Ugh

Editing posts is annoying because they don't save in the same spot.

Sorry for the random rant.

Class today Feb. 28, 2013

We watched a video called "Triumph of The Nerds" and I'm sorry to say but that was the most boring thing I have ever watched. Usually when we watch videos, I end up appreciating things more but watching this just put me to sleep. I was literally fighting to stay awake.

I think it's cool how we even HAVE computers but I don't know, this video just annoyed me.

Playing the video game was fun though. I want to get to level 10 on all of the workers!

*saying goodbye to my social life*

Grid Picture

I decided to use this picture I took of my hot chocolate from Oxford Exchange. I love this picture so much mainly because it looks professional to me when in reality, it was taken with an iPhone and shopped on Instagram.

Any thoughts? Or if I should change the picture?

This made me think of Dr. Steinhardt.

Not sure why. It just did haha

Class today Feb. 26, 2013

I learned the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web. Also, we looked at grid pictures.

I have a new found respect for people who do grid art. I don't think I've ever seen or learned about a more difficult art concept. My mind was blown all during class.

Maybe one day I'll make a complex grid piece but I'm just trying to get through the one that's due on Tuesday.

Blogger app

Now that I have the blogger app, I can update more because I barely use my computer and that's why I didn't really update. If anyone has the same problem or laziness, just download the app (:

Hopefully it won't send out information or porn or stuff like that...

The Grid

Like I said in class, I can't walk in a straight line except this time when I was with my friends I said, "sorry, I can't walk in the grid." My friends looked at me like I had two heads. Thanks, Professor Steinhardt haha.

Flip Book

I'm guessing this worked. Making my flip book was actually way easier than I thought it would be. It took me about two hours. I've made flip books before but they were the dinky little bouncing ball flip books but for Art and Technology, I wanted to push my limits a little further.

I enjoyed how my flip book came out. It gave me a little trouble when it came to passing the ball between players but other than that, it was pretty simple.

If I could change anything, I would use different paper because as you can see, this paper doesn't flip too well. Also, I think I would do something harder. I wanted to do a duel between people but I didn't have enough room on the page to. A lot of people made their flip books on the long side of the book but unfortunately, I was pushed to the corner of the page.

I liked this assignment a lot. I thought it was one of the more fun assignments. I feel like doing a flip book is the equivalent to making a stop action video. You do it bits my bits and it makes one big creation in the end. All in all, I loved the flip book project. I would definitely change some factors but I am proud of the outcome.

A Capella Coldplay

Okay, I have to blog about this. One day in class we watched a video of a guy doing an A Capella version of Coldplay's Paradise.

By far one of the sickest things I have ever seen. When I think of A Capella, I think of someone simply singing without any music in the background and the only music is the words that they are singing. But this guy made an entire song, with background music and everything, just using his voice. I had no idea that was possible. He made a violin, piano, drums and guitar just by using his voice and recording each of them separately and bringing them all together in the end. This video was amazing. Even the editing that he did so that there were 20 of him in the video amazed me. This video alone opened my eyes to everything that you can do with your voice. Talent doesn't even begin to describe what this guy had.

I shared this video on my facebook and my friends all thought it was nuts. I love watching it. I like this version more than the actual version. I cannot wait to watch more of his videos.

Madame Butterfly

Madame Butterfly was weird to me. Professor Steinhardt said that the woman was raped but it didn't look like rape. I also keep in mind that they are dolls and it might have been hard to make it look like a rape scene. I don't know but it looked like she wanted it.
I wasn't expecting a lot of things that happened in this video. I didn't expect the baby to be a fish in a bowl and then turn into a baby but I thought that was pretty awesome. I liked the fact that the bowl was supposed to be a belly and that when it broke, it symbolized a water breaking. I thought the concept was interesting, just extremely strange. Also, flying the baby and the mother as kites was creepy to me. They were being flown from their umbilical cords. That was probably the creepiest thing in the video.
I felt bad for the woman when the sailor took her baby away and gave him to that other woman. I have to keep in mind that this was an old movie because I know if this was a more modern spin, there would have been a fight. I almost wish there was because the woman seemed so weak and I didn't like it.
And last but not least, I thought the suicide was amazing. I like how she didn't just stab herself or drown herself, I like how Sapegin made her take herself apart. I've never seen anything like that and I thought it was a very interesting idea and that also made me wonder, how did he even make that scene? I know it was stop action but how was this entire movie so perfect? Sapegin is obviously very talented because most stop action videos don't look that smooth or good in general.

Dubai Fireworks

I have never seen anything like this before. I thought the firework show at Epcot was amazing. I love the organization of the fireworks and the colors and I love how they are so elaborate that you can see them from a mile a way. Dubai definitely doesn't know the meaning of a recession but I am glad they don't. I can't help but think about how the people operating these fireworks feel, though. It has to be scorching hot and it can't be safe.
Even though this must be a difficult job, the people who are operating it must be extremely professionals because everything is so clean and organized and it's hard to make fireworks organized because they blow up so easily. This is very talented and very interesting.

Catching Up

I will be catching up on all the blogging I have missed. So, expect a whole bunch of posts from past assignments.

First Reaction

When I first started the class, we had a substitute. Dr. Santiago was very informative and very interactive with the class. I did not know that the class was going to be able Opera. When I found that out, I was kind of weary and did not think I would like the class very much. However, the videos we watched and talked about were interesting and I enjoyed them. Santiago explained most of the Opera in depth and I learned some things about Opera that I never thought I would care about. All in all, the first class was amazing and I enjoyed it a lot.

The second class was quieter considering our teacher was slightly sick. Even though she wasn't feeling well, Dr. Steinhardt was just as passionate as Santiago. She was just quieter which I didn't mind. I liked the fact that she has us move around every hour because learning about Opera for 3 hours is pretty boring. But because we get up to move, it helps me pay attention.

In this class I expect to learn about how technology formed through art. I learned a little bit about pulley systems in Operas which is apparently a big deal. So far this class has kept me interested in a subject that I thought I would never be interested in. Throughout the semester, I expect to learn more about Aria styles and classic plays/music. I am not sure where technology will fit into this class but I hope it makes an appearance.

I am a double major in Film & Media Arts and New Media Production with a concentration in Music and I am a French minor. I am sure that this class will help me with my majors and I am excited for what is to come throughout the year.

--Alexandria Woodard