Final Video Presentation

Flong

My computer would not let me do any of the interact projects yet I was able to watch a video of the project titled
Opto-Isolator. In this art piece, which is a moving a blinking eye, viewers are always available to interact with this piece. The moves as you moves as well as blinks one second after the viewer blinks. I think this is a really cool piece. In my opinion and personal beliefs with art, I get more out of art when it is interactive. I find this type of art to be really creative and many interactive pieces are very moving.

Opto- Isolator

Massive Attack

I had not heard of Massive Attack until I researched them after being given this blog assignment. They are a group that formed in 1988 and was and continues to be an influential group. This bad has a variety of sounds from electronic to experimental rock.  

I decided to listen to the song Karmacoma. Though it is music, they're voice were mostly talking while the actually music or noise in the background made the whole song. I think their voices were there to enhance and bring out the background music they produced.

Karmacoma Song

Sight - Short Film

I did not know what to expect when starting this video. I really liked it in the beginning when he was playing the game, yet as the short film went on, I found this to be frightening. When and if something like this every comes into our society, I really hope I am not here. It also kind of made me feel sad. No one had a sense of creativity anymore in that world. When looking at the house and restaurant, it was bare. All anyone could see if what they wanted to see through their own eyes. And, the end especially scared me the most. He had the ability to control her and begin their introduction over again.

It is cool to see things like this, yet I would never want anything like this. Though this is kind of like the google glasses, yet not to the full extent, I would not want something installed or implanted in my body to make me a robot.

Sight movie

Golan Levin Interview

I thought this interview was really cool. Right away, it stuck out because it was not actually and concretely Levin presenting the interview, rather a 3D and holographic form of himself. He brought up many good points and answered many good questions.

I found it interesting when the question came up about should we be scared or excited when computers surpass humans. His answer was interesting, stating that he thinks this will never happen, yet there will come a point when computers become advanced they will fool us. Along with that, they will be so advanced so many new creations and technologies will be formed. This is something I think many people ponder all the time, whether we should be scared or excited for this day.

Golan Levin Interview

5 Left Out Artists

Girl Power

Electronic

House

Dubstep

Nineties 

The Smiths

I like how the Smiths really changed what was to come for music. At the time, there was much hardship going on and the music was bland. Yet, when the Smiths came into play they changed everything. Their electric music caught the attention of everyone and they created a new wave of music for society. I find it really cool to see how so many different things can be going on, yet with the arrival or exposure of one entity can change everything. We still see this in todays society regarding music. For example, when Lady Gaga became know, she really became known. She has become an influential music figure for so many and continues to amaze everyone, just as what the Smiths did.

Smiths Article

Northern Soul

When watching this video, I was really intrigued. I had no idea this existed! Its really cool to see people rebel against the norms of the time, fashion, music, and dancing, in order to free themselves and have a good time. Young people from all over the country would gather and dance to the soul music, much of which we will never get to hear today because they were records by local artists that never got noticed. Though this exact thing may not happen today, I give props to the people that have the courage to be themselves and get away from the mainstream things.

Northern Soul

Graphene

Graphene could be the the newest and most innovative item on the market soon. This form of carbon will prove wonders to everyone. Graphene is the strongest, thinnest material known to exist. It is able to conduct electricity, it is clear, and most importantly, it is flexible.

With this, many electronic items will become more advanced as well as many new items coming into existence. There will be room for flexible cellphones and even electronic clothing. It can be submerged in water and has a LONG lasting battery life, a week to be exact. Best of all, it is very inexpensive.

This item just becoming more and more known now can change electronics forever. I believe that once one item with this material comes out, many will buy it and all items will start to be made with graphene.

Graphene article

Performance Art Piece

Major - Communications

In my communications major, we discuss marketing and advertising. With 4/20 approaching, the national smoking holiday, many people have forgot that this is also Easter. With that, I decided to pass out Easter eggs and market for the holiday. Yet, instead of candy and childlike items in the eggs, I replaced them with adult items and things we use everyday in order to contrast adulthood v. childhood. As we grow older we tend to lose a sense of the things we did as a kid such as open Easter eggs. This project put a spin on a childhood activity along with giving everyone a friendly reminder Easter is approaching.

Most of the responses I received were similar. Many people were really confused and did not really know what to think. Mostly everyone just said thank you and pretended to like their egg.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g88rhQmvUJE

TR-808

The song Love Lockdown by Kanye West uses the TR-808. I always thought the different sounds coming from this song were really cool, yet I never thought to look deeper into in to see how they were produced. In the song Like A G6 by Far East Movement also connotes the 808 in one of their verses. Along with that, the song Can't Hold Us by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis also refers to the 808. 808 is a common thing we hear in songs everyday. I have never thought to research it more and find out what it means. Yet, learning more about it has definitely kept me more conscious of hearing it in songs.

VideoArtes

Resonant Chamber by Codeluu

This was the first video art piece I watched. It is a 3-D piece that is a big contraption of different instruments playing a song. The movement of the machine throughout the video is really cool to see.

Scenes From A Rooftop

I really enjoyed watching this. This video portrayed different parts of the world a seen from different rooftops in their locations. I think it showed how though we are all connected by one world, there is still so much different between people and places and what is going on in each location.

Are You For Real?

I thought this was really cool and imaginative. The addition of the blue papers onto the women was cool to see. The papers took over all of her by the end the of the video. It was maybe trying to tell the message that different things consume us and we need to just let go.

Video Mapping

I really enjoyed watching this piece. I really liked the idea of the broken house and different images inside of it, yet towards the end it came back together. I also really enjoyed seeing the underwater scene after being a marine science major. 

I thought this was a really cool video. My favorite part is the end when the ice hockey part appeared and then the two glasses came on the building and clanked each other.

By far the best part was the gangnam style dance!

Commercial v. Propaganda

Commercial - a television or radio advertisement; funded by the revenue from broadcast advertisements; intended to make a profit

Propaganda - information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view

When reading these two definitions, it is clear that these are two different things. A commercial is something normally seen by everyone. It is advertising a product for sale with that company attempting to make money by what they are selling to the public. On the other hand, propaganda, is something used during politics, very biased, and normally has some sort of negative meaning in regards to the other side.

Yet, when looking deeper in to commercials and propaganda, I believe that are both the same in a few ways.

First, both are bias. Propaganda is bias in the sense that it is totally for one side and could say negative things or make false accusations for the opposing side. Along with that, commercials can be bias in many different ways. For example, commercials have so much gender stereotyping.
     Ex: women come across as sensitive, romantic, and attractive / men are smart, powerful, and
competitive

Second, both can have a misleading nature. Propaganda many say many negative things about an opposing side in order to achieve what they want and make their stance look greater and better. Commercials are deceptive in the fact that they don't always correctly advertise an item. An example of this is many food commercials. On television, the food portrayed always looks well made and put together. Yet, when you go to the restaurant, it almost always looks nothing like how it was shown.

Third, regardless of the misleading nature or bias approaches, both propaganda and commercials are selling something. Whether it be an item, a political stance or person, or a vacation destination, both are trying to get the point across that they want you to buy or agree with them.

Comments on Xerox Projects

Andrea - Really cool shirt! I like the lips on it. It would have been cool if the whole shirt was covered but I like the idea and it was executed well!

Bryan - Funny how it is on a toilet! I think its interesting how you used only your eye but it works really well. I looks abstract since the eye is blown up so big. 

Spencer - I like how you used sign language to make a statement and added the flower to support the quote. I also liked the size of the project. 

Kirby - Really crazy looking but I like it. It kind of reminds me of medusa, yet instead of snakes there are arms. Its interesting looking but its also really pretty with the crown and the long hair. 

Holly - I like the idea and it was executed well! I think it correctly portrays the good and the bad in college. I two different sides are polar opposites but it turned out really cool and was personal. 

Marveen - I think the african mask was such a cool idea! I like the darkness of the hands - it fits well with the colors of the mask opposed if to they were light colored and brighter. It would have been cool if there was more coming off the mask but I still like it!

Katelyn - So funny and I like how you incorporated your dog. It was well made and did not have any flaws. Everything was scanned really well and your idea is awesome. 

Leah - Cool idea and I like how you used a lot of your tattoos. The map was a nice concept to think of. Not sure if I'm interpreting it wrong but I like how your home is in your birth state but you heart is in Florida. Very good!

Ralph - I like the concept with the forbidden fruit. It's cool how they were hung from a tree outside and the movement between them was seen in your video. The fact you used paper mache was good because the scanned images were able to be flattened out. 

Kyle - I think the hat was a cool idea. The little piece on top was funny as well as the side pieces. Good job!

Xerox Project

For my project I decided to make a cocktail skirt. Incorporated into my skirt are the items I use everyday as well as some facial features. The top half is made of luffa's and hanging from the bottom are many different items. The items include: ears, nose, fingers, mouth / teeth, toothpaste, mascara tubes, nail polish, body spray bottles, pencils. For fun, I wanted to add the middle finger! Enjoy!

I Wish To Say by Sheryl Oring

I think the concept for this performance art piece is really cool. I definitely agree with Sheryl in the sense that not enough voice are being heard throughout our country and with this art piece, many people are able to voice their opinions and get their thoughts out.

Going through some of the different places, the main theme I recognized was that there is always an issue for money whether it be funding for the war or for schools or people asking for money to help support their families. Another issue that seemed familiar was the problem with unemployment in our country. Reading various different notes, there were several people who were unemployed and were desperate for jobs.

With many reoccurring themes showing in the notes, I think it would be highly beneficial for our government to look and address these issues. If so many people have the same problems, I think there comes a time when change must made. Yet, at the same time, there are always opposing views for each case in which the problem of fixing an issue gets sticky.

It was interesting to read the different notes written by people in various parks of America. I really like this performance art piece and I think it brings light to the many problems surrounding our country.

I Wish To Say

Dada Manifesto

Tristan Tzara, a Romanian and French avant-garde poet is one of the presidents of Dada. Dada was the first step towards surrealism. Tzara is an influential artist who's work had a great impact and connection to cubism and futurism.

Dada did not follow any rules and was a form of non-art and a rebellion of what was going on during the time of World War I. The public was revulsed by the art created during this time, yet this is exactly what the Dada members strived for, an emotional reaction from their audience.

In the Dada essay, I found the line interesting when it said "And so Dada was born of a need for independence, of a distrust toward unity. Those who are with us preserve their freedom." Dada was so against the norms of the time, they believe that rebellion was their way out though it shocked so many around them. I think this movement was very interesting and definitely a huge difference of the art shown during this time. Instead of oppressing their art and emotions during the War, they, contradictorily, opposed everything and expressed their inner selves through art.

Dada Manifesto 1918 by Tristan Tzara 

Grid Art Project

For my grid project, I decided to cut straw into little pieces. From there I cut my gasparilla beads apart and put them on top of the cut straws. The image I used was a picture of Walter White from my favorite show Breaking Bad. Though I thought this would work easily, many of the straws moved with every breath I took and by the end of the project, my were unaligned. I really liked the the project yet I was not pleased with my finished product.

Persuasive Games

I thought that this website was really interesting and cool. Games are something that everyone enjoys and plays, and by incorporating everyday issues in our society, a point is easily made.

The first game I played was Windfall. I chose this game because I love science and wind energy is an up and coming energy source that our world is using. In the game, I have to research different blocks of land and see which ones were on the highest hills / had the most profit. When finding the best ones, I was there to build a wind turbine and connect it to the power lines. Though it sound easy, you cannot place turbines near homes due to the community getting mad by having a turbine in their back yard, and you must make a certain amount of money in a time period without running out of the initial money the game has given you. 

The next game I played was Presidential Pong. The game was the simple pong game of hitting the ball back and forth, yet it was funny how you could rival different 2008 presidential candidates. I played Romney v. Obama. The animations of the candidates were really fun and goofy looking and this was a nice spin to put on the game during the time of the election. 

The last game I played Xtreme Xmas Shopping. I thought this game was funny. The plot of the game kind of had a Black Friday feel in which your character had to go around the store and collect their Christmas items on their shopping lists before the other players received them. If someone took the last item of something, you were able to go and fight them in order to get it back. Not getting an item means that you did not pass the level / game. I unfortunately, failed the first level when someone ripped Elmo out of my hands. 

Steve Jobs 2005 Commencement Speech

Steve Jobs - pure brilliance!

Thought the link was not working on the Blackboard website, I was able to watch it on youtube. Honestly, this speech gave me goosebumps and I wish I was there to witness this. The stories and the words of advice form Jobs and something I think we all need to live by and highly take into consideration.

The first story was something I think we can all relate too. Really, who knows what they want to do wit h the rest of their lives. I went into college as a Marine Biology major. I was certain that science was for me and I would excel at it greatly. Yet, when I got here, I soon came to realize that I didn't want to be doing that for the rest of my life. Now a Communications major, I can still say, I have no idea what I want to do. Yet, as my mom told me, my change in major was a blessing in disguise. Though I don't realize it right now, I believe in the future I will fit in where I belong in terms of my career and I should go with the flow right now. I don't know what my future holds, but everything always seems to work out.


I really enjoyed his second story. It was a shame how Jobs was fired from Apple originally. Yet, without that act, there would be no Pixar and NeXT - two great advancements in our society. I think this taught me that though one thing might not go my way, I shouldn't give up hope because it is a chance for a new beginning and something new to arise. One think always leads to another and everything that happens, happens for a reason.

The third story made me sad, seeing as how Jobs lost his life in 2011. Yet, once again, there was a very important message in the story. Live your life to the fullest and do not waste your days, because you don't know when it could all be over. Follow what you want to do and become and make that your number one priority.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Comments on Flip Books

Bryan
I thought it was a really cool idea. I like how you made your book all about the highlights in class of what we have learned so far. I can't wait to see the animation since we were not able to flip you book during class.

Leah
It had really good movement, especially in the caterpillar and when the bird grabbed him. Its small but that didn't take away from the book. I really liked it!

Holly
SO CUTE! It was really well drawn and showed good movement. The animals were adorable: the dragon, the shark, the fish. Good job!

Katelyn
Good idea and good movement! I like how the sun / character appears from the smoke. I also liked how the spiral moves and gets bigger. Good animations!

Andrea
I like how you started on the assignment when we wee first assigned it - Valentines Day. wary col how it was based on a true story and you incorporated those moving words right away in the beginning. It was a cute story story and seemed very symbolic. There were good transitions used and I thought it was absolutely beautiful! I thought it was even better when I was able to flip it at my desk and see all of the detail involved. Definitely one of my favorites!

Kyle
The creation of the city was really cool to see as well as the font writing itself. You used the full page really well and I liked how it was the overall Boston theme

Ralph
Good color and movement. I like the tetras part with the changing colors and the blocks coming down together. The colorful balloon was very detailed and the "shy" elephant was cute.

Kirby
I liked how it was nature themed like mine. There was really good movement through the pages and especially when the tree got uprooted. I also liked how the spirals turned into moving eyes, that was really cool and a nice idea to incorporate. The skateboarder moving was another great part of your book.

Spencer
You utilized the whole page really well. There were a lot of different aspects but they all flowed really well together. The movement was good and I liked how one thing turned into something completely different.

Mark Snyder Performance

Instead of having class today (Monday), we were assigned to go to a concert preformed by Mark Snyder. Mary does not create the typical kinds of music in which we would hear on the radio, rather he makes electroacoustic music and multimedia. Within this music, he plays everyday instruments such as the tuba, clarinet, and guitar and mixes them with prerecorded sounds and imagery in the background.

I did not know what to expect when going into this show. I thought it was going to be more upbeat music. Whenever I hear "electro" i automatically think of some sort of dance music. Yet, what he played was so much different. His music was very slow and had a greater and deeper meaning behind each song. He performed a variety of different songs for us using various instruments.

Yet, my favorite song he played for us was titled Harvey. The story behind the song was so emotional and it enhanced the music so much. This song was dedicated to a close friend of Marks who, along with his family, was murdered in Virginia. The song came out to be so emotional and touching and I could tell that this was a very important song for Mark being that he worked on it for a long time in order to perfect it.

All in all, I really enjoyed the music he played and it showed me how music can be so different than the songs we hear on the radio. This was something like I have never seen or heard.

For Marks page, visit : http://marklsnyder.com/Mark/Audio.html

Flip Book

My Flip Book

For my flip book I really didn't know what I wanted to make it about. I started it off as random thoughts that came into my head, but as I kept moving forward with the book, it took on a nature theme. First with the tree, then the water, then the flower, then the rainbow then the sun transforming into the moon. Along with the nature features I added some abstract parts as seen in the rainbow scene. My person favorite part of the flip book is the ending when the sun transforms into the moon and it finishes with the rocket ship and the shooting star.

Overall, I enjoyed this project and it showed me how animations are made. 

The Mother of All Demos

When asked to read this link, I had no idea how important this was. This demo, presented by Doug Engelbart and 17 other researchers, was a revolutionary presentation for many computer geeks at the time. This demonstration showed what they had been working on for years. This was the public debut of the computer mouse as well as many other life changing computer factors such as hypertext and the shared-screen collaboration.

It was recently the 45 year anniversary of this public presentation, and I have to say, thank god it happened. This was a big step for the advancement of computers and without this, I honestly do not know where commuters would be today.

I found another website that discussed this matter: http://sloan.stanford.edu/mousesite/1968Demo.html
From this, I watched clip 3 what was very interesting. This was, what it seems like, the words Word processing. It shows how using a computer mouse and a keyboard, you can write words, delete words, cut, copy, and add a header. Since this, Word has come a very long way. Today, these simple things are something we all use when on a computer and we don't even realize the amount of energy and time it took to create these functions. I think this shows that we have a fast paced and changing future ahead of us. Though this took them a while for them to make back in the 1900s, with today's advancements and technologies almost anything is possible and with the work of many, I think many will be surprised what the future will bring.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/12/the-mother-of-all-demos-is-45-years-old-doesnt-look-a-day-over-25/282152/

http://sloan.stanford.edu/mousesite/1968Demo.html

Alan Turing

It was sad yet interesting to read this article on Turing. Not knowing much about this situation and what had happened to him came as a shock to me.

Thanks to Turing and his efforts during World War II, he saved out country from starvation. Yet, due to unequal right back then, he was to sentenced to chemical castration for the crime of gross indecency for being a gay man. Alan cracked coded messages sent by the Germans which in part, saved America.

I think it is really sad what happened to Alan. Just as the article puts it, what could this brilliant man have done for our country if he was still alive? What if he had lived his life to the full potential? Yet, I think it is great how he is being honored with the Icon award. With this, his name is getting more recognition and many more are hearing this story. Rather then look at someones sexuality, it is more important to view their POTENTIAL and what they can bring to the world. I know times were different back then and it was considered the worst to be seen as gay, yet Alan could have done so much for America if he was still here. I think it is important to realize that we should not judge a book by its cover, rather what someone has to bring to the world, such as Turing.

Mark Stock

The work of Mark J Stock is very interesting. He creates beautiful artwork using different codes through nature, physics, chaos, and computation. With these codes, he makes still life images turing them into different art forms using different colors and techniques. He has been showing his work since 2000 and has been featured in many exhibits. 

There are many pieces of his collections that I enjoyed but there was one that stood out to me. 

The code he used for this piece was an intricate color code. As seen in the photo, many different colors are used. As a very vibrant piece, I feel it would be amazing to see in person. The way the colors flow together so nicely in really cool, especially since there is a mix of warm and cool colors. If an artist attempted to paint this I think that all of the colors would mix together turing a brown or black color. But, since this is an inkjet print on canvas the colors can be separated and easily seen. 

For more of Mark's work, check out his website!   http://markjstock.com/

Source : http://markjstock.com/bio.html