Kooky

     Kooky was interesting. I think I've seen movies before that used puppets in a real environment, you know, real trees and all that, but I think they used puppet animals, too. So when I saw the real squirrels in Kooky, I was like, "They're REAL!" Then there was the real fox, and the real hogs, and the real birds. Some people were awed at the trained birds, but I was more awed about the fox. These little toy cars and puppets come rushing by him, and he just stands there and watches them.
     The storyline was one of those where you couldn't tell whether the kid was imagining his toy's adventure, or whether the toy was actually having the adventure and the kid just knew what was happening because he loved his toy so much. It was interesting to see that what happened to the toy also happened to the kid, like when the kid was getting sick and Kooky had lost his fluff.
     The puppets brought up an idea that I think more people might consider. The puppets who lived in the woods were gods of the woods; they took care of nature. When the plastic puppets showed up, they claimed that they could take Kooky away because he wasn't "natural". Well, the other puppets said, if Kooky could be taken away, why couldn't the god of the woods who was made of wires be taken away? Wires aren't natural, are they? But the wires come from nature, the god defended himself. Lots of people complain about processed food, but doesn't all that food come from nature? It's not like we just invented processed food out of nothing; it's natural stuff, just chopped up and pulled apart and boiled down and melted together again. Does that make it less healthy? 
     One more thing: I loved the Captain's glasses. Haha. He gets jammed into a plastic bottle, and Ta-da! he gets his much-needed glasses!

Baffling

The music video of the song "Come into My World" really blows my mind. I actually really enjoy the song, but also the technicalities of the song are crazy. I'm somewhat of a technical guy, and I think this video was pulled off flawlessly. I have some ideas of how they made her appear multiple times, but I'm really not exactly sure how they did it. Every time I watch this video it makes me want to go out and try to shoot something similar to this. My idea for how I would try and pull it off is this, If the camera runs the exact same path multiple times, someone could theoretically just overlap the images in post and transpose them. That may be way off, but for now that's the only way I'd know how to try it. Kudos to the makers of this video. You've got me baffled.



Matt Shouse

Skyfall

I recently went to see the new 007 movie Skyfall. I thought it was very entertaining. It had some very good classic 007 action. I've also started to really like Daniel Craig as James Bond. One scene I felt was too similar to other movies though. There's a scene where Bond and his friendlies are hiding out in a very secluded house in the middle of nowhere, and then the enemies show up. Of course a battle occurs and Bond survives. I felt like the abandoned house fight had been done many times. It reminded me of "The Book of Eli" and also a little bit of "I am Legend." I like how the movie was very emotional. At the end you actually see Bond shed a tear. It really explored the emotional side of James Bond, and I liked that. Skyfall is not my favorite Bond movie, I prefer Casino Royale, but it is definitely worth going to see.


Matt Shouse

Glosoli

Seeing this music video was such a beautiful and powerful experience....I really feel like it reaches a place in us that few things can. It touches our deepest spiritual and emotional desire for something more. It offers another answer to the meaninglessness that so often surrounds us; when the children jump off the cliff and start to fly, they challenge and defy the laws of this world. Not just the physical laws; thats not the point. They defy the law that says we are bound to what we understand and know to be real. The very ground that meaningless life sits on is shattered, leaving you floating in pure mystery and meaning. The promise that is given here is the only thing that really gives us true HOPE. I think that this video is an excellent representation of what the Gospel is supposed to look like - an answer to our hopelessness that removes our deeply rooted sense of loss and exchanges it for hope and peace and love and everything that God is. Because if we are not able to live like these children, flying through life and following our fearless leader, we are truly lost. There is a real destination and a real journey full of meaning that awaits us if we only choose to follow Him. Our lives can actually be beautiful....I mean it's kind of impossible to explain or imagine, but we can get pretty close through the picture that this video gives us. And if we live it then it's even more exciting!

Anyway, I really enjoyed that music video, and I actually found that I can have a better understanding of who God is by thinking about the hope that the video makes me feel. It's a wonderful thing when a piece of art like this can do something so extraordinary. It makes me even more excited to know that I can spend my life serving God in this way - spreading the good news in ways that allow people to really see what the Gospel means, and that it's not just a tradition for old people, or a sunday-school story, but it's the greatest thing that we could ever imagine.

Curiosities over Post Modernism

I can't say I dislike being a cynic. I actually really like being one, on the contrary. (I'm pretty sure anyone who has talked to me for even a hour probably has picked up on this) So, with the foreknowledge that I enjoy being slightly cynical from time to time, I hope that no one takes this post too poorly. I mean no offense, it's mostly just me spinning my wheels here.
I really liked the Gorillaz's music video, so I decided to do some research on the topic.
I pulled up the Wikipedia page, and, lo and behold, Wikipedia has a list of all of the band members names, their positions, and it includes pictures. I must admit, I was slightly disappointed.
I'm not talking about the fictional characters, I'm talking about the real people behind the music.
It's possible I misunderstood the discussion in class today, but I got the impression that "no body knows" who  is actually behind the Gorillaz's music, at least that is what I heard most of my peers saying.
I'm afraid that statement just didn't stand up to reason upon some further looking around. (Here's the page if you would like to see it, it's honestly pretty interesting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorillaz)
It's not like it really matters or anything, mostly it just got me to thinking.
I feel like we so often times want to make mystery's out of things, or make things bigger than they are. We want to be left with nothing when we peel back the layers, because with nothing we have a clean slate. Or maybe if we don't have anything at the center then we can live life how we want to?
I'm not really sure. I do know that almost no one goes and researches this sort of thing though. Maybe we have gotten so caught up in our post-modern thinking of "nothing is true, everything is permitted" that we have lost something? We no longer want to actually look, because we don't think anything is there? We take for granted what we are told, and do not look further? I would like to think that we are better than merely accepting spoon-fed truth, but I kind of wonder. We are no longer being told "this is right" or "this is true" but we are being told "nothing is true" and "nothing is right" and in a way, it's the same thing. It is accepting something without questions, which we do not necessarily know is true or not.
Like I said, I really don't know. I do know that I have a deep passion for the origin of things. The etymology of words, the original film, all of that has always been of deep interest to me. This is where we came from. This is also where we are going.
It's mostly just one of those questions that doesn't have a answer.
I do really wish people would look things up, (as the internet is a teeming resource of information) but maybe it's arrogant of me to assume stuff like this. Dunno.

J-Pop

As I said in my last post, I don't watch a lot of music videos, but I probably should have rephrased that: I don't watch a lot of mainstream/American music videos. The most music videos I watch are probably vocaloid ones, but if I'm not watching one of those, I'm probably watching a J-Pop music video. As far as J-Pop videos go, most of them are stereotypical 'dance' videos, which have the members of the group dancing to the music, pretty self-explanitory and for the most part boring; however, sometimes you come across something that is a little more interesting to look at. One of the things I have noticed is some of the technology and such that are used in these videos, they can be pretty fantastic. Now, I'll admit none of these music videos I'm posting are very deep or anything, I'm doing it more for some of the aesthetics and special effects, as well as music I just enjoy that have interesting videos.

First up is Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, singing PONPONPON

I promise none of the rest of them are quite that weird ^__^;

Next is Ka-Ka-Kata Kataka Omoi-C by Hyadain

Oddly enough, even though there is a girl lip syncing in this video, the female vocals are also provided by the boy, Hyadain, through voice modifications.

These last two are by a group called Perfume, my personal favorites. They usually do a more 'dance video' type, but they put a spin on it and the technology used is really amazing!

Fake It (uses Bullet Time effects)

Nee (uses... 360 degrees copies of themselves? I don't know the terminology for it)

They have a lot of other cool videos too, including Natural no Koishite (where they dance on a moving sidewalk) and Voice (where they dance on a 'Hole in the Wall' sort of device where they have to time it just right to fit in with the cutouts).

Today's Viewings

I thought there were many interesting things about today's videos. The one that I like the most was "Hoppipolla" by Sigur Ros. The concept was great, and relatable, and ironic. Although eleborate music videos are very interesting and impressive, this simple story carried enough weight to hold its own against the other videos. As for Sigur Ros, I think it is an amazing feat to have such a huge hit that connects with people, and it is in a language that we don't understand.

The Gorillaz. I liked this video when it came out. It has a mixture of live action and animation, and Bruce Willis. How can you not love that? But, the very end shot was too predictable and not that bold.

I'd already seen the Spike Jonze one today, so here's another that is incredibly elaborate when you realize what they're doing. I think he is a really good director, and Being John Malkovich is one of my favorite movies. 

Music videos can be so diverse, and that's what makes the medium great. 

Hoppipolla

The Sigur Ros film was so heartwarming!! I can't get over how adorable and sweet it was. I loved that these older people were just having a great time reliving their childhood. I think that it really goes to show you that you are never to old to have fun. I don't know what it was about this film, but it just made me smile inside and out. The music in the film was very light hearted and child like, and it definitely worked well with the film.

The film seemed to be relatively simple to make, and applied a great idea of never being to old to use your imagination and being able to relive your childhood. Over all, I think that this film/music video was a refreshing new take on what being a child at heart really meant.

"War Photographer" and Gorillaz

I was not a fan of Joel Trussell's film "War Photographer". I thought that artwork appeared to be the style of some goofy cartoon that you would find on Cartoon Network (which I am also not a big fan of). I did not think that this film would be appropriate for children, because they showed the use of alcohol and tobacco products. That should not be in children's films/music videos, as that would be considered promoting these products to people that were under the age. I know that this film was not made to be fancy and professional, but even taking that into consideration I just didn't like the style of it, or the alcohol and tobacco products that were used in the film.

On a better note though, I was completely blown away with the Gorillaz video. Yes, it was a little dark, but it was so unique compared to what I am used to seeing. I think that it is really awesome that they use animated characters at their performances and leave their identities unknown. But along with the other students in class, I am left wondering as to whether they actually perform live at their concerts or if they play the music on a CD or something. I am just absolutely amazed with the idea that they created this animated band, and that people will go and see them in concert, that is just so cool to me!!

Dansa það af mér (Dance It Off)

None of this music video is in English, except for two swear words and a phrase at the end. The title, Dansa það af mér, means Dance it off in Icelandic. I came across this music video about three months ago, and it's probably one of my favorites, even if I have yet to come across an English translation and therefore I technically have no idea what they're saying. I love it because the video is just so funny, even if I have no idea what is being said.

This is considered "sketch comedy" in Iceland, and I would say the band, Steindinn Okkar 3, is similar to The Lonely Island (made famous by SNL). This song in particular is about aliens taking over the world, and the main character has lived a really rough (yet hilarious) life and has learned that when faced with troubles it's best to just dance it off. The song is riddled with puns and satirical jokes about Iceland, none of which I understand because I am American and speak only English.

This video doesn't really have a deeper meaning, it's just a dark humor piece, but I figured it's a lesser known music video that is done extraordinary well and I should share it. I love how even without speaking a lick of icelandic, I understand and still find humor in the majority of the video. I love when videos can cross cultures like that and still maintain a level of entertainment.

Warning, the video does have some disturbing elements, but not anything extreme. There's two swear words, one being the f word. I find it hilarious that the entire song is in icelandic but the swear words are in english. Even if you don't like foreign music, I would watch this anyway. It's really just fantastic, and I love it. Also, the beat is really catchy!

- R.

The Golden Age of Media?

When I picture media today, I think of Youtube, Spotify, Itunes, and so forth.  The power of the internet; free access create music, videos, and games, and free to listen watch and play whatever you like.  So with all these new ways of expressing ones self through for a relatively cheap price is this where media should be heading, or is free actually limiting media in quality.

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of quality is Youtube.  Granted there are a lot of good youtube channels out there, but the majority of videos on youtube are just trash.  So is Youtube really helping the video medium out by letting people who don’t know one thing about making a video, have free access to share whatever they want? I believe that the answer is yes and no.  Youtube I believe helps people realize whether they have talent in that specific medium or not.  Many people have gotten careers for making videos on youtube(case and point, Justin Bieber).  And also, you tube does a great job promoting artists music videos.  But there is also a downside to this, letting people listen to music on youtube eliminates the need to go out and buy a the product; you no longer need to go and buy an album because with technology nowadays you could always load up youtube and listen to the song for free. Also, the good youtubers that actually try and make good videos consistently have to spend countless hours and recourses to keep the viewer coming back, with a relatively low pay.

Spotify is another place where you can listen to music for free.  They say that every time you listen to a song on spotify you are giving money to the artist; but really, how much money are you actually giving them.  From what I found, every time you listen to a song on spotify for free, you give the artist an approximate $0.009.  For indie artists out there, putting your song on spotify wont do you much good.  Only the pop stars and popular music will actually make a little money off of spotify.  So rather than people going out and buying indie albums they just listen to it on spotify, barely giving them any money.

 I think what we see here is that with this free plan of entertainment, there is also a limitation and that the limitation seems to fall on the artists themselves.  But only time can tell if this plan will work for media or not. 

Kooky

Signs and Wonders has always been interesting. Why don't more people come?!?! Yesterday there was a combination field trip, exercise, and puppets!

The children's film shown was very entertaining, even though it was a very different style of pacing. If there's one theme that I can say I've learned so far this year, it's that movies can truly be made out of anything, and Kooky* did a great job of making the characters come to life in the middle of a wonderfully innocent story about a boy who just wants to be reunited with his stuffed animal.

*note picture for correct pronunciation

A very interesting point that was only brought up briefly in the discussion I want to talk about more here. As the 2 main characters are driving along, Kooky sees two dragonflies being intimate with each other. After being scolded for leading them into the awkward situation, Kooky asks "If we don't talk about it, then how am I supposed to know what I see?"

This was certainly not the theme of the film, nor did they really mention it again, but I think it's very important to understand, and reminds me of the discussion we had after the "When Life Departs" film. There is a certain point when sensitive subjects need to be introduced to kids, if only so that they don't develop an inaccurate understanding. There are plenty of other sources that would give you more detailed analysis about when and how this might be done—I'm not the expert on that; that's not the point. The point is, that it does matter. I know a girl in high school who told the story about how she became a mother much too early because her parents hadn't spoke to her at all about such things.

When it comes to the question of whether or not you should expose them to other beliefs, my personal opinion is all about timing. I believe it's very important to develop such a good relationship with children that they can comfortably ask the hard questions that will lead to better discussion. In that case, it's better to tell them your belief early, so that you can later explain that other people believe differently. This seems to be the only way to instill in them a solid belief they will eventually accept as their own.

Skyfall

So I saw Skyfall this past weekend and I have to say it was one of my favorite, if not my favorite James Bond movie yet. I have not seen every James Bond movie, but of the ones I have seen I felt like it was the greatest.

The character of James Bond is looked at in a new way that I have yet to see until now. They show his weakness. He is depicted as struggling physically and mentally. At one point in the movie he almost dies which is something that usually doesn't happen to James Bond. He is the ultimate spy and in the previous movies even when he is in dangerous situations you are never worried. You worry for this Bond, fear he may not make it.

Another thing I liked was the villain. He was a terrifying villain who actually made me think he might win. I didn't feel like he was cheesy or stereotypical. He had genuine emotions and experiences. He had a past and story.

The overall feeling I got from this movie is that it was not a simple action adventure full of explosions, sex, and lots of drinking. It was sophisticated. They played up the new angle in action movies of technological warfare. The smart characters held all the cards and guns didn't really matter half the time.

True, there was fighting. There was a spectacular shootout scene and I do love some good action on occasion, but there was so much more than that in this movie. It was intelligent and engaged on more than a base level. I was very happy with this installment of James Bond. If they continue like this I will continue to be this excited for new Bond movies.

participation in a music video

my dad showed me awhile ago a really inspiring video and seeing thae aint no grave music video this really reminded me of it i  over exaggerated the amount of singers but its been awhile since i saw it i hope Steve watches this lol