Video Art

 Here in Tampa we're spoiled with some pretty beautiful skies and scenery. I decided to take a few videos one day while driving with the top down in Jenny's car, and after some editing and distortion this was the result:

I merged the videos together using iMovie and added visual and audio effects. The glowing lights scene is our bathroom that I filmed for a few seconds. The little melody incorporated was created through this website I found on StumbleUpon. 

Hatsune Miku

Talk about electronic music... Hatsune Miku is the ultimate form. Millions of people pay to see her in concert, she has tons of pop songs, and... she's completely synthesized.

Hatsune Miku is simply a hologram performer. She's an anime character created originally as a mascot for Crypton Future Media, a company that produces virtual instrument software. Her fame escalated quickly as she became one of the most popular stars in many regions of Asia. She has fans of all ages, who come to her concerts in which she dances and sings, and humans play instruments. Since Miku has no past or history, fans like to create her story for her. It doesn't really shock me that there are people out there who pay to see her. They're going to see their favorite artist, live, right there in front of them, who happens to be... an anime cartoon.

the Scopitone

Scopitone was a type of juke box that played not only songs, but music videos too. The machine, made out of leftover WWII airplane parts, could be found in its prime in France during the 1960s. Many artists' debut music videos appeared on and became popularized by the Scopitone.

Here is one of the many catchy French songs featured on the website:

Mummy at Bayshore Blvd

Ever sit on Facebook for hours on end and think, "What am I even doing?"
Do you find yourself going from website to website reading meaningless statuses and tweets such as:

Times goes by, your work is still unfinished, and there you are... STILL on the computer, keeping up with people you happen to know (or maybe not) that are not the least bit significant in your life.

If this applies to you, then there is a good chance distraction and procrastination have gotten the best of you... like they have me. Recently, I've found myself glued to the computer, unable to leave. Occasionally I glance out the window, catch a glimpse of the beautiful view and think, "Wow... just get up!!!!" I am someone who is constantly enamored by the sky, ocean, greenery, and other beautiful things we all take for granted. So, it kills me to waste time online. My piece shows how technology, though so wonderful and convenient, can be so restricting. I chose to mummify myself on Bayshore Boulevard, with my phone and computer in hand, while an abundance of runners, bicyclists, walkers, and rollerbladers cruised by. Hopefully those people were thinking, "I don't know what that girl is doing but I'm glad I'm out here getting some exercise, limbs mobile and free, no bondage or internet tying me down," ....or something along those lines...

Advertising and Propaganda

It isn't uncommon for people to use the terms "advertisement" and "propaganda" synonymously. However, there is most definitely a difference between the two. Advertisement is a paid message targeted toward a specific group of people, in attempt to persuade the group into liking and purchasing a certain product or service. Today, commercials are probably the best example of ads. Propaganda on the other hand, is form of communication that informs and promotes a particular idea, concept, or even belief. In both cases, persuasion is used for a similar goal, but the methods used to achieve that goal are different.

Advertisement:

It is clear that both companies are persuading the viewer of the ad to buy their product.

Propaganda:

Here, it is clear that a message is trying to be pushed onto others, aiming to change their opinion. 

Eva and Adele

Eva and Adele are a pandrogynous couple from Germany who are truly a work of art. Although their sexes determine that they are a heterosexual married couple, they waited 22 years to get married as a homosexual couple (they are now both legally women). They attempt to dress and look exactly alike. Their ages and identities are a secret, and they claim to have landed in their time machine after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Mobbed!

I watched a few flash mobs, but this one really stood out. Apparently there is a show on Fox called Mobbed, in which flash mobs are used to reveal big news. This guy shattered his girlfriend's heart by making it seem like he was cheating on her... little does she know that they were about to be married. I'm usually not into sappy things like this, but this actually made me cry a little! It's just so overwhelming, I can't imagine being in the girl's shoes. Not sure if I would ever want something like this, but they're going to have a great story to tell their kids and grandkids someday!

Iconoclasm

An iconoclast is someone who deliberately destructs a religious symbol, usually an indication for political or religious reform. For this reason, iconoclasm tends to go hand in hand with revolutions. Iconoclasm dates as far back at the year 630, when Muslims destroyed various statues of Arabian deities housed in the Kaaba in Mecca. In other instances, iconoclasm has been committed by the Jews, the French, Russians, Chinese, Afghans, and a wide variety of other countries and religious groups. It is still seen today on many occasions, specifically by the Muslims. Iconoclasm is also popular among art and literature.

Joseph Beuys

Joseph Beuys was born in 1921 in Krefeld, Germany where he eventually joined the military in 1940. After he returned in 1945, he created some serious artwork-- highly inspired by his time in the war. He used fat and felt as mediums (he was once rubbed in fat and wrapped in felt by nomads to help him stay warm after a wartime plane crash) in sculpting. He abandoned his dreams of working in the medical field after the war to study sculpting at the Düsseldorf Academy of Art. After graduating, he read; focusing on philosophy, science, poetry, literature, and the occult. After marrying, Beuys took a job at Düsseldorf, where he met contemporary Nam June Paik, who impacted his work greatly. He began to think of ways in which art could play a larger role in society. Here are some of his pieces:

Sheryl Oring

Sheryl Oring created the organization, I Wish to Say, in order to give the people an opportunity to tell the president exactly what they wish to say. She was concerned that not enough people were truly being heard, and wished to grant them the free expression their entitled to. Citizens write postcards to the president and she sends them to the white house. More than 2,000 postcards have been sent since the foundation started back in 2004.

Brion Gysin and the Dream Machine

Brion Gysin was an artist, traveller, writer, and alchemist of the 20th century. He was a great friend of author William Burroughs, who used his cut-up technique. The cut up technique, which definitely shows some parallels to Dadaism, is a literary style in which text is cut up and rearranged to create a completely new text.

Bryon Gysin's Dreamachine is another one of his cool discoveries. The Dreamachine is simply a cylinder with slits on the slides, placed on a record turntable and rotated. The light bulb underneath the cylinder, illuminates through the slits and creates a visual stimuli. Behind closed eyes, the user will see all sorts of patterns, shapes, and colors, and might even enter a hypnagogic state. It can be pretty intense, but the experience is over as soon as the user opens their eyes.

to try it online: http://www.netliberty.net/dreamachine.html

McCarthy

Joseph McCarthy was an American politician and Wisconsin senator from 1947 to 1957. During this time, millions of Americans were accused of being communists and Soviet spies. This era known as the Second Red Scare, only further increased the tension that was induced by the Cold War. Within McCarthy's ten year term, he was responsible for the blacklisting and accusation of around 200 citizens. The term "McCarthyism" was coined, to criticize his anti-communists pursuits. The term is used more broadly today to describe any unsubstantiated accusation or attack. 

McCarthy became a popular subject for political cartoonists of the 1950s:

McCarthy propaganda posters:

Bauhaus

Bauhaus was a school in Germany that is now very well known for the approach to design that it taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933 and specialized in crafts and fine arts. The school aimed to teach many various techniques and approaches collectively. "Bauhaus" translates to "house of construction" in German, which is most definitely reflective of the art and style that resulted from it. The Bauhaus style became one of the most influential currents in Modernist architecture and modern design, in Western Europe, the United States, Canada, and Israel.

Bauhaus architecture:

Bauhaus art and furniture:

 The style is clearly like nothing that had ever been done before. Some famous artists of this time include Marcel Breuer, Werner Drewes, Max Bill, Gerhard Marcks, and many many more. 

Grid Art

It took me a while to get inspired for this project, but after a few days of thinking, an idea finally emerged. I decided to make a grid out of a bunch of pictures of myself and others, or pictures I have taken throughout the years. I shrunk all the pictures dramatically and gave them a yellow, red, or blue tone. I originally planned to make a larger picture out of these photos but I just didn't feel that was personal enough. After our last class (learning about Dada as well as our next Xerox project) I was messing around with my scanner and got a nice scan of my hand. After a while this is what the result came to be...

I had a few extra pages from Ravenheart (the 81 cent book i used for my flip book) and decided to cut strips and weave them together, making yet another grid. My eyes and lips on my hand was just an impulsive idea, to give it a more personal feel.

Dada

The Dada movement is extremely interesting. It is completely unique and original-- the name, the way it came to be, the style, and the artists involved. It is an art that has never been seen before. In Hugo Ball's Dada Manifesto he explains how "Dada" is meaningless, yet so meaningful. To Americans, the word is known to all as typically a baby's first word meaning, "dad." In French it means "hobby horse," "goodbye" in German, and so much more in many other languages. 

So, why use it to name this movement? To kill all curiosity, it means nothing. The artist took the word an drained it of all meaning. Much like the art itself, it means whatever you want it to mean. Peanut butter sandwich, glue stick, sea otter... that's dada. Dada is simply originality. 

Dada developed in Zurich, Switzerland as a result of World War I. Marcel Duchamp, Tristan Tzara, Hans Arp, Max Ernst, Hugo Ball, Man Ray, and Raoul Hausmann are just a few of the many artists involved in this movement. Collage, photomontage, assemblage, and readymades are all Dada techniques. 

Video Games and Violence

For nearly 40 years now, video games have been an easy way for humans to escape reality (for a couple of hours, anyway). Like all other technologies, the art of the video game has gradually improved, becoming more and more modern and realistic. They can be educational, interactive, and even violent. In fact, violent video games are extremely prevalent today for players of all ages and genders. So we wonder, myth or fact: are violent video games and bullying related? Many parents believe this is a fact, and try to censor the violence from their children. To me, the two are unrelated. If a child is a bully, it has nothing to do with the games they're playing; it is however related to the parenting they're exposed to. It sounds harsh, but the parents are doing something wrong if their child is bullying and they believe it is because of a game. In addition to that, they might want to reconsider buying the violent game for their child if they do not like the behavior they believe it will cause. I can't even believe something like MAVAV exists... Mothers Against Videogame Addiction and Violence...

"Video game addiction is without a doubt, becoming this century's most increasingly worrisome epidemic, comparable even to drug and alcohol abuse. All the while, the video game industry continues to market and promote hatred, racism, sexism, and the most disturbing trend: clans and guilds, an underground video game phenomenon which closely resembles gangs. Parents NEED to be aware of the hidden dangers." 

If this is a parent's worst nightmare, it is seriously time for a reality check.

Why "Apple" 

How does such a common, everyday word such as "apple" represent such a successful computer company? Where did it come from? The answer, quite interesting, is revealed in Steve Jobs' biography. The name was actually created by none other than mastermind Steve Jobs himself, of course. Apparently, Jobs had spent some time working on apple orchards in Oregon, which inspired the name. He liked its simplicity as well as the "fun, spirited, and not intimidating" aspect. The original logo was actually an image of Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree, referencing his theory of gravitation.

Some Fun Stuff

I just came across this video that a friend posted on an animated tattoo a few days ago. Seriously too cool. It also just so happens to cover three topics we've discussed... grid art, animation, and some opera too!

The visual audio performance we saw today kind of reminds me of this cool little music making grid:

You click on a box in the grid and it lights up and lets you make your own music. Have fun!

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/9GDCbS/img44.imageshack.us/img44/6182/music.swf

Ray Kurzweil

Ray Kurzweil is a successful American author, futurist, and inventor. He showed interest in his field at an early age, and quickly strove. He wrote his first computer program at age 15, and took first place at the International Science Fair just two years later, for inventing the classical music synthesizing computer. In his second year of school at MIT he created a company that used computers to help high school students find good colleges for them. He eventually sold it and made quite a bit of profit, showing signs of what would be an extremely effective career.

Kurzweil went on to create and sell many more companies, and worked with many businesses such as Xerox and Hyundai. He also wrote a number of books including The Singularity Is Near in 2005. 

Buck Rogers

I listened to the first episode of Buck Rogers from OTR and the creativity behind it is pretty interesting. The series stars Dr. Heurer, Wilma, and of course Buck, and takes place in the twenty-fifth century. The overall run of the episode was much like the plot of television show. The listener gets to imagine what the set would look like, as well as each character's appearance and interactions. Even more interesting though, was the advertisement in the beginning and end of the segment. The announcer actually converses with "Popsicle Pete," a young boy who's advertising creamsicles and fudge pops, rather than just talk about him or the popsicles themselves. These aspects of radio are what shaped the entire era.

War of the Worlds Hysteria

The War of the Worlds broadcast, aired on October 30th, 1938, set the nation into panic. The broadcast was a special Halloween episode of the Mercury Theater on the Air series. When listeners heard the broadcast, they mistook it for nonfiction. The anxiety and tension that already existed because of the impending second world war, had a huge impact on all Americans. It is said however, that newspapers exaggerated the extent  of the panic that actually existed. 

Walter Carlos and a phone conversation with my mom

Walter Carlos, now known as Wendy Carlos, has had quite a successful career as an electronic musician and composer. She is credited for the soundtrack of many notable movies such as Disney's Beauty and the Beast (1986) and Tron (1982) as well as Stanley Kubrick's bone-chilling The Shining (1980), and of course A Clockwork Orange (1971).

Using what we've learned about the song, "Singin' in the Rain" we can't help but wonder... Why did Carlos choose this song for the rape scene in A Clockwork Orange? I've been able to think of a few theories. Irony? The directors could have probably guessed that this scene would pretty much disgust the audience. But the addition of this chipper song with the horrible sight shown would be an even better way to get the audience's attention...and provoke some thought. And lets not forget that the character is actually singing the song while performing such a stomach-churning act, it's not just background music. However, when I researched the million dollar question I got an interesting answer. The song wasn't planned-- in fact, there wasn't any music planned at all. Kubrick asked McDowell if he knew any songs he could maybe try to sing, and "Singin' in the Rain" happened to be one he was very familiar with. He tried it out, and then we had ourselves one of the most memorable scenes in film history.

When I called my mom to see if she had seen any of the classics we discussed, we had an interesting conversation. Once I named a few, she immediately named some back that we had indeed discussed. I sensed some nostalgia when she enthusiastically asked if we talked about Polyester, one of her favorites. She also told me about when one of her high school teachers got special permission to open the school for a night showing of A Clockwork Orange. Oh, how times have changed. She talked about the "Singin' in the Rain" scene right away. When I asked her if people passed out in the theaters of Earthquake, her response was "Not in Brooklyn they weren't." She does remember seeing it though and mentioned the sensaround. She remembers it being scary, but not nearly as scary as Birds was. I was pretty surprised that my mom had seen so many of these movies, and her response was that if movies today were a dollar a pop, that's how I'd be spending my days too. I added that maybe if movies today were anything like they used to be, I'd also be more of a movie-goer. Thinking about some of the movies that are released these days, I'm not sure that it's such a bad thing that they're twelve dollars a pop. That being said, I really need to get my hands on some of these classic films.

Audio and Color in Film

In the beginning of the twentieth century, the idea of a talking picture was unheard of. At first, sound was recording on a disk, and played in synchronization with the film. By 1929, most of Hollywood had completely converted to this method. Movies like Don Juan and the Jazz Singer made their debut during this time. As technology progressed, quieter cameras and microphones came into play, further perfecting film.

Becoming more and more tech savvy, film makers began to experiment with color. Technicolor was a popular color process developed in the 1920s, that made hand-coloring a thing of the past. Disney's animated Three Little Pigs (1933), and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937), as well as Gone With the Wind (1939) and the Wizard of Oz (1939) all featured Technicolor. 

Abel Gance

Abel Gance's 1927 film Napoleon extended above and beyond most films of this time, where practically every sequence featured some sort of new technology. Tryptic is utilized to obtain a panoramic effect, in which three screens are shown instead of just one.

Obscure camera angles were used in the making of the film as well, for an intense dramatic effect. Though it is a silent film, it is known to be shown to viewers above a live orchestra for enhancement purposes. 

The Great Train Robbery

This film is rather advanced for its time. To think that the beginning of the Industrial Revolution was just about one hundred years earlier is pretty incredible. From there, humans have continued to grow to be more and more innovative, and this film is proof. The director is able to tell an entire story without any dialogue at all. In just about twelve minutes, the audience is comprehensive of a great story line. In addition to this, there are some technological advancements evident as well. There are open fire gun shots, and detailed set designs that enthrall the audience. The last scene even further involves the audience when the actor completely breaks the fourth wall, and shoots at the audience. Viewers of this film  must have gone crazy after seeing it.

A Trip to the Moon

The fact that "A Trip to the Moon" is from 1902 is pretty impressive. This film is a part of history, as America's first science fiction film. Like all movies today, this one too has a plot-- with a beginning, middle, and end, all squeezed into twelve minutes. The film seems pretty typical of the early 1900s at first, but as it progresses the whimsical aspects totally peak through. It definitely makes sense that Melies was a magician in regards to some of the scenes. The film also has some animation which is pretty advanced for it's time. Each segment was a little more shocking towards the ending, and it even seemed a little trippy… I do wonder what kind of reaction emerged from the making of this movie.  

Technology in Broadway

The lighting for the set of Mary Poppins is amazing. The black and blue city skyline glares in the background as they stand on the rooftop. And of course, the incredible wire technology to make the silhouette of Mary Poppins appear while she floats over the city with her umbrella. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeaOH3TB22c&feature=share&list=PL86F0A07CAA44F9E6

The set of Peter Pan, starring Cathy Rigby, is filled with technology. Not only does Peter appear to be flying, but he is also doing all sorts of flips and twists midair. In addition to that, Tinkerbell's appearance at the end of the clip is also pretty cool. And finally, the lighting to make them appear as if they are actually traveling to Neverland is incredible. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkg2w5ZUIPg&feature=player_detailpage

Both the art and technology put into Avenue Q is so cool. I remember seeing this play back when I was in sixth grade and being so amazed. Despite the fact that it was probably way too explicit for my 12 year old ears, I enjoyed everything about it so much. The amount of work put into each set for the city feel, as well as the making of each puppet is unbelievable. Not to mention, the mix of arts involved. Here there is singing, dancing, acting, and puppets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr2xIjDX_tg&feature=player_detailpage

The set of Godspell also employs some pretty cool technology. I'm not too familiar with this play but it looks pretty interesting. There are a system of doors on the floor of the stage, which seem to hold water (that the character of Jesus actually walks on). Water also comes down from the ceiling. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL4aFn1DxGE&feature=player_embedded#! 

Jesus Christ Superstar seems like a great play. Towards the end of the clip, they show a huge crucifix lit  up, with Jesus hanging from it. The structure is actually raised above the audience for all to see. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL4aFn1DxGE&feature=player_embedded#!

This scene from A Chorus Line manipulates the background of the stage. At one point, the wall appears to be a giant mirror. This makes the stage looks larger than it actually is and give the audience to see the dancers from various angles. The wall eventually changes into a big design, and then again becomes a mirror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5yYci9CwYA&feature=player_embedded#!

This scene from Wicked at the Tony Awards is remarkable. The progression of technology coincides with what is going on in the scene. Just when Elphaba is nervous and trembling, she is lifted above all and gains a whim of courage. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J72thWNW6PE&feature=player_embedded#

Jazz

Yesterday's class was craaazy interesting. So much culture packed into one lesson, i could actually feel myself becoming more and more excited throughout the class. The early 1900s were such a captivating time, with some new fad or fashion always rising. I wish i could have experienced it. 

Originating in the 1800s, African American slaves mixed European and African culture to create the beginning of what we now know as Jazz. Jazz became popularized the next century, and was what came to be a mix of blues, ragtime, and marching band music. By the 1920s African Americans began to travel to cities like Chicago, New Orleans,  and New York for better opportunities, and brought their smooth sound along with them. With prohibition in full swing at this time, rebellion rose. Speakeasies were extremely abundant; a place where people could go to escape reality by drinking, dancing, and hearing jazz. Americans embracing jazz, was a clear symbol of rebellion-- deviating from their parent's old fashion views.

The next decade, "big band swing" came fourth, becoming the most popular type of music for the next twenty years. It's sensational beat and swing allowed people to lose their inhibitions… avoid all the trouble that was going on around them, in the real world. Throughout the following years, Americans began to watch more TV, and have less fun dancing. Though jazz records were widely available in stores, people began to give their attention to the new rock and roll they were introduced to. Of course, jazz is a major symbol of the history of our country and will always be significant. Jazz really has revolutionized America in so many ways, and is still a popular type of music that always evokes good feelings. 

Madama Butterfly

Such a great film filled with so many different emotions. This is entirely different approach to recapitulate Giaccomo Puccini's original version of the opera, but it was extremely engrossing. Who is this woman, and what is the meaning of her synthetic body, in comparison to her lover's? As the video progressed it became clear that her lover and his new woman, were made to look like that to represent a sort of numbness. Her skin, not nearly as beautiful theirs', is symbolic of her humanity. She is natural. She feels and she hurts. She is destroyed by her lover's betrayal, meanwhile his smile seems to be permanent. He is careless in regards to her feelings. She loses her child, her soul, and as a result, her entire identity, causing her self-destruction. Ultimately, she is reborn, a new soul, like a butterfly fresh from it's cocoon. 

A few thoughts to catch up...

I have to say, exploring the hidden world of opera has definitely been interesting. We all become familiar with what opera is at an early age, but without any further education, do we really no what it is? Rarely do we ever truly learn about the art behind it. We are exposed to opera in so many areas, such as commercials and TV shows, without even realizing it. Though it's all around me, it still seems so foreign. Especially after learning so many new names and terminology regarding the art. Even the things that didn't seem so foreign to me, like Mozart's career, prove to extend so much deeper than my present knowledge. Turns out, this whole culture that I've been blind to, is packed with history and has made it's way into our culture today.
As far as our lesson on castration goes, the concept is extremely fascinating. I honestly did not even know that this was a technique used for vocal reasons. This method of course seems off-putting to our society today, but proves to have been pretty conventional in the 18th century. I can't help but wonder if the young singers actually wanted to be castrated for the sake of their voices, or just let it happen because it was encouraged? And, at such a young age did they even understand  the biology and purpose behind the procedure? Also, in addition to that… was it an honor to be a castrati, or just something common? Regardless, men like Farinelli and Moreschi have become the prime examples of successful castratis. As much as this topic seems to be packed with information, castration is really only a small segment of opera's culture.

First Post

Hi everyone, I'm Carly, a new student at the University of Tampa, from Long Island, NY. I'm an art major, aspiring for a career in art therapy. I love to work with clay, charcoal, pencil, ink, and as many other mediums as possible. I am generally a very laid-back, easy-going girl, with a strong open mind to experience and learn new things. After our first class today, I'm extremely excited to cover a whole new field of art that I'm not really too familiar with. I anticipate working with a whole bunch of new mediums and learning how to use new programs. In addition to that, I am sure that what I learn in class will broaden my horizons, and inspire me to create all sorts of great pieces.