have been more explanatory about it. It definitely would have strengthened our pitch. We definitely had the most creative game pitch in the class however, and it was by far the most interesting, which worked in our favor. The goals of the game were the same as any classic sidescroll game, simply to work through each level while collecting tokens of some sort. The mechanics could have used a little more explaining, as I stated before, as it took people a few minutes to catch on that we were doing a throwback side-scroll gaming experience. The game lacks objectives, but that didn't seem to hinder interest in the game. We had a few people say they wished they could actually buy the game! Overall we had a very strong presentation, just with a few tweaks to be made to make it perfect.
Ever play Ratchet and Clank? It took me a few tries to find a half decent video, but I used to play this game all the time with my little brothers :) The following is my critique of its use of color, lighting, and movement.
The following video is my response to another manifesto on ChangeThis Website by Hugh MacLeod, called How To Be Creative.
The scene I chose was from For A Few Dollars More. You should watch it :)
For this assignment, I chose an image from the Soundscape assignment and reframed it, tightening in on an aspect of the picture that I was drawn to. The image I chose was on eof Ben Goossens. The original framing used the Rule of Thirds very well, centering around the shoulders of the man and the box on his head. When I cropped the pictu
Yet again, this is a required response to a manifesto on changethis.com. This week we have Brainwashed by Seth Godin. In this particular manifesto Godin asserts that we are in the midst of a new industrial revolution. The following is a summary of two of the seven layers to reinvention of the self. Reading the manifesto (linked above) prior to reading my analysis would be highly recommended...
1) CONNECT: Some claim that social media is a wreck, a black hole of wasted time, procrastination, and general worthlessness. Godin disagrees, and I concur. Social media is the future. It provides the capabilities to be completely connected with anyone and everyone anywhere in the world, and that is a simple fact that needs embracing. Gauging your success off of the number of 'friends' you have, or the popularity and feedback on your posts is misleading. Using social media to spread ideas, collaborate, and just keep in contact with others from whom you are physically isolated is the beauty of it. Godin puts it quite simply, "We grew up isolated. The future is connected. We grew up unable to have substantial interactions with anyone except a small circle of family and co-workers. Now, we earn the right to interact with just about anyone.
I think this changes everything... if we let it."
2) ACKNOWLEDGING THE LIZARD: Godin's lizard is the traditional little voice in your head telling you over and over to play it safe and obey the instructions given. This internal hindrance wants you to keep your head down and play along. It is brainwashing at its best (worse?). If you can acknowledge the lizard holding you back, you can cripple the effect and ignore that voice. This frees you to create and work freely, doing what matters to you to your best ability.
These two particular layers speak to me particularly because I have embraced them without even knowing them for some time. I know that social media is the heart of the future, and long before my other friends I was exploring Facebook and Twitter and seeing what they were capable of. The ability to connect the entire world through the internet and share ideas across cultures and countries is amazing to me. And I acknowledged my 'lizard' some time ago, I just never knew to call it a lizard. My blogging for this class is a perfect example. I would like to meet another person who spent over 30+ hours formatting their blog, like I did. It wasn't required by any means, I just wanted to see what this website was capable of, and make my blog look the way I wanted. These two, combined with the other layers, is a very good starting point. Definitely worth the time to try out, because they free your creative spirit.
Assignment 3A is to compare and contrast a n original song and its cover, and I chose to do "Whiskey In The Jar". The song was initially recorded by The Dubliners and I am comparing it to the cover by Metallica. I should first mention that this song has been covered numerous times, and other well known covers were done by Thin Lizzy and Grateful Dead. First recorded by The Dubliners, the song is actually an Irish traditional song. Irish rock band Thin Lizzy took the folk song for a rock n'roll ride in the 60's, and then Metallica won a Grammy for their harder rock cover in 2000. The song is about a highwayman who is betrayed by a woman after he robs an official, but the specific lyrics vary from original to cover. The Dubliners' original recording mention the 'far famed Kerry mountains' and 'Captain Farrell', whereas in the Grateful Dead version their lyrics include references of 'Cill Dara Mountains' and 'Colonel Pepper'. Metallica's lyrics refer to the 'Cork and Kerry Mountains' and 'Captain Farrell'. Despite the variations in name across the multiple covers, the basis remains the same, and the last two lines of the chorus basically sound the same, usually either 'Musha rin um du ruma da, Whack for my daddy-o, Whack for my daddy-o, There's whiskey in the jar' (The Dubliners) or "Musha rain dum a doo, dum a da, Whack for my daddy, oh, Whack for my daddy, oh, There's whiskey in the jar, oh' (Metallica). Across all the varied versions, the basic melody remains recognizable, not actually changing very much from original to cover, The harmony however is extremely varied and the musical quality of each is what makes the songs so different. The Dubliners' original recording is very folksy, whereas Metallica's cover is a hard rock song. The rhythm of both songs is fairly regular, keeping with the very similar melodies. The songs are near opposites on pitch however, as Metallica's version is much lower, giving it the harder edge over the higher Dubliners version. Metallica's use of intensity, being louder than the Dubliners song, also lends to the heavy rock edge it has. The difference in instrumentation between the artists also adds to the different timbres, as the Metallica version has more depth and complexity over the original folk version of the song. Having been introduced to the Metallica version first, it remains my favorite. I love the hard rock edge, and also appreciate the more modern sound and addition of 'with-it' music video. The Dubliners' earlier recording was interesting to listen to (to see the progression of music as different covers emerged), but the folksy sound did not appeal to me. The one thing that The Dubliners version had was the accurate accent. Being a traditional Irish song, it was refreshing to hear the lyrics sung with a bit of brogue. Overall the Metallica version remains my favorite however, having the most successful recording to my ears. The hard rock frame and added depth, intensity, and modern innovation make it more engaging to me, and remains the only version synced to my iPod. :)
My second blog assignment centers around an article called Finding Your Howl by Jonathon Flaum. You should really read it first, then listen to the audio file below, because otherwise you won't quite know what I'm talking about now will you?!
Part two of my first blog assignment is to read, summarize, and analyze a manifesto by Mitch Ditkoff. First things first, go download and read a copy of this. It is called "14 Ways to Get Breakthrough Ideas", and it is well worth the read. Don't believe me? Fine! I'll condone the laziness, and summarize it for you anyways. Ditkoff's work is a short and easy read, and the quotes I pulled from it will be on my quote wall by tomorrow night. He begins by posing two simple questions; What sparks innovation?; What sparks people? Caffeinated beverages aside, where do revolutionary ideas come from? Ditkoff introduces two schools of thought to approach this. The first addresses a 'Collective Unconscious', the "I think therefore I am" Western people, who think that people don't create ideas, they basically discover/access them when they have tuned themselves into the 'Muse'. The second school of thought is supported by the creative peoples of the world, those who believe "I am, therefore I think", and focus on intuition. As Ditkoff suggests, I agree that most people are a hybrid of both schools of thought. Now for the 14 mantras he suggests using to tap into the creative.
1) FOLLOW YOUR FASCINATION
Let yourself get wrapped up in an idea or a theory. Let your imagination run wild and embrace a new thought, no matter how trivial or off-beat you might first think it.
2) IMMERSE
Ever wonder why you always seem to remember things at inconvenient times? Ideas are the same way, and are usually spontaneous realizations, rather than products of intense brainstorming sessions. Ditkoff suggest that you avoid the newfound instinct to multi-task, and for once just focus on one theory. Take some time to completely absorb yourself in your new idea, and let it grow without being preoccupied by something less important.
3) TOLERATE AMBIGUITY
Remember that ideas don't always come with a 'Eureka!!'. They often come as the result of failed experiments or ideas, so don't be afraid of confusion. Learn from mistakes and embrace the fuzzy grey zone that people label as confusion. Get used to being unsure, and keep trying! Use failures as lessons to better your theory and find out what doesn't work, so you can find what does.
4) MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS
Ideas are not one-sided. Ideas come from combining new things and finding connections that don't exist yet. Step outside your box, leave your comfort zone behind, and discover a new association you haven't thought of previously.
5) FANTASIZE
How often do you catch yourself daydreaming, and a friend calls you out on it? Do you deny it? Don't! Embrace the ability of your imagination to think of things that aren't tangible (yet). You can't expect to have breakthrough ideas if you are scared to even dream of them. So use your imagination and fantasize away.
6) DEFINE THE RIGHT CHALLENGE
Slow down and frame the question you seek to answer. If you're looking in the wrong direction, how do you expect to find the right solution? Having the right question is the first half of problem. Take the time to figure out the true question, and finding the right solution will be way easier.
7) LISTEN TO YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS
Breakthroughs logically follow long period of intense effort. You can't accomplish anything without dedicated effort, but sometimes you need to let your conscious take a quick break. Don't let yourself get distracted by over-analyzing. You won't get anywhere anyways, so embrace your subconscious and let your brain figure out a solution on its own time.
8) TAKE A BREAK
^Does it get any simpler? Instead of being unproductively spontaneous and taking frustrated breaks, plan accordingly. Work on a project, and when you start slowing on it, or hit a roadblock, take a break and switch to a different project. Obsessing over what you cannot figure out will not solve the problem you are stuck on. Give your conscious brain a break and walk away from it for a little while. When you head back to work, you'll be more likely to have results.
9) NOTICE AND CHALLENGE EXISTING PATTERNS AND TRENDS
People who are meteorologists or stock brokers get paid to recognize patterns. Obviously this is an effective approach, so twist it to help you. Interpret and challenge old patterns and warp them into new ones that are beneficial.
10) HANG OUT WITH DIVERSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE
This goes back to the comfort zone we live in. Break out of it!! Hows the beginning of that song go? Being surrounded by the same people and places every single day does not lead to a very creative mindset. Mix it up, hang out with a different crowd, go somewhere you aren't used to. (College is a great time to do this!!)
11) BRAINSTORM
Do not turn into the one-man show. Use 'group-think' to your advantage, and with the right people your think tank will produce a multitude of ideas. Breakthrough successes like Apple and Microsoft are both the product of collaborating thoughts, so follow in the footsteps of success and brainstorm.
12) LOOK FOR HAPPY ACCIDENTS
If you are seeking a break-though idea and that famous eureka moment, embrace accidental discoveries! Consider intervention over/in place of invention. Be curious and lose expectations.
13) USE CREATIVE THINKING TECHNIQUES
Sometimes all you need is a jump-start to get going. Maybe its a person's encouragement, a book or a quote that will get you started. Ditkoff offers a few websites, but I couldn't get them to work.
14) SUSPEND LOGIC
Use the right half of your brain! Leave the world of left-brained logic and suspend yourself so you can find inner creativity. Cease judgement, evaluation, and practicality and explore what exists outside of this.
The propositions I find most useful are 4, 5, and 10. Making new connections and meeting new people is always beneficial, not to mention fun. Being a college freshmen makes this especially appealing however, due to the resources I have at my disposal. There are a multitude of ways I can meet new people and make new connections, by joining a club, going to a free show, eating somewhere new, taking a group fitness class, or any other dozens of ways. Number five also fascinates me because traditionally fantasizing is thought of as 'child-like' and I find this idiotic. To embrace the imagination and dream of the undiscovered is one of the easiest ways to brainstorm and find new ideas. Including these 3 pitches into my schedule will be easy, I'll just take a Zumba class at Ping, and set aside time to sit outside when the weather cooperates with a notepad to let my mind wander happily.
I plan on capitalizing on these suggestions. A proposal after number twelve asked what 'failed experiment' or unexpected outcome might bid reconsideration. In high school I tried out for the TV Tech class on the pressuring of friends and somehow made it into the class. I ended up being very successful in it, and that is how I discovered I wanted to work in this business. One of my 'failed experiments' was being on screen however. I was very good at it when I was in high school, but I hated it. I found the technical side of things far more interesting, and so far in college that is all I have worked on. Enlisting the help of the faculty at RTV however, and a few of my older friends, I think I will try reporting and anchoring again. The reason I hated it was because of my limitations in content. Being a student at Ohio University offers many more opportunities, and maybe I can learn to enjoy the 'happy accident' of being on-screen as much as I do being behind-the-scenes.
My first blog assignment is to explain who I am as a creative person, and my inspirations. I suppose the easiest way to go about explaining myself is to explain my influences. An artist who has a large impact on me is Shakira. I have admired Shakira as an artist, philanthropist, and dancer since I was a kid. One of my favorite songs by Shakira is "Objection".
The very beginning of the song, which is completely instrumental, is a fantastic example of TENSION and RELEASE. The piano begins and stops, begins and stops, catching the listener's attention with its halting melody. Then the song starts to progress, adding in more bass clef chords and the accordion. While it progresses it builds tension as it builds up and up but does not complete itself. The release comes twice, once when the tempo bursts and picks up, and again when Shakira actually starts to sing. The video continues this pattern as a story emerges visually. Part of the video is a cartoon, and tension rises as Shakira's character fights with a man an is pushed around. Viewers feel a release when her superhero friends show up and help her, and again when at the end of the video as she gets her revenge.
Her music intrigues me because she often uses her bilingual skills to create sharp audible CONTRAST in her lyrics to the casual listener, when in reality her lyrics have AFFINITY (if you pay attention, they make sense across languages). To explain, first watch both versions of the song below.
1) English Version - "Loca" Ft. Dizzee Rascal
2) Spanish Version - "Loca" Ft. El Cata
In both versions she speaks in a the other language, but especially in the English version of the song. The dual-language lyrics creates audible contrast. If you look at the lyrics however (English - Spanish), the meanings are the same. Both versions of the song are about a 'crazy' girl driving the man in love with her insane because he likes the chase, and her liking his acceptance of her. Despite the fact that not everything translates exactly between languages, she creates near-perfect affinity throughout both versions of the song. My proof of this was my first exposure of the song. I first heard the English version, and loved it! It wasn't until I looked up the music video that I realized that Shakira had a completely different version in Spanish. My ability to enjoy the song in both languages and understand it as well is proof of good lyrical affinity despite the language contrast.
"Loca" is also a great example of dual-meanings. At face value the TEXT of the song is about a girl finding a guy who likes her for her personality. Sticking with the English version of the lyrics to make this simpler, 'I can never get enough, she gives me the runaround but I stay chasin....I'm in love...I'm crazy, but you like it...You're the one for me, and for her no more..." The SUBTEXT of the lyrics are about the man leaving a rich girl for the poor girl who has stolen his heart. 'She'd die for your love, but your love's only mine...I really can't help it if I make the lady loca, I don't want no trouble...You're the one for me, and for her no more.' Subtext can also be applied to other Shakira songs such as "Did It Again", "She Wolf", where the subtext is used more as a textual cover to talk about subjects like sex, cheating, and morals. Part of the reason I like Shakira and her music so much is her lack of fear to sing about any subject, and her acceptance of diversity across cultures, genres, countries, and languages. Her openness and determination in her career , and her ground-breaking music are inspirational to me, and atop that, I just like her style! :D
Attempting to set up a functional blog per my MDIA 203 class requirements. This will be interesting. We're supposed to have a link and a picture up. Well here is a link to the new Cleveland Indians website (which they just revamped), and here is a picture of one of my favorite things at The Jake (Progressive Field, whatever), fireworks after a victory!
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| Fireworks at country music night when I had won club seats is one of my favorite memories of The Tribe :). |
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