Blog #4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVlPGdAKw2Y

        This particular scene in the movie "Big Fish" displays many techniques of sound. when the scene starts, Sandra Templeton is asleep but is awoken by the smell of her favorite flower, a daffodil. As her eyes open, music starts to play, the music is a light free violin melody. Speed of music is slower, however when Sandra approaches the window to see what's outside the music's speed and urgency increases when she flings open the window, as well as the loudness. This increase in speed and loudness intensifies the moment for the audience. Movement of sound is also shown in this particular moment because as the window is swinging and moving the sound is getting louder. The tonal center is also being created because the movement of the sound and the movement of the window are in sync. When Sandra goes down to meet Edward the sounds of birds chirping in the background is an example of distance. Although the audience is unable to see the birds we know the birds are up in the sky chirping, creating the outside space.

Blog #3

1. Acknowledging The Lizard

        “Acknowledging The Lizard” is a unique layer that describes part of the brain as “the lizard.” It’s the part of the brain that worries about safety and exploits our anger. When we are laughed at the lizard shuts down our art. When our art is shut down by the lizard it can be referred to as “the resistance.” This resistance makes us feel ashamed, and encourages us to follow the rules. Art doesn’t follow rules. However, when we are mocked or excluded the resistance wins and shuts us down. One example that is given in the reading explains that if you don’t complete your homework for your teacher she punishes you and the next time your doing homework you make sure it’s completed. In this situation the resistance has won the battle, you have given into following the rules. When it comes to creating art, the resistance is so easy to takeover. Therefore, we must ignore the criticism and skeptical remarks.

2. Connect

        The layer “Connect” deals with social media. This layer explains that as a social media user, we shouldn’t be looking at the number of followers we have or at how many people write on our “wall.” We should be more aware of what we are learning about other users that we couldn’t connect with otherwise. Social media must be used in the right way for users to benefit properly. Social media has opened the door to a whole new way of connecting. This layer explains that if we appreciate social media and use it properly we can go over the threshold and not only touch people but also gain authority and power. One example in the writing talks about a viral poster of President Obama spread across the internet and eventually became a cultural icon. The future is all connected. It’s up to us, the users to do it properly and effectively. 

3. Making Art

        “Make Art” is a layer that explains what the word “Art” truly means. Art doesn’t have to be a drawing or a poem, it’s something anyone can do. If your interacting with others and making connects that generate something new and different it’s considered art. Art doesn’t have rules and art is very risky. A teacher is an artist. Teaching kids or whomever it may be is considered art. If you are creating new ideas and bringing people together on a human level then you are creating art. When you create the uncreated you will be greatly rewarded and creating art is definitely worth the risk.

      Creating a blog this quarter can be connected to Seth Godin’s “Brainwashed.” Blogger.com is an application created by Google that allows people to connect on many levels. When it comes to the seven layers this blog falls under a few of the layers discussed. As a blogger you are experiencing the social media world.

       “Connect” is one layer that explains if social media is used properly, us as users can gain a lot from correctly utilizing the functions of social media. We as students can us this blog tool to become more connected with each other. Doing this blog will help us as students because we need to be more in tune with each others ideas and creative processes.

        “Making Art” is another layer that can also be used to interpret these blog assignments we’re doing for class. The blog is art. Seth Godin explains that making art doesn’t have to be writing or a painting but it’s how ideas connect us and it’s about creating the uncreated. Creating posts and being unique while writing our blog posts can help us connect to other students and possibly give someone a new outlook on a particular topic. We can help plant a new idea in someone else's head and therefore pass our ideas along. Like said in “Brainwashed,” our future is all connected, and we can all help put others by creating art.

        As students and especially bloggers we must "Acknowledge the Lizard." As explained in “Brainwashed,” when we acknowledge the lizard we can avoid and ignore the resistance that is created when people mock or criticize our art. We can easily be shut down by the resistance because we are opening ourselves and our art up to an entire class of students. Having our art judged is a feeling caused by the resistance, however, if we acknowledge this problem and understand it then we can ignore the resistance.

This layer idea is interesting and I believe after reading about it, it can better me as a student. Not only does it keep me thinking about this new way to perceive “art,” it also makes me think about this spot in my brain referred to as “the lizard.” Overall I think Seth Godin’s “layers” idea is unique and interesting and multiple layers can be applied to our blog assignments. 

Blog #2

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

        

        Mumon is a red wolf with no howl. Red wolves experienced a huge population drop due to their inability to howl. When the wolves were unable to howl they couldn’t fend for themselves. The wolves were unable to communicate and therefore were unable to choose a leader. Mumon is one wolf who was determined to go on an adventure to find his howl. When hunting Mumon came across a deer that was larger than him. While Mumon was chasing the deer, the deer communicated to Mumon and explained that his howl is within him and he never lost his howl, he just needed to dig deep to find it. Now ashamed for killing the deer, a raven explained he should not feel ashamed and that the deers bones have no resentment. The deers soul and inner power came out in Mumon. Mumon got a burst of energy that he had never felt before. While he was running a farmer shot him. Mumons energy and newly obtained power was absorbed by the hunter. As Mumon was brought into the fire of the dancing humans, he howled. He was not burned by the fire, he was the fire. Johathon Flaum uses this particular story to tell the reader that within you is your true power or fire. Not all of us know we have it until we can dig deep within ourselves and find it. This inner passion can come at the most unexpected times. 

“He wears his heart safety pinned to his backpack, his backpack is all that he knows. Shot down by strangers who glances can cripple, the heart and devour the soul. All alone he turns to stone, While holding his breathe after death. Terrified by what’s inside, to save his life, he crawls like a worm from a bird...” - The Used, "The Bird and the Worm"

        These lyrics come from The Used’s song, “The Bird and the Worm.” The lyrics of the song can relate to the message that Johathon Flaum tries to get across with his story about Mumon. Creativity can be seen as the passion or the fire that is trapped inside. I personally as a creative individual feel as if I have not reached my full potential as a creative mind. I have not yet been able to express all of my true creative ability. This bottled up creativity wants to be unleashed but because it’s hidden inside the person in the lyrics feels alone and distant. 

The character portrayed in The Used’s “The Bird and the Worm” doesn’t feel like his true self just like Mumon in Flaum’s short story. He must dig deep to find what’s truly inside himself because it is the only way he feels as if he can express who he truly wants to be. This lyric inspires me as a creative person because of the inner message that it conveys. The person in the song lyrics isn’t himself and people just looking at him knowing something is hidden within causes him pain. The last line, “He crawls like a worm from a bird...” can be interpreted as the inner fire or passion is finally crawling through his body and coming out. Just like Mumon in the short story. Finally in the end, Mumon’s howl is finally heard and escapes his body. A worm slowly crawling out of a dead bird symbolizes the hidden force or power inside emerging out of the body of the character. The hidden passion can be seen as life while the bird carcass can be seen as the characters past and his unwanted life before the force came out.

Many people listen to “The Bird and the Worm” and have no clue what the inner meaning is. The trick is that there is not just one hidden message. It is up to the listener to interpret what the lyrics are saying. Having a creative mind is key when it comes to dissecting the lyrics; and being able to see the many aspects of the lyrics is something that intrigues me. In conclusion, The Used’s song, “The Bird and the Worm” bring out my creativity because it makes me think about all the different deeper meanings. The song also can relate to the deeper message in the short story written by Johathon Flaum about the red wolf Mumon finding his howl. 

Blog #1

   
     Not only does Gold represent my characters desires, the color of gold can be found draped around my characters neck as well as on his teeth. Dequon Marshall sells drugs for one reason, to make a profit. Money is his motivation and he will do anything to get what he wants, even if it comes to violence. Gold represents the wealth that Dequon wants to obtain and he feels as if gold is a way to show off his wealth.
The flashy gold shows off Dequon's loud personality.

     A smokey and diffused light represents my characters state of mind as well as his environment. Dequon Marshall uses drugs all day long, which alters his state of mind. The smokey and hazy lighting represents  this drug altered mind that my character deals with on a daily basis. This lighting can also be connected to his environment. Dequon stays up in his apartment all day making drug deals and using drugs, causing literally a smokey environment.

     The shape of a 40 oz bottle can be interpreted as Dequon Marshall's body shape. This bottle represents the round figure of my character. His chubby physique shows off this personality. Being overweight, shows that Dequon Marshall doesn't really care much about physical appearance and only about drugs and money. The cubby body shape can also represent the wealth of my character because he can afford to eat; and like the "God Father" in a mob, the large body represents power.

Dequon Marshall

Nightcrawler