It is the midway point of the semester and as I write this I am reminded of Doogie Howser inputting his journal into his archaic computer. I am going to take this week's open-ended blog assignment to reflect on my current status within the class. The past couple of years of my life has taught me that to stimuate growth one must remove themselves from familiarities and implant themself outside of their comfort zone. Forced adaptation to new environments, situations, and circumstances allows a person to see the components of who they are. Like light passing through a prism it becomes seperated and segmented into individual colors that make up the whole of white light. Similarly, I have placed myself in a situation that has allowed for me to break into identifiable portions of myself to be able to analyze which may need work or strengthening.
This Media Arts course has placed me within a group of individuals who are all familiar with one another's work, personalities, and quirks. As an outsider I began by simply observing and attempting to translate the language used within this microculture of Art graduate students. It has been interesting, confusing, and hilarious all at the same time. I have realized that I am not in competition with anyone in the course, which was a huge relief.
The goals I have set for myself differ from everyone in the class and I appreciate the insight and guidance provided when discussing my project. My project, a video production created entirely by myself, has allowed for me to realize where my deficiencies lie within the production process. I not only am learning how to edit footage on my own, but I have placed additional constraints upon the filming process: using basic equipment and software.
Prior to this course I only had experience with cinematography, but this course has essentially forced me to learn how to "do it yourself." A skill I am excited to have, and plan to use for the reciprocal gift to the village I will be staying with this summer. Had I not taken this course I would be learning how to edit while conducting my research, placing additional difficulties upon the film making process. I may not be able to provide an HD National Geographic-esque visual experience, but what I will be able to offer will be something useful that can potentially become beneficial to their sustainable tourism business.
Not only has this course shown me where I need improvement, it has allowed me to make improvements. Classroom discussions have also brought many new resources to my attention. The COS.com website has opened a Pandora's Box of possibilities for funding sources and I have shared this valuable resource with my cohort. Hopefully upon completion of this course, having improved segments of myself, I can reassemble and fuse together a light that can make the future a little brighter.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
CA$H MONEY
So, do I work to live or do I live to work? I would like to take the diplomatic stance of a little bit of column A and a little bit of column B. I have chosen a career involving academic pursuits because of the potential to make real positive change for the future. I have worked lucrative restaurant industry jobs for years, but the full wallet often left me feeling empty. After graduating with my undergraduate degrees I felt a strong sense of having no direction. My wife and I decided to make a major life change, so we saved the money we usually just turned and burned within the service industry culture, and applied it to an extended stay in Latin America. This allowed us to grow and not fit back into who we once were. We had shed the skin of our prior selves and it was time to keep moving forward.
My wife and I have structured and tailored our lifestyles around the combined income we generate. Removing ourselves from familiar areas and starting anew here in South Carolina definitely aided in not allowing us to stray from a more restrictive budget. My goals of course require money, but how I earn that money has changed and I can honestly say that I am proud to be a graduate student and all that it entails. My research will take me to places in regions across the globe and I intend to give back for what I receive. I may not earn the highest amount of dollars, but the amount I do earn will be enough to live comfortably with my wife. Payment isn't always in the form of financial assets. Funded research, travel, inspired students, and seeing positive change all raise a person's level of self-worth. So, when it comes to money, I only need as much as will happen to come to me, and I will find ways to use the surpluses (if there ever are any) and reinvest it into projects with a similar path to my life plan. I saw a great Internet meme and it said "Teachers don't do it for the income, they do it for the outcome."
My wife and I have structured and tailored our lifestyles around the combined income we generate. Removing ourselves from familiar areas and starting anew here in South Carolina definitely aided in not allowing us to stray from a more restrictive budget. My goals of course require money, but how I earn that money has changed and I can honestly say that I am proud to be a graduate student and all that it entails. My research will take me to places in regions across the globe and I intend to give back for what I receive. I may not earn the highest amount of dollars, but the amount I do earn will be enough to live comfortably with my wife. Payment isn't always in the form of financial assets. Funded research, travel, inspired students, and seeing positive change all raise a person's level of self-worth. So, when it comes to money, I only need as much as will happen to come to me, and I will find ways to use the surpluses (if there ever are any) and reinvest it into projects with a similar path to my life plan. I saw a great Internet meme and it said "Teachers don't do it for the income, they do it for the outcome."
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Spirit Animal and Prior Work
When the concept of "what is your spirit animal?" was brought up in class I immediately had an answer- Blue Morpho Butterfly. I know it sounds a little silly, but let me explain.
From a purely symbolic standpoint the Blue Morpho butterfly goes through several life cycles taking different forms and emerging stronger and more atune to its environment. The delicate nature of a butterfly can also be viewed as how delicate and perishable we as humans are. The purpose of a butterfly is to pollenate and assist in the reproduction of plants, a truly noble endeavor in itself. Aside from being large and brightly colored the Blue Morpho has the ability to close its wings, perch on a branch and disappear completely disguising itself as nature's backdrop. The ability to make such a commanding presence and the ability to completely vanish are both equally difficult to accomplish.
We haven't even begun to discuss the flying aspect of a butterfly. Who wouldn't want to fly? The butterfly has also been mentioned in many ancient texts. For example, the Aztecs believed that the fiercest warriors came back to life as butterflies. How about that for turning gender norms on its head. Oh ya, and while I was down in the jungle of Chiapas and visiting Mayan ruins I saw many of these amazing creatures, and even had a close encounter of the Morpho kind. This picture is of my hand and was taken in June of 2010 at the Tonina Mayan ruins, this Blue Morpho decided it wanted to make contact with me.
I don't know if I would modify my response according to my situation/surroundings. I think it applies to any situation- an animal that continually transforms into beauty and takes flight works for me.
I also wanted to put up links to my prior work:
This was the second film I made- Root Awakening. It focuses on an educational community garden in a low-income high density area of Orange County, California. There is a lack of green space in this urban setting, and much of the immigrant population have little access to healthy food. This community garden allows for older generations to share agricultural knowledge with younger ones. The class was two semesters and we had Sony HD cameras and used FinalCut Pro for editing. I was the cinematographer for both of these films.
Root Awakening 22min36sec
http://vimeo.com/10369251
This was my first film, much lower quality. It was filmed with a handheld camera and edited in iMovie. This was Cal State Long Beach's first ever attempt at Visual Anthropology, and was completed in only one semester. We won an award for this film- best film by undergraduates. It is about a dog park in Costa Mesa, California and the space issues faced by dog owners.
Bark Park 6min40sec
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtWXjoqZrgc
From a purely symbolic standpoint the Blue Morpho butterfly goes through several life cycles taking different forms and emerging stronger and more atune to its environment. The delicate nature of a butterfly can also be viewed as how delicate and perishable we as humans are. The purpose of a butterfly is to pollenate and assist in the reproduction of plants, a truly noble endeavor in itself. Aside from being large and brightly colored the Blue Morpho has the ability to close its wings, perch on a branch and disappear completely disguising itself as nature's backdrop. The ability to make such a commanding presence and the ability to completely vanish are both equally difficult to accomplish.
We haven't even begun to discuss the flying aspect of a butterfly. Who wouldn't want to fly? The butterfly has also been mentioned in many ancient texts. For example, the Aztecs believed that the fiercest warriors came back to life as butterflies. How about that for turning gender norms on its head. Oh ya, and while I was down in the jungle of Chiapas and visiting Mayan ruins I saw many of these amazing creatures, and even had a close encounter of the Morpho kind. This picture is of my hand and was taken in June of 2010 at the Tonina Mayan ruins, this Blue Morpho decided it wanted to make contact with me.
I don't know if I would modify my response according to my situation/surroundings. I think it applies to any situation- an animal that continually transforms into beauty and takes flight works for me.I also wanted to put up links to my prior work:
This was the second film I made- Root Awakening. It focuses on an educational community garden in a low-income high density area of Orange County, California. There is a lack of green space in this urban setting, and much of the immigrant population have little access to healthy food. This community garden allows for older generations to share agricultural knowledge with younger ones. The class was two semesters and we had Sony HD cameras and used FinalCut Pro for editing. I was the cinematographer for both of these films.
Root Awakening 22min36sec
http://vimeo.com/10369251
This was my first film, much lower quality. It was filmed with a handheld camera and edited in iMovie. This was Cal State Long Beach's first ever attempt at Visual Anthropology, and was completed in only one semester. We won an award for this film- best film by undergraduates. It is about a dog park in Costa Mesa, California and the space issues faced by dog owners.
Bark Park 6min40sec
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtWXjoqZrgc
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Mission Statement
I posted a blog about the conceptualization of my project last week before I saw the prompt about creating a Mission Statement. After reading my peer's statements of practice I saw many commonalities between my worldview and theirs. If I were to condense the reasons behind my work it would have to be based around the idea that privileged hands have the ability to assist, whether or not they do is the issue. I have realized my position and how it has been attained and feel that I have the power to make change that will better more than my own interests. Yet when considering what exactly are "my interests" one realizes that others should be included in this concept. The ability for compassion and love is the ability to expand oneself large enough to welcome in others. Leading by example has been the best route I have witnessed by great individuals throughout time and is a model that should emulated. My mission statement will change over time as any good idea should, there is always room for improvement and by bringing in new concepts it becomes refined. One major realization I have come to which could be the core of my Mission Statement is: you enjoy what you have most when it is shared.
I wrote this in November of 2011:
We are all actors upon the world stage,
On display, splayed, absorbing gaze,
We all work for the same agency,
Power is sometimes granted, planted, born into,
Privileged hands have multiple uses,
To lift up, hold another, make a fist,
Or do nothing, remain voiceless,
Not taking a stand is to drag,
Social surveillance keeps them in line,
No one should be at ease,
We are allowing the redefining of slavery,
We have forgotten that the Other,
Like us, too has a mother,
Hope and hunger fuel dangerous decisions,
Restrictions on both retains the status quo,
What will be your contribution?
Seasons will change
As colorful leaves fall to the ground
Cold creeps and blankets the land,
We will consume to demonstrate our love,
As we shut our eyes for the night
Within warm walls and under solid roofs
The producers of our hollow products
Warm their hands by a wood burning stove
Our system isn't profiting as much as it would like
The machine is hungry and thirsty
It sips on our accounts
Takes bites out of our futures
The difference must still be made up,
Didn't take one
But passed it down
Now watch the invisible people scramble
Huddled, oppressed, but numerous,
By joining together we can form
Whatever we'd like to be the norm
A plurality of voices
Allows for better choices
But we can't keep fighting over the scraps
The master's house was built by us
Don't ignore the whispers
These are the Earth's quieted screams
What is the purpose?
What is the plan?
To give back for what we've been given,
Or should we continue to steal from our children?
I wrote this in November of 2011:
We are all actors upon the world stage,
On display, splayed, absorbing gaze,
We all work for the same agency,
Power is sometimes granted, planted, born into,
Privileged hands have multiple uses,
To lift up, hold another, make a fist,
Or do nothing, remain voiceless,
Not taking a stand is to drag,
Social surveillance keeps them in line,
No one should be at ease,
We are allowing the redefining of slavery,
We have forgotten that the Other,
Like us, too has a mother,
Hope and hunger fuel dangerous decisions,
Restrictions on both retains the status quo,
What will be your contribution?
Seasons will change
As colorful leaves fall to the ground
Cold creeps and blankets the land,
We will consume to demonstrate our love,
As we shut our eyes for the night
Within warm walls and under solid roofs
The producers of our hollow products
Warm their hands by a wood burning stove
Our system isn't profiting as much as it would like
The machine is hungry and thirsty
It sips on our accounts
Takes bites out of our futures
The difference must still be made up,
Didn't take one
But passed it down
Now watch the invisible people scramble
Huddled, oppressed, but numerous,
By joining together we can form
Whatever we'd like to be the norm
A plurality of voices
Allows for better choices
But we can't keep fighting over the scraps
The master's house was built by us
Don't ignore the whispers
These are the Earth's quieted screams
What is the purpose?
What is the plan?
To give back for what we've been given,
Or should we continue to steal from our children?
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