Paula Chi's Soundscape
John Capuano's Soundscape
Arielle Busch's Soundscape
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Brainwashed: Seven Ways to Reinvent Yourself
http://changethis.com/manifesto/66.01.Brainwashed/pdf/66.01.Brainwashed.pdf
After reading Seth Godin’s “Brainwashed: Seven Ways to Reinvent Yourself”, I was shocked to discover how much I agreed with him. It was like he took everything I felt and thought about our education system and put it right on the paper for me to read. I didn’t exactly know what I wanted to do when I was growing up. I have a few ideas, but I knew one thing for sure I would never EVER in a million years need to learn how to do calculus or trigonometry or need to ramble off every factor of a number to any employer. I hated all that crap, I was never good at math and I knew whatever I was going to do would not involve anything like that. I did not understand why I had to take these pointless classes. Why couldn't I take classes based off my interests or what I was good at? I know one thing for sure, I would have done a heck of a lot better in school! Seth Godin talks about seven ways to reinvent ourselves. He gives us seven layers to follow to begin to reinvent ourselves. One of the layers he mentions his called “Acknowledging the Lizard.” He explains that the lizard brain is that prehistoric brainstem that everyone still struggles to listen to. You know that part of your brain that urges you not to do something in fear of being humiliated and laughed at. I can definitely tell you from my experience that I have listened to it one too many times in my life. I have probably missed out on some pretty cool opportunities and experiences because of it. Godin tells us we must ignore this part of our brain and take a risk on something. Forget all that crap we were taught in high school about being compliant and merely existing to punch a clock someday. Throw it all out the window because times are changing and your new ideas just might be exactly what this world needs.
Another layer that Godin talks about is “Learn.” He explains that this pillar is the key to the other six, if you don’t change the way you learn the other things won’t exactly make sense. He tells us how school used to be around for the sole purpose of merely learning a trade. Seriously who wants to go to school in the same town for four years, and then work at the same job in the same town for the rest of their lives? I know I most definitely do not! I want to get out of Ohio and see what the rest of the world has to offer. I want to continue learning and experiences new things even after I graduate. I want to fail and I want to succeed. I want to be challenged and be confronted with obstacles. I don’t want to settle for anything less than what I know I am capable of. So in the words of Seth Godin, let’s all throw out what we think we know, and learn what we need to learn!
I have found that being able to express how I feel about certain things and practicing ignoring my “lizard brain” has been quite difficult for me since I started this whole process. I want others to read my blog and feel inspired and say wow she has a lot of insight on these ideas and concepts. However, thinking like that only adds pressure for me and then instantly I have a writer’s block. I have absolutely no idea what I am going to write half the time. I know what I’m trying to say, but the thought that I must impress inhibits me from expressing myself the way I want to. Looks like I need to start ignoring the prehistoric part of my brain, and practice what I preach!
I feel like my entire life I have been in a waiting room. Kindergarten through sixth grade I was learning the basic necessities to prepare me for middle school and waiting for the day I could walk the halls with the “big kids”. Middle school teachers were throwing standardized tests in my face while I waited for high school. High school teachers were shoving useless information down my throat, and always jabbering on about the ACT and how important it was while I waited for for acceptance letter to college. College…well college is a little different. Sometimes I feel like I’m waiting for college to be over so I can start my life. Figure out if I was meant to change the world someday or merely just exist. Then there are other times where I feel like my life is starting now, this very second the things I’m writing and the words I’m reading are shaping me into the person I am supposed to be. Having the opportunity to make this blog and do these exercise has opened my eyes to a lot of new ideas and inspirations. As Seth Godin was explaining in his seventh and final layer it all began to make sense to me. Some classes are simply there to teach you the material so you can pass the class and raise your gpa. However other classes, like this one, were not designed to just teach us the basic concepts. These exercises were intended to challenge us to think differently, and then and only then can we start creating and inspiring people to do the same.
After reading Seth Godin’s “Brainwashed: Seven Ways to Reinvent Yourself”, I was shocked to discover how much I agreed with him. It was like he took everything I felt and thought about our education system and put it right on the paper for me to read. I didn’t exactly know what I wanted to do when I was growing up. I have a few ideas, but I knew one thing for sure I would never EVER in a million years need to learn how to do calculus or trigonometry or need to ramble off every factor of a number to any employer. I hated all that crap, I was never good at math and I knew whatever I was going to do would not involve anything like that. I did not understand why I had to take these pointless classes. Why couldn't I take classes based off my interests or what I was good at? I know one thing for sure, I would have done a heck of a lot better in school! Seth Godin talks about seven ways to reinvent ourselves. He gives us seven layers to follow to begin to reinvent ourselves. One of the layers he mentions his called “Acknowledging the Lizard.” He explains that the lizard brain is that prehistoric brainstem that everyone still struggles to listen to. You know that part of your brain that urges you not to do something in fear of being humiliated and laughed at. I can definitely tell you from my experience that I have listened to it one too many times in my life. I have probably missed out on some pretty cool opportunities and experiences because of it. Godin tells us we must ignore this part of our brain and take a risk on something. Forget all that crap we were taught in high school about being compliant and merely existing to punch a clock someday. Throw it all out the window because times are changing and your new ideas just might be exactly what this world needs.
Another layer that Godin talks about is “Learn.” He explains that this pillar is the key to the other six, if you don’t change the way you learn the other things won’t exactly make sense. He tells us how school used to be around for the sole purpose of merely learning a trade. Seriously who wants to go to school in the same town for four years, and then work at the same job in the same town for the rest of their lives? I know I most definitely do not! I want to get out of Ohio and see what the rest of the world has to offer. I want to continue learning and experiences new things even after I graduate. I want to fail and I want to succeed. I want to be challenged and be confronted with obstacles. I don’t want to settle for anything less than what I know I am capable of. So in the words of Seth Godin, let’s all throw out what we think we know, and learn what we need to learn!
I have found that being able to express how I feel about certain things and practicing ignoring my “lizard brain” has been quite difficult for me since I started this whole process. I want others to read my blog and feel inspired and say wow she has a lot of insight on these ideas and concepts. However, thinking like that only adds pressure for me and then instantly I have a writer’s block. I have absolutely no idea what I am going to write half the time. I know what I’m trying to say, but the thought that I must impress inhibits me from expressing myself the way I want to. Looks like I need to start ignoring the prehistoric part of my brain, and practice what I preach!
I feel like my entire life I have been in a waiting room. Kindergarten through sixth grade I was learning the basic necessities to prepare me for middle school and waiting for the day I could walk the halls with the “big kids”. Middle school teachers were throwing standardized tests in my face while I waited for high school. High school teachers were shoving useless information down my throat, and always jabbering on about the ACT and how important it was while I waited for for acceptance letter to college. College…well college is a little different. Sometimes I feel like I’m waiting for college to be over so I can start my life. Figure out if I was meant to change the world someday or merely just exist. Then there are other times where I feel like my life is starting now, this very second the things I’m writing and the words I’m reading are shaping me into the person I am supposed to be. Having the opportunity to make this blog and do these exercise has opened my eyes to a lot of new ideas and inspirations. As Seth Godin was explaining in his seventh and final layer it all began to make sense to me. Some classes are simply there to teach you the material so you can pass the class and raise your gpa. However other classes, like this one, were not designed to just teach us the basic concepts. These exercises were intended to challenge us to think differently, and then and only then can we start creating and inspiring people to do the same.
Cover Songs
Usher is one of the biggest names in hip hop. To date, Usher has sold over 45 million albums worldwide. In 2008, He was ranked as the 21st most successful Hot 100 Singles Artist of all-time by Billboard magazine. Needless to say a lot of bands are going to want to cover his songs.
I don’t know about the rest of you but I love cover songs. I will actually go on youtube and search for covers of my favorite songs. My favorite cover songs are crunk goes punk, basically taking rap and hip hop songs and remaking them into alternative rock and punk songs. The song I decided to compare and contrast was, Love in this club originally by Usher, and covered by the band The Summer Set. Both songs are a completely different music genre. Usher’s version is a rap and hip hop song, something you would actually hear in a club. The Summer Set’s rendition is a lot different. I would say it’s more alternative pop-rock. The lyrics are the same, with a few minor repeats of the chorus in the cover song. The speed of the cover song is a lot faster and more upbeat. The original is upbeat but since it’s hip hop it has a smoother pace and is a lot slower. The organization of the two songs is very diverse. The original song starts off fast and gets slower, it is ordered and flows smoothly there aren’t any instrumentation surprises. However, the cover song starts off slow and gets a lot faster. It is more chaotic and leaves you on your toes about what instruments they are going to use next. Both songs keep the same rhythm they just use different instruments. The original song uses a drum kit during the entire song to produce a slower tempo. However, during the chorus the tempo increases and becomes faster. This is similar to the cover song, during the chorus the tempo also picks up and is a little bit faster. The cover also uses a drum kit but the tempo is much faster throughout the whole song. Both Usher and The Summer Set’s songs are very didactic. The lyrics and the song conveys a sexual message, but you don’t have to actively listen either song to understand that. The contrast of the Summer Set’s interpretation is very intense and in your face. As a matter of face, that is how almost all of their songs our. They really aim to get you on your feet and rock out right along with them. As compared to Usher’s song, the affinity of the song really doesn’t have much intensity to it. It’s more laid back and doesn’t make you want to jump out of your seat right away. One of those songs that you just don’t know how to dance too, it’s too slow for the club, and too fast for a slow dance.
Out of both of these songs, I like the Summer Set’s version better. This is partially because I love alternative rock and always will. I only like hip hop and rap songs when I’m out at a party trying to shake what my mama gave me. The lyrics make more sense as a hip hop song, but there is just something about the way the Summer Set sings them that makes it more catchy and original.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Finding your Howl..
In Jonathon Flaun's first story he describes a red wolf named Mumom who was raised in captivity. After a life in captivity he is finally released into the wild. However because he was in captivity for so long he forgot how to howl. Flaun's story focuses on Mumon's journey to find his howl. Mumom thinks that he can just find it one day and run to it, but sadly he is mistaken. On his journey he comes across a deer and a raven and they help him realize that he can't just go out looking for his howl, he has to sacrifice everything in order to find it again. As Flaun describes the process may feel like death, it may unsettle us and it terrify us. However that is just the price we must pay to find our own howl.
14 Ways to Get Breakthrough Ideas..
Mitch Ditkoff talks about the idea of Innovation. He questions what causes innovations to come about and challenged us to figure out where we find the inspiration to create new ideas. He lists 14 ways to come up with breakthrough ideas.
One of his suggestions was Tolerate Ambiguity, i think this is a good suggestion. As a matter of fact this is exactly how I come up with all my good ideas. I believe that your first idea is not going to be your best. You have to start off with a lot of really bad ones, and work your way to finding a good one. Ditkoff explains that Thomas Edison failed 800 times before coming up with the idea for the light bulb. I believe this is just what people must do, they should not be afraid to fail, they should learn what doesnt work so they can figure out what does. Another suggestion Ditkoff had was Notice and Challenge Existing Patterns and Trends, this is definitely a good suggestion. He explains how breakthrough thinkers often find that million dollar idea by reconfiguring their old ones in new ways. I believe I could use this technique in the future if I am trying to come up with a concept for a television show. I am obviously going to have a lot of crappy ideas, but if I take a crappy idea and improve upon it and give it a different twist, there is a good chance it may be extremely successful. A third suggestion that i thought was a very good suggestion was number ten, Hangout With Diverse Groups of People. You never know where or who you are going to get inspiration from, but chances are you are not going to get it doing the same thing with the same people everyday. You have to expand your horizons and explore different cultures and ideals. I believe I could try this in my everyday life. I find myself doing the same things with the same people everyday and I realize after reading this that I need to expand upon my group of friends and enter a new circle for a change.
In suggestion 12, Look for Happy Accidents, it asks
What “failed experiment” or unexpected outcome might be interesting for you to reconsider?
Who else might you invite to participate in this effort?
One big thing came to mind, Last year when applying to get into the School of Media Arts and Studies I needed a portfolio piece. I really wanted to make a sports promo video of OU's sports teams but instead I ended up sending in some stuff I did in high school. That was still good work but I would have loved the opportunity to create something that I've been itching to do since I saw that Blues hockey video so many years ago. I think now that I have access to equipment I should really considering making it. I would invite fellow Media Arts and Studies majors to participate, and I think with the combined effort we could make something great!
One of his suggestions was Tolerate Ambiguity, i think this is a good suggestion. As a matter of fact this is exactly how I come up with all my good ideas. I believe that your first idea is not going to be your best. You have to start off with a lot of really bad ones, and work your way to finding a good one. Ditkoff explains that Thomas Edison failed 800 times before coming up with the idea for the light bulb. I believe this is just what people must do, they should not be afraid to fail, they should learn what doesnt work so they can figure out what does. Another suggestion Ditkoff had was Notice and Challenge Existing Patterns and Trends, this is definitely a good suggestion. He explains how breakthrough thinkers often find that million dollar idea by reconfiguring their old ones in new ways. I believe I could use this technique in the future if I am trying to come up with a concept for a television show. I am obviously going to have a lot of crappy ideas, but if I take a crappy idea and improve upon it and give it a different twist, there is a good chance it may be extremely successful. A third suggestion that i thought was a very good suggestion was number ten, Hangout With Diverse Groups of People. You never know where or who you are going to get inspiration from, but chances are you are not going to get it doing the same thing with the same people everyday. You have to expand your horizons and explore different cultures and ideals. I believe I could try this in my everyday life. I find myself doing the same things with the same people everyday and I realize after reading this that I need to expand upon my group of friends and enter a new circle for a change.
In suggestion 12, Look for Happy Accidents, it asks
What “failed experiment” or unexpected outcome might be interesting for you to reconsider?
Who else might you invite to participate in this effort?
One big thing came to mind, Last year when applying to get into the School of Media Arts and Studies I needed a portfolio piece. I really wanted to make a sports promo video of OU's sports teams but instead I ended up sending in some stuff I did in high school. That was still good work but I would have loved the opportunity to create something that I've been itching to do since I saw that Blues hockey video so many years ago. I think now that I have access to equipment I should really considering making it. I would invite fellow Media Arts and Studies majors to participate, and I think with the combined effort we could make something great!
Monday, January 17, 2011
My creative influence
I honestly have no idea what kind of creative person I am. I have never really stopped to think or analyze myself in that way. All i can really tell you is that I like to create videos with the thought in mind that people are going to watch it and get enjoyment out of it. I want to create videos that are going to inspire people. By looking at me you would have never expect that I grew up going to hockey games, and absolutely loved it. I know it sounds silly but this opening video, from the St. Louis Blues game two years ago, is the video that inspired my career choice. I just remember sitting in the ScottTrade Center watching this video and saying to myself, I would love to make something like that one day and have it be seen by thousands of people. This video was designed to pump up the crowd and make them excited for the game to start. It starts off slow with grey tones and intense music that builds a lot of tension, then the tension is released when the video changes to color and the energetic papa roach song comes on. Starting the video off in black and white and then changing it to color adds contrast and affinity to the video.
Growing up I always knew what I didn't want. I didn't want to work in the medical field, because I hate hospitals and doctors offices, and I didn't want a 9-5 desk job. This didn't leave me with much to choose from. At least not until I discovered the world of the media industry. I loved movies and television growing up, but I never in a million years thought I would make a career out of it.
I am a lot different from other media majors, I don't draw my inspiration from epic movies, and amazing movie directors. I am inspired by comedic movies, and TV shows. Things that entertain people and make them happy.
Seth Macfarlane is a huge inspiration of mine. He is the creator of Family Guy, in my opinion one of the best animated shows on television since Looney Tunes. He uses the show to express social problems and current events in a comedic way. He isn't afraid to offend anyone, and nothing to him is ever off limits.
Family guy uses a lot of subtext to get their message across. In this clip, peter returns home after being injected with the "gay gene." Obviously we all know that all gay people don't go around singing everything wearing purple scarfs but the subtext is just using humor to point out the stereotype that all gay people act the same.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Video Production
I chose my major because I took an Advanced Broadcast Journalism class in high school and loved it. I was never more passionate about anything before I took this class. In the class I was able to experience many new things and learned a lot about the media world. I decided if I had this passion about something, maybe I could turn it into a career, which is what I plan on doing.
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