Blog 10A - Freak Factor

An analysis of the article, Freak Factor:

David Rendall’s article, “Freak Factor” focuses in nor only on the methods in which one can improve themselves, but also the one’s realization of self-worth. In this piece, Rendall focuses on nine methods to improve one’s outlook on life in regards to success. They may not be the most conventional ideas, rather I believe that’s the point, but Rendall gets them across in a way that’s both effective and thought-provoking.
Though many of the themes seemed to blur together a bit, there were a few that stood out to me. One of the major portions of advice came in section 2, entitled “What’s My Problem?” I don’t know how much I agree with the concept that every flaw one has can be spun as a positive attribute. While the notion does inspire confidence and self-worth, I feel that, at same time, that way of thinking also opposes one’s path to self-improvement.
I’m not the person I was back in High School. I’m glad I’m not. Back then, I never would have had the confidence to do all the school activities I’m involved in now. I would’ve been too socially awkward to try stand-up, or write for a sketch-comedy show. I improved myself, and I’m happy with the changes I’ve made. By saying every flaw is something good, you limit what you can be.
Having said that, I did like the positive spin that section 3, “Flawless: There’s Nothing Wrong With You,” put on strengths vs. weaknesses. Now, this may seem to contradict my previous statement, but I’m not saying that one should use these alternative perspectives as a reason to stop personal growth, but rather I think they offer up a wonderful alternative focus for their energy. Instead of looking at someone as stubborn, they’re dedicated. Instead of indecisive, they’re patient. Instead of unorganized, they’re creative. I think all of these offer a great way to take insults and personal critiques and channel them into being something a little more positive. We, as humans, are far too hard on ourselves at times. With newfound perspectives, we can try to ease up just a bit.
My favorite portion, however, was section 8, “Freak: The Power of Uniqueness.” As we grow up, there’s this constant desire or enforced will that we are supposed to act just like everyone else, that we’re supposed to be normal. However, at the same time, our society promotes and admires individuality. Celebrities and inventors are viewed in the highest of regards, simply because their lives go outside the ordinary. People who you grow to be friends with often times are not the same as you, but differ in many respects. The idea that uniqueness, or being a “Freak,” is not only a good, but admirable quality is one I not only agree with but also full-heartedly support.
I know from just my college years alone that the more diverse the crowd you interact with, the more fulfilling my life seems to be. We can all rely and help each other in different facets of our lives, and work together to accomplish goals. It’s important to have people in your life who stand out, but it’s equally important to be that person who stands out for others. It’s the differences in ones’ personality that make them worth remembering.
Over the years, I‘ve tried to analyze myself as much as possible to figure out my own strengths and weaknesses. I suppose I should use the term “dedicated” after section 3, but in all reality I tend to micro-manage and stubbornly obsess over things at time; that being one of my major weaknesses. This stems from another weakness, being my trust issues. However, this self-reliance has also made me fairly independent and self-motivating. I work hard and get the job done. I also think I have fairly good leadership skills, but follow commands well when prompted. I try to stay on task and remain prepared. Faults or highlights, those are elements of my personality. Now it’s my job to channel those qualities in a productive manner, and use them to build a better future for myself.

Blog 9A - Gaming Critique

I know this was supposed to be an audio log, but seeing as I'm in Columbus for a Doctor's appointment, the only editing software I have is Windows Movie Maker... It's still basically the same thing, I just used one of our images as the video source. Enjoy!

Blog 8B - Heroes and Villains

Alex Wiseman's group had the characters Karma and Dante.


When looking at these two characters, I can’t find a drastic difference between the two’s color. They both use contrasted light and dark colors, most of them warm. I suppose this helps in establishing both characters live in the same world, but this feature could be achieved differently
The movements are a bit different, but they’re both still very human and grounded in their stances. I would say the main difference in how the two are presented lies in their lighting.
There‘s an obvious level of symbolism in how the characters are lit. The flames in the background of Dante clearly represent that he’s a crazed individual. Unpredictable, chaotic, destructive, all qualities we associate with flames, and now project onto the character. Karma, on the other hand, sits in a dark room, atop a rock, with white armor still visible. While the lighting is dark, implying a darker character, the white plating (a color we associate with law / police officers) indicates that he’s still in a position of authority. To me, that implies an anti-hero type character.
There’s also a very different mood set by both. In the Karma image, I feel as though I’m at a meeting of some rebel group, gathering to take a corrupt government down. He sits atop a rock, giving him a powerful stance. By the dim lighting, he seems untouchable.
Dante seems untouchable as well, but in a totally different way. His clothes are loose, he shows his battle wounds, and on top of that the lighting gives him a powerful, prominent look. He looks like something you’d see at the end of a battlefield, and hope he doesn't come any closer.
I feel like the mood could have been improved in both characters, but they do get their point across.

My next person was Victor Sherrick, whose group presented the characters Wiz and Oz and "Sugar Tooth." Ok, I can't remember the villain's actual name. But Max Long never posted his villain, and I couldn't find the name on Victor's blog. 

However, I DO remember what his villain looked like, though, which is why I feel comfortable comparing their Coloring.

Right off the bat, I noticed the coloring technique in the character of Wiz and his Magic-Jeanie-Power-Bunny Oz. The blue and red outfit of Wiz combined with the orange hue of Oz makes a split complimentary that works well. However, in my opinion, the yellow lightning bolts deter from the split. Had they been removed, or made white, I feel like the contrast to the villain would’ve been more pronounced. 

Already the hues in the two characters have a complimentary color schemes. The prominent use of red and green compliment the opposing colors of green and purple. On top of that, the hero and villain also contrast in brightness. While Wiz and Oz both have a light value, “Sugartooth” is very dark. This, of course, lends to their characterization.

Weirdly enough, It seems like Wiz and Oz are more saturated than my memory of “Sugartooth.” (I feel ridiculous saying that last sentence) Usually heroes appear much more vibrant and less saturated to highlight their importance and heroic qualities. Though I remember “S.T.“ being very dark, his green eyes were very vibrant. I honestly don’t think this was at all intentional. However, were the two to collaborate again, I think this would be a very important issue to address.

Joshua Strizak didn't have any hero or villain images posted. I know I'm supposed to get a free pass, but I decided I might as well cover another one.

I feel like I’m in some weird twilight zone episode, where the twist is I keep getting mildly inconvenience in my mission to complete this blog entry properly. The next person above Joshua, for me, is Megan Scalf'. Megan Scaff's group had "The Good and The Ugly." Unfortunately, neither of them can be seen as the images are not up on the blogs. So that sort of takes Lighting and Coloring out of the equation. All I have left to critique is the movement, which can be seen in their video by clicking here.

Looking at “The Good,” I can clearly see he has a confident, powerful stride. This portrayal definitely lends to establishing him as a heroic figure. This stance can be seen in how “The Good” moves. There’s very little follow through in the figure’s movement, implying that the character is cool, level-headed, and in control. Additionally, there’s very little squash and stretch in his movements, strengthening his confident appearance. 
One can also see the overlapping action of his arm swings. While the arms have little follow through in their swing, the very fact that his arms do swing implies a good deal about the character. Unlike other figures of authority, this guy is aloof, light-hearted, ready to face the day. The type of guy you’d wave to on the street.
Them there’s “The Ugly.” First thing I notice about him is his arched back, heightening the contrast between the well-postured “The Good.” Though the framework doesn’t show this as well as it should, I can see an increased squash and stretch in how “The Ugly” bends as he walks. Just as “The Good’s” stance lent to his characterization, so does “The Ugly’s.”  Even when he pulls out his gun, The Ugly is more squashed than The Good, contrasting the two’s feelings about shooting another man.
Not much else can be said about the weight and other qualities of movement. Had the animation used a higher frame rate, I would’ve really liked to see just how differently the two move. I would like to establish and know more about the characters, but I’m only left to speculate with what I have.

Blog 8A - The American Life

If this video upload doesn't work, you can see my selection here.

Heroes / Villains

"The Creep"

Movement Video for "The Creep"

"The Ringleader"

Movement Video for "The Ringleader"

Blog 7A - Joke Video Response

When we were editing and going over our two joke videos, I was left astonished by how different they both wound up being. Both videos used the same actors, both were made by the same group, and based off the same joke as well. However, with different people taking different, specific roles in the short films’ productions, we wound up with two very different end results. Two of the most distinguishable differences can be seen in our use of Line and Space. 

In the video I directed, I know I tried to use different styles of lines and the rule of thirds as much as possible. While the use of the rule of thirds should be obvious in nearly every shot, the Actual and Virtual lines I attempted to utilize might not be so obvious. The Actual lines I used in my shots were either to draw attention to a character or alter the perception of them. For example, in the opening scene, the lines created by the shelf all point to the mother. In other shots, I tried to use different directions of lines in either the wall or simply in where the actors were placed to give a different feel and sense of size to the characters.
In video 1, the director seemed to use more virtual lines. Lines that, while not visible, still direct the viewer’s eyes. Much of this can be seen in how the director used the lines to add further depth to the shots.
The other element that’s very different is the use of space. While I attempted to create the illusion that the room was larger than it actually was, the other video made the audience fully aware of the smaller size of the room. Both directors seemed to establish what they were going for fairly well, but the contrast between my use of flat space and the depth cues in the other still stands as stark.
There’s also a difference in the use of Active and Didactic storytelling and the use of Tension and Release. In the first video, the “Morgan Freeman” voice audibly says what the swear word is, while in mine it’s left up to the viewer’s imagination. The difference in Tension and Release can be seen when the mother first catches the boy swearing. In the silent movie, the tension and anger of the mother is drawn out, while in the narrated version, the punishment comes as swift, and without mercy.
Again, I’m happy with how both videos turned out, especially in seeing how different they ended up being.

Joke videos

I couldn't get this to work for the longest time.

Blog 6A - How to be Creative

" How to be Creative" - Hugh MacLeod

My Reflection

Blog 6B - Video Game

Metroid Prime - Final Boss Battle

5B - Favorite Scene

The Departed - Opening

Blog 3B- Soundscapes

My Group's Soundscape:
Emotion: Quiet Rage


My Critiques

My first critique was of Katie Everett's Soundscape

Second, Max Long
(It, for some reason, wouldn't let me see the URL)

Third, Alex Wiseman
(Same here. I imagine they embedded their video differently than I or miss Everett)

Blog 3A - Cover Songs

"American Woman" - The Guess Who

"American Woman" - Lenny Kravitz

For my song, I chose “American Woman,” as performed by both The Guess Who and Lenny Kravitz. Of course, the song was originally written and performed by Canadian rock band, The Guess who, in 1970. The cover version came out in 1999, when Lenny Kravitz recorded the song for the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack.

  The Guess Who is one of my favorite, less-known bands of the 70’s. While they were fairly successful, compared to popularity of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and other bands of that time period, well… there’s no comparison. 

Ironically, while “American Woman” is one of my favorite songs of theirs, the first time I actually heard the song was the Lenny Kravitz cover in the 90’s.

I chose this song because, outside of me simply enjoying both versions, the two also stand as a wonderful example of how different covers can truly be.

Lyrically, the two songs are very different. While the first halves of the songs run near identically, word for word, the second half of Kravitz’s cover strays quite a bit form the original piece. 

Part of this is undoubtedly to change the overall meaning and feel of the song. While the original song had been written for political purposes, the remake replaced those themes with sex appeal. Again, this was most likely, largely due to it being the theme for an Austin Powers movie, but the change is noteworthy, nonetheless.

Weirdly enough, when I played the two songs side by side, it seems as though the newer, supposedly more “rocked out” version that Kravitz did actually has a slower rhythm than its 70’s counterpart. Though they are fairly close, I’m sure the second was slowed down a bit more intentionally to give that “sexier,” more seductive, slow feel. If you pay attention to the use of drums and base in both songs, this change becomes all the more apparent.

The most noticeable difference in the songs absolutely comes from the two distinct timbres of the songs. Most noticeable, the artists use two very different guitars. While the basic arrangement of notes may be the same, through different techniques and editing (I noticed quite a bit of reverb in the Kravitz version), there’s an obvious distinction between the end products. 

Mr. Kravitz’s voice seemed to have been touched up a bit, as well, in addition to being a different individual than Randy Bachman of The Guess Who.

While there isn’t TOO great a distinction between the two in pitch, the Kravitz version of “American Woman” does seem to have a slightly lower pitch than The Guess Who original. Again, this is probably to add to the sultry connotation of the remake.

Of the six binary terms, I think “Tension and Release” and “Active and Didactic” can be exemplified the easiest. 

Most obviously and most frequently, Tension and Release can be seen in the Lenny Kravitz version. Several times in his version of “American Woman,” Kravitz drops the classic, infamous guitar rhythm of the song. This heightens to focus of the listener both into the beat of the song as well as the lyrics. This added tension also makes the following guitar riffs all the more powerful when that release comes.

The Active and Didactic element of the song can be seen in the lyrics of the two songs. As previously stated, they run very similarly. The slight differences in wording, though, and how those words are sung alters one’s perception from the Active listening of The Guess Who, where you’re left to interpret the presented metaphor, to the Didactic listening of Kravitz where he actually means a female who he no longer wants to be around.

In comparing the two, my preference still lies in the original. This isn’t to say that the Kravitz version is bad, I actually do find it enjoyable to listen to, but I can’t help it.  The heart wants what it wants, and while The Guess Who may not have earned a spot next to The Beatles in the Rock and Roll history books, I cannot shake my love for the feel and style of the oldies

Blog 5A - Visual Framing

For my image, I decided to use one of Goossens’ paintings. Though I don’t’ know the name of the piece, I made this selection because of how Goosens seems to format his imagery. In nearly every work of art I’ve seen of Goosens’, there seems to be one item that’s put in the foreground, while something simultaneously appears in the distance, with various, simplistic line decisions that keep the eye flowing from one element to the next.

In the normal, unedited piece,  Goosens’ use of lines and shape are visibly apparent. Given the rounded, soft, cool colors of the piece, what immediately draws one’s attention is the giant book in the sky. The size of the book, in and of itself, plays into Goosens’ choices with lines, shapes, and depth cues, but I’ll get into that later. 

By having the book be the first thing the viewer sees, it becomes the main focus of the piece. In the shape of the book, the lines created by the book’s edges draw the eyes to the corner. That corner, then, causes another line as one’s eyes follow the drip into the horizon. Because of the visual intensity and contrast between said droplet and the brightened grass below, the viewer’s eyes then wonder across the horizon and explore the rest of the piece.

As I mentioned earlier, Goosens uses quite a few depth cues to emphasize the book’s size and add to the overall space of the compilation. By not having the droplet cross the horizon line, an implication is made that the book hovers above the ground, adding to the book’s perceived size. Additionally, Goosens uses darker, faded colors for the greens on the horizon line, giving even more depth to the scene.

When cropping for my close-up portion, I mostly aimed to highlight how important Goosens’ techniques were in the original. However, in my image, some of our framing topics can still be seen. Through color changes, there is still implied depth in the new image. Additionally, while not exactly on the mark, one of the spots of light as well as a cloud seem to almost line up with two of the horizontal lines from the rules of thirds. Ultimately, though, I mainly wanted to display just how different the effect of an image can have without proper framing. 

Either way, both images seem to exemplify the binary terms of “Active / Didactic,” and “Conscious / Subconscious.”  Because the image is an abstract, we’re very much left to actively search out the information and meaning that is being transferred to us. This piece actively makes you think. However, due to the conscious / subconscious elements, I would not be surprised if most people came to a similar conclusion.  

The use of blue and green colors often subconsciously reminds one of nature and the environment, while books often symbolize knowledge and education. Coupled with the obvious waves on the book’s page, leading to a drop pouring off the end, I’d say that most people would find similar meaning in the work if asked to. Even, possibly, in the resized portion.

Blog 4B - Our Song

In place of my three audio critiques, Mr. Williams told me that I should, instead, write out a short review of my major key song, which we posted online here.
I don’t know what all to say about this project. In all honesty, the true artist behind this song was Kyle Miller. As an audio major, he took the forefront in putting together these songs, while I helped with minor details and switching up different audio tones.
Using the bass as the main rhythm of the song, we began adding more and more elements to the compilation to create different moods at different points in the song.
At the beginning, the song almost gives off a “70’s/80’s, Good cop / Bad cop” tv theme vibe (While making it, I was very much reminded of Starsky and Hutch). The contrasting timbre of the brass horns to the rest of the layers also adds to this initial feel.
As the song progresses, many more electronic noises are added. The almost chaotic organization of the electronic notes, and the contrasting speed they provide, a nice alteration and transition in the song. The combination reminded me of old 8-bit games, like Sonic or Megaman. This also connected this song to our other song, which drew inspiration from such games.
In the end, I was very pleased with how our projects turned out. Though they were fairly simplistic in comparison to other, well known songs, I think our final products turned out very nicely. I have both on my computer, and listen to them every not and then. I’m happy with what we accomplished.

Blog 4A - Brainwashed

"Brainwashed" - Seth Godin

My Summaries:

Acknowledge the Lizard

“The Lizard” is a metaphor for our instinctual temptation to not go outside our comfort zone(s). In this section, or “layer,” Godin explains how we all have a baser inclination towards not wanting to be laughed at or humiliated, stemming from an overall fear of rejection from our peers.
This fear, taking the form of one’s inner monologue or self-doubt, can ultimately shut down one’s mind, making it impossible for them to achieve their goal(s). Only by acknowledging and understanding this instinct can we work, as artists, to overcome it.
I can relate to this, in remembering my first time at stand-up. I remember how nervous I was, how unconfident I felt in facing that stage and all those people. Of course, you want people to laugh at what you’re saying, but you don’t want to be the butt of your own joke. It wasn’t until I finally got up there, and started telling my jokes, that I realized I was the only thing holding myself back. While I still faced that in some following shows, it’s something you have to work at, and gets easier to face every time.

Connect

They say that networking is one of the most important lessons one learns in their life. Essentially, that’s the point Godin gets across with the section, “Connect.”
Many people mistake the number of people you meet, or followers you have, or friends acquired on Facebook with legitimate networking. Your “online footprint” does not matter as much as real world experience. However, using the internet and those small connections, can also lend to greater connections down the road.
If we make art, another one of Godin’s sections, who we know and who we distribute that art to can make all the difference. Godin exemplified Shepard Fairey, a man who created a poster of Barack Obama that wound up spreading throughout the internet. He may not have made any money off the endeavor, but people now know his name and his work, an invaluable asset. From one little art project, he’s now connected to the world. He won’t have to look for jobs, they’ll find him.

In regards to the Blog…

I have mixed feelings on how to respond to this. On one level, after reading this article, yes, I feel like these blogs do conflict with this fight against our programming. We’re all being given the same standard rubric, we’re each given the same assignments, and I’d hazard a guess that near none of my fellow students have shared their blog with anyone outside the class. All of our work goes straight into the grade. However, to call these assignments “worthless” seems a bit extreme. Through our lab work, we’ve been able to show and explore our creative sides. Through our songs and sounds capes, we’ve expressed emotions and conveyed them in different ways. Through our blog, we’re able to show that we actually know what we’re talking about.
I feel like, if people in the class had their friends reading their blogs, if sharing these and connecting with others was part of the assignment, people would give a much more personal vibe to their work. We’d be doing more than simply following a grade sheet, we’d be networking and connecting to the world. Additionally, if the blog assignments were a little bit looser, and a bit more personal, I think that people would not only put more effort into their posts, but maybe actually enjoy doing the work as well.

Blog 2B - Soundscape - MDIA 203

Hello All,

Here's the Soundscape me and group partner, Andrew Kellogg, put together. Our emotion was "Quiet Rage." To capture that feeling, we wanted to depict a man reflecting on past abuse, something he couldn't express to others, something that ate at him from the inside.

Here's our final product, I hope you enjoy (or at  least feel what we were trying to capture):

Quiet Rage - A Soundscape

(I followed my instructor's directions for embedding the video to my blog, but it didn't work. See below.)

<iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GCfl42iOlIk" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe>

My Howl

Finding Your Howl - Johnathan Flaum


Summary of Part 1:
“There were only 14 remaining red wolves in the wild in the 1970s.”

The story in part one follows a red wolf by the name of Mumon, and the spiritual journey in which he partakes to find his “howl.”
Back in the 1970’s, inn an effort to protect the few, wild red wolves from the brink of extinction, the remaining population was placed into captivity. Years later, the pack was released. While captivity had kept the wolves safe, and their return to the wild seemed seamless, in reality there still existed one major flaw. The wolves had forgotten how to howl. As a result, their pack had no leader, no guidance, and organized direction.
Because of all this, Mumon decides to go off and find his howl in the hopes of saving his pack. Searching throw the dark, shrouded woods, he hoped to find what he yearned for. While he did not know exactly the sound in which he sought, he knew that once he heard his howl he would recognize it.
Suddenly, Mumon comes across a deer. In his hunger, he begins to chase the deer, only to be stopped when he hears the deer begin to speak. The deer asks how the wolf knew to hunt him, to which Mumon responded that he didn’t know why or how, but just that he knew it was what he was supposed to do. After talking Mumon chases the deer again, eventually catching up to the deer and devouring.
As time passes, a crow approaches to Mumon and notices the shame in his appearance. Though Mumon is both sad and ashamed over what he’s done, the crow tells him not to be ashamed. While he may feel sorrow for the deer’s death, there should be no shame in his actions as they were natural to him.
Upon ending his conversation with the crow, Mumon stands alone. Suddenly, with the energy and spirit of the deer coursing through him , Mumon began to run.
As he ran, he eventually came upon a farmer, gun poised. Staring down the barrel, Mumon hears the howl of the gun blast before dying, just as the deer.
Upon death, Mumon fell deep into the center of the earth, drawn by the burning fire, drum beats, and chanting of a red wolf costumed tribe. Passing into the flames, he came back into himself, and realized that the tribe he had seen dancing and playing music around the flame were, in fact, his own pack. Mumon began to howl, as did the other members of his pack, in full force. The red wolf had taken back its howl.

In my opinion, this story is all about finding your true self, your true voice. Like the red wolves, most of us are raised in “captivity.” Whether you apply this term to our lives at home, the way our educational system is structured, or simply how we grow up, the childhood of the average individual in modern society is fairly protected. As children, we’re far too often told what to think, how to think, and even where to think. Only by finally leaving the nest do we every truly discover who we are.
Mumon goes through a few trials in his pursuit of finding his voice. He travels out on his own, he takes actions that seem natural to him, but he later regrets, overcomes self-deprecation, faces destruction, and eventually comes out of his trial triumphant, secure in his howl. By making these sacrifices, he finds out who he naturally is, and is able to achieve the goal he set out to accomplish by bringing the howl back to his pack.


Below is the selection I made for my “Howl,” and the explanation for why I chose it to represent my “voice” and who I am.


Quote:
First Corinthians

Explanation:
Explanation 1

Explanation 2

*Note: I apologize if this is not the ideal way to imbed audio, but I see no tabs above, and this was the best I could do. It said to read the quote aloud and that this was an Audio assignment, but there weren't any instructions outside of that. Please let me know if there's any way I can fix this, and the proper way to do so.

Week 1 B

14 Ways to Get Breakthrough Ideas - Mitch Ditkoff



In the article, “14 Ways to get Breakthrough Ideas,” author Mitch Ditkoff offers up a series of methods in which an individual can activate their mind, think outside the box, and increase their capacity for creativity in the pursuit of uncovering the next great idea.
The article begins by suggesting two separate schools of thought on the subject of innovative thinking. The first concept gives full attributes full credit to the inventor, having given their time and effort to the idea, and making their idea(s) a reality. The second attributes all ideas to a transcendent force, or “Collective Unconscious.” Through this collective, one does not create an idea, but simply accesses the idea from a realm of possible, existing ideas. While the article does not discern which way of thinking is best, it does offer fourteen methods that can be used to further boost your mind, and put you in the proper state to let ideas flow.
These suggestions include, Following your passion, Immersing yourself [into your idea], tolerating ambiguity, making new connections, fantasizing, defining the right challenge, listening to your subconscious, taking a break [from your idea / work], noticing and challenging existing patterns and trends, hanging out with diverse groups of people, brainstorming, looking for happy accidents, using creative thinking techniques, and suspending logic.
Though I found most of the suggestions to me insightful, amongst the listed prompts, three stood out to me as particularly good ideas. The first being, “take a break.”
The article talks about famous computer designer, Seymour Cray and his unusual quirks in his style of work. While he works, according to the article, Cray will often step away from his project and go outside to dig an underground tunnel below his Chippewa Falls house. While this may seem like strange behavior, the act helps Cray to relax his mind, and prepare for the task ahead.
When reading this portion, I could absolutely relate to the advice Ditkoff presented. I cannot even list off the number of times taking a break has helped me in my creative process. Something about letting the brain relax, clear, and switch direction, it somehow brings a greater focus when one returns to the question at hand.
I for one find this method extremely helpful in real life. With the shows in which I participate, school work I maintain, stand-up show I operate, and student organizations I attend meetings for, I sometimes feel as though I barely have time to breathe. However, when I wake up in the morning, and begin my daily regiment, there’s consistently one time frame where my mind truly comes alive; when I’m in the shower. I don’t know if it’s just the sound-cancelling setting, or the rhythmic pattern of water splashing around me, but my mind clears. From this clearing, new ideas seem to flow. I get some of my best thinking done in the shower.
Additionally, when working on a paper or project, especially on the computer, I’ll often stop to check Facebook or something else of little to no consequence. Even when I haven’t received an update, or the distraction only last for a minute, the switch often reactivates my attention and allows me to finish what I started.
Another exceptional suggestion was to “Define the Right Challenge.” The basic idea being that by defining the issue one tries to solve too hastily, one might miss out on the real problem at hand. I know that, many times, I’ll find myself writing a paper or working on a project, and I’ll realize the point I wound up making strayed drastically from the original thesis. While I often try to connect the two and change my original point, I know that process could be much less of an ordeal if I had simply figured out my true point in the first place.
My last of the three examples, Ditkoff listed as number ten in the article, the ability to “Hang Out With Diverse Groups of People.” By hanging out with the same people every day, we limit the experiences and relationships we can have in our lives. In regards to “breakthrough ideas,” the basic notion is that by diversifying your experiences with others, you diversify your thoughts, and open your mind to a wider variety of possibilities.
In my opinion, this is one of the better ideas suggested, not only for coming up with the next “breakthrough idea,” but also to simply enrich one’s life. I know how much having a diverse cast of individuals has influenced my life for the better and worse. I would not be the same without them.

Prompt:
#10: Hang Out With Diverse Groups of People

I know I listed off this suggestion in my critique, but I honestly think it’s one of the better ones listed, and I know plenty of people in my life that I’d really like to get to know better.

*Amanda Schreckengost: A girl who lived in my dorm last year. We’ve been talking about working out a time when we could meet up to discuss stand-up and some of her jokes. We could potentially meet for lunch sometime in the upcoming week.

*Laura Hyde: Another girl who lived in my dorm last year, Laura and I often talked about political matters as well as the personal. We haven’t done anything in a long while, though. Perhaps I could go to one of her STARS meetings within the month, as she’s the president of the organization

*Carolyn Williamson: A fellow comedian in Athens who I don’t know as well as I should. She seems like a very kind individual. We often mention getting a group of people together to make fun of the awful movie, “The Room.” Later on this month, that can be organized.

*Andrew Kellogg: A very talented new member to the Fridays Live crew. We started working together on the sound-scape project for MDIA 203. We can always get to know each other better through that.

*Max Cothrell: A new comedian in Kamikaze Comedy. Maybe by joking around with him more at our bi-weekly meetings, a better discourse can grow between us.

*Maria Badillo: One of the main two people I wish I had gotten to know better in High School. I could try and develop a better connection and dialogue with her through simple Facebook comments and posts.

*Charlie Hughes: The second person I wish I had gotten to know better in High School. Charlie’s a great guy, and we’re friends for the most part. However, we could keep in contact with each other more regularly. I could see how he’s doing sometime this week.

*Tayler Showalter: An old neighbor from back home who now attends OU. A lunch sometime next week could work, and I could catch up with her in regards to her time at OU.

*Brian Peacock: A very funny, new member of our student stand-up group, Kamikaze Comedy. At the meetings, if he attends, I can try the same methods with him as I would with Max.

*Ryan Zymler: Another member of FL that I simply haven’t gotten to know as well as I should. We usually have fun around each other, so it’d probably be fun if we found some way to hang out in the upcoming weeks.

Week 1 A

(Note: I wrote the intro to this before I realized how long the description of the links had to be. I didn't feel like deleting it after how much time I had spent writing.)


Someone who has always inspired me in my strive for success is writer, director, actor, author, professional story-teller, and comedian, Kevin Smith. Raised in a Catholic home in New Jersey, Kevin Smith is an individual who comes from humble beginnings, which I respect, and is very much a self-made man, which I admire. When I reflect on those individuals who have “made it” in the industry, there’s not a man, in who’s footsteps I would rather follow, than Kevin Smith’s.
Like Kevin Smith, I come from fairly humble beginnings, especially in regards to my creative process. Though I hate to toot my own horn, I’ve always been a fairly creative person. One example can be found in my long-lasting love for drawing. I’ve been drawing since I can remember. Though I fluctuated at times, over the years, in how often I sketch, I almost always have my book handy. My sketches have never been something I’ve went out of my way to share, either. While others would flaunt their work in art class, I usually tried to keep to myself and let my art do the talking. I think that mentality towards my work has heavily influenced the way I write and my relatively recent aspirations since coming to Ohio University.
When I first came to OU, I had one goal in mind for my Freshman year: find out if I had what it takes to be a writer. I had always done well in English classes back in high school, and near the end I had even started writing for the school newspaper, the Ravine. With a few friends of mine, I also put out a fairly regular, comedic comic strip, that we’d usually post online or pass about the school. However, even with my accumulated experience with writing, I realized I was comparatively untested. After all, how far could my limited writing experiences really take me?
Within the first quarter, I started immediately looking into the various clubs and organizations around campus. After a bit of trial and error, I found a home in AVW’s Fridays Live. There I received the support I needed, and found the true passion I held for comedic writing. Since then, I’ve gone on to try stand-up, and found relative success in founding Ohio University’s most popular stand-up show, “Athens Open Mic.” Additionally, I’m currently being trained to take over as co-head writer of Fridays Live. As a result of my work with both shows, I feel as though my creativity has only grown, alongside my career aspirations.
Kevin Smith’s origins have a very similar story to my own, which factors heavily into why he’s an inspiration to me. In addition to this, I’m also, quite simply, a huge fan of his work.

One of the things I find appealing about Kevin Smith’s writing is his overall attention to detail. Often times, his stories and critiques will revolve around a very simple, central idea. One great example of this can be found in the following scene from Clerks, his debut film.

In this scene, the two main characters, Dante and Randall, discuss the ethics of the second Death Star explosion from Star Wars. Personally, I love the dialogue in this scene. Not only because of my love for nerd humor, but also because of how intelligent, and yet seemingly simple, crafts his words.
By examining  a new point of view on the matter, Kevin Smith reveals an underlying misdirection in the Star Wars films. Though Luke and the Rebels are commonly viewed as the heroes of the film, by adding a new subtext to the film / original text, the meaning of the major climax of the film is altered, leaving Luke and his buddies looking like a rag-tag gang of terrorists. This all adds to the overall irony of the scene. As previously stated, the conversation implies that the heroes are villains, or at least not as pure as they seem, for what they did. Because of the crew members inside the Death Star, obviously a good amount of innocent civilians were involved, including contractors. Unexpectedly, though, a customer overhears the conversation, and he so happens to be a contractor. Through his unexpected, ironic story, the position becomes flipped, yet again, so that the viewer now views the Rebels less harshly.
These seemingly meaningless or mundane conversations, with hidden undertones and philosophies, are a common theme in Kevin Smith movies, and a huge factor in why I’m such a fan.

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This next clip is from the movie, Dogma. Another film by Kevin Smith.

Another one Kevin Smith’s earlier films, Dogma explores the different political and emotional aspects of  Catholic church. The story follows a couple of angles in their attempt to re-enter heaven, as a group of “chosen” individuals and religious deities try to stop them.
This particular stands as a perfect example of Tension and Release. We open on the scene of a board room. Completely new characters, all well dressed and clean cut, sitting atop a corporate tower. We know the characters are looking to smote some sinners before their return to heaven, though we know nothing about them.
As Ben Affleck’s character walks around the room, he grows increasingly intimate with the board members, setting up the scene. Though Matt Damon’s lines are humorously written, the drama in his words increase the tension of the scene. When Affleck returns to his speech, the music is added, and the list of sins is read aloud, the tension only continues to rise as we anticipate the oncoming scene. With the release of tension after the voodoo gag (especially with the tension-building music), and the two of them leaving the room, the audience falls into a false sense of safety. Then, with the following massacre, the playful music, and the waiting room cut-scene, the audience gets taken for a second ride. By far my favorite scene of the movie
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This next clip comes from Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy.

I couldn’t find the exact clip from this movie that I wanted, but I will do my best to describe the Active and Didactic methods of delivering information, as shown in this film.
The basic plot of this movie follows Holden McNeal (Affleck), and his romantic pursuit of Alyssa, the female lead character. However, what Holden doesn’t realize is that the character Alyssa is, in fact, a lesbian. Or so it would seem.
Before this scene, Alyssa invites Holden out to a bar with her and a couple friends. Upon entering, she becomes very flirty with Holden, before going up on stage and singing a song, seemingly directed at him. As the song progresses, attentive audience members will notice that the couples swaying together to her melodic voice are not coupled man and woman, but that this setting is in fact a gay bar. However, this detail is hard to see at first, as the focus remains on Holden and Alyssa’s longing glances atone another. To get the message, before Alyssa didactically kisses her girlfriend on-stage, followed by a cut to the above scene, the viewer must actively take on the information
Later on, though, the plot reveals that Alyssa is indeed bisexual, another bit of information that can be actively pieced together by the viewer, but is also flat out said and explored later on in the film

First time Performing: 2-14-2010

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I'm really wondering what's in that little, metal box...