Blog assignment 5A

Original Picture

My Cropped Version

The original picture drew my attention because of the colors and how an innocent little owl is just sitting on a book, on a chair. It makes you SUBCONSCIOUSLY wonder why the owl is there, and how it got there in the first place. The owl makes you want to create a story as to how the owl got there and what its story it. It also got me thinking as to what the symbol of the owl in the room was supposed to mean. With the clouds in the background maybe it symbolizes freedom because the owl can fly. Then again it seems to be stuck in a room with a window in the background. I cropped the picture the way I did to draw the viewers attention completely on the owl. Their is no mistaking the owl with the way I framed it. Both SHOTS are wide shots but the original is an extreme wide show showing the environment in which the owl is placed. The LINES for both of the pictures draw the viewers eyes directly to the owl. The chair has the lines which make the owl seem more powerful and the arms of the chair point right to the owl. Even the window and walls create actual lines which also point in the direction of the owl. To CONTRAST the two images the RULE OF THIRDS comes into play. In the original You first look at the window, then your eyes dart quickly to the owl and then you eyes stay there. In my framed picture your eyes have no where to go except straight to the owl and has no where to go after that. The only place you might think about other than the owl is perhaps the chair or the book underneath the owl. I think the artist did not zoom in on the owl like I did to try and make the owl a symbol of freedom with all the clouds in the walls.   






(333 Words)

Music/Song Critiques

My Song ----- > Link

Joe Balyeat's song ------- > Song

James Myers' song ------ > Song



And my audio critiques of their songs:

Joe's Critique

James' Critique

As of 10:45 am on 2/1/11 Logan Hayes did not have his Song up on his blog and now I have to go to class so I will not be able to critique it if he uploads it later today.

Brainwashed

To read Seth Godin's article, "Brainwashed" follow the link -------> Link

Acknowledge the Lizard

One of the layers of reinventing yourself, according to Godin, is acknowledging the lizard. When Godin says that he is basically saying that you should not fear failure. He is also saying how when you are acknowledging the lizard you are conforming to the rules and regulations of life. Do no be afraid to branch out and explore your artistic side. He also states that you have to acknowledge the lizard so that you may ignore it so that your art of genius is not quelled by the resistance. 

Learn

Godin says that learning is the key to the other six ways of reinventing yourself. This is basically saying how you have to keep learning as much as you can. You cannot just do the same thing over and over again anymore for a job. You have to be able to do multiple things. 

The learning part definitely is playing a huge role on me and this blog i am creating. I have never used a blog before so I had to learn and adapt and now linking other's blogs to mine as well. I feel as though these assignments are very useful as they teach us useful skills we made need in a future career. These blog assignments will definitely make me a better communicator and writer. I will need both those skills later in life and in my career. 

SoundScape Critiques

My SoundScape can be found in my blog under the post titled, "SoundScape........Finally".

Kevin Crowder's SoundScape -------> Here

Peter Hauptman's SoundScape ------> Here

Andrew Nalette's SoundScape ------> Here

After listening to each of the above classmates soundscapes here is an audio critique of each:

Kevin's SoundScape critique

Peter's SoundScape critique

Andrew's SoundScape critique

Exploration of Cover Songs

The song I will be examining is called "Forever Young". The original is by Alphaville and the covered version is by Jay-Z featuring Mr. Hudson.

The Original by: Alphaville

Covered Version by: Jay-Z featuring Mr. Hudson

To start off this exploratory essay I just want to say that I enjoy both versions of the song. Each song has its own unique style that sets it apart from the other one. Each song starts off with the same LYRICS. Each song also keeps the same the same chorus line which goes like this:

"Forever young, I want to be forever young

Do you really want to live forever?

Forever young"

So in some sense each song shares common lyrics but the "meat" of the songs have different lyrics. Although the lyrics are similar their are several differences between the two songs. Jay-Z's song has a faster pace of SPEED than Alphaville's version. Since Jay-Z is involved with rap, it did not surprise me that his version is faster than the original. The INTENSITY of each song is very different as well. In the original, the music is definitely much softer than its rap counter part. I think that Alphaville did this on purpose. It sounds as though they wanted their audience to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the song. On the other hand Jay-Z's version is louder than the original. His purpose for this is for his listeners to hopefully get the adrenaline pumping a little bit and to have a more dance like feel to it. Which brings me to the different TIMBRE of each song. The original definitely has the personality of a nice, slightly slower, relaxing vibe. It has more of a cool and smooth tone to the song. The covered version has a more up beat vibe and makes you want to dance. The dance groove that Jay-Z's song gives out, makes you think that the song could definitely be heard at a club scene.

While listening to both of these songs you really just feel good. On a SUBCONSCIOUS level, at least to me, whenever I hear the chorus I think of what it was like when I was younger. Don't get me wrong, I realize that I am still a young man, but I can still remember way back when I was a little kid. It reminds me of living in Michigan with my mother and brother and how my brother and I would always play outside. Whether it be summer and us swimming in the lake at my grandparents house; or the winter when there was plenty of snow and we would go sledding. Now that I'm older I don't really think about my younger years as much. Things that I enjoyed then don't seem to be as fun now. Also I lost my innocence that I had when I was a little boy. Now I see the world how it really is and it is slightly depressing. In Jay-Z's version of "Forever Young" their is a small amount of TENSION AND RELEASE. The most specific example of this is at the beginning of his song. As soon as you hear the soft tone and soft pitch of the vocals you think its going to be another slow song that sounds the exact same as the song by Alphaville. The tension is then released when Jay-Z starts to freestyle the lyrics and the beat starts to pick up. 

Now comes the decision: Which song do I like better? Is it the original soft beat, feel good song by Alphaville;    or is it the cover version by Jay-Z which is  more up beat and catchy? The verdict is.......... Jay-Z's version. Both versions of the song have parts I like and parts that I dislike. I just happen to like more upbeat songs better than slower songs. I think its just a personal preference.  

(649 words)

My Song

You can listen to my song that I created on garage band by clicking on the link.

My Song

SoundScape........ finally

Me and Ryan's SoundScape http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzMwWSac7uQ