Superhero

http://www.podsnack.com/published-players/details/?list&hash=dbdd7f0d86ab40ed2db6de55aa394233

Joke Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmqJXTr5yNg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjGI8_ZDDRM

These two videos are very similar in content but the execution made them quite different. The first was a more direct approach in which we essentially acted out the joke as it was written. We used some paneling and the designs on the wall to create line. In this way, we framed the son and managed to give him a more structured look and organize the shot so it would be more pleasing to the eye and less chaotic. In the second video, which was modeled after the video game Mortal Combat, we designed/chose the back round in order to represent a pleasing rhythm. The pillars on each side of the frame represent the two battling characters. Plus, the rhythm of the two pillars right by each other was conducive to a very severe look, which helped enforce the genre. Not to mention, it just happened to look like one of the leve;s from the real video game. While the first video was very straight-forward and traditional, the second was made to contrast the normalcy of the first. The affinity between the two lies with the dialogue, which is identical in both videos. We also utilized tension and release in both videos but most especially in the second video with the mortal combat theme. We did this through the use of music, movement, and the life bars at the top left and right of the screen. The music builds throughout and climaxes along with major plot points such as the kid being sent to his room and when he fights the mom for the last time and wins. The life bars are continuously building up and being shattered by the words of the characters, which helps with creating tension and the tension being released when the life builds once more.

Game Commentary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz-XFL2LhBU

Video Commentary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmSWLoDDRz4

Sally Mann Picture

I chose this picture of a girl smoking a cigarette by Sally Mann. I was originally drawn to it because the contrast of the harsh black of the background against the stark white of the girl’s hair and dress. This picture also has an interesting sense of rhythm. Your eye is immediately drawn to the girl with long hair because she is making eye contact with you. Next you look at the cigarette in her hand, because she seems awfully young to be smoking, and because the cigarette stands out against the dark she’s holding it against. This looking from the girl’s face to the cigarette moves your eye from left to right and focuses your attention next on the girl with shorter hair. This is important because without this direction of movement the other girl could easily be ignored as she is facing away from us and isn’t as brightly colored and intense as the other girl.

I chose to re-frame the picture so that it only showed the girl with the cigarette. While I understand the importance and the impressiveness of the second girl, the background bothered my eyes quite a bit when I looked at the picture. For once, the girls both appear to have too much headroom. This is distracting and when you look in the background there doesn’t seem to be anything of importance aside form a blurry picture of what appears to be a headless ken doll. I just wanted to focus the attention more on the girl with the cigarette, since the shot is clearly about her.

I believe the artist, Sally Mann, probably wished to draw attention to the girl with the cigarette by putting her against the blurred, dark background. While I found it distracting, others may not have had that problem. This is really the only thing I can think of for why she would have left the background the way it originally was. 

Response to How to Get Ideas

http://changethis.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN7hR-MjEmE

Ten thousand drunken kids in a field can't be wrong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqjuCPMMSIw

Soundscape Critiques

Michael Mytnick
http://cinemareel.blogspot.com/2011/01/nervousness-soundscape.html


Amanda
http://oakiee.tumblr.com/post/2864885807/my-soundscape-for-mdia-203-i-apologize-for-using


Chris Page

http://mdiaessentialsstudentpov.blogspot.com/2011/01/soundscape.html

My Critiques of all three:
http://www.box.net/shared/yh30qh3ivv

Song Critiques

Carolyn
http://www.box.net/shared/lkv3tf9eba


Chad

http://its8am.blogspot.com/2011/01/soundscape.html

Christina
http://www.box.net/shared/m842x1anut


My critiques of all three:
http://www.box.net/shared/fp577x45lg

Covers/Blog Assignment 3A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIb6AZdTr-A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_dSjHmmOOM


The song I chose was “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” an upbeat pop song originally recorded by Cyndi Lauper in 1983. Greg Laswell then covered it last year for the film Confessions of a Shopaholic.

Lyrics
The lyrics stayed near exactly the same. One slight variation was the ordering of the verses. In the original the first verse features the singer speaking to her mother, and in the cover the singer is speaking to his father. The second verse is also switched up in this way, though I cannot conceive what purpose this holds other than some kind of personal significance to the performer. Laswell also says “those girls they wanna have fun” rather than “girls just wanna have fun.”

Melody
The melody was exactly the same lyrically, but changed completely in terms of notes and instruments. I believe in all some main chords stayed the same, but the music is really quite different in general. Before the melody was extremely upbeat and synthesized, in the cover the only instruments being used are the singer’s voice and a single piano.

Timbre
The timbre of the song changed the most from the original to the cover. While the original was the picture of 80s pop; bouncy, light, and upbeat, the cover was a very simple ballad.

Speed
While the speed did not change as much as the timbre, it certainly changed quite a bit. The original featured an extremely steady and upbeat tempo. The cover was slowed down a lot and the tempo was slightly less consistent as it sped up in certain areas and slowed in others, something the original rarely did.

Tension vs. Release
Both songs feature a build up of tension and the chorus is used in both to release this tension. However, in Lauper’s original version the release of tension is much more dramatic. In the cover by Laswell, the chorus does not release the tension dramatically, instead it’s much more subtle. Since most people have at least heard Lauper’s version, the slow and somewhat melancholy in comparison release of tension in the chorus seems much less theatrical.

Objective vs. Subjective
The lyrics in the song “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” are, as most song lyrics tend to me, completely subjective and mean different things to different people. However the common impression most got from Lauper’s version was positive, and the song was used in movies and shows when the female characters went out to lunch or on a shopping spree. This causes the listener to feel as if the song is more melancholy than it actually is or would seem to someone who had never heard Lauper’s version. The fact that this song has, for the past twenty years, been used as a sort of symbol for carelessness and fun-times helps aid the metaphorical message Laswell appears to be sending with his cover. Considering the change in tempo, lyrics, and timbre it seems possible that Laswell is taking this anthem and satirically using it in order to make a bitter point about women who he believes only want to have fun. Though he doesn’t change any significant lyrics the implication is certainly there.

I like the Greg Laswell version better, personally, but that’s probably just because I’m a fan of ballads and Greg Laswell. Poor Miss Lauper never stood a chance.

Blog Assignment 4A

1: Acknowledge the Lizard. Seth Godin defines “the lizard brain” as the “prehistoric brainstem that all of us must contend with. It’s the part of our brain that worries about safety and dishes out anger.” As I understand it: “the lizard brain” is that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach before you go up to give a speech in front of a classroom filled with two hundred people, the fear that what you’re doing, saying, creating will be met with ridicule or judgment. This is the part of the brain that encourages normalcy, obedience, and conformity. Godin insists that only once we acknowledge the initial reaction of the “lizard brain” can we ignore it and get past that.

2: Ship. This step is about not only doing the work, but also producing it, and making sure people can see it. It does no good to write an essay if you don’t try to get it out there for people to read, criticize, and connect with. This is also related to getting things done and out the door. It’s about completing the work and making sure others can get to it.

This blog is extremely useful for exercising both of these “levers.” Creating original content is a good way to begin to get past the fear of ridicule provided by “the lizard brain.” Also, it is a way of holding us accountable for putting our original content out into the world where people, our peers even, will be able to view and evaluate what we’ve created. These blogs are a very good and realistic way to prepare for the task of creating in our jobs.

Blog Assignment 4B

I'm stupid. Here's our songs.

Soundscape

http://www.zshare.net/audio/857147069534116a/

My Howl!

http://changethis.com/manifesto/show/51.01.YourHowl

14 Ways to Get Breakthrough Ideas

http://changethis.com/manifesto/49.06.14Ways/pdf/49.06.14Ways.pdf

Hang Out With a Diverse Group of People

            I very much agreed with this point. If you limit yourself to only being around people like you, you aren’t going to get a variety of responses to ideas, and just in general. It’s important to be around many different kinds of people who will offer different critiques, praises, input for your creativity, because you never know what someone is going to say that’s going to spark something incredible in you. Also, by creating a diverse circle of friends and colleagues you keep yourself from becoming narrow minded. I actually sort of ended up doing this today. I contacted someone from the Comedy Club here at OU to talk to her about possibly doing stand-up and to go over jokes. This was important, I felt, because my own friends would be too nice about my material. Talking to a professional would guarantee I was getting an educated and helpful response. Meeting new people also keeps you on your toes, keeps you intellectually aware of yourself, since you aren’t so comfortable. Hanging out with a diverse group of people is definitely an important key to getting new ideas.

Follow Your Fascination

            This was an interesting one. On one hand I agree that it is very important to work on things you are interested in, otherwise the work won’t turn out very good. However, it’s easy to get distracted or lost in your own world when you’re working with something that fascinates you. I’m sure this isn’t a problem for most people, but as someone who gets distracted extremely easily, I find that working on things that are extremely interesting to me causes me to over-indulge, research to excess, delay actual work, etc. I suppose the key is everything in moderation. I don’t argue that work is better when you care personally about what you’re doing, but the advice “follow your fascination” could easily get someone such as myself into a sticky situation. As I’ve said before, I suppose the key is to just keep a handle on it, not let yourself get too distracted, take an extra dose of riddling that morning, whatever you need. All in all, it’s probably a good idea to work on things you’re interested in, despite some challenges.

Take a Break

            I don’t know about this one. I suppose I think my response to this depends on what it is you’re working on, and what else you have to do. Taking a break is perfectly fine if you’re stumped on a sketch that’s due in a couple of days and you have nothing else to do, but most of the time, especially in college, people have many things going on at once. I know that I for one, really can’t afford to take breaks outside of bathroom and lunch. If I don’t have an essay, reading, group project for a class, I have sketches, jokes, material to write for something out of class. Most of the time, the thought “I’ll just take a 5 minute break” results in an accidental 5 hour nap. Perhaps the solution is as simple as setting an alarm, but from where I’m standing, breaks only ever result in loss of time and train of thought. I do see how this would help most people, though, so I can’t dismiss it as completely trivial.

Notice and Challenge Existing Patterns and Trends

“What trends in the marketplace most intrigues you? In what ways might these trends shift in the coming years—and how might your most inspired idea be in sync with this imagined shift?”

The trend in today’s marketplace that most intrigues me is the shift of television from traditional sets to the Internet. This is a growing problem facing the entertainment industry and corporations are struggling to make sure they don’t lose profits. I feel like my interest in writing commercials and working in marketing could possibly fall in line with these changes. As a true product of my generation, I am sure I could work with marketing companies/production companies to ensure that their profits don’t dwindle because of these changes. Everyone from advertising companies to production companies are going to need employees who understand people. If there’s one thing I do better than most everyone else I know, it’s understand what people will/won’t do, what will/won’t work, and I feel like the market is changing at such a rate that companies will need people who know the American audience and can help them to profit during this shift.

Who Inspires Me Creatively

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ugRrbwzdlc

I began listening to Ben Folds when I was 14. I heard the song "Evaporated" and was pretty much hooked from that moment on. Folds is not only an incredible performer and brilliant songwriter, but he knows how to take creative risks. 


He has enough confidence in himself as a serious writer to create songs like "Brick," a melancholy song about his high school girlfriend having an abortion, while still maintaining a healthy sense of humor and self-deprication. One of his most popular singles "Rockin' the Suburbs" features the line: "I take the checks and face the facts, that some producer with computers fixes all my shitty tracks." While I don't believe this is the case, and I'm almost certain he doesn't REALLY either, I certainly relate to that reflex of discrediting yourself for the sake of a laugh.


Ben Folds, in my mind, is one of the best voices for people like me; middle class kids who grew up in the suburbs watching too many movies, reading too many books (never the ones for school), and sitting on the bus with headphones in rather than talking to the other kids because well, let's face it, they just weren't as interesting as David Bowie. He understands this culture of suburban brat-outsiders who grew up as true American consumers, forever berated by their parents to "do something productive." I'm on a tangent now, but it's relevant. It's all a part of that Generation X over-aware, self-indulgence. 


Take for instance, his covering of Ke$ha's "Sleazy." He consistently covers the songs of artists he admires, but that isn't what he's doing here. When Ke$ha sings the song "Sleazy," the text is literal, because she wrote the song and is speaking about her life. When Ben Folds sings "Sleazy," he's performing a sort of satirical tribute. The subtext is ironic, because Ben Folds tends to appeal to exactly the kind of audience which would turn their noses up at Ke$ha. 


Just as I identified with Ben Folds, I would aspire to write/create from a point of view which is relatable.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwTJ08lb73Q


Another person I admire creatively is Greg Daniels, the creator of the American version of "The Office." No other television show, in my mind, utilizes tension and release better than "The Office." The combination of excellent character acting and writing has created a truly astounding show. "The Office" is such an alive and realistic kind of show. The characters have been introduced and developed in a brilliant fashion.


What I find so interesting about the show is that there are so many times where you almost forget it isn't real and are actually physically uncomfortable. Whether it's Michael and Jan having a full-out domestic dispute during a dinner party or Andy punching a hole through the wall, there are times when it's almost painful to watch. Not because it's sad, or horrific, or boring; but because it's so awkward. Typically the awkwardness we see on television and in movies doesn't have the ability to effect how we feel, but the characters and the situations are so realistic and sympathetic that the audience feels effected. 


Almost every episode, something happens which creates tension. Typically it involves Michael doing something which causes everyone in the office to freak out. However, at the end everything returns to the normal state of paper shuffling and polite chit-chat white noise. Every episode perfectly demonstrates tension and release in media. I hope to be able to give these same sort of sensations, sometimes by utilizing tension and release. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61-GFxjTyV0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jaI1XOB-bs


As far as film directors go, I've lately really been admiring the work of Darren Aronofsky. I especially like the contrast between The Black Swan and The Wrestler. Of course, as with all Aronofsky's films, there is some affinity, but he wrote and directed Black Swan as a companion piece to the Wrestler, so there are some contrasts. I admire Darren Aronofky as a director because I feel like he's so good at really making a film his, which gives it a really finished and deliberate feel. 


Most of his films have something to do with a character exploring their reality and having to come to grips with a fierce internal struggle, and Black Swan and Wrestler are no different. Both Mickey Rourke and Natalie Portman's characters use their bodies in extremely physical ways, and it effects them internally. They both punish themselves for their art. 


However, the styles are incredibly different, and they actually correspond to the male and female. The Wrestler was shot and written very honestly, with very little extravagance. Just as men tend to be, The Wrestler is very gritty, very straightforward, breath-takingly so. Black Swan, however is the complete opposite. Everything about it from the plot to the characters, to the cinematography, was extremely indirect and ambiguous. 


I really enjoy Aronofsky's work and I hope to tackle projects with the same sense of self and experimentation. 

Why do I buy Figi water bottles?

They're definitely more expensive, and I'm not enough of a hipster to care about the environmental factor.

It's early and I'm too tired and sick to pretend to be thinking about anything but getting home and sleeping.

I really like this class, and I know I'll learn a lot in this lab, even if it is at an ungodly hour.