AAD250

A collection of photos and drawings that I think depict Art and Science respectably.

In my view and opinion, copyright holds are valuable to the modern global society. They are especially valuable in making sure that people or artists use their own ideas, thoughts, or creativity. In the article Remix by Lessig the author provides the insight of Charles Sims who states, “young creators should turn away from their “derivative” form of creativity. They should focus on something really challenging – “original creativity” (Lassig 91)”. Sims is arguing for artists to use their own creativity to develop and create their work rather than “deriving” it from others ideas and work. In other words be truly unique in the creative process. Start from scratch so to speak. This is where copyright holds can really be helpful and valuable to modern society. Without the copyrights then artists and people work can just be copied and added onto etc. This is almost the opposite as to what is seen in The Amen Break video. In the video it contributes the lack of new music over a past few decades to the harsh copyright regulations. This protects the artist and their work as well as allows true creativity to develop and come out. I do not believe that their needs to any limitation to modern copyright laws or regulations. But that being said I also do not believe that these regulations should be strengthened. At some point if there are too many laws or regulations regarding copyrighting then this will deter artists from creating new art because of fear of persecution and or penalty.

In the article Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins by Beverly J. Jones the articles main thesis is regarding how technology and art have simultaneously evolved and developed at the same time.  The thesis also goes further to say how both technology and art have influenced each other since the early 1940s. One of the historical examples that Jones provides as an illustration for her thesis is the example of Ben Lapofsky and Herbert Franke. These two individuals were the first to develop graphic images. “In the 1940s analogue computers were used to generate the earliest computer graphics and display them on oscilloscopes (Jones 22).” With new technology allowing the depiction of graphic images there was a whole new area or way for artists to create appealing art. That is art on a computer screen. No longer did artist have to use a canvas or paper to create art but now they could create it on a digital screen. Today, graphic design is a huge area of art and there are many people who create art through this outlet.  Lapofsky and Franke clearly were pioneers in the field digital art, which is very popular today. Their invention clearly gives a concrete example of Jones’ thesis and the relationship between art and technology. Jones’ thesis can also be seen today through electronic music. Electronic music is also called EDM. “EDM is short for electronic dance music, which could conceivably describe any music with a beat made on a machine. But in practice it describes something more specific (Yenigun).” Electronic music is very popular today and it can be seen as an art form. These electronic artists use mix boards, synthesizers, keypads, and electronic mixing software to create music. All of these tools are new technological advances that have made this new art form possible. Without the technology the electronic music would not be possible. With the creation of electronic music there have been many new websites and programs created for artist to create, mix, and share new music. The most popular ones are Sound-cloud, and Beat Port. These are forums where the electronic community at large shares their art digitally. As a college student that has a moderate to severe social life; I commonly hear electronic music at parties. It is upbeat, new, and a different genre of music that younger generations enjoy. I would compare electronic music as our generation rock and roll.

Jones, B. J. (1990). Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins. LEONARDO: Digital Image –Digital Cinema Supplemental Issue, pp. 21-30.

Yenigun, Sami. (2012). Dance Music Looks Beyond EDM and Hopes the Crowd Will Follow. The Record: Music News From NPR. March 1. Web.

I think the Ted Talk about video games and its players brings up several good points and ideas. Some of the points that are presented I agree with and some that I do not. I don’t agree with the statement about the World of Warcraft lifestyle or sense of community, “Tons of collaborators, everywhere you go, almost one hundred thousand people that are ready to work with you, to achieve your epic mission.” The speaker, Jane McGonigal believes that this is the main difference between the real world and the World of Warcraft. I do not think this is the case. There are plenty of places where you can collaborate with your peers to achieve a goal. One example would be at college or a university. There is a large student body and people that are willing to listen to new ideas, solve problems, and collaborate to achieve this so-called “epic mission”.

How do you define “spirituality”?

The definition of spirituality depends on many things. But I think that the definition depends on the person defining it. Everyone has different views and opinions that vary. For me the definition of spirituality is that it is an unconscious feeling or spirit that is present in everyone. Some people choose to ignore this unconscious feeling and are not spiritual while others embrace it and have it represent them. But I believe that it is present in everyone, it is just a matter of choosing to acknowledge it or not.

Does spirituality differ from religion?

Yes I think that spirituality is different from religion. There are many people who are spiritual and do not identify with any form of religion. Spirituality does not always mean there is a structured set of rules or guidelines. If anything spirituality is less structured and more free form. As for religion this is the opposite. There are many rules and guidelines for most religions. I think that this difference is the key when trying to find the distinction between the two.

How do you define “creativity”?

My definition of creativity is that it is a process in which a person can have their values or beliefs expressed in some sort of way or outlet. I also think that creativity is a mix between a person’s views and beliefs and the world as a whole. This process of creativity can vary and change from person to person. That is why creativity is so unique. It is constantly changing or evolving from person to person. Different people find new and exciting ways to be creative and express their values and beliefs.

What is the source of creativity?

I think that the source of creativity is from the outside world. Everything around us that we see in our daily lives can be a source of creativity. It does not matter if it’s a sign or billboard or a group of people, all of these things could be a source of creativity. I do not know how many times I have been walking to school and I have seen something that has inspired me or made me start thinking. The one thing to realize is that it depends on the person. One person’s source of creativity will be different than another persons.

For this post I wanted to focus on what I thought was the most interesting part of the reading. Which is the creative process. The first step in the creative process is “Formulation”. This step is when the artist discovers their subject or problem. I find this somewhat interesting that during the formulation step that an artist can identify a “problem” rather than just a subject. I believe because of the “problem” aspect that this formulation step can be applied to many other professions other than just artists. Problems can arise in many different fields of work or even life. The second step of the creative process is “Saturation”. During this step the artist deeply immerses themselves in their subject or problem. The artist does research about the subject and finds out anything and everything about the subject and problem. I think that this is one of the most crucial parts of the creative process. The more the artist knows about the subject or problem the better prepared they are further down the creative process. The third stage of the creative process is the “Incubation” stage. This is when you process the research and knowledge. This is when the artist tries to understand the subject or problem and develop a response. This step can vary. There are times when an artist can sift through the information quickly and formulate a response and then there are times where it takes the artist an extended period of time to finally grasp the information. I believe that if you put more into the “Saturation” step then the “Incubation” step will be much easier for the artist. The fourth step in the creative process is the “Inspiration” step. This is where the magic happens. The artist puts his or her own unique idea to the subject or solution to fix the problem. This can also be seen as the step where and when an artist can actually use their creativity. The next step in the creative process is the “Translation” step. This fifth step is when the actual artwork or problem solving happens. After researching the subject, understanding the subject, and putting an artist’s creative touch it is finally time to create the subject or fix the problem. All of the previous steps in the creative process lead the artist to this point of creation. The sixth and final step in the creative process is the “Integration” step. In this step the artist has already created the subject or fixed the problem and now they must share their work with the community or world. In the step artist seek feedback and try to see where they could have improved their piece of art or how to improve their solution. This step does rely on others to help the artist out but it is still on the artist to take in the feedback and use it to better their work next time. The main thing that I took away from reading about the creative process is that it can be applied to different professions or aspect of life other than art. Yes we are viewing it in the context of art and how artist use the creative process but by no means does that limit what you can apply it to.

Enjoying Horror

Article 1:

In the article titled “The Psychology of Scary Movies” there are several topics covered regarding scary movies, why we watch them, what drives people to watch them, and the numerous theories about scary movies. For a long time many people believed that it was our right amygdala that triggers our fear responses and for this reason we get a fear sensation when we watch scary or horror movies. However, this is not the case. In fact it is our visual cortex that is firing or actively being used. Moreover, horror movies all possess three primary factors or characteristics. They are tension, relevance, and unrealism. Although this seems to be true for the most part in Carroll’s article, “Why Horror” she states that horror movies are “explicitly driven by curiosity” This idea of curiosity is not really brought up much in the article except when they actually reference Carroll in the “The Psychology of Scary Movies” article. I think that the curiosity factor should also be included as a factor or characteristic of horror movies not just an incomplete theory.

Article 2:

“The Curious Appeal of Horror Movies” is another article that discusses why horror movies are so popular and why people watch them. The scary creatures, suspenseful scenes, and visceral nature are all reasons that should turn away or “alienate” a large number of movie watchers. But this is not the case at all. The article brings up the movie “The Conjuring” to show the success that horror movies have at the box office and the success they have over non-horror movies. Briefly the “Excitation Transfer Theory” is referenced and states that, “viewers who experience fear or anger at the antagonist during a horror movie will feel an amplified positive emotion at the films ending or resolution, no matter the outcome.” In other words, if you sit in a two hour movie that scares you and you have see all the blood and gore then at the end of it all you will feel better about yourself and your current situation. In Carroll’s article she hints at this idea as well. “the disclosure of the existence of the horrific being and its properties is the central source of pleasure in the genre.” She is saying that because the creatures, blood, and horrific images we see during the films this makes us happier and gains pleasure about ourselves. For this reason and many others we will always keep watching horror movies and they will continue to be successful at the box office level.

FilmmakerIQ. “The Psychology of Scary Movies.” FilmmakerIQcom. FilmmakerIQ, 2010. Web. 13 Feb. 2015.

O’brien, Lucy. “The Curious Appeal of Horror Movies – IGN.” IGN. IGN, 9 Sept. 2013. Web. 15 Feb. 2015.

Carroll, N. (2002). Why Horror?. In Neill, A. & Riley, A. (eds.) Arguing About Art: Contemporary Philosophical Debates (2nd ed., Chap. 17). New York, NY: Routledge.

Diagetic sound

After watching the Buffy the Vampire Slayer clip I was able to see multiple examples of diagetic sound. But one scene stood out in my mind the most. The scene at the end of the video with the assortment of vampires and creatures and Buffy screams at them. As Buffy begins to scream the vampire head begin to explode and green slim sprays everywhere. When each head exploded it created a new noise that distinctly added to the video clip and made the scene more horrific and added a dramatic effected. This example of diagetic sound is a perfect because a scene as gruesome as exploding heads needs an equally as gruesome noise. This squelching sound contributed to the scene by giving the exploding heads a slightly more gruesome effect and thus adding to the horror.

Non- diegetic sound

In the beginning of the clip during when Buffy falls asleep in class and starts to dream there is a great example of non-diegetic sound. In the dream, Buffy is instructed by a voice to lie on the teacher’s desk and starts to make out with a male classmate in the room. Once they begin to kiss the light start to dim and flicker and several noises coming from the walls or some unknown source. The sounds appear to be thunder or lightning and have a negative connotation to it. Often in horror movies or shows thunder and lightning depict a bad outcome and highlight that the scene is suppose to be horrific

Mise-en-scene

The entire Buffy the Vampire show for the most part is an example of “Mise en scene”. The make-up and costumes of the vampires and monsters create the horror aesthetic and culture. The make-up or masks that the zombies and vampires use throughout the video make them look more horrific. They especially look more horrific or gruesome when they have skin falling off as if they have risen from the ground. This further reinforces that the video or scene you are watching is horrific. I chose this example, because I thought that it best displays the use of a “Mise en scene” to support the aesthetic horror of the clip.

Any typical day most college students roll out of bed just before noon and throw some sweats on and head to class or something along those lines. Being comfortable is one of most important things to a college student. Who cares what you look like, if you match, or if there is an occasional stain or two on your jacket. This is how I lived and dressed for my first three years of college at the University of Oregon. It was my personal belief that my attire did not represent anything about me. It was almost as if I did not care at all. And honestly I had completely different values back then. I was more about partying and just not caring what other people thought of me. This was the same for most of my peer group as well. I think that this can be said for most college students when they first get away form their families and are starting to live out on their own. There was more of a sense of freedom, more of a sense of choice in what they want to wear. I just so happened to choose sweatpants and athletic clothing. Besides the rare collard shirt what I would sometimes wear on a Monday it was mostly t-shirts and shorts. My wardrobe consisted of clothes that I could work out in and be comfortable. I believe the fact that I have a background in sports and in athletics is one of the main reasons for the way that I dressed. My family and I are all athletes and I believe the values that I learned playing sports at a young age shaped how I expressed myself, especially when it came to my attire. My father and bother both played basketball in college and we are all about the same size when it comes to clothes and shoes. I had the benefit of being able to raid both of their closets for athletic clothes that I wanted to wear.

Today, I dress much differently. I find myself waking up at a respectable hour, combing my hair, and wearing nice clothes. As a senior now I care about how I look and how I present myself. I am not sure weather it is the fact that I am older and about to graduate or it is the fact that I will be holding a job soon. I think these are the main reasons why I have started to dress nicer and present myself in an according manner. The realization that I am going to be joining the so-called “real world” has changed how I present myself and dress. These reasons such as getting a job have made me change my attire and actually change my values. It sounds somewhat superficial but it is important what others think of you. I no longer roll out of bed around noon anymore but try to always present myself as a sharp dresser. When it comes to my outfits and attire I now try and live by the motto, “dress for the job you want”. In other words, if I want to have a good job that pays well and that I enjoy I have to dress accordingly. No one will hire me if I show up to the job interview in shorts and a basketball t-shirt. At least I hope they would not. My closet and drawers are now lined and filled with nice clothes such as “Calvin Klein” or “Polo”. This is almost the polar opposite of what my closet used to look like. In the past my clothes were mostly t-shirts, sweatpants, or athletic clothing. All these clothes were comfortable. However now that I have become accustomed to wearing nicer clothes such as slacks and button downs I have found that these types of clothes are also comfortable as well. I am not saying that I don’t still like to wear sweatpants and t-shirts anymore but its more around the house or to the gym.

I have noticed that this trend has also taken hold with my peers as well. More and more often do I overhear my friends saying that they just got some new clothes or just bought a new watch or something along those lines. As I get older my values have changed and this definitely can be seen in my wardrobe and how I dress myself. This can also be said to an extent for my peers. People are going on job interviews and business presentations, and they are dressing sharp and trying to impress.