Blog Assignment 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9pf3omyGzw

Listening Framework:
Phase 1:
Tempo - Andante (Slow)
Source - Drums
Groove - Flow, smooth

Phase 2:
Instrumentation - Drums drive the song, but guitar guides it
Structure - Intro, verse, chorus, verse, bridge, guitar solo, outro
Emotional Architecture - Mostly sad during the song, but builds up during bridge and solo to be happy

Phase 3: (Balance)
Height - Relatively low
Width - Wide, with a lot of panning
Depth - Somewhat standard with a - Singer, Two guitars, and Two drum kits


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyjV9hDNRvQ

Listening Framework:
Phase 1:
Tempo - Allegro (Fast)
Source - Drums and guitar
Groove - Alt. rock, poppy

Phase 2:
Instrumentation - Drums drives the song, but guitar guides it
Structure - Intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus
Emotional Architecture - Somewhat sad until the build up at the end

Phase 3:
Height - High with the guitars
Width - Wide, panning
Depth - Standard, Two guitars, Two singers, Bass, Drums


These two brilliantly created songs by Bloc Party are quite different from each other, but also share some similarities.  The first song (Sunday)'s lyrics are clearly talking about two lovers that happen to be sharing an unfortunate hangover from the night before. However, unlike most songs, this song has two drum kits being played instead of one, driving a slow yet intricate tempo; this fits the song perfectly.  The guitar in the song is (what I personally think) sets the mood of the song, because until the end of the song the guitar is slow and somewhat sad, then right after the bridge it becomes happy and sounds somewhat triumphant even.  The second song (Two More Years)'s lyrics really just reiterate the saying "Keep on truckin'".  The song tells you that the worst will be over (after only two more years) and that you need to just "hold on". The drums in this drive it with a relatively fast beat, and I always find myself tapping my foot to the beat of quick kick drum. The guitar uses the beat of the kick drum to guide the song with it's clever use of and low toned chords.
These two songs are quite similar in the way that the drums drive the song, and in the way that the guitar helps guide the songs through their somewhat sad majority and triumphant endings. Another way that these songs are similar is that the lyrics fit each song incredibly well; it's as if I could determine the underlying meaning of each song even without the lyrics. The way that all the instruments in each song come together fit the lyrics perfectly.
 However, these two songs are also quite different. One difference is that that the tempo of Two More Years is much quicker than that of Sunday's. Another difference is that the groove of Sunday is much more flowing and slow, while Two More Years' is much more choppy and quick, making it sound pop-ish and alternative rock-ish.
Personally, I prefer Sunday because I love the guitar parts in the chorus and find the solo to be quite enjoyable. Also I love how innovative it was to compose to drum parts, thus leading to the playing of two drum kits at the same time. I find it very nice to listen to.

Blog Assignment 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiFbPqIn0HI

 

The use of casual sound in this scene is completely relevant to the scene in its entirety. Without the song playing in the van, the scene would've been completely pointless. Also, the constant fighting between Matt and Brendan holds the group dynamic together. With Brendan being the responsible one, and Matt being the irresponsible one, clashes are nearly expected. Therefore, these would be nothing without the loud packing of the punches exchanged between them. The semantic sound of the punches represents their relationship throughout the film.  Also, the distance between the group at this point time was essential when creating this scene; with the gang singing "Nothing But A Good Time" and the joyous group overtone, it was hard not to picture the group as a team.  The movement of the group also accentuates image of the group being a team; the way they all moved together while they sang the song really made the group seem like they were together as more than a group of skaters.

Blog Assignment 3

http://changethis.com/


- The article entitled "Acknowledge the Lizard" tells us to ignore a part of your brain that acts as a selfdefense mechanism against embarrassment or possible persecution.  This part of the brain produces doubt and becomes the voice in your head that tells you to just follow the rules.
- "Be Generous" basically talks about the famous saying "give and you shall receive", it gives an example of the guy who created CDBaby.com, and how he turned it into a million-dollar operation from being generous to the artists that it used and supported.
- "Learn"  is about how people need to continuously learn in order to keep going in life, and become successful, if one stops learning, they'll stop progressing. People need to learn as much as they can about the world, not just material taught in school.

Addressing the idea that these blog assignments may be a complete waste of time; I don't think that these assignments are a waste of time (kind of). However, I also don't think that these are helping the good old United States education system shape our clay-like minds. I think that creativity isn't something you learn in life, some people just learn how to control and use it to produce better results. I mean yeah, these blog assignments are borderline pointless but it's menial tasks like this that keep the education system going, besides it'd be a hell of a lot harder to do well in a college class that only consisted of a midterm and a final (I'm sure as many people know). Although these blog assignments prove useful when it comes to overall grades in the class (easy points are easy points), they don't help my creative process at all. If anything, these assignments kind of represent exactly what the article was talking about.  My math teacher last year gave a speech in the beginning of the school year talking about every form of schooling someone goes through in life is just about finding out if you're a trainable monkey, to find out if the world can shape you into what it wants (A MINDLESS ZOMBIE).  So even though I made my decision half way through writing this little essay, I support these menial blog assignments. They're easy points. ALTHOUGH. I don't think they support or enhance our creativity or thoughts towards creativity in any way.

Blog Assignment 2

http://changethis.com/   

"Mumon" is a short story that describes the path to finding your true self. The main character of the story is red wolf; a dying breed of wolf. Mumon and his kin were born into captivity, because the past generation of red wold was few in number and placed in captivity to be safe and begin repopulating. After some time, Mumon and his few kin were released back into the wild to restore their population and their place in nature. However they've forgotten their primal instincts and are unable to form a successful pack and have a successful leader. Therefore Mumon goes on a physical and spiritual journey to find his howl and become the leader of the pack. After many adrenaline-pumping events, he finds his howl within himself and establishes himself as the leader of the new successful red wolf pack.

Since my years as a middle schooler, the band Bloc Party has been my favorite band that i've ever heard (unfortunately i've never seen them live but hopefully that dream will be fulfilled sometime in the future). Their instrumental parts are beautifully written by whom I think to be one of the most gifted guitarists in the world; Russell Lissack. However the incredibly thoughtful lyrics written by their lead singer Kele Okereke have also been nothing less than captivating as a listen to their music. Bloc Party has made quite a name for itself in the indie/alternative rock genre in music despite their somewhat recent hiatus. Although, their fame has never turned them into egocentric celebrities, they all are actually quite shy and hate being in the lime light. Kele Okereke put what he felt toward the media in a very well versed thought: "Why is it important to know what I had for breakfast? Or who I went to bed with? Or what sneakers I am wearing? If it's relevant to understanding my music, then so be it. But if it's purely to satisfy the media's obsession with celebrity, then no thanks. I don't want to play that game." Being in an amateur band that just plays a few shows around Pittsburgh, I can't fully understand the position that Kele is in, but if I were in his position I think I would feel the same way. Not that I think this could ever happen, but I dread the idea of being constantly questioned and followed by people who are just trying to satisfy the media or the public. I mean it even freaks me out to be in crowded areas or being the center of attention. I think that too many artists nowadays are just in it for the money and the fame and aren't putting all of themselves into the music they create. As a creative person this quote always reminds me that if you're going to create something such as a beautiful painting or song, you shouldn't do it for the wrong reasons, you should create it because you love it and you put all of your effort into it. The best and most amazing pieces are results of this anyways.

Blog Assignment 1

- 4367161804_1ab4babb48.jpg
- 70668-Sunset_Cowboy_Finished_sm.JPG
- images

- Blue: To symbolize the heroism residing within my character.  He is garbed in blue pants and a blue vest to display that he is a true hero.

- Red: To represent his passion in justice and doing the right thing. He wears a red bandana around his neck as a constant reminder that he is not only passionate in his heart but constantly has justice on his mind.

- Brown: To show that he is down to earth, and is always level-headed. He needs to be mindful because he needs to be able to make the right decision and maintain justice for the people.

The sunset symbolizes him as the last chance to maintain peace and justice for the people. This light is fitting for him as a hero because he is typically the only person who can attain peace and justice in the land. However, the darkness part of the sunset represents the fact that he is cloaked in mystery, a silent hero for the people who saves the day and is never seen until the threat of evil is present in the land.

The almond shape represents his well rounded abilities and his emblem; the almond. He also runs a fast food joint that vends strictly almonds, which is yet another reason why an almond describes his essence. The almond shape also could represent his structure; he's not the stereotypical strong hero, he has an average build, which could be considered somewhat oval-esque.

We just deconstructed Almond Arnold!


Now to deconstruct my lab partner's (Tyler Skelton) villain.

Villain Deconstruction

1. 

This picture of a crown is a good representation of my character’s red, purple, and gold motif. When I designed Count Casheww I chose the colors purple and gold because I wanted to associate my character’s royal theme with a layer of sinister red. My character’s royal status and appearance are important parts of his villainous mentality. In his mind these superior status symbols allow him to abscond with the Nut Village’s entire nutritious supply of nuts without fear of consequences. It is only after the hero makes his move to take back the town’s food and namesake that Casheww realizes the lower class’s ability to push back against tyranny.

2.

The darkness of the throne room in my second image represents the character I designed well. I chose this image because of how although there is some light in this eerie throne room; it is partially blocked by pillars which represent the obstacles put in place by the villain to thwart the hero. Also most of the light is pouring in from above the ruler’s head showing his powerful status along with a long set of stairs separating himself from the silhouetted hero. Everything in this room is cast in low lighting which depicts the internal darkness within Count Casheww that caused him to go insane after losing his hand.

3.

 My third image’s shape reflects my character Count Casheww rather well because of the fact that I wanted him to strongly resemble a real life nutcracker, mainly because of their creepy appearance and I’ve always thought of them as evil looking. The shapes of the third image and my villain character both have a similar slim but oddly rectangular frame with flowing white hair from both sides of the head and below the nutcracker’s signature square jaw line. The shape of the head is also similar to my character because of how the nutcracker in the image has a round shaped head and face which is placed below a large unshapely hat.       

Favrorite superhero

My favorite superhero is the Flash, cause he's a fast guy. And I can respect that.

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOk0n29qnFQ