Video Critique of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Music video/ video clips of San Andreas:

My video critique of San Andreas:

"How To Be Creative"

My video critique of Hugh MacLeod's "How To Be Creative" article:

Video Critique of "The Customer Is Always Right" on Sin City

Sin City "The Customer is Always Right," opening scene:

My video critique:

Reimaging Dali!

Without any doubt, Salvador Dali's "Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of the New Man (1943)" has been my most favorite work by the surrealist artist. The eerie and ominous painting makes me reflect on an odd foreshadowing of the end of the world, but also a possible rebirth or re-development of it as well. Dali uses dark colors of red, yellow, brown, and white to paint the surreal art piece, creating a bittersweet nightmare for all of its viewers.
I was drawn to the original painting just because of its mere surrealism. The artwork produces so many  thoughts that the mind cannot simply choose one set idea about the painting. I decided to zoom in and re-frame the painting where we see a human being (or other-worldly being) hatching out of the egg-like Earth. It was by far the key image that stood apart from the rest of the work, not only because it was in the center of the painting, but also because of its odd imagery, as seen below:



Original Salvador Dali painting.



With these new modifications, we as the audience can compare and contrast the two images. Right off the bat, I notice that the lines are perceived differently in the two works. In the original image, our eyes are drawn into the entire body of the hatchling. We see the foot, desperately kicking its way out, while the arms flail out of the cracks of the egg-imprisonment. This is similar with the the re-framed image, but our eyes are more focused on what is in and on the egg. One can observe that the yellowed spots on the egg resemble continents. He or she may also notice the torso of the life form struggling out of the egg rather than its foot or arm. This is all due to line movement. There is also less space in the re-framed work than the second, giving us an odder closeness with the being in the egg.

 

Re-framed Salvador Dali painting

                                                                                                                                                                  Also both works share their similarities. They both have a common rhythm and movement. Our eyes are immediately drawn to the hatching in both paintings. Investigating some of the binary artistic aspects of the paintings, I realize that both have a common affinity with using yellow in both the foreground and background, but also contrast it with the eerie whitish-brown egg in the middle. Further observations show that Dali gave his audience active and didactic points of views with his painting (in both the re-framed and original). He gives us the didactic imagery of a man (or sub-human) breaking out of an egg, or spherical imprisonment of some kind, but he gives us the active interpretation to decided what it means, just as I thought it represented the end of the world. Regardless, I find the Dali's work impressive and thought provoking, and I encourage others to view his paintings and artwork.

Critique of My Peer's Song

After publishing my song several days ago, I decided to also give an audio critique of other's songs made in class. Observe:

Brendan Trepal's 'Funktastarific'
Song


Maddie Schneider's Song
Song

Capri Ciulla's Song
Song

Being Brainwashed!!

I have just completed reading Seth Godin's essay/blog entitled "Brainwashed." The motivational piece dealt with how to break conforming to the typical, submitting to fitting in, and following the mainstream. Godin exploits the mainstream world by discussing how we, as people,all do what we are told, following ritualistic and monotonous habits, never realizing that we do them without questioning why we do. He then provides the reader with seven steps to avoid being "Brainwashed..." I chose two of these steps (actually, he calls them "layers") to avoid being brainwashed.



#1 Connect
This layer is by far the most important one to me.  Communication, whether it be face to face or facebook to facebook, is key to be successful and not "brainwashed." Godin uses a narrative of artist Shepard Fairey and his Barack Obama posters and how he used the means of the Internet to advertise and promote his art. He did not make much money on the posters, but by showing on various websites, it became iconic with Barack Obama and Fairey's artwork and now, as mentioned in the essay "the work will find him because of his connections." I apply this in my own life because by being connected, I have been able to interact with others via this class (not really through the blogs), organizations, and social networks to promote each other's works. For example, since I am a video productions major in love with music, I have helped many musicians by making various interview videos, and will eventually post a website to promote all OU musicians (particularly hip hop artists, but others as well).

#3 Make Art
This layer particularly spoke to me because I highly enjoy making art, whether it be graphics, drawings, writings, and videos. In the article, Godin discusses that originality is what makes the difference, what makes us not a brainwashed people. This is absolutely true... I compared this layer with a specific aspect of my life. When I make graphics, I do two different styles: Sampled Graphics and Original/Mixed Media Graphics. Both show off my talent, but the sampled graphics have less originality because I used other people's artwork and altered it into my own work. Compare that to my original works, and I have my own originality and creativity, It is the originality that makes me stand out more.



One of my Sampled Graphics...
























One of my original works, completely drawn and colored by myself






















MY Assessment
In all honesty, I find the blog assignments to be more of a chore, rather than a way to strengthen my creativity. Many of the readings deal with things I have already independently involved myself in. Applying it with the two layers I just discussed, I already have made artwork to set myself apart from others, and I have connected with many (and a diverse group, not just hip hop artists) musicians to visually promote there works. I find the blogs to be a necessary evil in order to pass the class. Possibly this is because I already blog, via Tumblr, but I also just find the blogs more complex than needed. Nevertheless, I drudge through them.

'Shit Gets Real With Napoleon Dynamite'

This previous week, I just completed my song assignment for my Creative Process class. The song, entitled "Shit Gets Real With Napoleon Dynamite", was made in Garage Band and consisted of a hip hop bass line, harmonizing piano keys, hand claps, and drum cymbals. The song gets its name from its cheesy-keyboard sound that is reminiscent of the same odd sounds heard in the 2004 film, Napoleon Dynamite.

Also, check out my partner's hip hop song (containing the same bass line)! Tyler Dawley's song just as innovative, and in my opinion, far more complex! Check them out!!!

"Shit" is indeed about to get real with Napoleon Dynamite...