Freak Factor 10A

            In David Rendall’s piece “FREAK FACTOR: Discovering Uniqueness by Flaunting Weakness”, is all about identifying your weaknesses so you can identify your strengths. Rendall makes the claim that by realizing where your flaws are, you can figure out where you fit in the world. You don’t need to “fix” these flaws nor are they actually “flaws”, he asserts. If you’re scatterbrained, hyperactive, and can’t stop talking, work with that! Become a professor like the subject of “FREAK FACTOR”, because that’s a job that doesn’t require you to round out your rough edges, and instead embrace them to your advantage.

            The Power of Uniqueness describes how the Leaning Tower of Pisa was constructed, and viewed as a mistake, initially. However, it ended up being the break that Pisa needed. Millions of people visit the Tower to see a tower that leans. We as a people need to rid ourselves of the notion that imperfection means flawed. Imperfections in art, especially in a day in age like the one we find ourselves in now (with mass production), are a beautiful rarity! Bon Iver’s  album For Emma, Forever Ago, an album recorded on basic recording equipment, in a log cabin, is a perfect example of that.

            Putting Your Quirks To Work, tells the reader to put themselves into situations that allow them to maximize their efficiency, by working with their “quirks”. It preaches a few key elements; stop doing the things that don’t excite you; find others who are strong where you are weak; be efficient, instead of trying to use self-control; accommodate for your comrade’s quirks.

            Build on your strengths, talks about how we’re good at something for a reason. We like to do these things! So it doesn’t feel like work. We need to stick to what we love and build on that.

            I enjoyed this article because I can relate to having a lot of mental quirks to work with. I’ve got a nice handful of things I have to deal with, such as hyperactivity, anxiety, and a list of other wonderful things that aren’t necessary to talk about. But, as a musician, I can channel all of my energy and all of my quirks into constantly picking up a guitar, singing, writing, drumming, etc.  It allows me to keep all of my limbs, and my mind going at one time; fully consuming my thoughts and energy. When I mess up a recording of a song, because I’m choked up, I tend to leave it in. Because sometimes things like that, make the music more powerful. 

www.ChangeThis.com

Hero/Villain Animation

Joke Video! (7)

            When we did our joke video, we kind of misunderstood what we needed to do. So, we only shot one video. But, we managed to utilize many of our binary terms from week one. However, I’ll focus on line and rhythm here, as well as contrast and affinity.

            In our video, during the portion in which Gavin is playing the man, leering at the woman studying across the way, you can see shelving that kind of sets up some lines behind the girl’s head. It kind of acts a way of adding emphasis to her noggin. As if to say, “HEY FOCUS HERE”. Also, we line up Gavin’s eye-line with her body in each shot, so you can tell where he’s looking.

            Additionally, the shelving in the background of both of their shots adds some affinity to shots. The contrast comes in the form of an angle change. “Girl” is shot from a high angle, and Gavin isn’t. Also, their costumes are vastly different in color. Gavin is wearing black and she’s wearing a light blue and white striped shirt.

            As far as rhythm goes, the scenes flow nicely from shot to shot, as we use just enough affinity to make everything thing move smoothly and just enough contrast to propel the shots forward.

Video Game Commentary, 6B

So, I Married an Axe Murderer. 5B

Re-Framing Sally Mann, 5A

            For this assignment, I chose an image by Sally Mann. I was drawn to her dark photographs because they all looked so eerie. This particular image features three figures. However, when I reframed it, the third figure in the back right is lost. It re-centers the image on the cigarette in the older child’s hand. This re-framing changes a lot about the photo. It shifts how the audience perceives this image. This was my intent. I wanted to focus on the girl smoking.

            One of the factors that enhances this shift, I had already mentioned; rule of thirds. By eliminating the third figure, the audience’s focus shifts to the girl in white and is held there longer. Also, this centers the cigarette and puts a focus on it. It really says that this is what the audience is supposed to be looking at and concentrating on.

            By tightening the shot, we go from a WS to a MS. This enhances the focus on the two young girls in the photo. Additionally, it reduces depth cues and increases ambiguity in the space. You can’t really tell where the girls are. The audience no longer has the figure in the background as a depth cue.

            All of these factors work together to change the focus of the shot to the girl smoking, simplify the photo, increase ambiguity, and reduce depth cues. I also feel that my re-framing of the photo reduces the eeriness (and alters the mood and tone) of the photo, by removing the blurry figure in the back right of the original. However, I feel like that figure is a key element of the original photo, and the photographer made no mistake in including it.

Original

Re-Framed

            

Brainwashed..

         I wasn’t a huge fan of Seth Godin’s “Brainwashed” article, but it did raise some decent points. I do agree with Godin that it is imperative to learn, fail, ship, “acknowledge the lizard”, make art, be generous, and connect with others. But I don’t necessarily believe that public education and math are blatantly crushing art and the creative process as we know it. For example, (and I’m not claiming to be any sort of a fan of math at all) have you heard of fractical geometry? It’s math, but it’s also art! It’s incredible. Additionally, I feel that public education can either stifle great art, or foster it. It really just depends on the individual...

Fractical Art.

            Anywho, back to the article… I think that the two most important factors discussed in Godin’s article were MAKING CONNECTIONS & FAILING. As a frequent blogger I can speak toward how incredible and helpful it is to make connections in places all over the world. I’ve had conversations with people in other countries about their media systems, via Tumblr. I’ve discussed music projects and other art with people all over the globe. Blogs are an incredible resource if used correctly. The second point that I felt was important was failure. From failure we learn what works and what does not. It puts us in our place and teaches us humility. It really can be a great way to become a better artist, if you learn to take it the right way.

            As far as how useful these assignments are, in terms of fostering the creative process, I’d say that they help a little; some more than others. For example, I enjoyed the soundscape assignment. It invited me to explore different areas of sound that I hadn’t bothered to explore prior. I really focused on making the deep space in the photo present in my sound, and that was a challenge for me.