Shuttle Discovery
The other day I was at the dog park on Davis Island when I saw four cars with elderly people sitting in foldable chairs outside of their cars. When I first walked by I wondered what they were looking for. I turned and saw a big ship that I hadn't recognized, but I didn't think that could be it. Finally realizing what I read on the internet the other day, it was a space shuttle take-off. Instantly, I stood and looked at the sky but it was covered with clouds in that area. This prevented everyone from seeing the shuttle from a greater distance. Endeavour will be the second to last space shuttle launch on April 19th at 7:48 p.m.
In the article, it said that this most recent launch will leave the first humanoid robot to fly in space. That is amazing. This will give the opportunity for NASA to continue their research because soon they won't be able to launch shuttles into space. According to the article, Robonaut 2, or D2, will stay in the space station for a few months before beginning the experiment on having it do simple jobs inside the complex. If technology all works out in everyone's favor, D2 will become an astronaut assistant. How far have we come in the past 50 years? In 1969, we landed on the moon. Today, we are creating humanoids to assist in space research.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Computers
Where to start? The history of technology is absolutely incredible.
Computers. After watching the film in class on the history of computers, I realize how far technology has come. When computers were first introduced and manufactured, they were big, bulky, and unaffordable. As time progressed and people worked on the aesthetics of the computer, it became more popular and marketable. Who would want a computer that weighed 30 tons? Well, in 1946 that's all there was to work with. The ENIAC was completely revolutionary for the time it was developed; however, it was too much work to control it and too much money for it to be marketed. People had to make changes in order to produce a computer that everyone can use in homes and at work. The IBM system created another business-type computer in 1964. However, the Datapoint 2200 was one of the first personal computers that influenced some of the technology used in today's computers.
One of the most amazing stories to me is that of the Palo Alto and later on the Apple. While watching the movie in class, I learned that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak generated ideas for the Apple computer from the introduction of the Palo Alto. If you aren't fast enough in producing new technology, you will be beat. This is what Jobs and Wozniak proved in the development of computers. Although, Xerox had the original concept for the technology behind their computer, they failed to produce it to sell to the market. This was their biggest mistake that cost Xerox billions in what they could have made. Apple then took this concept of the graphical interface, screen, keyboard and mouse to a new level and reconstructed until they came out with the Apple II. Do Jobs and Wozniak deserve all of the credit for the Apple computer?
Something that I think about often is how much the computer has advanced in my lifetime. As far back as I could remember, I recall sitting on my Mac that looks ancient nowadays. Also, the fact that I had to interrupt my house phone-line to connect to CompuServe boggles my mind. Today, we can be automatically connected to the internet on our cell phones. There is no dial up and no way of being denied access. I can go on and on about how technology has evolved throughout my life, but ultimately the most important fact is that no one can go a day without using some form of technology.
Computers. After watching the film in class on the history of computers, I realize how far technology has come. When computers were first introduced and manufactured, they were big, bulky, and unaffordable. As time progressed and people worked on the aesthetics of the computer, it became more popular and marketable. Who would want a computer that weighed 30 tons? Well, in 1946 that's all there was to work with. The ENIAC was completely revolutionary for the time it was developed; however, it was too much work to control it and too much money for it to be marketed. People had to make changes in order to produce a computer that everyone can use in homes and at work. The IBM system created another business-type computer in 1964. However, the Datapoint 2200 was one of the first personal computers that influenced some of the technology used in today's computers.
One of the most amazing stories to me is that of the Palo Alto and later on the Apple. While watching the movie in class, I learned that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak generated ideas for the Apple computer from the introduction of the Palo Alto. If you aren't fast enough in producing new technology, you will be beat. This is what Jobs and Wozniak proved in the development of computers. Although, Xerox had the original concept for the technology behind their computer, they failed to produce it to sell to the market. This was their biggest mistake that cost Xerox billions in what they could have made. Apple then took this concept of the graphical interface, screen, keyboard and mouse to a new level and reconstructed until they came out with the Apple II. Do Jobs and Wozniak deserve all of the credit for the Apple computer?
Something that I think about often is how much the computer has advanced in my lifetime. As far back as I could remember, I recall sitting on my Mac that looks ancient nowadays. Also, the fact that I had to interrupt my house phone-line to connect to CompuServe boggles my mind. Today, we can be automatically connected to the internet on our cell phones. There is no dial up and no way of being denied access. I can go on and on about how technology has evolved throughout my life, but ultimately the most important fact is that no one can go a day without using some form of technology.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Jeopardy
Technology has been growing every day. Relating to my other class, I just watched 2001: A Space Odyssey, and saw the significance of HAL, the intelligent computer. Also, relating this topic of computer intelligence to Digital Arts class. I recently had to respond to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/business/13sing.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all, which talks about Singularity University and how some form of superior intelligence will take over the world. Is this superior intelligence the computer? Can the computer outsmart humans?
Well, after reading the article Computer Wines on 'Jeopardy!':Trivial, It's Not, I believe it is more than possible for computers to outsmart humans. Ken Jennings was famous for winning 74 games in a row on Jeopardy. However, he has just recently lost to an I.B.M. computer named Watson, after the founder of I.B.M., Thomas J. Watson. One of the smartest human beings lost $1 million on Jeopardy to a computer programed to answer questions.
Something I found to be interesting in this article was that the computer knew when it was confident or not. At one point in the show, Watson answered a question with several question marks at the end, posing a sense of unfamiliarity. Watson was able to respond to questions faster when it was confident it knew the correct answer.
Overall, this is a massive advancement in technology that can shape our future. A question answering machine was able to beat a human. Even though the computer won the game, it still had a few imperfections during its performance. Also, relating to the article about Singularity University, it is important to realize that today, technology is going to have a significant impact in our lives, and especially the medical field. Would you trust a robot performing surgery on you?
A glimpse into the future shows computers are going to be outwitting humans. Are they going to completely replace humans altogether? Or can they?
The incident on Jeopardy shows that I.B.M. researchers are trying to perfect the capabilities of Watson and future computers. Science is transforming the world. Soon, computers will be able to complete more functions in society. I.B.M. plans to create a physician's assistant service that will allow doctors to question a computer assistant. This project may be completed in less than 2 years. It is incredible how people can build a computer to work in a way that outsmarts humans.
Well, after reading the article Computer Wines on 'Jeopardy!':Trivial, It's Not, I believe it is more than possible for computers to outsmart humans. Ken Jennings was famous for winning 74 games in a row on Jeopardy. However, he has just recently lost to an I.B.M. computer named Watson, after the founder of I.B.M., Thomas J. Watson. One of the smartest human beings lost $1 million on Jeopardy to a computer programed to answer questions.
Something I found to be interesting in this article was that the computer knew when it was confident or not. At one point in the show, Watson answered a question with several question marks at the end, posing a sense of unfamiliarity. Watson was able to respond to questions faster when it was confident it knew the correct answer.
Overall, this is a massive advancement in technology that can shape our future. A question answering machine was able to beat a human. Even though the computer won the game, it still had a few imperfections during its performance. Also, relating to the article about Singularity University, it is important to realize that today, technology is going to have a significant impact in our lives, and especially the medical field. Would you trust a robot performing surgery on you?
A glimpse into the future shows computers are going to be outwitting humans. Are they going to completely replace humans altogether? Or can they?
The incident on Jeopardy shows that I.B.M. researchers are trying to perfect the capabilities of Watson and future computers. Science is transforming the world. Soon, computers will be able to complete more functions in society. I.B.M. plans to create a physician's assistant service that will allow doctors to question a computer assistant. This project may be completed in less than 2 years. It is incredible how people can build a computer to work in a way that outsmarts humans.
Museum of Television
Museum of Television
What a fascinating website to learn all about the history of television. Anything related to television can be found on here. The exhibit I explored was about the ever-famous Marilyn Monroe. There are two lines on the opening of this exhibit that I found very important. "The movies made her a star. Television made her a legend." This is a strong but true statement. Growing up as Norma Jean Baker, she never had the stardom. As Marilyn Monroe gained stardom, she become an idol and symbol for people. Her audiences looked up to her and wanted to be her. She is a representation of the shift from film to television.
Entering the film industry in 1948 and then television in 1949, no one noticed who she was. When she began doing more projects and commercials, her studio, Fox, realized that her talent should not just be wasted on the big screen. However, it surprised me to learn that her fame was not reached to its fullest potential until her death. Her fame came from the replays of her films and shows on television. Television allowed Monroe to be appreciated as an actress because people could watch her whenever they wanted in their homes. People now know who the real Marilyn Monroe is. The first broadcast of one of her movies, How to Marry a Millionaire aired on television in 1961. This changed television forever. The incredibly high ratings received for her movie made a statement of how special she was. Through television, Monroe has become a status symbol.
What a fascinating website to learn all about the history of television. Anything related to television can be found on here. The exhibit I explored was about the ever-famous Marilyn Monroe. There are two lines on the opening of this exhibit that I found very important. "The movies made her a star. Television made her a legend." This is a strong but true statement. Growing up as Norma Jean Baker, she never had the stardom. As Marilyn Monroe gained stardom, she become an idol and symbol for people. Her audiences looked up to her and wanted to be her. She is a representation of the shift from film to television.
Entering the film industry in 1948 and then television in 1949, no one noticed who she was. When she began doing more projects and commercials, her studio, Fox, realized that her talent should not just be wasted on the big screen. However, it surprised me to learn that her fame was not reached to its fullest potential until her death. Her fame came from the replays of her films and shows on television. Television allowed Monroe to be appreciated as an actress because people could watch her whenever they wanted in their homes. People now know who the real Marilyn Monroe is. The first broadcast of one of her movies, How to Marry a Millionaire aired on television in 1961. This changed television forever. The incredibly high ratings received for her movie made a statement of how special she was. Through television, Monroe has become a status symbol.
CryptoVisual
A Guide to the visual art of Joe Griffith...
Giant Squid Decoy
At first glance, I thought how can a project be in the making for 10 years but never even make it to the experimental stage? Then, I realized that it is a very complex concept that requires a lot of money to produce. It seems that the original project will not be made; however, there is a new version of a squid project. The new version would have a giant squid sculpture outside the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa. This squid would be a real-life size of the original squid and have sounds from it's environment coming from surrounding speakers. The difference between the original and the new version seems to be drastic. I don't think they are even the same project at all, just the same idea of using a Giant Squid. The first project seemed to be more experimental and the second is more of an art piece. It is like an artist throwing away a project but trying to keep the same idea in mind to create a similar one. I enjoyed the concept behind the first project because I think experimental art projects are a great way to learn new things.
How Did You Come to This?
How can you recreate a 10 foot tall dream machine? Just ask the people form Experimental Skeleton. Seeing the images again from the exhibition show that an incredible amount of work was put into creating this sculpture. It is one of the largest recreated dream machines, that's something to be proud of.
Sugar Bells
This collaborative project called Sugar Bells was exhibited in 1995. As it seems to be the beginning of Griffiths work with experimental art, I found it to be a pretty interesting concept. A glass xylophone made out of bottles filled with different levels of saturation of sugar solutions. A large-scale xylophone that could be turned into candy. Hence the name "Sugar Bells." If the project was left unused, then the solutions would turn into rock candy. Although this was produced about 15 years ago, I think the idea of making musical art that has potential to turn into candy was a success.
Giant Squid Decoy
At first glance, I thought how can a project be in the making for 10 years but never even make it to the experimental stage? Then, I realized that it is a very complex concept that requires a lot of money to produce. It seems that the original project will not be made; however, there is a new version of a squid project. The new version would have a giant squid sculpture outside the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa. This squid would be a real-life size of the original squid and have sounds from it's environment coming from surrounding speakers. The difference between the original and the new version seems to be drastic. I don't think they are even the same project at all, just the same idea of using a Giant Squid. The first project seemed to be more experimental and the second is more of an art piece. It is like an artist throwing away a project but trying to keep the same idea in mind to create a similar one. I enjoyed the concept behind the first project because I think experimental art projects are a great way to learn new things.
How Did You Come to This?
How can you recreate a 10 foot tall dream machine? Just ask the people form Experimental Skeleton. Seeing the images again from the exhibition show that an incredible amount of work was put into creating this sculpture. It is one of the largest recreated dream machines, that's something to be proud of.
Sugar Bells
This collaborative project called Sugar Bells was exhibited in 1995. As it seems to be the beginning of Griffiths work with experimental art, I found it to be a pretty interesting concept. A glass xylophone made out of bottles filled with different levels of saturation of sugar solutions. A large-scale xylophone that could be turned into candy. Hence the name "Sugar Bells." If the project was left unused, then the solutions would turn into rock candy. Although this was produced about 15 years ago, I think the idea of making musical art that has potential to turn into candy was a success.
Experimental Skeleblog
What a way to organize and follow past projects. A blog. It is a great way for Experimental Skeleton to track the progress on current projects and for people to follow along. It is a more in depth view at the projects produced by the group Experimental Skeleton other than visiting their website.
It is also a great way to see the progression in skills and success of the projects. The artists are also able to display images in chronological order so people can see exactly how the project was made. On the blog, most of the projects have a series of photographs to show the steps of the project and the event itself. Pictures tell what words can't. In a way, it is a better method for ES to use pictures so people see the amount of work that goes into producing an experimental art project. I enjoy how I can read about the idea of the project and then see the pictures of the building process followed by the exhibition of the project. It is great to see people viewing the projects in pictures on the blog at an event. I think that it is a great way to capture how every person interprets the art project in a different way. By seeing the body language and facial expressions on people, you can see how successful the project and exhibition was.
It is also a great way to see the progression in skills and success of the projects. The artists are also able to display images in chronological order so people can see exactly how the project was made. On the blog, most of the projects have a series of photographs to show the steps of the project and the event itself. Pictures tell what words can't. In a way, it is a better method for ES to use pictures so people see the amount of work that goes into producing an experimental art project. I enjoy how I can read about the idea of the project and then see the pictures of the building process followed by the exhibition of the project. It is great to see people viewing the projects in pictures on the blog at an event. I think that it is a great way to capture how every person interprets the art project in a different way. By seeing the body language and facial expressions on people, you can see how successful the project and exhibition was.
Experimental Skeleton
Take Your Breath Away
I really liked the idea behind this project. The experiment was done for an international event for a company based out of San Francisco, Rebar. It was completed in September 2009. The idea that generated this project was how human beings affect climate change. Experimental Skeleton decided they had to try and store the same amount of CO2 from people exhaling as would be absorbed by a forest plot the same size as the parking space used. I thought this was really creative and useful. It would be incredible to know how much a human can ultimately affect the climate. ES used a coffin shaped container to portray the destruction by humans exhaling CO2. They then filled the coffin with individual plastic bags from different people that represents their last breath. ES discovered that they need to find a strategy for effective CO2 storage that can help the future of the atmosphere being destroyed by humans.
Prior to the lecture about Experimental Skeleton, I had not really known much about experimental art. I didn't know much about how time consuming, costly, and difficult it can be to produce a project. As they are "experimental" you never know if it will work out properly. I congratulate this group for doing all of these intense projects that people are able to learn from.
Radio during The Great Depression
"Radio was everywhere, it was taken for granted."
During the Great Depression, radio's popularity grew. This new form of mass communication brought entertainment to people in their homes. They were able to divert themselves from hardship going on in their lives and sit and relax. Some people thought the radio helped provide a sense of autonomy by being able to understand the world in personal terms. Others felt that the radio was a way to communicate with a mass audience. With time, Americans were able to determine what the radio was and how the new medium can play a role in their lives. Radio was now linking people across the country.
People were now connected to what was going on in the world as well as being provided entertainment. During the Depression, people who could afford radios, flocked to buy them. It was an easy way to provide entertainment for a large number of people at basically no cost. It couldn't have come at a greater time in history. People had no money to do anything. The radio provided free entertainment that people had not been used to before. They could sit around their house for hours as if it were a television.
Comedians were performing skits on the radio. Daytime soap operas were being aired. Feature shows were aired in the evening. Singers and orchestras were performing. The great American pastime, baseball, was being aired. News was being aired. All of these combined, made it possible for Americans to continue living during the Depression. They were now able to laugh, listen, and enjoy things that they never could have heard before. Families could sit around the radio in the evening and listen to the Lone Ranger or the Green Hornet. It also played a role in uniting people and bringing families closer together during tough times.
The rise of the radio was revolutionary. Since it was the first medium to link everyone across America, people could be informed about things taking place on the other side of the country. For the people that couldn't afford to go to a baseball game, they were able to listen to the entire game on the radio. If martians from Mars were to invade Earth, people could now be informed.
People were now connected to what was going on in the world as well as being provided entertainment. During the Depression, people who could afford radios, flocked to buy them. It was an easy way to provide entertainment for a large number of people at basically no cost. It couldn't have come at a greater time in history. People had no money to do anything. The radio provided free entertainment that people had not been used to before. They could sit around their house for hours as if it were a television.
Comedians were performing skits on the radio. Daytime soap operas were being aired. Feature shows were aired in the evening. Singers and orchestras were performing. The great American pastime, baseball, was being aired. News was being aired. All of these combined, made it possible for Americans to continue living during the Depression. They were now able to laugh, listen, and enjoy things that they never could have heard before. Families could sit around the radio in the evening and listen to the Lone Ranger or the Green Hornet. It also played a role in uniting people and bringing families closer together during tough times.
The rise of the radio was revolutionary. Since it was the first medium to link everyone across America, people could be informed about things taking place on the other side of the country. For the people that couldn't afford to go to a baseball game, they were able to listen to the entire game on the radio. If martians from Mars were to invade Earth, people could now be informed.
Old Time Radio- War of The Worlds
Listening to War of the Worlds on Old Time Radio was a little bit interesting. It is nothing like the radio today. The typical announcer voice spoke about situations that occurred and appeared newsworthy. I found it really interesting and almost humorous. I began by listening to the opening which I was confused by. The words and sayings that were used about people going to and from the earth and people being watched by greater intelligences seemed to be out of the ordinary. It is apparent that the radio was used for everything. It was used to discuss the weather, phenomenons and anything to provide to the consumers. But, it was more of a second by second description of what was going on. I found it interesting that the announcer was almost unprofessional like. The way that the radio worked back then was much different than now.
It almost reminds me of the film, I Am Legend because of the end of the world. When Will Smith is the last person on earth, he uses the radio to see if there is anybody else out there. The announcer also just used the radio the same way by saying, "Is there anybody there? Is there anybody there?" He talks about being the last human being on earth, and that this could be the last radio show. The main theme talked about was destruction of the world.
Martians, Mars, Meteorites. The outer world enters the earth and causes destruction. War of the Worlds discussed how martians were entering the streets and roads were closed, meteorites were hitting the earth and Mars was exploding. This is not too realistic. Was this for pure entertainment? Or did they think this was newsworthy?
With a little more research, I found out that this was one of the one of the most popular radio broadcasts. On October 30, 1938, the War of the Worlds attracted over a million listeners. About 1/5 of the listeners thought the invasion from Mars was "real and terrifying." People were moving about frantically to escape from the martians that were invading earth. Would you believe this broadcast if it aired today in 2011? Or was it just because radio was new to people?
It almost reminds me of the film, I Am Legend because of the end of the world. When Will Smith is the last person on earth, he uses the radio to see if there is anybody else out there. The announcer also just used the radio the same way by saying, "Is there anybody there? Is there anybody there?" He talks about being the last human being on earth, and that this could be the last radio show. The main theme talked about was destruction of the world.
Martians, Mars, Meteorites. The outer world enters the earth and causes destruction. War of the Worlds discussed how martians were entering the streets and roads were closed, meteorites were hitting the earth and Mars was exploding. This is not too realistic. Was this for pure entertainment? Or did they think this was newsworthy?
With a little more research, I found out that this was one of the one of the most popular radio broadcasts. On October 30, 1938, the War of the Worlds attracted over a million listeners. About 1/5 of the listeners thought the invasion from Mars was "real and terrifying." People were moving about frantically to escape from the martians that were invading earth. Would you believe this broadcast if it aired today in 2011? Or was it just because radio was new to people?
Sunday, February 13, 2011
What happened between 1952-1971 that lead to a change in the film industry?
Not only has audio been incorporated in movies, but color too. These amazing advances in technology allow the viewer to draw a better picture from the film. People are able to understand the story further than when there was no sound or color. The evolution in the film industry has changed so drastically in the last century that we now have movies in 3-D. However, this progression had to start somewhere. I'm not sure we can have much more advancements in cameras and technology with films, but I guess you never know. Filmmakers have been able to make revolutionary advances that change the future of film.
Woody Allen's career spiked during the years of 1952-1971. Woody Allen has introduced comedy to the industry. People are now able to be entertained in a new form. He began at an usual age in an usual time. At an early age of 15, Allen began writing jokes for a local newspaper. This is the way that he was able to rise to fame producing comedic films at first, and later changing to various types.
What else happened during this time period? The television had been introduced and was growing in popularity for general entertainment. For the television industry to sustain itself, they changed the size of the films that were being produced to fit a wider screen. During the 1950s, color was being used more often. And the biggest change of all was in the number of indoor theaters that closed from 1948-1958. The once, ever-popular movie industry had competition with the television. However, over the same time period, the number of outdoor theaters grew from about 1,000 to 5,000 in 1958. This is a huge increase. It was a great tactic to stand out from the television. Movies now had something special. The ability to watch a movie from your car was a completely new concept of the time. Now this challenged the success of the television.
Besides all of the technical changes in film, there was also changes in the films themselves. Musicals, westerns, suspenses, and epics were all very common. There was the introduction of science fiction films. This particular type caught the attention of many viewers. A few of the popular sci-fi's of the 1950s include The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Thing From Another World, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The Incredible Shrinking Man.
Science fiction is a genre of fiction that deals with impacts from scientific or technological innovations, often set in a futuristic or non-realistic setting. This gives a sense of fantasy, and ultimately relief from the real world for viewers. Another new genre allowed filmmakers to displace people from their everyday lives and sit through a futuristic fantasy world. Does these new innovations in the films play a role in the real world?
During these years, there was also an expansion in popular actors and actresses. James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Paul Newman are just to name a few. These three people made a great impact in films as actors. They became world-wide role models and idols.
After discovering everything that happened in the 1950s, I wondered how could all of that happen in only ten years? It truly is amazing to see how the people ultimately predict if a new genre, idea, or film will succeed or fail.
The 1960s was another busy decade in itself. In America, the culture had changed into the hippie, rock n' roll and experimentation with drugs. This reflects onto the film industry. Films being produced had to deal with more of those cultural themes. These ten years also contained a lot of violence, death, and tragedies. JFK was assassinated, Hair opened off-Broadway, the Cuban Missile Crisis was going on, anti-Vietnam War protests were taking place, and "60 Minutes"debuts on television. These are just some of the major events that occurred during the 1960s that have some effect on the film industry. To say the least, it is clear that the 1960s brought trouble to the industry. Major companies were financially unstable and foreign films were influencing the United States. It seems to me that the relaxed culture brought along with it many ups and downs in history.
As the film industry in the 1970s began in financial disarray, they ended more prosperous and successful. Risks in language and sexuality were being taken by young filmmakers. Yet again, another change in film content. Also, the theme of war-truths in films was very popular. People wanted to know what was happening on the front lines of a war. They don't want to be fooled by the media, they want it to be informative. The end of the 1970s showed how changes in ideas can bring a greater positive audience response. It is difficult to sum up about 20 years in history; however, the film industry has come a long way from where it began a century ago.
Woody Allen's career spiked during the years of 1952-1971. Woody Allen has introduced comedy to the industry. People are now able to be entertained in a new form. He began at an usual age in an usual time. At an early age of 15, Allen began writing jokes for a local newspaper. This is the way that he was able to rise to fame producing comedic films at first, and later changing to various types.
What else happened during this time period? The television had been introduced and was growing in popularity for general entertainment. For the television industry to sustain itself, they changed the size of the films that were being produced to fit a wider screen. During the 1950s, color was being used more often. And the biggest change of all was in the number of indoor theaters that closed from 1948-1958. The once, ever-popular movie industry had competition with the television. However, over the same time period, the number of outdoor theaters grew from about 1,000 to 5,000 in 1958. This is a huge increase. It was a great tactic to stand out from the television. Movies now had something special. The ability to watch a movie from your car was a completely new concept of the time. Now this challenged the success of the television.
Besides all of the technical changes in film, there was also changes in the films themselves. Musicals, westerns, suspenses, and epics were all very common. There was the introduction of science fiction films. This particular type caught the attention of many viewers. A few of the popular sci-fi's of the 1950s include The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Thing From Another World, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The Incredible Shrinking Man.
Science fiction is a genre of fiction that deals with impacts from scientific or technological innovations, often set in a futuristic or non-realistic setting. This gives a sense of fantasy, and ultimately relief from the real world for viewers. Another new genre allowed filmmakers to displace people from their everyday lives and sit through a futuristic fantasy world. Does these new innovations in the films play a role in the real world?
During these years, there was also an expansion in popular actors and actresses. James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Paul Newman are just to name a few. These three people made a great impact in films as actors. They became world-wide role models and idols.
After discovering everything that happened in the 1950s, I wondered how could all of that happen in only ten years? It truly is amazing to see how the people ultimately predict if a new genre, idea, or film will succeed or fail.
The 1960s was another busy decade in itself. In America, the culture had changed into the hippie, rock n' roll and experimentation with drugs. This reflects onto the film industry. Films being produced had to deal with more of those cultural themes. These ten years also contained a lot of violence, death, and tragedies. JFK was assassinated, Hair opened off-Broadway, the Cuban Missile Crisis was going on, anti-Vietnam War protests were taking place, and "60 Minutes"debuts on television. These are just some of the major events that occurred during the 1960s that have some effect on the film industry. To say the least, it is clear that the 1960s brought trouble to the industry. Major companies were financially unstable and foreign films were influencing the United States. It seems to me that the relaxed culture brought along with it many ups and downs in history.
As the film industry in the 1970s began in financial disarray, they ended more prosperous and successful. Risks in language and sexuality were being taken by young filmmakers. Yet again, another change in film content. Also, the theme of war-truths in films was very popular. People wanted to know what was happening on the front lines of a war. They don't want to be fooled by the media, they want it to be informative. The end of the 1970s showed how changes in ideas can bring a greater positive audience response. It is difficult to sum up about 20 years in history; however, the film industry has come a long way from where it began a century ago.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Art and Technology
I googled "Art and Technology" and this was the first image that came up. I believe that it is a great way to incorporate new technologies with artistic features in the building. You never know if you will see this in 5 years or 25 years. Either way, the way that technology is progressing at a rapid rate is able to change the way people live.
Frame b y F r a m e
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOX2ZN4s_P8
I really liked this one from the Kansas City Art Institution Program. I enjoyed watching the opening scenes of people walking in frame by frame. The entire time you follow the little black figurine. It then becomes incorporated with different people and dance moves. I just found this video and music to be catchy and interesting.
I really liked this one from the Kansas City Art Institution Program. I enjoyed watching the opening scenes of people walking in frame by frame. The entire time you follow the little black figurine. It then becomes incorporated with different people and dance moves. I just found this video and music to be catchy and interesting.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Frame by Frame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kisQYkid_Nc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm5_Y6OvcS0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FJBn_-T4-E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQDjynOzgCk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm5_Y6OvcS0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FJBn_-T4-E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQDjynOzgCk
Abel Gance and Napoleon
Although pressured to have a prosperous career in law by his parents, Abel Gance decided to be independent. At age 19 he began his career in theater. His first part in a movie was Moliere in 1909. Gance had a difficult childhood, growing up in poverty and suffering from tuberculosis. Determined to gain success, he was able to form a production company and be a director of La Digue in 1911. Many of his films were unsuccessful and he returned to theater. However, with the outbreak of World War I, his performance never premiered. Since he was ill, he didn't partake in the war. During these years, Gance was able to excel in the Film d'Art company. Surprisingly, at this high status, he chose to join the fighting in the war and was later released. He wanted to be redrafted to be able to film scenes for future movies. The movie he produced out of the battlefield was a great success all over Europe. This was an amazing opportunity for Gance to sustain his prominence in the industry.
Gance's most well-known film is Napoleon, released in 1927. He used all of the techniques from silent era films and added new techniques never seen before. The film was shot using a three-camera panorama process, using three projectors and a curved windscreen to create a panoramic appearance. This was the first time it was introduced, a total phenomenon and advancement in technology. He even shot scenes in color at least a decade before the Wizard of Oz came out; however, he did not use them for fear of audience rejection. Gance was an incredible experimentalist in the film industry. He changed the future of film. Well, he tried to. Napoleon was very successful in Euorpe, but failed to entertain people in the United States. How can there be such a drastic difference in reactions? It is because when MGM bought rights to the film, they changed it from the original formating. Gance believes that his film didn't get enough recognition as it should have. He recreated the film several times using different techniques until British Director Kevin Brownlow spent 20 years remaking Napoleon to the original format. It was then screened in London in 1979. Francis Ford Coppola screened the film at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, 1981. Now, Gance was finally successful in the United States.
After learning all of this about Abel Gance, I believe that his film could have created revolutionary changes in the film industry in the United States if the original format was not changed. I think that since the original gained a standing ovation, then it deserved something more than Americans simply laughing at it. It is clear that Gance gained recognition, but that is how many years later? It should have been recognized much earlier. Napoleon was an advancement in technology that helped other filmmakers produce better films.
Gance's most well-known film is Napoleon, released in 1927. He used all of the techniques from silent era films and added new techniques never seen before. The film was shot using a three-camera panorama process, using three projectors and a curved windscreen to create a panoramic appearance. This was the first time it was introduced, a total phenomenon and advancement in technology. He even shot scenes in color at least a decade before the Wizard of Oz came out; however, he did not use them for fear of audience rejection. Gance was an incredible experimentalist in the film industry. He changed the future of film. Well, he tried to. Napoleon was very successful in Euorpe, but failed to entertain people in the United States. How can there be such a drastic difference in reactions? It is because when MGM bought rights to the film, they changed it from the original formating. Gance believes that his film didn't get enough recognition as it should have. He recreated the film several times using different techniques until British Director Kevin Brownlow spent 20 years remaking Napoleon to the original format. It was then screened in London in 1979. Francis Ford Coppola screened the film at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, 1981. Now, Gance was finally successful in the United States.
After learning all of this about Abel Gance, I believe that his film could have created revolutionary changes in the film industry in the United States if the original format was not changed. I think that since the original gained a standing ovation, then it deserved something more than Americans simply laughing at it. It is clear that Gance gained recognition, but that is how many years later? It should have been recognized much earlier. Napoleon was an advancement in technology that helped other filmmakers produce better films.
Monday, February 7, 2011
History
Since I have taken history and music classes, I was aware of many of the inventions in the past centuries that have forever changed our world today. However, I was never to see examples of the steps of developing photographs at the beginning. In 1877, Eadweard Muybridge was able to develop a camera to change the shutter speed to catch images in motion. This has forever changed the future of photography. These brilliant photographers created some of the techniques we still use today. Yet, times have changed as has the technology developed.
It is much more common to use a digital camera nowadays, rather than manually using a camera that the pictures need to be developed. This is only recent. It is amazing how technology has changed drastically over the past century, and even decade. Now, people are able to carry a Flip video camera's in their pocket's and record on the spot. Youtube has grown exponentially with videos from ordinary people because they are able to capture instances that never could have been captured before. From pictures to videos to movies, the history and future of America will never be the same
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
How was the Great Depression different than today's recession?
There are many people concerned today whether we are experiencing times much like those in the Great Depression. This time period brought new content to plays on Broadway. There were more references to bad times in the plays, and the form and content was open to experiment. People were begging on the streets for food and a quick return to their old lives. These were only some of the effects that the stock market crash of 1929 had on America. It is evident that people are comparing the tough times we are going through now, to the Great Depression.
According to Forbes.com, the Great Depression was the day that "the worst economic crisis in American history began." I think that this is a very strong statement, although it may be true. We are now experiencing times much like those struggles experiences in the late 20's and 30's. After reviewing statistics from the two economic crises, today is not even comparable to the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, over 9,000 banks failed, the unemployment rate reached 25% and the economy was declining. These are only to name a few of the differences. Todays recession has brought only about 57 bank failures, an unemployment rate of 8.5%, and an economy declining not nearly as bad as the Great Depression. Yes, these times are comparable but they are also completely different in American history and culture. Today, technology has been a great help to the United States.
According to Forbes.com, the Great Depression was the day that "the worst economic crisis in American history began." I think that this is a very strong statement, although it may be true. We are now experiencing times much like those struggles experiences in the late 20's and 30's. After reviewing statistics from the two economic crises, today is not even comparable to the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, over 9,000 banks failed, the unemployment rate reached 25% and the economy was declining. These are only to name a few of the differences. Todays recession has brought only about 57 bank failures, an unemployment rate of 8.5%, and an economy declining not nearly as bad as the Great Depression. Yes, these times are comparable but they are also completely different in American history and culture. Today, technology has been a great help to the United States.
What is the origin of Jazz music?
It is clear that after yesterday's class, Jazz music was a great era in American history. Jazz is a type of music that is able to unite all races with its likings. With this in mind, this time period was able to draw together all types of people for entertainment, including jazz music and performances. The unique rhythm in jazz is what stood out from the rest of music. Music became the center of peoples lives, attending dinners and concert halls to see the greatest musicians. Furthermore, I believe that Jazz came about from many different aspects at the time.
As Broadway began to be an American classic, the culture was also being transformed through music. There was a period of rapid modernization in society, and people were beginning to express themselves more openly through the way they dressed to the music they listened to. Women exposed themselves more, and were more provocative and slowly accepted in society. One of the reasons I feel that this occurred is because of the alcohol prohibition. People still wanted to sneak around the law and have fun, and one way to do this was to enjoy new American music.
As Broadway began to be an American classic, the culture was also being transformed through music. There was a period of rapid modernization in society, and people were beginning to express themselves more openly through the way they dressed to the music they listened to. Women exposed themselves more, and were more provocative and slowly accepted in society. One of the reasons I feel that this occurred is because of the alcohol prohibition. People still wanted to sneak around the law and have fun, and one way to do this was to enjoy new American music.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)