Tuesday, February 15, 2011
3D Animation - Bouncing Grenade Project V1
The initial version of my grenade project for my 3D Animation class. I am working on the explosion!
Experimental Skeleton Inc.
The two main projects that caught my interest on www.experimentalskeleton.com were "The Refractory" and "The Genetic Archive". The Refractory seems like a spectacular show, as it includes the use of 15 different projectors; consequently, I was disappointed by the website's lack of video clips from the event. The article on the website mentioned multiple formats of media presentation, including the use of recording performances for future playback, but does not actually have any of these files available to visitors. In contrast, i found the design of the large dream machine to be intriguing as I tried to visualize the movement of a moth around a light while looking at the picture. Yet again, I think the quality of the website could vastly improve with video clips of these events included on their respective pages.
Another project that I found interesting was The Genetic Archive because I believe it to be a unique and potentially useful experiment. One thing that I am still curious about is the difference of using medicinal leeches compared to using the traditional methods of drawing blood one would find in a hospital. From a conceptual perspective, I feel like the experiment may prove to be useful in future scientific studies or experiments, and that the concept of creating a genetic archive that is greatly diverse seems to be a very futuristic based experiment compared to the other experiments I read about online.
Another project that I found interesting was The Genetic Archive because I believe it to be a unique and potentially useful experiment. One thing that I am still curious about is the difference of using medicinal leeches compared to using the traditional methods of drawing blood one would find in a hospital. From a conceptual perspective, I feel like the experiment may prove to be useful in future scientific studies or experiments, and that the concept of creating a genetic archive that is greatly diverse seems to be a very futuristic based experiment compared to the other experiments I read about online.
The Private Eye of Radio
The audio-only aspect of radio entertainment resulted in the adaptation of many already established genres, like detective stories, as the medium of radio required a more intensively intellectual content for the basis of its broadcast; consequently, the radio produced detective characters with more conceptual powers than those of a physical nature. In contrast to television, where images would drive the production, radio productions were driven forward through more sophisticated plot twists and dialogues between characters. One early example of this type of a "Private Eye" radio detective was the Honolulu detective Charlie Chan, who was featured as the main character in "The Adventures of Charlie Chan". As previously mentioned, compared to what I imagine the video production of this detective series might have been while listening to the radio broadcast, it was easy to determine why radio needed detective characters of this nature in order to be successful. Ultimately, if the character of Charlie Chan were to have been a detective who depended on brute force in order to solve crimes, the broadcasts would be much less interesting because the consumer would not be able to physically see Charlie pummel the bad guy or chase down a criminal, and the consumer would therefore be less consumed into the plot of the story.
Another "Private Eye" radio broadcast that featured a detective character who used deduction rather than brute force in order to solve crimes was Sherlock Holmes, who was one of the most famous detectives of this genre of all time. Although Holmes' series usually featured very little action, his intellectual deductive powers allowed for the sophisticated plot-twists that kept listeners engaged through out the program. As I was already familiar with the Sherlock Holmes series, I chose to listen to the Ellery Queen broadcast in order to gain a more elaborative perspective on the detective characters of radio entertainment. Ultimately, Queen was extremely similar to Sherlock Holmes in the way that they both solve their crimes by finding clues that no one else noticed and mentally arranging them in order to solve the crime. However, one unique element of this broadcast that I found interesting was the stopping of the action for the purpose of soliciting possible solutions of the crime to the audience. I felt like this was a significant aspect of the broadcast because it was an obvious attempt to further engage the audience in the plot, and the general concept reminds me of the Goosebump series that I read when I was younger, which featured alternate endings based on decisions the reader would make through out the story. Obviously the broadcast did not feature alternative endings, but i found the attempt to convert radio from a passive experience to an interactive experience to be extremely intriguing in terms of its long term effect on multimedia.
Another "Private Eye" radio broadcast that featured a detective character who used deduction rather than brute force in order to solve crimes was Sherlock Holmes, who was one of the most famous detectives of this genre of all time. Although Holmes' series usually featured very little action, his intellectual deductive powers allowed for the sophisticated plot-twists that kept listeners engaged through out the program. As I was already familiar with the Sherlock Holmes series, I chose to listen to the Ellery Queen broadcast in order to gain a more elaborative perspective on the detective characters of radio entertainment. Ultimately, Queen was extremely similar to Sherlock Holmes in the way that they both solve their crimes by finding clues that no one else noticed and mentally arranging them in order to solve the crime. However, one unique element of this broadcast that I found interesting was the stopping of the action for the purpose of soliciting possible solutions of the crime to the audience. I felt like this was a significant aspect of the broadcast because it was an obvious attempt to further engage the audience in the plot, and the general concept reminds me of the Goosebump series that I read when I was younger, which featured alternate endings based on decisions the reader would make through out the story. Obviously the broadcast did not feature alternative endings, but i found the attempt to convert radio from a passive experience to an interactive experience to be extremely intriguing in terms of its long term effect on multimedia.
War of the Worlds: Orson Welles' Radio Broadcast
Orson Welle's radio broadcast of "The War of the Worlds" on October 30th, 1938, was one of the most significant broadcasts in the history of commercial radio. The Broadcast began with a brief statement about the broadcast being a fictional story, but then proceeded right into the storyline; consequently, many listeners who began listening in media res, or as the story was ongoing, did not know that the broadcast was fictional. Furthermore, most listeners did not tune-in long enough to hear the addition disclaimers that were dispersed through out the program, which caused a massive panic across the United States. The power of the radio medium during that time period was unquestioned, as listeners were accustomed to believing everything that was broadcasted; essentially, the absence of the television as a communication medium left radio as one of the only options Americans had of receiving breaking information or news. In addition to the context of the time period contributing to the general realism of the broadcast, official sounding names of weather advisories like the Government Weather Bureau filled the fictional broadcast, adding to the broadcast-induced chaos; furthermore, the broadcast's script also added to the authenticity of the program because it led people to believe that there were announcers, orchestras, newscasters, and scientists on the air from a variety of locations, rather than simply being conducted in the studio of the radio station. The panic that the broadcast created caused reactions in listeners across the United States, such as people fleeing their homes, constructing home-made gas masks, and thousands of people calling radio stations, Police stations, and newspapers hysterically anticipating the conformation of an alien invasion. After the public received the news that the broadcast was fictional, the American people were outraged that a radio station would try to trick them, and many people attempted to sue Orson Wells for taking advantage of their trust in the authenticity of the radio medium. Ultimately, Orson Welle's radio broadcast had an enormous affect on the relationship between communication mediums and the consumer; essentially, it forced many Americans to reconsider their instantaneous belief of any information obtained via a mass communication medium.
Resources:
1) Orson Welle's Radio Broadcast of "The War of the Worlds".
2) About.com - Orson Welle's Radio Broadcast of "The War of the Worlds".
Resources:
1) Orson Welle's Radio Broadcast of "The War of the Worlds".
2) About.com - Orson Welle's Radio Broadcast of "The War of the Worlds".
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Technological Revolution 1952 - 1971
The time period from 1952 to 1971 is extremely important to the history of art because of the numerous technological innovations that took place. In 1955, Simplex Technologies (Today Subcom) built the American portion of the first transatlantic telephone cable. Another one of the most significant innovations was the RCA's first commercial color television in 1954, and later the conversion of black & white tvs' conversion to color in 1955. SD analog technology was developed by Subcom in 1962, who later would develop the SF coaxial cable in 1968; furthermore, the first consumer only video tape recorder was released in 1963. In addition to the advancement of television, computer technologies also improved dramatically. The first computer mouse was demonstrated in 1968, and was shortly followed by the emergence of arcade and home video game consoles. Computer Space was the first video arcade game in 1971, and the first home video game system, Magnavox Odessey, was released in 1972. Other technological innovations included the first use of a computer, UNIVAC, to predict elections, the first satelite to transmit live transoceanic television in 1962, and Jack Kilby invtented the integrated circuit in 1958.
Sources:
1) www.tycotelecom.com/flash/history.aspx
2) www.cedmagic.com/history/index.html
Sources:
1) www.tycotelecom.com/flash/history.aspx
2) www.cedmagic.com/history/index.html
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Frame By Frame Animations
1) Triple-Split Personality
Although it was a relatively short animation, I think the simplicity of it was sufficient in terms of expressing the Artist's idea. The animation also featured a well thought out visualization of the phrase split personality, or in this case a "triple-split" personality. In addition, the animation was well drawn, as the artist took a very detailed approach to the construction of the images.
2) Animator v.s. Animator II
This is probably Alan Becker's most well known animation, and it is also one of my person favorites. The stick figure was well animated, and the movements of various objects across the screen were extremely smooth. In addition, this animation also featured a well done visualization of concept in scenes such as when the stick figure "goes through the trash" or is used as a pop-up blocker.
3) Out of My League
Although this animation was relatively simple, I found the music video aspect of the production worked well as an idea or general concept for an animation. Initially, I could not understand why the piano keys was not synchronized with the music, but after a second viewing I realized that the entire animation seems to be 1 to 2 seconds behind the audio.
Although it was a relatively short animation, I think the simplicity of it was sufficient in terms of expressing the Artist's idea. The animation also featured a well thought out visualization of the phrase split personality, or in this case a "triple-split" personality. In addition, the animation was well drawn, as the artist took a very detailed approach to the construction of the images.
2) Animator v.s. Animator II
This is probably Alan Becker's most well known animation, and it is also one of my person favorites. The stick figure was well animated, and the movements of various objects across the screen were extremely smooth. In addition, this animation also featured a well done visualization of concept in scenes such as when the stick figure "goes through the trash" or is used as a pop-up blocker.
3) Out of My League
Although this animation was relatively simple, I found the music video aspect of the production worked well as an idea or general concept for an animation. Initially, I could not understand why the piano keys was not synchronized with the music, but after a second viewing I realized that the entire animation seems to be 1 to 2 seconds behind the audio.
Napoleon - Abel Gance
Able Gance was extremely important to film making because his innovative ideas and use of technology. In addition, he was also an extremely ambitious individual as well as a perfectionist. His innovation of a triptych scene in the film, "Napoleon", was one of his most creative and spectacular contributions to the film making community. Although he originally planned to create a total of six films about Napoleon, his first turned into a three hour long masterpiece and he ran out of funds to create the other five films.
Abel Gance's, "Napoleon", was very important to the history of film making for a various number of reasons. One of its' most significant innovations included the use of a twenty minute long triptych scene, which alternated widescreen panoramas with complex montages that were projected on three screens simultaneously. In addition, Gance's experimentation with hand held cameras allowed him to introduce the cinematic effects of color tinting, split screens, and wide screen expansion; however, the cost of these advanced innovations for his time period, combined with the overwhelming length of the film, cause Gabel's "Napoleon" to fail financially-- resulting in the incompletion of it's sequel.
Abel Gance's, "Napoleon", was very important to the history of film making for a various number of reasons. One of its' most significant innovations included the use of a twenty minute long triptych scene, which alternated widescreen panoramas with complex montages that were projected on three screens simultaneously. In addition, Gance's experimentation with hand held cameras allowed him to introduce the cinematic effects of color tinting, split screens, and wide screen expansion; however, the cost of these advanced innovations for his time period, combined with the overwhelming length of the film, cause Gabel's "Napoleon" to fail financially-- resulting in the incompletion of it's sequel.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The Origins of Jazz
Although many believe it to have originated in New Orleans, the ascent of jazz music into popular entertainment is difficult to constrict to one specific area or state. In addition, this is partly because nothing of what early jazz bands played was ever written down as much of it was improvised by early jazz musicians; furthermore, even if they were documented, the technology of musical notation cannot accurately describe the feel of the improvised performance that comprised much of early jazz. The origin of jazz is also difficult to place in one specific state because jazz music evolved and adapted according to the change in the conditions of the time in which the musician had experienced it; consequently, jazz expanded rapidly and jazz performers were constantly changing the original sound of jazz, creating new branches of the original. For example, the origins of jazz trace back to the sound of Creole subculture's response to racial issues of the time specific to New Orleans; however, jazz was immediately responsive to the atmosphere of the speakeasies and the illegal virtues that the mobster audience inspired-- resulting in a much different sounding jazz.
Jazz was extremely important to American history because it reflected the pure emotions of the era in which the jazz musicians would live in, allowing future people to have a sense of how living in conditions such as the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression would have felt.
For examples, most of the jazz music in the 1920's were written for Broadway, and therefore encompassed non-realistic realities because the 1920's were a time of unprecedented prosperity; however, jazz music would transition into a more serious tone during and proceeding the crash of the stock market in 1929. One classic example of the reflection of the emotional impact that the Great Depression caused was the song, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" The sounds of the song, along with its' lyrics, convey the degree of poverty and desperation that consumed that era of American history. Furthermore, examples such as "This is the Army" and "Oklahoma" would reflect the complex transition of the time of depression into war during the time of the first World War, and would later reflect the disposition that music and entertainment should distract or relieve its' audience of the major agents of stress that began to impact not only American history, but world history as well.
Most Interesting Link
In all honesty, this link isn't too interesting in itself. However, it did make me realize that although I had read and understood much of the conceptual importance of the sound of jazz, I had not yet experienced it myself. Therefore, I was inspired to create a short playlist of the famous jazz music in the 1920's and post it to my blog so that my classmates could also experience the sound of jazz in the time period we are learning about. In addition, two of the Louis Armstrong songs' (What a Wonderful World & Hello Dolly!) lyrics can be found at the link above in order to further the experience of the jazz culture of that time period as you can hear and read the words simultaneously.
References
1) A History of Jazz Music
2) The Origins of Jazz
Jazz was extremely important to American history because it reflected the pure emotions of the era in which the jazz musicians would live in, allowing future people to have a sense of how living in conditions such as the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression would have felt.
For examples, most of the jazz music in the 1920's were written for Broadway, and therefore encompassed non-realistic realities because the 1920's were a time of unprecedented prosperity; however, jazz music would transition into a more serious tone during and proceeding the crash of the stock market in 1929. One classic example of the reflection of the emotional impact that the Great Depression caused was the song, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" The sounds of the song, along with its' lyrics, convey the degree of poverty and desperation that consumed that era of American history. Furthermore, examples such as "This is the Army" and "Oklahoma" would reflect the complex transition of the time of depression into war during the time of the first World War, and would later reflect the disposition that music and entertainment should distract or relieve its' audience of the major agents of stress that began to impact not only American history, but world history as well.
Most Interesting Link
In all honesty, this link isn't too interesting in itself. However, it did make me realize that although I had read and understood much of the conceptual importance of the sound of jazz, I had not yet experienced it myself. Therefore, I was inspired to create a short playlist of the famous jazz music in the 1920's and post it to my blog so that my classmates could also experience the sound of jazz in the time period we are learning about. In addition, two of the Louis Armstrong songs' (What a Wonderful World & Hello Dolly!) lyrics can be found at the link above in order to further the experience of the jazz culture of that time period as you can hear and read the words simultaneously.
References
1) A History of Jazz Music
2) The Origins of Jazz
The Crash of the Stock Market in 1929
The stock market crash in 1929 was the most devastating crash in American history, and contributed to the Great Depression that follows it. The crash of the market was due to a number of reasons, such as World War I weakening the economy by causing an agricultural depression in the 1920's and the unevenly distributed wealth of the "Roaring Twenties". It's most significant cause was the United State's service as the World's banker, as it was the primary creditor to Europe as it struggled to pay war debts from World War I. In addition, the price of stock was excessively over-priced, causing inflation to turn into deflation.
The stock market crash in 1929 can be compared to the recent crash in the stock market in 2008 in the sense that stocks were to the 1920's as collateralized housing loans were to the housing bubble in 2008. One major similarity was the overall consequences of the causes of both crashes built slowly over time in order to produce such drastic effects; however, the main difference between the two economical crises was that in the 1920's, main street economy declined first and then affected the population gradually overtime, but although the housing bubble burst in 2008, main street was only "peripherally" giving way.
References:
1) The Great Crash of 1929 vs The Panic of 2008
2) The 1929 Stock Market Crash
3) Causes of the Great Depression and the Stock Market Crash
The stock market crash in 1929 can be compared to the recent crash in the stock market in 2008 in the sense that stocks were to the 1920's as collateralized housing loans were to the housing bubble in 2008. One major similarity was the overall consequences of the causes of both crashes built slowly over time in order to produce such drastic effects; however, the main difference between the two economical crises was that in the 1920's, main street economy declined first and then affected the population gradually overtime, but although the housing bubble burst in 2008, main street was only "peripherally" giving way.
References:
1) The Great Crash of 1929 vs The Panic of 2008
2) The 1929 Stock Market Crash
3) Causes of the Great Depression and the Stock Market Crash
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