Blog Revisited: L.A. close to Milwauk-ay

My friend is leaving to go to Africa, so he started a blog on blogger.com to share his experiences. Reading his blog, my mouse did this sort of stream of consciousness, clicking on enough links to finally bring me back to my blog from last semester. I got reading it and Carl B. wrote, that I should continue writing, I "have an engaging written voice." Which came as a huge compliment to me so I thought I'd continue with my research.

this article here

Author writing about his hometown L.A.:

"Walk[ing] around in this weird Truman Show bubble, viewing the place as if it’s playing out on a screen in the distance, and seeing yourself like you’re being filmed on some hidden camera."

Having recently moved from the depressing cardboard boxes that are titled Sandburg Dorms, of course after the poet Carl Sandburg, ironically enough a place where little to no creativity is happening. I walk the streets of my new neighborhood in the very same fashion, not as if cameras are watching me, but the very people I live with, my neighbors are watching me. There is a sense of never truly being alone, as if people are always aware of everyone else's movements. Perhaps a big city is like that and I, from the sticks, just have to get used to the lifestyle.
The second paragraph, mentioning our obsession with celebrities and our stalker-like tendencies when it comes to just getting satisfaction out of seeing a person of "higher class". Wanting so badly to catch a glimpse of someone that we send people out to gather pictures for us, creating all sorts of jobs so we can just see and know what these people are doing at all times, no one else finds this horribly creepy? And a lot like the Truman Show. I saw this first hand when I attended the Film Wisconsin's opening of the studio space they built. (Amazing place if you didn't go.) The actor from "Monk" was there, Tony Shalhoub, people were mobbing him, camera crews, news stations, horny middle aged women and men just wanted to see this guy. All he did was show his support for a cause and he was attacked by the flashbulbs of his supposed fans and adorers. What about the other 200 some people in attendance, does this not make the rest of the American public feel less of a person? Perhaps more of person, we still have our secrets and individuality, and are not plastered all over billboards, E! news, and magazines. I have a dog that follows me around the house, I think thats enough for me, anymore than that and I think I'd feel too important. Tony Shalhoub you can keep your entourage, I don't want them anyway!

Can Someone Answer That!!

Telephones -Christian Marclay

This piece is an editing marvel, basically showing the role telephones and technology play in the cinema world. This product transcends genres, eras, budgets, just about every convention of film. The flow of the piece is remarkable; beginning with the familiar sounds of dialing a phone, through various styles of phones. Rotary to dial, all phones are heard, no matter the ring style nor the background music, nothing was altered. Each individual clip has its own story, its own mood, all being portrayed in mere seconds of each other. The dialing turns to ringing, the ringing drags on and on, as if a Pink Floyd song. Then, characters begin running to their respective phones, as if we, as a society, cannot wait for our next human interaction. Yet, some situations call for hesitation, some hesitation before the pick-up, some after the initial greeting of "hello". Each "hello" is different, different voices, different influxes, all pertaining to the characters particular situation and reflecting the actor's individual ability. The series of "hello"s and typical greetings creates a sense of waiting and unknowing for the audience, whom is only getting half the conversation. While the other side, the silent side, releases potentially crucial information involving the plot, we have no choice but to sit and wait. Suspense! This technique is an easy way to leave the audience out of the plot, to create suspense out of a situation otherwise not easily "suspense-able"! Other clips, however, allowed the audience to hear both sides of the conversation, perhaps to clue the watchers in to what is happening, or to steer them off in the wrong direction. Whatever the reason, whatever the decision all were captivated in this critique. If Warclay left a particular genre or portrayal of phones out of his work, this would not be the complete analysis I saw in the gallery. Sound was the driving force in this piece, a silent film would have been impossible to create such repetition with just images. In this film the images and sounds worked hand in hand to draw the parallels and critique this important item both in everyday life and in cinema. Great continuity in the editing style, anyone looking at a career or emphasis in editing should research this piece. The waiting, soon followed by the inevitable hang-up; some polite others a rude cut off. This film really critiques the phone and phone conversation, not only in the cinema but in life. Often movie's portrayal on real life is all to familiar to the depressing reality. On the bus ride home, I found myself listening more intently to the half conversations people were having on their phones, realizing how standard all of our conversations are. "Hello. Yeah, okay. Sure. Sounds good. Okay. Bye." Listen to yourself when you talk on the phone, I bet you'll find the same thing.

Cave I, II, & III

This "Cave Trilogy" was a lot like our own journey, to the museum. Images of running through the snow, had me intrigued, as the snow from my boots slowly melted. The character in the film is searching for something, perhaps not as concrete as a museum but something just the same. Between my sniffles I could catch traces of sync-sound and some soundtrack, minimal at best. Maybe this ear strain was due to poor speakers, courtesy to the other films being viewed, or an artist's vision; whatever the reason the music seemed very much a background fill. Every once and awhile the crescendo of the soundtrack would overtake the near by galleries and really bring everyone's' focus off their notes. But I think most people took this piece for a near silent viewing, or only heard the sound in times of great crescendo, I being one of them. I don't think a gallery viewing did the piece justice, I am curious if that was the artists intentions or simply the gallery's weak point. I watched the films again closer to the speaker and found a mystical, fantasy like musical soundtrack. I felt this constant musical score, brought an interesting pace and journey feel to the piece. The fact that this series is a trilogy really tells her tale as a journey, as a continuing piece, never really complete. Each section ended with a white out, only making the audience believe further that she is still traveling; continuing her journey to search for...something. The continuous music and nature of the music style only added to this feeling of "trekking on". As the movie progresses the shots get longer and further away, as the music crescendos, as if to create distance between the audience and the character. When scenic, almost still-like, shots are pared with over dramatic music, you get placed back into the idea that you are viewing a movie. Then sudden realization of roles, one recognizes who the viewers are, and the characters are, very jarring and not what the rest of the piece wants you to believe. There is this very real life aspect, that these events happened, and now we are witnessing them reenacted. This feeling, I think, is due to the monotony or how nonchalant the actors view the events. This sort of everyday, matter a fact action the actors seem to be going through, as they walk through caves with miners, shoot sheep after being left behind, all bring a very peculiar tone. The sound however, is very calming, soothing music you might find in the "Easy Listening" section in Barns & Noble. Not addressing the odd events everyone is witnessing, just covering them with this "just go with it" style of music. Creating the illusion that these types of events are completely normal and not out of the ordinary at all; when they truly are. This push and pull between what we, as the audience bring into a piece and expect from a piece, and what the artist is trying to portray and tell us, is quite conflicting. Perhaps this is why I am so drawn to the piece, the conflicting characteristics subconsciously makes the film more appealing. Without sound I am certain I, personally, would have been far more concerned for the actors in the film. The strange events that occurred would leave me wondering what was coming next, what is she searching for, why hasn't she found "it" yet? But, with the calming music as a backdrop I was still curious in the fate of the characters but, all seemed like there was a plan, that everything was okay. If thrilling music was used, everyone would be "on the edge of their seats" waiting for the spectacle of horror to occur. This of course never happens in the piece and would have been a giant let down but, it would have been interesting, after viewing the piece as it was, to see the same footage with a different soundtrack. Perhaps an intervention for another day, another audience.

Filmmaking today has become more of a documentation style than an art; using film to capture performance art or some event that has occurred, rather than making the film apart of the piece.

Zeit zum Schreiben, wieder; Fahren Sie mich nach Berlin!

Leaving the Danish walking infrastructure of the future, our writer journeys to Berlin. Just when you think your eyes cannot be widened anymore, something always comes along! "The third annual PornfilmfestivalBerlin (that's all one word, because, you know, the Germans)", was the next stop on our "blog"ical adventure. The only screening mentioned in the article was a found footage piece that consisted of; police footage from Ohio setting up a sting operation. Now, the average person is getting interested about the "justice" side of the film but, need I remind you, this isn't CSI, this is a porn filmfestival. This sting operation is far from the Robert Redford style of sting, this was to catch "men engaging in sexual acts" in a public restroom. As the blog so politely states, "no money shots, not even so much as a glimpse at any specific mechanics of gay sex." Due to the editing many of the shots were of the men just before or after a supposed lude act was taking place. For example the "zipping or unzipping [of] trousers, disappearing into the stalls, a brief shuffling of feet visible underneath". The author paints a vivid picture of her experience, evidently it was worth sharing with the rest of the class. "This is as unsexy and matter-of-fact as porn can be." Reading this makes me wonder what the author was looking for when she decided to attend this festival. Was she looking for the glamorized internet sex put on a larger screen? Or looking for an "artistic" view on pornography. I put artistic in quotation marks to please both; the people who find this as an art display and, the people who see this as elicit porn, not art. Both parties are correct in their own way and that is the great thing about art. Especially art that pushes to the next level of awkwardness, always testing the audiences breaking point. I think the films in the festival would be very distracting and difficult to watch and not laugh like a child in an awkward sex ed. class. This festival could hold a large amount of credibility depending on the films they choose to accept and, the audience they target the advertising and films toward. It is great if people can truly enjoy the art of sex and nakedness and not be taken by the spectacle of nakedness and sex. I encourage everyone to read the article in its entirety and take your own opinion on the issue. Read on...

*Disclaimer on the Title! I apologize in advance to anyone with any knowledge in the German language. I used google translator and I'm certain this is not the correct translation of (Time to Write, again; Take Me to Berlin!)

La Artist-o De Museum

Wandering through the museum I found myself not necessarily watching/looking at the interactive art. Instead, I was watching the people, the patrons, moving and interacting with the art. They weren't shy to test the boundaries of each display, they were being themselves, expressing! Something I don't think people get from "regular"/"normal" art. The piece Deep Walls, a mother and daughter had filled every box on the screen, with some silhouetted action. Making the entire piece their own display, eventually, as I stood there, other people came and filled random boxes. But for the moment, the piece was their own little art display, that's neat. As far as comparisons go, I believe my next example, is the exact opposite of Deep Walls. Rather than using the human form to create the art and make the piece exciting. Healing needed the human figure to displace the work. This display made the human figure walk through this, "very organic looking piece", according to John McKinnon, Milwaukee art Museum curator, and cut the work. Making a permanent scar in the design of his huge display. I thought it was interesting that each art display used the human body to depict different ideas about the human figure. Deep Walls shows the play and fun you can have, Healing tells a darker tale, and others simply used the human body for the movement aspect. I get a sense of intimacy with both the work and the artist. I feel it is a "group" project to make the art what we want it, the more you move, the more people you have, the better the piece looks, and the faster the piece moves. I personally don't get that feeling looking at other mediums of art: movies, you just watch and somewhat engage; paintings/sculpture, you merely gaze at the work; interactive art, you are forced to physically and mentally engage. Fifield agrees and stated, "we can be said to 'interact' with the visual arts, music, books, and movies, we do so in a mental or psychological way." He goes on to explain that interactive art "is based on precepts that distinguish it from 'passive' or linear art" Nothing will happen if people don't engage, however, one did not have to personally engage. I watched people interact with Healing and found I enjoyed the piece just as much. That's the beauty of being in an art museum, you have choice, to engage or not, and if one does engage on what level do they engage? Numerous people physically engaged with Deep Walls but they did not do so mentally. They would walk up to the piece, maybe wave their hands or shake their head and walk off. They didn't stop and appreciate the technical side, nor how many people had contributed to the piece, nor what the piece was trying to tell the viewer/art maker. "Visitors to a work of interactive art choose the path they take through it, the artist having given them a hand in determining their own experience." For this example I'm going to stray from my original two discussed peices of art and talk of another, I forget the name, but the "sound table", I witnessed a couple come in and stand and look at the table. Like, it was an art piece yet, when they were about to turn around I touched the table and the sound was started. Then they began to drag their hands around the table, playing with each section. Without the viewers activity, each piece is only as good as it looks in its idle state. That is exactly why, I think each person that went to Act/React is now an art maker, simply because, without them the art would not have existed. I thoroughly enjoyed going to the art museum and I am glad we were forced to go. The work at this exhibit was amazing feat in both the art work and the technical world, thanks for making me do this, without this class I'd be much lazier.

*Ding-Ding* Get Ready for Round Two!

This particular journal entry [click here] discusses/addresses very contemporary, now day issues. Issues this nation A) needs to hear about and ponder over and B) need to be able to laugh over. Sarah Silverman gives a quite sarcastic, dead pan message to the voters of the up coming election. This is a critique of both the political ads that are clogging our normal McDonald's commercials and the actual issues of racism and the separation between generations. The article is comparing this video to the Tina Fey/Sarah Palin videos that swiffered this nation earlier. I personally don't see the connection, but everyone is entitled to thier own opinions. I constantly got the feel of a dead pan "Woody Allen" style of humor. Perhaps this was due to the Jewish humor or simply due to the dryness of the piece. According to the article this video was aired on TV and put on the internet via YouTube. This form of circulation and getting your views/work/self out there, is very effective. True, many people strive for their fifteen minutes of fame but, when celebrities/artists/performers choose to post their work on this "community" of viewer, it states something. There is something more personal about an internet video and direct address from a celebrity, it feels more of an inside joke, than a stand-up routine, for instance. I like that, as a viewer, that's appealing.
I believe artists know this and that is why they make the conscious decision to post their work on YouTube and blogs. Another piece I encountered on the Editor's Blog, was titled A Change of Scenery. This article addressed...the FUTURE! Not as the other article did, not in a political, short term way. But, in an engineering, planning for the unknown future kind of way, addressing issues we need to think critically about. Too many issues get tossed to the side because, they aren't immediate dangers or concerns. A Danish architect designed a "house" that travels...not a mobile home...but, rather a walking home. "[F]uture living on the streets ... a living capsule that is able to move itself around" according to the article. This is the future, not evacuating from every danger that comes our way but, a nomadic lifestlye "brought on by unstable and treacherous environmental conditions." The structure moves at about human walking pace, taking the dwellers of the "home" where ever the flood, storm, or danger isn't! To me this seems depressing that we feel the environment will be in such damage that we will have to roam the city, state, nation; to find somewhere habitable for us to stay! The article says this would not be for the preference of living nomadically but rather a nessecity. Firghtening, to say the least, but all worries aside; this is a feat of engineering and creativity. I encourage anyone to see the picture and watch the video, perhaps you may have to operate your very own!

Until next time, I'm Kurt Sensenbrenner, stay classy San Diego.