Mini review #1
Comics: Batman: year one.
I'm not a big comic book fan and reading Batman: year one didn't change my opinion. I found that the comic was long and didn't contain a lot of excitment to keep me interested. If there wasn't a credit involved I wouldn't have thought to buy the comic to read on my own time. The comic tells the story of how Batman came to be the hero and the hardship he had to endure. Sure It was well written but I can't pay attention to a story of a man who dresses up as a bat to fight crime because he lost his parents. It also gives a bit of mixed message to viewers on how to go about doing the right thing. Break the law to stop others from breaking it as well. Seems like it will create an army of bad ass people doing whatever it takes to see justice. But hey, maybe no one will really try to use batman's methods to solve their own problems. The comic was well written, but my interest is in the illustration. I'm quite the fan of visual arts and liked the way they showed emotions and movements with lines and colour in the comic.
Mini review #2
Movies: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
I actually liked Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The movie was a little hard to fallow sometimes. The film jumps around through time and shows different clips of their life without much explanation. You really need to pay attention to what is going on. But these are the movies I enjoy. Something out of the ordinary with common topics delt with in an uncommon way. The story is play backwards as you see the main characters meet again after they get each other beamed from their memories. And as the flm progresses, you see how they met in the first place, their relationship and break up. A bit confusing. But kinda makes you think, would it really be better to completly forget someone? The characters were played by big names actors for such a small movie. But the preformance was great considering this is not the type of film to see funny guy Jim Carrey in. Overall Definatly a thumbs up movie.
Mini review #3
Music: The Beatles
Throughout the music unit we talk A LOT about The Beatles, a pop rock band from Liverpool. Their universal music is a phenomena, and still widely marketed today, with the release of the Beatles influenced movie Across the Universe and Beatles Rock Band. Not to mention they're one of the most successful bands of all time. They were well marketed and got their start to fame with music alone, unlike many artists today who get started in movies and t.v before breaking into music on the success they already built. The movies made by The Beatles came AFTER they became famous. And the movies still have to do with their music and not just shitty acting. I am quite the Beatles fan myself. I was introduced as a youngin, flipping through radio stations. But their music became a big influence for me heading into highschool. I find their songs give me endless inspiration for my art. The Bealtes are timeless classics and although they are disbanded. Their fame isn't dieing down anytime soon.
Mini review #4
Movies/Music: Spinal Tap
The movie This is Spinal Tap, was a mockumentary about 80's hair bands. I thought the movie was rather funny. It potrayed the rock 'n roll lifestyle in a humourous way. The characters had big egos and a little obnoxious. But that kind of attitude is what made the movie so good, exaggerating personalities and common facts about the bands of that time. I did like the movie but I did not enjoy the music what so ever. I never did and never will be into old hair bands. Maybe it's their rediculous style or maybe just the fact I'm not a rock/metal person. But I find it hard to listen to dark loud music that I can barely sing along to since it sounds like a big "GGGGRRRRUUUUNNNNGGGGG". I think all the music in that same genre sounds exactly the same. Loud drums, screaming guitars and a barely there base line.
Mini review #5
Music videos: Pink - Stupid Girls.
I like the overall message the video sends. That you don't have to fall into the trends of the media. But I HATE the fact that a hand full of women artists are getting into the "don't be girly, be alternative" phase. I get the point that it's stupid for girls to dumb themselves down for boys or popularity. But why leave the impression that you can only be considered original and your own person if you're a tom boy. Not all girls that play with barbies are going to grow up and get plastic surgery and tan so much they look like a stale dorito. What about the girls who choose to live the way they do? I mean sure there are ambitions to be succesfull. But if someone chooses to be a dancer in videos or wants to be girly and in designer clothes, that's not being a "stupid girl", it's doing what makes YOU happy and doing what YOU want with your life. I think artists are running out of material to sing about when they have to resort to ripping on a group of people and bringing in the concept of being fake. And to me, I see this song telling girls "be more like me because I'm not your adverage celebrity".
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Hello, my name is Lebowski.
Is The Dude heroic? Is The Dude a masculine, western character?
I think The Dude is a masculine character, clearly not a western though. He may not be all into drooling of women and sex. But his dirty household and poor laid back lifestyle gives a sense of masculinity. I mean how many women would live like that?! Parts of the film make the dude appear to be heroic. When Walter just throws his dirty underwear off the bridge instead of the money, The dude wants to go back, give them the money to save Bunny. He also was concerned for her safety. Only when you view his motives for doing this, you realize it was all for him. For the money and his rug, The Dude's actions were completely selfish. To be heroic is to do what is right with out worrying about what's in it for you. He doesn't have any motivation to do anything unless there is something there to motivate him.
I think The Dude is a masculine character, clearly not a western though. He may not be all into drooling of women and sex. But his dirty household and poor laid back lifestyle gives a sense of masculinity. I mean how many women would live like that?! Parts of the film make the dude appear to be heroic. When Walter just throws his dirty underwear off the bridge instead of the money, The dude wants to go back, give them the money to save Bunny. He also was concerned for her safety. Only when you view his motives for doing this, you realize it was all for him. For the money and his rug, The Dude's actions were completely selfish. To be heroic is to do what is right with out worrying about what's in it for you. He doesn't have any motivation to do anything unless there is something there to motivate him.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Cinematic Master Piece?
I think the movie Citizen Kane by Orson Welles, is definitely a cinematic master piece. Being made in 1941, the effects and acting are clearly not up to today’s standards. And being in black and white, it doesn’t strike the interest of most. The actors from this time preformed their scenes the same way they preformed them in stage plays, pronouncing words clearly and loud. Which does come off as over acting. And the biggest form of special effects in the movie was the fading between scenes, like when characters would share their knowledge of Kane’s life, the movie faded from interview to the memory they were sharing. Although the movie has not much comedic value, which seems to be what most enjoy in a good movie, there were some parts you would find yourself giggling in your seat. You can’t say you didn’t laugh while Kane was tearing apart the bedroom and couldn’t pull down the shelf. The film runs on for two hours, which seems rather long, you don’t learn too much about Kane besides the fact he was a selfish man who wanted to be loved but wouldn’t love back. He bought anything his woman wanted. Anything in the world, except the only thing that would mean something, a personal item that means enough to him and would have sentimental value not a price. It’s the story of a man’s downfall and the mystery behind his famous last words “rosebud”. Over all I thought the movie was maybe not the all time best, but it was clearly a top 5 film. Maybe just because I enjoy biography like movies (even though it’s not a real person) but the movie was thought provoking. It gives a lot to the think about. No matter how successful you may come, you’re never an adult until you can get over your past to live the future. And can you let your world be controlled by money and status? Money means nothing without someone to share it with. Overall I think the movie definitely deserved the praise it got.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
assignment number 1.
1. Media has some importance in my life. It's clearly not the most important thing, but gives me a source of entertainment and inspiration to do other things ( e.g. popular culture gives my inspiration for paintings or drawings ). It also makes me aware of the top news in the world.
2. The types of media I am most passionate about is music, movies and photography/art. I don't need any meaning within these media choices to make me enjoy them. Just the fact that I find them interesting.
Music- The music I listen to may not have any deep meaning behind the lyrics, but can alter my mood according to the beat. A catchy song can reflect my attitude at the moment.
Movies- Old school horror films with no actual meaning or the movies which can confuse you if your not paying attention are, what I call, entertainment.
Photography/Art- A picture can speak a thousand words, viewing photograph or other forms of art that can sometimes give an emotion based by colour, position, space and the movement of the image. A message can be presented more powerfully through a photograph than through one person speaking to you.
3. Modern popular culture is bringing new and convenient ways to communicate and complete daily tasks. Using cell phones and computers to communicate with friends and family makes our lives much easier, but I think that technology is just making us lazy. Instead of going out to get what we want, we sit at the computer and shop, do banking, groceries or even ordering food online. I dislike how popular culture is shoved down our throats. Magazines filling shelves with all the latest gossip on people's lives, to whom we don't even personally know. We focus on Tiger woods new scandal instead of how to better our planet or whats going on with the government. I use the media mainly for entertainment. I listen to music I can dance to, I watch movies that spark my interest and use the photography to bring my creative mind to work.
4. Music is the form of media that I am most passionate about. Looking over my CD collection or my ipod, you wouldn't find much music found in the main stream from todays popular culture. Instead of finding the hit music from the Jonas Brothers or Jay-Z, I listen to more of the oldies (the beatles, blind melon, nirvana, etc) and more of the punky, ska music (madd caddies, nofx, sublime, etc). I find listening to 'underground' music is more appealing than filling my musical library with tunes that are over played on the radio. Music has influence who I am, simply because the music I like is happy and upbeat. Which tends to make me a generally happy person. But where would the world be without music? it's entertainment and a source for listeners to feel accepted or give the feeling that they are not the only one going through hardship and there's help. Music seems to be a technique used to focus. Giving inspiration for writing or drawing. Also tends to bring people into thier own world. Music seems to give people a sense of individuality. Of course there are more than one person who will like the same music you do, but having found music that can interest you gives the feeling that this is what you like and no one can change it.
2. The types of media I am most passionate about is music, movies and photography/art. I don't need any meaning within these media choices to make me enjoy them. Just the fact that I find them interesting.
Music- The music I listen to may not have any deep meaning behind the lyrics, but can alter my mood according to the beat. A catchy song can reflect my attitude at the moment.
Movies- Old school horror films with no actual meaning or the movies which can confuse you if your not paying attention are, what I call, entertainment.
Photography/Art- A picture can speak a thousand words, viewing photograph or other forms of art that can sometimes give an emotion based by colour, position, space and the movement of the image. A message can be presented more powerfully through a photograph than through one person speaking to you.
3. Modern popular culture is bringing new and convenient ways to communicate and complete daily tasks. Using cell phones and computers to communicate with friends and family makes our lives much easier, but I think that technology is just making us lazy. Instead of going out to get what we want, we sit at the computer and shop, do banking, groceries or even ordering food online. I dislike how popular culture is shoved down our throats. Magazines filling shelves with all the latest gossip on people's lives, to whom we don't even personally know. We focus on Tiger woods new scandal instead of how to better our planet or whats going on with the government. I use the media mainly for entertainment. I listen to music I can dance to, I watch movies that spark my interest and use the photography to bring my creative mind to work.
4. Music is the form of media that I am most passionate about. Looking over my CD collection or my ipod, you wouldn't find much music found in the main stream from todays popular culture. Instead of finding the hit music from the Jonas Brothers or Jay-Z, I listen to more of the oldies (the beatles, blind melon, nirvana, etc) and more of the punky, ska music (madd caddies, nofx, sublime, etc). I find listening to 'underground' music is more appealing than filling my musical library with tunes that are over played on the radio. Music has influence who I am, simply because the music I like is happy and upbeat. Which tends to make me a generally happy person. But where would the world be without music? it's entertainment and a source for listeners to feel accepted or give the feeling that they are not the only one going through hardship and there's help. Music seems to be a technique used to focus. Giving inspiration for writing or drawing. Also tends to bring people into thier own world. Music seems to give people a sense of individuality. Of course there are more than one person who will like the same music you do, but having found music that can interest you gives the feeling that this is what you like and no one can change it.
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