Blog 4: Reflections on Sound Design

The two topics I am going to discuss about the Empire state building scene from “King Kong” are Space and Time.  The space in this scene is obviously a large size.  The echo on the sound lets the audience know is it a large space in the scene.  The large space creates distance from the characters.  Many effects are used in the scene to create this space, such as echo and other type of compressors.  This can create moods and connection with the characters as far as where you stand in the scene.  The background music also creates a lot of emotion and tension for the scene.  Next is time.  In this scene the tempo seems to slowly progress.  As the action and tension builds, the speed gradually gets faster.  The speed can create the mood that is intended to be felt by the audience.  The loudness also increases with the tempo.  As the action and intensity levels increase, so does the volume.  These two go hand-in-hand with each other.  Both speed and loudness are key factors in creating a mood.  It is the basis of the movie and may be what effects your view and emotion of the movie the most.

Blog 3: Brainwashed

http://changethis.com/manifesto/show/66.01.Brainwashed <- is the link for the article "Brainwashed" by Seth Godin.

Summary:

In “Brainwashed” Seth Godin describes seven levers for reinvention.  One of which is called “Acknowledging the Lizard”.  Godin says the Lizard is the part of our brain that “worries about safety and dishes out anger”.  Godin explains how we must acknowledge the Lizard so we can shut it up.  In other words, we hear the criticism it brings, and so we use that to create better art and shut it up.  Another Lever is Ship.  Ship means to actually get your art out the door for people to see.  If you are the one who delivers than you are the one they can’t live without.  One last lever is Failure.  Growth comes through failure.  I see it as another way of saying, “learn from your mistakes”.  The only way to improve and grow is to base your art off of what you learned from your fails.

Analysis: 

In the article “Brainwashed” Seth Godin, explains seven layers for reinvention.  His seven levers made excellent points that, I believe, highly relate to the students in our media 203 class.  The statements Godin makes in this reading are very relevant to the exercises we perform in class and actually the blogs we are doing for the quarter.  In the short reading, the last lever of reinvention is “Learn”.  Learn explains how we are still continuing to learn which helps us be better artists.  Seth Godin states that we are still learning through our experiments and experiences.  These blogs are experiments and experiences.  Writing these blogs is a step to the whole process, we are learning from what we blog. 

            I have really learned from this reading.  It makes me actually recognize the factors that can and will help me to become a better artist.  These levers make sense to me.  They layout what helps you improve your own work.  Ever factor explained relates to real life experiences I have had.  I do believe these layers make me a better artist.  All of these are tips to help one become successful.  Especially “Acknowledging the Lizard”.  One of the biggest helps to improving an artist’s work is criticism.  You want to prove the wrong.  You want to shut them up.  It is used a more of a motivation.  This layout of levers is something that if I follow and learn, can make me a better artist.

            Not only can these aspects make me a better artist, but they can also make me a better person.  Everything that Godin explains in his article is relative to the way of life.  They can help your chances in success if you practice these actions.  The “Be Generous” lever stands out the most to me when it comes to becoming a better person.  Being generous is the most basic start to being a better citizen.  Just like the saying “treat others the way you want to be treated”, being a kind person can get you far places.  Not only will others treat you with more respect but people will have better views of you, and maybe notice you a little more than others.  Being generous should be the base ingredient in becoming successful. 

            This article was not only an inspirational one, but also a very helpful one.  I agree with all the points that Godin explains in the reading.  Not only does this relate to our class, but this also relates to our life.  If one can follow these in attempts to reinvent themselves, they have a good base for becoming successful.

Blog 2: Finding Your Howl

http://changethis.com/manifesto/show/51.01.YourHowl <- is the link to the article "Finding Your Howl"

Summary:

I find myself to be in relation of the second story of “Finding Your Howl”.  The story is set in Jonathon Flaum’s 5^th grade class.  One of his classmates wrote a story that explained “the way of life”.  The story explained how a Tiger who was in a cage of a zoo, continuously tried to escape, but every time he would, he just fell right into another cage.  The message is that we can’t escape the prison of the situations we identified ourselves with, we must dig down deep in ourselves letting all of that go and start over fresh.

“Life is short if you don’t notice it’ll pass you by,
That’s why my head is in the clouds trying to pass the sky.”

The quote above is one that is stated by one of my favorite artists, Ludacris.  Ludacris is not only a hardcore rap artist as some may think, but he is also a very intelligent, inspirational artist who uses different methods to create emotions and feelings into his work.  This quote comes from the song called “Child of the night”.  In the song, Ludacris talks about his accomplishments and the obstacles he had to overcome to reach these accomplishments.  The song is very inspirational while encouraging never giving up and following your dreams.  This quote really speaks to me as a creative person especially because I too have big dreams that I am really determined to accomplish like Ludacris.  Also, because I have similar goals as the ones of Ludacris, so I feel as if this song has a connection with my values as well.

Specifically, the first line, “Life is short if you don’t notice it’ll pass you by,” is something that I feel everyone should recognize.  This is a common saying by many people but Ludacris adds this to his song to emphasize the meaning of the piece.  Though some may not realize, it is so true.  Ludacris wants to point out that everyone should live his or her life to the fullest because it will be over before you know it.  The text of the song creates a pattern, which helps the audience recognize the main focuses that are being portrayed to the listeners.  Differing from Ludacris’ other songs, this one truly expresses his emotions and actually gives words of advice from his own experiences.  It is meant to be a inspirational piece given from Ludacris’ point of view and past experiences.  I clearly connect to his lyrics because they encourage me to never give up and relate to what I feel will happen in time that is soon to come.  

The following line, “That’s why my head is in the clouds trying to pass the sky” has, in my opinion, the biggest impact on the moral of the song.  In this statement, Ludacris is implying that the sky is the limit, or maybe it isn’t.  Either way you view it, one can identify that he is trying to urge you should reach for your wildest dreams and continue to follow them.  In the next section of the sentence, Ludacris uses a sort of metaphor by stating that his head is “in the clouds”.  This creates a picture in my head, visualizing what he is saying to try to understand the meaning.  This is how a lot of other rappers write their lyrics as well, use metaphors for the audience to understand the double meaning so it generates higher impact on the songs message.  Then once again after, he says, “trying to pass the sky”.  After reading the second part, you now know what he was trying to portray.  He explains how he is “in the clouds” trying to “pass the sky”, in other words, he is putting no limit on his success and triumphs.

Blog 1: Deconstructing Characters

The first attribute of the character, Isabel, that I have created is color.  The image of the spit complementary is the corresponding colors to the heroine, Isabel.  The colors are not only the same school colors as her private catholic school, but the colors are also meant to express a mellow peaceful mood.  Additionally, the bright combination expresses light and happy feelings, not of the opposite, dark and “evil” colors, such ones of her evil archenemy, Mabel.  The colors want the citizens to feel safe when they see the colors presented because they know they are now safe, their hero has arrived.
The second element is Light.  Surrounding my character is an ambiance of light and brightness.  The light creates a joyful, mellow mood that calms all environments that lets them know they are safe.  It also reflects on the Isabel’s personality in showing she is a peaceful person and only out to help out people.  Isabel is not out to kill, but rather turn evil into good.  Isabel was brought up in a peaceful setting as her father the local pastor.  The citizens see the brightness as a sign of god, or an angel of some sort, though no one knows the truth.

Lastly, the shape that describes Isabel the most is such the object we discussed in the class lecture, a speeding bullet.  Not only the bullet, but in the image, the water surrounding the bullet is in a triangular form similar to the posture of Isabel while running.  Isabel’s quickness is unheard of.  She needs to be able to reach the location of evil as quickly as possible to extinguish the danger and save the innocent people from the evil works of Mabel and her minions.  The triangular shape represents not only the quickness, but also urgency to make the world a better place.

On the Contrary, Mabel, Isabella’s nemesis, seems to be the opposite.  Mabel’s colors create contrast as they include black and white.  Mabel’s background is usually black and scary, as her place of rest and territory is the Cemetery.  Mabel’s actual figure is white in order to portray a ghostly or slight zombie feel.  She is actually dead but still turning innocent people to evil.   The two contrasting colors make you focus on the character, while also providing a mood that creates tension related to the character.   Black and white is a great fit to really describe Mabel’s personality and intentions, making one judge the character and notice the evil.

            Next, the lighting on Mabel, well… there isn’t much.  The only light seen is Mabel herself.  She is a misty white figure, but surrounded by lots of darkness.  Such as the black and white contrasting concept, the darkness around her lets the audience know that this character is not for good.  The dim lighting on her body is a sort of sneaky feeling because she is not easily noticeable, but when you finally lay your eyes on her, her presence is definitely felt.  Mabel resides in the cemetery so she is used to the darkness, and usually is only in darkness, as it seems like the darkness follows her.  The dim lighting and dark characteristics of Mabel are also present to provide emotion to recognize that Mabel is the antagonist.

            The last aspect of Mabel is her shape.  Her figure is one of a small girl, obviously, because she is one.  More specifically, she has slightly droopy shoulders describing her anger and intentions.  She moves in a slow, but rather swift motion.  She wears a dress, which is what she wore when she died from an attempted exorcism by Isabella’s father.  Clearly, there is some relation between the two that creates distinct tension.  Mabel usually keeps the same posture throughout her movement, unless of course, she is battling her opponents.  Mabel’s Shape is a key factor in informing the audience and other characters what she is all about.