4.2 Audio Response

www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/178/superpowers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZvkA4ELovU

Bonus Post

I felt that the point Karim made that stated "Consume experiences, not things" spoke to me the most. This is because in my day to day life I see people more worried about surrounding themselves with physical/material objects in an attempt to make themselves happy instead of surrounding themselves with people and memories. To me, it's the people and company that makes a place, not the things that are in it. I think that a much more worthwhile way to live is to not focus so much on material items that in reality matter very little, but to focus on the people in our lives and the experiences we have with them to make us happy.
I can definitely see a correlation between his manifesto and his work. In his manifesto he talks about creating something new that hasn't been done, and how normal is not good. His art is most definitely not normal and his work is something that I have never seen before. It is so creative and unique that it almost blows my mind. I also think that his spirituality informs his art in such a way to make it more unique. I think that his spirituality makes his art more interesting and unique from other artist's work. I can't help but wonder if his art would be a little lacking without the spiritual aspect of his life.

4.3 Reflections on Game Presentation

I think that a portion of my presentation that didn't go so well was explaining the type of game that was designed.  The reason I think this is because we accidentally mixed two different kinds of games into one. I think it would be easy to improve this aspect of the presentation very easily just by correctly categorizing the kind of game that we designed. We said that the game was skill/strategy when this is not the case. In order to improve this, the skill portion needs to be taken out and it makes it easier for the audience to understand what kind of game it is. And since it is a chess game, this subtraction of the skill aspect makes it easier to understand that it is a strategy based game. Another point of the presentation that could have been better would be the pitch itself. We didn't do a very good job convincing the audience that it would be a fun game to play and that they should buy it. Maybe with a better explanation as to what makes the game fun and unique from other chess games would make audiences more interested in it. I felt as though The objectives were really easy to explain. Since it is a chess based game, and many people already know how to play chess, it is understandable that in order to complete a game, the match must be won. It was also easy to make the audience understand that in order to complete the objectives of moving up in the tournament that each opponent must be beaten in order.

4.1.1 Hero/Villain Reflection

http://artistmdia.blogspot.com/2011/07/mdia-203-project-3-animation.html?showComment=1311343665794#c5721421996973130958

http://brunneyblog1.blogspot.com/2011/07/stop-motion-animation.html?showComment=1311344211183#c8949024395869796298

http://ilovereptiles.blogspot.com/2011/07/stop-motion-animation.html?showComment=1311344737805#c7822227224395288208

Game

4.1 Stop Motion Reflection

Kirby's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbZkeZIVFWc

Kevin's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-w_1EFjN7Y

3.3 Audio Critique of Game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDCUCbqIe48

3.2 Movie Audio Commentary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqb1IsqGsG4

I couldn't figure out how to freeze the video. There was no end to my frustration with that fact

3.1 Reimagining Visual Framing

I really like this image, for several reasons. The space of the original image is something that really attracted me to it. The image is really deep and open. The open sky in the background as well as the deep tunnel with continuing space beyond is really thought provoking to me. I don't really know how to describe it, but this use of space in the image really struck me. I was also intrigued by the contrast and affinity contained in the image. The image contains affinity between the colors and shades that are used throughout. It's really dark and gloomy throughout which cues a certain response from viewers. The contrast comes from the different use of shots as well as different combinations of curved and linear lines. I also really like how the artist used different shot types within a single image. He incorporates a medium shot/close up of the woman at the front which really draws attention to her. The medium/wide shot of the other individual standing behind her is also interesting. The use of the front woman kind of helps to frame her and tells me that the woman at the front is not alone but is separated from others nonetheless. Finally, the extreme wide shot of the individual in the tunnel add in a third and interesting characteristic of the image. This use of the three different shots actually helps to draw attention to the images visual movement and rhythm as well. I think that each person shown in the image, in the different sizes, helps to make it a very rhythmic piece. The objects of focus are all evenly spaced apart as well as evenly sized in their differences. 

I think the artist framed the image the way he did to show this rhythm between the individuals of focus as well as the space that lies between them. I also believe the artist used objective/subjective aspects in the work. the objective portion of the piece is that the woman at the front is crying and is saddened but we don't know why. The subjective portion comes from the conclusions that viewers can draw about the characters by looking at this image, for example, she's sad because she's lost. The decision of why the emotion she is feeling is shown is left up to viewers and is ambiguous. 

I chose to frame the picture the way I did because I wanted to focus attention on the use of space of this portion of the image. I liked how this piece of the image incorporates both limited and ambiguous space in a really interesting way; the tunnel is a limited space because the space beyond can be seen but that space beyond is ambiguous at the same time because we aren't really sure where it goes and what lies beyond. 

2.2 Video Response

http://changethis.com/manifesto/6.HowToBeCreative/pdf/6.HowToBeCreative.pdf

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

2.4 Audio Response

article
http://changethis.com/manifesto/51.01.YourHowl/pdf/51.01.YourHowl.pdf

audio response
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBqu58Evgdg

2.1 Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song and the cover by Trent Reznor and Karen O

The song I chose to compare and contrast is the Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin The cover was done by Trent Reznor and Karen O. The quality of the two versions of the song have similarities as well differences. The timbre of the two versions of the song vary greatly. Led Zeppelin’s version of the song is less complex; it uses more traditional rock band instruments such as drum set and guitar. The timbre of the cover song is fairly different from the original. This version of the song is less raw than the original and is more electronic. It’s timbre is noisier than the original. It also has a darker feel than the original and is more complex. The pitches of the two songs also differ. The pitches in Led Zeppelin’s version tend to go higher than the cover version. The pitches in Trent Reznor and Karen O’s cover tend to be lower. The two songs are similar in their tempo/speed however. Both the original song and the cover have the same fast and almost frantic tempo. When matched up, the speeds of the two songs are almost exactly the same. The two versions of the songs use the same lyrics; there aren’t any surprises there. They are also the same in the sense that the melody is kept the same between the original version and the cover.

Both songs use tension and release effectively. The songs build tension at the end of sections and then release it at the beginning of new sections. For example, at fifty seconds into Led Zeppelin’s version, they build tension and use a moment of silence to hold said tension. They then release the tension after the silence, and get back into the main guitar riff. This tension and release is mirrored in the cover song as well, at the same time in the music. The two songs also carry contrast and affinity between each other. They do this in the sense of how each version differs as well as how they are similar. They contrast in the mood and instruments used. Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song uses rock band instruments and is under the rock genre. This contrasts with the cover greatly. The cover by Trent Reznor and Karen O doesn’t incorporate the instruments like Led Zeppelin does. The cover contrasts because it is very electronic and uses a lot of related effects. They also contrast in the sense that the cover version conveys a darker mood than the original, as stated earlier. The two songs contain affinity between each other in the sense that they both have the same lyrics and vocal melodies. The melodies/harmonies between the instruments are also the same.

I would have to say that I like the original version of the song better than the cover. To me, no cover can ever top the original work, especially when it’s a cover of Led Zeppelin. I just like the rawness and the sincere work of the musicians at hand in the original song. The cover is still really good however. It shows a whole new side to the song and almost gives me chills when I listen to it. It really is very well done as far as covers go. However, since it lacks the true instrumentation and performance aspect, I find it a bit lacking. The effects used are interesting to listen to, but I prefer the real instruments and “performance-like” recordings over electronic/computer made sounds and recordings.

Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin

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

Immigrant Song cover by Trent Reznor and Karen O

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7O-CfJohk8

2.3 Audio Reflection

kevins song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69tTtMYyelw

kennys song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vuu0SboCubo

Critiques
Josh's Song
http://buflo-bloggaholics.blogspot.com/2011/06/first-song.html?showComment=1310138475843#c6409324629598260548

Austin's Song
http://artistmdia.blogspot.com/2011/06/mdia-203-music-song.html?showComment=1310139254193#c6335950241881746446

Brynn's Song
http://ilovereptiles.blogspot.com/2011/07/mdia-203-song_08.html?showComment=1310140504629#c86942615422343390

1.3 Soundscape Critiques

http://mdia203blog.blogspot.com/2011/06/soundscape-project_27.html#comments

http://artistmdia.blogspot.com/2011/06/mdia-203-audio-reflection.html#comments

http://sh269608.blogspot.com/2011/06/sound-scape-project-1.html#comments

1.1 Who Influences Me

I am definitely a creative person in a musical aspect. Nearly everything that I do creatively relates to music in one way or another. Whether it is writing songs, trying to cover songs in a new way, or just jamming with friends, I am definitely a musically creative person. I like to write music about pretty much anything; I feel as though music is one of the few ways that I have truly been able to express myself. I try to portray how I am feeling at the time through my music through both lyrics and the mood of the music, whether it be happy or angry.

One artist that definitely influences me as a creative person is Jonathan Davis, the lead singer of KoRn. The music that he writes is so intense and powerful; it truly captures me as a listener. There is one song that he wrote, entitled Starting Over that he wrote after a near death experience. This song talks about how he nearly died and how God will eventually take him. The text of this song talks about how he is bored with happiness and how death would be relief. I interpret there to be a subtext in this piece. On the surface of the text, he talks about how he would almost welcome death as a change of scenery. However, having had a near death experience, I believe that there is a subtext where he is thankful for life, and now he gets a chance to start over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMPmVmW-WPw

Another artist that influences me as a creative person is the band Protest the Hero. This is a Canadian Metal band whose music nearly always tells a story. The reason that this artist influences me is for this exact reason. I love listening to music that tells listeners a particular story. Protest the Hero is very good at incorporating the didactic aspect into their music. They have a song called C’est La Vie that tells the story of several individuals who take their own lives. This song does a very good job at didactically telling viewers a story. There isn’t much development in the characters in a didactic sense, but the story that is told is still very intriguing. In this same song, the music video helps to actively tell the story to viewers. Viewers are actively taken through the story throughout the video and as the story of the deaths of the characters unfold, viewers are able to actively see what ultimately takes place in the story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKZ-eKBJ9dw

One more artist that influences me as a creative person is not related to audio, but film. This artist is the director of the film Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky. This film was very inspirational to me because it does an excellent job of portraying affinity and contrast. This film shows affinity in the sense that all of the major characters are related to dancing and perfection in some way. Throughout the film, Nina’s character is obsessed with being a perfect dancer, and when she confronts Beth and says that she just wants to be perfect like her, Beth says that she’s not perfect, that she’s nothing. This shows that there is an affinity between dancers and their obsession to obtain perfection. There is more contrast than affinity in the film, though. Contrast is shown through the characters of Nina and Lily. Nina is always dressed in light colors and she is uptight, whereas Lily is always dressed in dark colors and she is carefree. This use of affinity and contrast by Darren Aronofsky is a main reason why he inspires me as an artist. 

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

1.2 WAYS TO GET IDEAS

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

14 Ways to get Breakthrough Ideas is an article written by Mitch Ditkoff, which starts off by discussing two differing thoughts on how to get creative ideas. The author then begins discussing the fourteen ways he believes a person could get ideas. The first is Follow Your Fascination; in this portion Ditkoff talks about a person's fascination with a new idea. He claims that an individual's fascination with a new idea is "nature's way of getting our attention." The author also tells readers that these fascinations should not be dismissed as trivial and should be given time to breathe and grow. Ditkoff's second insight on how to get breakthrough ideas is Immerse. This section of the article describes to readers how ideas often come at odd times and in order to develop an idea, an individual should immerse themselves in the development of an idea. The third section talks about tolerating ambiguity. In this section the author describes to readers how breakthrough ideas are often the result of evolution and trial and error. He encourages readers to accept ambiguity and discomfort at ideas not necessarily working out perfectly in the beginning. The fourth section, Make New Connections, discusses how in order to be really creative, a person should break out of what we already know in existence. The author then moves on to discuss his fifth section, Fantasize. In this section he encourages people to use their imaginations. Define the Right Challenge, the sixth section, discusses how an individual should create a question that shows what they are trying to make. The seventh section, Listen to Your Subconscious, discusses how when an idea that was in the conscious and then discarded to the subconscious, which then begins working on figuring it out. Ditkoff's eighth suggestion, Take a Break, which encourages people that if they are struggling with an idea, take a break from it and do something else. The ninth section of the article is entitled Notice and Challenge Existing Patterns and Trends and it tells readers to challenge existing trends and to change them. Section ten, Hang out with Diverse Groups of People, tells readers to spend time with new people they aren't familiar with to help develop ideas. Section eleven is entitled Brainstorm and it encourages people to think with others, not just alone. The twelfth section is called Look for Happy Accidents and it tells people to try and notice something new. Section thirteen is called Use Creative Thinking Techniques and it talks about different techniques and provides suggested links for readers. The final section is called Suspend Logic and it suggests to let go of the practical and to "feel" an idea.

Response to Ditkoff's Suggestions

Brainstorm: The section that discusses working with other people to develop an idea is a good section. Many times I find myself at a roadblock on an idea, whether it be for a paper or a song I am writing. Perhaps the solution is just to get some outside input. I could incorporate this suggestion into my creative life by working with other people on ideas. For example, when I want to try and develop an idea for a song, I could meet with other fellow musicians and "jam" on some riffs or something and see if pieces fall into place.

Take a Break: The section that tells readers to take a break when they get stuck on an idea is a good suggestion. Often I find that I get stuck at some point when I'm working on an idea and I get frustrated. I think that in my own creative process, when this happens, I could walk away from the project for awhile, put my mind elsewhere, and come back to it at a later time. I feel as though this method would greatly improve my development of ideas. 

Tolerate Ambiguity: This suggestion is probably the best one from the article for me. I tend to become very frustrated when things don't turn out perfectly at first. I feel that if in my own creative life, if i were to tolerate the fact that not everything will fall into place at first, then developing ideas would become smoother. If I begin to get comfortable with this concept, then I won't be so hesitant to return to a project that I have been avoiding because of being stuck on a section. 

Activity from Prompt: Prompt from Hang out with Diverse Group of People.

1. Dan Floyd 

2. Matt Hatcher 

3. Robert Bell

4. Casey Leigh

5. Nick Meidel

6. Corey Krauss

7. Kaitlin Keeton

8. Tim (can't recall his last name)

9. Jon Mikesell 

10. Joannah Tindagen

Dan Floyd is first to spend time with. I will do this when I get back to Athens on Tuesday, after the 4th of July.

my soundscape

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0JxioY5rj0


keep in mind that the timing of the audio and video got messed up when changing the file. try to ignore that. thanks