Final

This was my first time to actually edit a video, and so I was a bit worried at first. The concept behind my deconstruction was simple. I chose to depict the day in a young woman, recovering from abuse because it is a topic near and dear to me, one I am very passionate about and familiar with.  Abuse takes many forms, and just because we cannot see it, does not mean it isn't happening. It can make daily life increasingly difficult. Even the simplest of tasks become daunting and we are filled with regret and self-doubt. In my video, I wanted to convey how we are all comprised of our experiences, both good and bad, and that we should follow Nietzsche's advice and fall in love with our fate, our failures, and triumphs. Or else, we can take up Kierkegaard's approach at life and laugh defiantly in the face of our woes.

 I set about looking for music that best fit the feelings of hope and life an individual experiences following their recovery from abuse, and I believe the simplistic but poignant approach I took with the video, was appropriate. Recovery takes patience, but we should all be proud of even the tiniest of victories. I hope you all enjoy this short film, as much as I enjoyed making it.

Performance Artists

Part 1
Of the several performance artists we discussed in class, my top three, in no particular order would be the Guerilla Girls, Marina Abramovic, and Yoko Onno. I found all these performers so intriguing and their art really touched something inside of me. As a passionate feminist, the Guerilla Girls and their activism inspired me. It was so uplifting to discover that three wonderful, anonymous, independent women artists are standing up for women's rights in and out of the art world, advocating for equality. The execution of their work was so particular, relevant, and aesthetic. I love how they took inspiration from famous pop culture, such as Marilyn Monroe in, "The Seven Year Itch," and made it their own in order to fight for the cause. In a way, their existence as an anonymous activist group is performance art itself.

What I loved about Marina Abramovic's exhibitions was her courageousness. The fact that she could endure such unspeakable pain and stress, to the point of willing and public mutilation, is incredibly commendable in my opinion. It takes a lot of personal strength and commitment to one's ideas not to flinch in the face of fear. Lastly, Yoko Ono's art was very interactive and racy, which made it all the more interesting. She was very creative to come up with the idea of allowing audience members to physically cut her clothing.

I believe what all these artists and their work had in common was determination. They all exhibited unspeakable perseverance for the sake of their beliefs. The Guerilla Girls displayed their determination by standing up for what was right and continuing to make that decision. Whereas Marina Abramovic showed the extent of her perseverance by performing daring and highly dangerous exhibitions. She tested all the limits unflinchingly. Yoko Ono was similar to Abramovic in this way by not letting the audience members intimidate her during her pieces. She sat still and poised while complete strangers undid her clothing.

For both Marina Abramovic and the Guerilla Girls technology does play an integral part in their work. For instance, in "The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic." lighting and set design was important to the visual experience. With the lights, fog, and set, Abramovic was able to convey emotion and tell a story to her audience. The Guerilla Girls use technology in the design of their creative and artistic posters and billboards that they use for their cause. Yoko Ono also sang, and I believe music qualifies for technology because it is the utilization of sound and other materials to convey a message.

As far as where performance art can lead, and what is to be done about performance art, in my opinion, performance art is an intriguing and integral medium because so much can be conveyed in new and unexpected ways. For instance, performance art can bring attention to important social causes and lead to the birth of revolutions. Performance art lends itself to powerful statement and can be utilized for change. These brave artists put themselves in harm's way for their beliefs and what they feel is important. They have much to offer, and we the public have much to learn from their work. Performance art should be encouraged and appreciated for its creativity. Perhaps, in terms of how performance art can improve and evolve alongside technology, maybe future performances will employ holograms, that way the performers can reach a wider population.

Part 2
Up until this project, I had never done performance art, or even knew the difference between performing art and performance art. I welcomed this challenge and set to work looking for inspiration. I have always been fascinated with the idea that loneliness today is on the rise, mostly in part due to widespread social media use, and because of that, I decided to offer free hugs, because I read various articles which stated that in today's modern society, many lonely people crave physical touch and interaction. In fact, imagining a hug from a loved one has been proven to reduce the symptoms of anxiety as they occur.

The purpose of this was two-fold. Firstly, I wanted to shed some light on an important and prevalent social issue today, depression. Next, I hoped to spread a little positivity in an unexpected way. With that in mind, I enlisted a friend to record me offering hugs and sharing information about depression. The facts allowed me to tie my project in with my vision, and with the element of technology, because I alluded to the fact that there are cases of depression and loneliness which are linked to social media use. I had a wonderful time with this and I was able to connect with strangers in ways I never could have imagined.

Music

DISCO
Manila Sounds is a Filipino disco band that started in the mid '70s.  Among their popular hits includes, "Ikaw and Miss Universe Ng Buhay Ko," which translates to "You are the Miss Universe of my Life." Their music was characterized by soft, mellow, and melodic sounds and heavily influenced by traditional Filipino Folk music, with a disco twist. In my opinion they tie into electronic music due to their influences and stylistic choices. I chose Manila Sound because I am a Filipina and I take pride in the accomplishments of Filipino artists and musicians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk2PKaxFtzQ&t=155s

PUNK
Escape the Fate is a popular emo goth punk band, but sadly the band broke up in 2008 after the lead singer, Ronnie Radke, failed to report to his probation officer. Escape the Fate uses a lot of heavy metal screaming, electric guitar, as well as keyboard, which is how they incorporated electronic music influences into their work. Additionally, their performances utilize a lot of special effects such as lighting, smoke, and fire. Escape the Fate has always been one of my favorite rock/punk bands and it reminds me of when I was younger. That is why out of nostalgia, I chose to share their work on my blog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn2OWygU9v0

GIRL POWER
For the Girl Power movement, I actually chose two artists to share because they are both equally important and talented in my opinion. Cardi B and Lana Del Rey embody power and an unapologetic self-awareness that I find quite admirable and befitting the feminist movement.Both in their music and in real life, they do not shy down from confrontation or from expressing their beliefs. Their confidence and unwavering courage is commendable. Cardi B makes elaborate music videos to accompany her songs, which is an effective use of technology. She also uses electronically created sounds within her music. Lana Del Rey records distinctive, often melancholy songs with literary influences. She has created an elaborate persona solidified through her strategic use of social media. Often times she posts videos with an almost ephemeral quality to them, hailing to a by-gotten age. Her early music videos are also interesting video compilations of her and other works. This is how she makes use of technology in her unique way. Many accredit her rise to fame thanks to her music video for her song, "Video Games." Lana Del Rey and Cardi B inspire me with their deliberate choices to be themselves, and for that I wanted to write about them both.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE6wxDqdOV0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEGccV-NOm8

NINETIES
Hoobastank is an early '90s American rock band. They are still active today. Hoobstank includes post-grunge and alternative rock influences. As time went on and their popularity progressed, their sound matured and became more melodic than in previous years. This is especially noticeable in their album, "The Reason." Hoobastank can be considered a part of electronic music due to their alternative rock style and studio quality finished sound, and of course by their lighting and special effects during live performances. Hoobastank is not my favorite band, but they do remind me of when I was in grade school, so I thought I would include them in this activity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iiawZPHMWE

HOUSE
Deadmau5 is a part of the techno music movement. He is perhaps most known for his mouse hat that he wears while performing his electronic music. Deadmau5 features elaborate live performances with monitors, dazzling lights, and stunning graphics. He uses his laptop and a synthesizer to create his unsual and mesmerizing pieces. It is plain to see Deadmau5 very creatively incorporates technology into his work, from the music production to the actual performance and everything in between. For House influencers, I chose Deadmau5 due to his amazing creativity and unique style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohzPoCjdx9E

Xerox Art

I was immediately intrigued with this assignment, and so I began looking for art movements or pieces which moved me. I was inspired by Gustav Klimt's The Kiss, for this particular project, partly because of the Xerox copies I made with my eyes shut. The facial expressions reminded me of the woman in the painting, embracing her lover. Furthermore, I knew I could copy my hair in an attempt to emulate Klimt's work. Because I knew our copies had to be black and white, I envisioned a more mysterious, eerie, perhaps even Gothic rendition of the popular painting. To complete this art project, I made several copies and different poses. After I cut all my copies out, I measured the area I wanted my art to take up, before placing the different pieces. In conclusion, I enjoyed creating a Gothic representation of Klimt's The Kiss, and I hope those who view my work will be pleasantly surprised.

Grid Art Response to "Love is Calling"

This project took much thought and effort, and I will admit that it was intimidating from the very beginning of the course. Because I felt uneasy about it, I immediately set to work brainstorming ideas for the project. Initially, I chose to create an image from 900 colored push pins, and I was pleased with the outcome, except for one thing. I did not know how to adequately cover the holes produced from the pins on the back of my board. Luckily, I restarted the process, using a new board, coupled with a new idea. I chose to create my grid art out of multicolored puffballs of varying sizes. First, I measured the board and divided it until I had the 30 squares by 30 squares requirement, before decorating.With the puffballs, I made the image of a rainbow in support of the LGBTQ movement. I found my medium and subject matter relevant and poignant. Yayoi Kusama, the artist behind the exhibit, "Love is Calling," mentioned something that really stuck with me, "We are all dots, you and I." For that reason, I believed the puffballs were appropriate for my grid art. All the seemingly insignificant dots, specks, or cells make up who we are, and I chose to represent that in my art. The rainbow motif reminds us that indeed love is calling. We are called to love and respect one another, regardless of race, creed, religion, or orientation.In conclusion, I created my grid art as a response to the exhibit, "Love is Calling," and with my response I advocated support for the LGBTQ community.

PNG to ASCII Art

The acronym ASCII stands for American Standard of Coded Information Interchange. ASCII art, also known as computer text art, is a unique graphic design technique that uses the ASCII Standard characters, in order to create interesting, often complex images. It is commonly found in online discussion boards, artistic websites, and computer games. There are several converters online for newer individuals to simply create ASCII art by uploading a PNG of their choice.

Enclosed is the PNG to ASCII art subject I chose. As a young woman in the Me Too Movement, I felt it was only right to choose the women's power symbol for this artistic project. I have always been a vocal feminist, unafraid to express my opinions and beliefs. The moment that changed everything for me was when I was tasked to write a research paper on an event of the 1960's and I chose women's liberation. Immediately, I was fascinated by the feminist movement and what it meant for women to unite in their beliefs and demand for their rights. Gloria Steinem was such an inspiration to me as a young girl, and she continues to amaze me with her eloquence and courageous personality.

Feminism is not about being better than men, but rather, recognizing the human rights men and women share, including but not limited to equal pay, voting rights, and job opportunities. It is very frightening to live in a society where people who find the courage to come forward and share their personal stories are often dismissed and written off, citing that these strong women are only hoping for their five seconds of fame. Victims of abuse should be listened to with respect and consideration. Too often individuals disparage those who speak out because instead of coming from a place of compassion, they choose to come from absolutism. The ability to empathize with others is not as revered as it should be, and the reality is that everyone deserves to be heard and validated.

This symbol signifies strength, integrity, independence. I am in sheer awe of the women like Gloria Steinem who paved the way for the feminist movement, and I hope that we as a society will come together to work towards eradicating the glass ceiling and ensuring the reproductive rights all women possess. One quote that has stuck with me is this, "Be the person you needed when you were younger." With that in mind, I hope to collectively corroborate with those around me and create a safer, more compassionate place for future generations.

Cameras

The Evolution of the Camera

Technology plays such an integral part in every day life, whether it is acknowledged or not. With the aid of technology, people are capable of exchanging thoughts, ideas, images and information in real time via email, text, and so much more. In many cases, all of one’s work relies solely on one’s ability to access the internet. Technology has shaped how students learn and how employees work and interact with one another, but technology is not limited to strictly educational or business purposes. With the advent of the camera, the way individuals observe the world around them has changed significantly. Thanks to the invention of the camera, people are now able to capture important moments forever. In addition to photography, cameras paved the way to the art of cinematography. The history of the camera provides insight into the amazing developments of the 21^st century and perhaps insight into the progress that is to come.

The earliest version of the camera was known as the “camera obscura.”  Ibn Al-Haytham first created the camera obscura to study optics. His invention illustrated how images could be projected using light. This innovative new technique inspired artists to use the camera obscura in their art. With the camera obscura artists were able to create proportional, realistic pieces. In addition to the camera obscura, magic lanterns were also popular. Magic lanterns allowed people to project images onto bigger surfaces, including glass slides. Entertainment soon changed as a result of this newfound technique (The History of Photography: Pinholes and Polaroids to Digital Images).

Joseph Nicephore Niepce is accredited with developing the first photograph using the camera obscura in 1827. He began experimenting with photography by placing engravings onto bitumen coated metal plates, which he would then expose to light. After a given amount of time, an image would emerge from the solvent treated plate. This was a great leap for photography; however, the images produced through this method would inevitably fade away (The History of Photography: Pinholes and Polaroids to Digital Images).

Cameras have continued to innovate their technology, creating an endearing and permanent impression on the world of today. There are a vast array of products which have cameras as part of their repertoire of modern resourcefulness. Before cell phones became the predominate way of capturing an image, digital cameras were the vacation must have. Now everyone has the features of a camera safely stored in their pocket. Still others choose smart watches to take pictures. Today Polaroids have made a comeback, finding their way into most every young adult’s life, greatly shaping the way memories are documented. Finally, there is the ever-watchful drone. An apparatus with the capabilities of photography and flight, all in one.  From cell phone cameras, to tablets, body cameras, Go Pros, and drones, there is no telling what exciting new developments are waiting to be discovered in the world of technology and photography.

There is no telling what lies in store for the future of photography, but one thing is for certain, cameras have forever shaped the human experience. I believe technology will find ways to improve pictures of cells, x-rays, and ultrasounds. Specifically, technology may be making strides to include cameras inside of refrigerators, so consumers can use a mobile app to view what is inside their fridge or freezer, while grocery shopping. Cameras dominate the entertainment industry, allowing for wonderful feature films, timeless classics, and breathtaking documentaries, for all to enjoy. Additionally, cameras have found a permanent place as both a leisure activity, and professional occupation. Photography allows individuals to express themselves and capture the world around them. Phones, computers, and cameras are being updated every day. New products with photographic developments are sure to become introduced to the public soon.

Works Cited
    “The History of Photography: Pinholes and Polaroids to Digital Images.” ThoughtCo. 
ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-photography-and-the-camera1992331October 1, 2018.