Freak Factor
In David Rendall's "Freak Factor," his main message is to accentuate your freak factor. Let your freak flag fly. Accentuate the positive in you, and eliminate the negative. In most aspects, he's right; why focus on what's wrong with you instead of harnessing and being proud of what you're good at. Some are good at sports, but excel in art or music. Some excel in academics and suck at sports. Some are good at sports and academics, but have no creativity. What Rendall is saying is if you've found something you're good at, your strengths, spending your time strengthening your strengths is more valuable then trying to fix your weaknesses.
2. What's my problem?
Here, Rendall's explains that why dwell on your flaws or weaknesses, when you have the ability to use these flaws to your advantage. In questioning your weaknesses, you're viewing yourself in a negative way, when you can channel these weaknesses into something productive. Like he says, being talkative could be seen as a negative quality in a person, but rather than working on learning how to not be talkative, use this quality to your advantage; be a stand up comedian, be a talk show host, be a professional speaker. Sometimes people with ADHD see it as being a flaw to themselves, but those with high energy can definitely be put to use better than people with low energy.
4. Forget It: Don’t Try to Fix Your Weaknesses
I don't completely agree with this point. In most situations, it is more beneficial to concentrate on enhancing your strengths rather than working on your weaknesses. However, I think it would be a good idea for someone who's an asshole to spend some time trying to not be an asshole, while balancing their time working on their strengths...so this isn't entirely true. Then again, assholes finish first. If Mark Zuckerberg wasn't such an asshole, he wouldn't be where he is today...like before he's utilizing one of his flaws to be beneficial to him.
6. Focus: You Can’t Do Both
I believe this is true. Personally, I'd rather be super good at something and not work to be good at something I suck at. I see no point. Maybe others don't but if you think about it, it makes no sense. Many artists have horrible addiction problems, but instead of trying to perfect their art while working on their addictive personality, their art becomes even stronger as its focused on more. That's how rock stars are known. Many have died but they've made history. If they had spent all their time working on their flaws, they wouldn't have produced their music in such an epic way. Besides, like Rendall says, what would you enjoy more: strengthening your strengths, or working on a weakness. Focusing on your strengths is just going to make you feel better overall than being miserable trying to fix your weaknesses.
As for me, sometimes I wish I was better at more of the different media outlets we have learned in class. I'm not very good with animation, and I don't play videogames, but I really enjoyed creating soundscapes and using garageband and recording software. But I guess I feel better about myself thinking maybe I have more strengths where someone else has weaknesses, but I respect others have strengths where I have weaknesses.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Collapsus
Collapsus.com
As technology progresses, forms of media have been woven and combined together to create truly unique experiences for their users. In other words, trans-media is becoming a more prevalent form of media. Today, we can combine plots, storylines, interaction, animation, fictional, and non-fictional elements to create new forms of media. By doing this, involvement in the story and how applicable it is creates something an audience or user can connect to on another level. Media is no longer limited to single forms, or single outlets. They are combining and intertwining, and Collapsus is doing just these things.
Collapsus is an interactive transmedia piece developed by Tommy Pallota. Its design's purpose was to allow the user an interactive look into the future, particularly the near future and what will become of the energy crisis. The user sees the possibility of how the energy crisis may cause mankind to look to alternative energy sources for energy rather than fossil fuels. What's interesting is through the interaction of the user and the piece, the story line goes between fact and fiction. And yet, the fictional characters in the piece can be applied/mimic people in real life experiencing the current energy crisis. The fictional aspects of the piece, however, are realistic examples of what could be the world to come. I believe this is what makes the piece more powerful to whoever is experiencing it.
At the beginning of the quarter, I never took a step back and looked at what exactly we were doing. We aren't simply making an animation, a song, a video. Now, an animation can be combined with music and audio; the same goes for videos. I think we have built up how we began to combine types of media into more complex forms of media. Beginning with our soundscape, we then created songs, video jokescripts, then videos with audio and music, then animations. Finally we've created a video game, and even though we simply came up with the concept, the video game combined all of these elements. It's interesting how Palotta has combined forms of media outlets that are out of the ordinary, such as animating what is already captured on film, and then combining that with interaction such as in a video game. The more individual elements of media, the more creativity comes out, and the more the content hits closer to home.
As technology progresses, forms of media have been woven and combined together to create truly unique experiences for their users. In other words, trans-media is becoming a more prevalent form of media. Today, we can combine plots, storylines, interaction, animation, fictional, and non-fictional elements to create new forms of media. By doing this, involvement in the story and how applicable it is creates something an audience or user can connect to on another level. Media is no longer limited to single forms, or single outlets. They are combining and intertwining, and Collapsus is doing just these things.
Collapsus is an interactive transmedia piece developed by Tommy Pallota. Its design's purpose was to allow the user an interactive look into the future, particularly the near future and what will become of the energy crisis. The user sees the possibility of how the energy crisis may cause mankind to look to alternative energy sources for energy rather than fossil fuels. What's interesting is through the interaction of the user and the piece, the story line goes between fact and fiction. And yet, the fictional characters in the piece can be applied/mimic people in real life experiencing the current energy crisis. The fictional aspects of the piece, however, are realistic examples of what could be the world to come. I believe this is what makes the piece more powerful to whoever is experiencing it.
At the beginning of the quarter, I never took a step back and looked at what exactly we were doing. We aren't simply making an animation, a song, a video. Now, an animation can be combined with music and audio; the same goes for videos. I think we have built up how we began to combine types of media into more complex forms of media. Beginning with our soundscape, we then created songs, video jokescripts, then videos with audio and music, then animations. Finally we've created a video game, and even though we simply came up with the concept, the video game combined all of these elements. It's interesting how Palotta has combined forms of media outlets that are out of the ordinary, such as animating what is already captured on film, and then combining that with interaction such as in a video game. The more individual elements of media, the more creativity comes out, and the more the content hits closer to home.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Character Design
The video is in Yuxi's blog post
This is Yuxi's animation
Color
Although the hero and villain in the animation outfits with colors that are not completely opposites on the color wheel, they contrast with their hue, saturation, and value. The hero's outfit is a brighter, less saturated outfit, with minimal value. This keeps him brighter, and allows the viewer/ tells the viewer he is the good guy or hero. In contrast, the colors in the villain's outfit have a stronger saturation. The hues of his outfit are blue/purple...and combined with the saturation is a deeper value, which makes him appear more grey and dark. This subconsciously tells the viewer he is the hero's nemesis.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Response to "This American Life
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/178/superpowers
If I could have any super power, I would FOR SURE have the power to be a speedster ( the ability to be fast as fu… well you know). I would be able to run anywhere I want, as fast as I want, be able to go through slow traffic, retrieve things I leave somewhere really fast, be amazing at any sport basicly that requires speed, probably be able to walk on water if I’m going fast enough, not need a car in order to get places, be able to run from police to avoid arrest, anything I do could be faster, easier, and more convenient. I think it has more options than powers like being able to teleport or even fly, because I could run somewhere almost just as fast as a teleporter, or probably fly a little if I run fast enough. And as far as heroes with this ability, I would pick to be Dash from the Incredibles. I am drawn to him, because ever since the movie came out, he’s been my dude. If you told him to do the things I listed before, no doubt he would be able to pull it off easily. Also, like me, he’s got an older sister with superpowers. His family, in a combined effort of all their powers, was able to defeat the villain of the movie; one more reason I am drawn to him. I don’t think things like invisibilty, being able to bend and stretch in any way, being able to turn green and big and destroy things, are things that are as versatile as being a speedster. Plus, for me, going faster is just more fun. Speeding in cars, rollercoasters, riding bikes down hills to go really fast, flying in planes; I’ve dug them all since I was a kid. Maybe someday I’ll have the power to be a speedster.
joke videos
joke 2
In our second joke video, there was no dialogue, it was in black and white, and ragtime music was playing in the background. These qualities of the movie go along with the qualities of movies made in the nostalgic silent movie era. But even though its nostalgic, these qualities attributed to the rhythm of the movie. Like in old silent films, shots are slightly sped up, which keeps the audience's attention. Music also contributed to the rhythm; also the key and mood of the music matched up with the emotions and what's happening in the movie. For the element of space, we manipulated parts of the mac lab to represent different rooms in the house. A kitchen was drawn up on the dry erase board, even though its hard to see; the outside of the maclab was the boy's bedroom, and the floor that's just inside the entrance to the lab was the living room floor.
joke1
In our first video, everything was filmed in the gridlab, so we had to use what was available to us in the grid lab to do our set design, which was a film noir according to the script. As for the audio, we filmed the movie first, then recorded the dialogue afterward, and ironically we had Lena act as the father but record her voice for the son, and me as the son but doing the father's voice. In the beginning of the film, after the boy starts using his dirty mouth, you see the father's face of disgust, creating subtext, telling the audience how the father is confused and how the audience should feel. Also, when the son is put in time out, you know how he is angry and pouting by his facial expression and his movements while crossing his arms. And while the son is in the corner, virtual lines from the door and the walls form a box around the son. Movement is established in this movie based on where the son is playing with his train. At first, he is metaphorically on his father's "bad" side when he uses words a young child shouldn't know. He comes back from timeout on his father's "good" side, and uses proper language...until the end when he offends his father.
The two movies had affinity because of their similar story lines, and that they both were supposed to appear nostalgic, even though were filmed with modern equipment. In contrast one is in color and dubbed over, while the other is in black and white and is silent with written dialogue. The silent film has the audience actively thinking when they see the exaggerated movements of the mother and child, and the characters faces, while the noir film is didactic in that the dialogue is spoken and you are told what's going on.
In our second joke video, there was no dialogue, it was in black and white, and ragtime music was playing in the background. These qualities of the movie go along with the qualities of movies made in the nostalgic silent movie era. But even though its nostalgic, these qualities attributed to the rhythm of the movie. Like in old silent films, shots are slightly sped up, which keeps the audience's attention. Music also contributed to the rhythm; also the key and mood of the music matched up with the emotions and what's happening in the movie. For the element of space, we manipulated parts of the mac lab to represent different rooms in the house. A kitchen was drawn up on the dry erase board, even though its hard to see; the outside of the maclab was the boy's bedroom, and the floor that's just inside the entrance to the lab was the living room floor.
joke1
In our first video, everything was filmed in the gridlab, so we had to use what was available to us in the grid lab to do our set design, which was a film noir according to the script. As for the audio, we filmed the movie first, then recorded the dialogue afterward, and ironically we had Lena act as the father but record her voice for the son, and me as the son but doing the father's voice. In the beginning of the film, after the boy starts using his dirty mouth, you see the father's face of disgust, creating subtext, telling the audience how the father is confused and how the audience should feel. Also, when the son is put in time out, you know how he is angry and pouting by his facial expression and his movements while crossing his arms. And while the son is in the corner, virtual lines from the door and the walls form a box around the son. Movement is established in this movie based on where the son is playing with his train. At first, he is metaphorically on his father's "bad" side when he uses words a young child shouldn't know. He comes back from timeout on his father's "good" side, and uses proper language...until the end when he offends his father.
The two movies had affinity because of their similar story lines, and that they both were supposed to appear nostalgic, even though were filmed with modern equipment. In contrast one is in color and dubbed over, while the other is in black and white and is silent with written dialogue. The silent film has the audience actively thinking when they see the exaggerated movements of the mother and child, and the characters faces, while the noir film is didactic in that the dialogue is spoken and you are told what's going on.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Fallout 3 Scene Analysis
Color
-Hue--> some parts, mainly indoors as well as buildings, rubble around the city, the subway, looks based between the colors of blue and green.. When it cuts to clips where light is exposed there is a yellow/burnt orange hue. This is what you can imagine hues of your surroundings would be like during a nuclear fallout.
-Brightness--> none of the rubble/city/buildings are bright. The sky however, always is much brighter than the ground below it, which contrasts much with the city.
-Saturation--> Ithink the saturation in all colors has had very little white in it. It's what makes these colors dull and ugly and creepy. The dark green/blue hue and the yellow burnt orange both are deprived of white. Again, this makes the player experience what you can imagine it would look like after nuclear fallout.
Manipulation of color
-Burnt yellow tint of surroundings and the faded clothing of the 3 runaways indicates to viewer of the era--> great depression
-People in robes come into scene in bright white clothing--> viewer knows they must have something to do with angels/god
Movement
- The robed people walking through the forest walk slowly, which can be seen as angelic or God-like.
- 3 men become surrounded by the robed people, so you know they will most likely be whisked away to be saved
- All the church-goers are moving in the same direction, so viewer knows the 3 runaways will most likely follow them in the direction they were going.
Shape
- Everett (George Clooney) has square features indicating his intelligence/ skeeming personality
- Pete is long and slender looking with a round head, so you know he's the thinker of the group
- Delmar has pointy features, he's short, and the look of his head/face is pointy, so you know he's the dumb one, easily swayed or talked into things.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Reimagining Visual Framing
Salvador Dali's image is reframed on the left. I cropped, or zoomed in, on what I thought Dali did an awesome job of making the piece of art three-dimensional. If you look past the fact that its Jesus being crucified on the cross, he makes you look twice at the image because it looks like as if the cross has another bar going through the middle that Jesus is on.
In the original image, the dark shading contrasts with the bright gold of the cross. In my image, I kept the focus on the bright part of the picture with the gold of the cross and Jesus’ bright white skin. Dali also makes the viewer think actively trying to make out the dimensions and shapes of the picture, which I focused in on, but the other parts of the picture like the people pointing to the cross is didactic, basically pointing the eye to where to look.
Dali uses line and shape where parts of the picture are shaded differently. All the lines that make up the cross create dimensions that look different from certain perspectives. The arms of Jesus on the cross are exactly parallel with the line and shape of the cross. Same with the shadow of Jesus’ arms. When looking at the picture, you could say it confuses the eye, kind of like M.C. Escher’s “Crazy Stairs.” He also puts small yellow cubes in specific areas to make it appear that there’s a bigger cube juxtaposing from the cross, but then it’s confusing because Jesus looks like he is above the cube on the cross in some areas, then below it. Here he is establishing depth cues. Also in the original image, the people looking up at the cross from below look a lot smaller than Jesus and the cross, and the water and cliffs in the background are very small and shaded darkly, which makes the cross appear huge and close up. Same with the yellow of the cross; it draws attention in the image to the confusing figure.
All these lines and contrasting shades and colors add to the visual intensity of Jesus on the cross, rather than a simple image of Jesus on the cross. Great piece of artwork.
How to be Creative
"How to be Creative"
13. "Never compare your inside with somebody else's outside."
One of my favorite quotes in this article that's featured in this rule is "The first rule of business is never sell something you love. Otherwise, you may as well be selling your children." The man McLeod speaks of loved collecting antiques, but didn't want to sell the one's he cherished, which led him to subconsciously overprice antiques so they wouldn't leave the shop. I can relate to the same thing, with guitars and guitar effects pedals, which can also be seen as antiques. Older guitars and pedals are not made the same way they used to be, and because of this they are very valuable. I've collected and acquired many guitar pedals, and I couldn't imagine giving them up even a little bit. Now I know I could never run a music shop that buys and sells old guitars, amplifiers, and pedals because I'd probably subconsciously overprice the items too.
15. "The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that seperates what you are willing to do, and what you are not."
I'm sure it confuses people when they hear Chris Ware, one of the top 2 or 3 cartoonists in the world, describes his profession as unrewarding. There have been football players who refuse to play for enjoyment after their careers are over, because their love for the game was ruined after being payed for doing it and being critiqued all the time. Even though Joaquin Phoenix tricked people into thinking he gave up his acting career to become a hip hop artist, he makes an example of how an artist can find his work unrewarding. I believe people have their vocations, and avocations. Your avocations could become the reward for your work, and could make hobbies more enjoyable. McLeod makes a good point that it's easier for him to hear someone say "change that ad" rather than "change that cartoon," since he's less passionate about creating ads.
24. "Don't worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually."
McLeod is correct in saying inspiration/ideas never hit at a convenient time, nor do they last long. If you've ever seen The Social Network about how facebook began, Mark Zuckerberg is inspired by normal, everyday ideas and as soon as he gets them he runs to a computer as fast as he can before the idea escapes him. Things like relationship statuses and birthday reminders were just things he noticed people try to keep up on, and he took that and made it easier for people to keep updated with. In a business class in high school, we made a company that sold special blends of coffee, but we didn't want to set up a typical bake sale stand for people to walk by and ignore. So we went to the consumer and bugged the crap out of them, because we realized people were more likely to buy our product then. And we had multiple people do this. We were the most lucrative business in our high school to date.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Response To "Brainwashed"
Brainwashed
#1 Acknowledging the Lizard
This layer of reinventing yourself is about the lizard brain- the part of the brain that restricts an artist from being creative, or being themselves, out of fear of rejection or being laughed at. It focuses on resistance of being artistic out of fear, and tells you to follow instructions...so basically this is about the brainwashing people receive, telling them to shut down their thoughts to avoid rejection or ostracization. Godin says this resistance is the barrier stopping an artist to hone and express his/her creative mind. In order to make an impression, you must break down this barrier.
My thoughts on this agree with Godin's statements. I'm sure everyone has some sort of creativity, or artist, in them...but they have fallen to the brainwashing of society. We avoid what would cause skepticism or rejection, which definitely stops people from expressing themselves. I've always thought this and I think it's sad. Nobody wants to challenge the norm, and going along with what you are told, or what others are doing, is "safe." In order to make an impact or free yourself, you have to venture out of this safety, "ignore the lizard" to do the work that has been gifted to you.
#2 Connect
In this layer, Godin talks about making use of how easy it is to network these days. Facebook, twitter, linked in, blogger...these are all ways we can connect, and it opens many doors. Godin says counting how many friends you have on facebook, how many pictures, how many tags, is not a useful way of using what's available to us. People get addicted to the things that don't matter. Instead take hold of what's available to you through these forms of social media. It's here to stay and has changed how fast and easy networking has become.
My thoughts: some things I agree with, some I don't.
I do agree a lot of people now just waste time worrying about frivolous things when so much else is available right in front of them. It's pathetic how people come to classes and go on facebook the whole time, rather than taking notes or learning the material. What are you paying so much money for to enroll in these classes where you can absorb so much information, except you spend your time looking at pictures that could be done any other time. Or just don't go to class if that's all you're going to do. It's another way people waste opportunities given to them.
Though facebook and linked-in and twitter etc., have created way more opportunities to connect, make yourself known, and have success, I think since there's so much opportunity and so many people are taking advantage of it that in a way it could be hard to make yourself stand out when so many others are doing the same. Maybe before the age of social media, that's how true artists stood out, the ones who persevered, acknowledged their lizard, and had to struggle to become successful or noticed. Maybe I'm wrong though.
#1 Acknowledging the Lizard
This layer of reinventing yourself is about the lizard brain- the part of the brain that restricts an artist from being creative, or being themselves, out of fear of rejection or being laughed at. It focuses on resistance of being artistic out of fear, and tells you to follow instructions...so basically this is about the brainwashing people receive, telling them to shut down their thoughts to avoid rejection or ostracization. Godin says this resistance is the barrier stopping an artist to hone and express his/her creative mind. In order to make an impression, you must break down this barrier.
My thoughts on this agree with Godin's statements. I'm sure everyone has some sort of creativity, or artist, in them...but they have fallen to the brainwashing of society. We avoid what would cause skepticism or rejection, which definitely stops people from expressing themselves. I've always thought this and I think it's sad. Nobody wants to challenge the norm, and going along with what you are told, or what others are doing, is "safe." In order to make an impact or free yourself, you have to venture out of this safety, "ignore the lizard" to do the work that has been gifted to you.
#2 Connect
In this layer, Godin talks about making use of how easy it is to network these days. Facebook, twitter, linked in, blogger...these are all ways we can connect, and it opens many doors. Godin says counting how many friends you have on facebook, how many pictures, how many tags, is not a useful way of using what's available to us. People get addicted to the things that don't matter. Instead take hold of what's available to you through these forms of social media. It's here to stay and has changed how fast and easy networking has become.
My thoughts: some things I agree with, some I don't.
I do agree a lot of people now just waste time worrying about frivolous things when so much else is available right in front of them. It's pathetic how people come to classes and go on facebook the whole time, rather than taking notes or learning the material. What are you paying so much money for to enroll in these classes where you can absorb so much information, except you spend your time looking at pictures that could be done any other time. Or just don't go to class if that's all you're going to do. It's another way people waste opportunities given to them.
Though facebook and linked-in and twitter etc., have created way more opportunities to connect, make yourself known, and have success, I think since there's so much opportunity and so many people are taking advantage of it that in a way it could be hard to make yourself stand out when so many others are doing the same. Maybe before the age of social media, that's how true artists stood out, the ones who persevered, acknowledged their lizard, and had to struggle to become successful or noticed. Maybe I'm wrong though.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Gin & Juice Comparison: Snoop Dogg vs. The Gourds
Snoop Dogg- Gin and Juice
The Gourds- Gin and Juice (cover)
The Gourds- Gin and Juice (cover)
This song by Snoop Dogg is a classic. As I’ve explored different musical styles throughout my life, from rock, to rap and hip hop, to folk, one of my favorite is the g-funk (gangsta funk) style of rap from the early 90s originating on the west coast, starting with Warren G and Snoop Dogg. If you’re into that kind of stuff, listen to Snoop Dogg’s debut album “Doggy-Style,” it’s one of my favorites. One day I stumbled upon the Gourd’s cover of Gin and Juice, which was awesome because it blended two different musical styles, from completely different spectrums.
Lyrics
The lyrics in both songs are exactly the same. Snoop’s lyrics are not for the faint of heart, and can get pretty dirty (the album is called doggy style…), but overall it’s good music. In the original by Snoop Dogg, he’s pretty straightforward with his lyrics, talking about being a gangster, his crazy partying and high rolling lifestyle, which goes along with what a lot of other rappers talk about and what’s associated with a rapper’s lifestyle. It’s awesome how the Gourds use the exact same lyrics but with a more folky style of music, nothing like rapping. They took lyrics that would never go with any songs in the style they play, and made it work, it’s hilarious but it’s good.
Melody
The original song’s melody is very “laid back,” with more of a minor tone that goes with Snoop Dogg’s rapping. It definitely goes along with Snoop Dogg’s style and persona. The Gourds’ cover takes the song and sings it with two chords throughout the song, in a very upbeat manor and in more of a major tone. Also, the Gourds make the song musical with more tonality and singing as opposed to more hip-hop/rap.
Organization
In Snoop Dogg’s version, he goes through his rapping/freestyling section, and then there’s the chorus of “sippin’ on gin and juice.” In the Gourds’ cover, the organization is the same as Snoop’s version with the verse and then chorus, but after the chorus they have more extended musical/instrumental jams with mandolins and guitar. It’s pretty hoe-downish, and like I said earlier, the whole song is simply two chords. It’s not chaotic in either version; both have a structured, ordered approach.
Rhythm
As with the minor tone of the melody creating a vibe that’s very chill, the rhythm is somewhat slow, giving it more of that laid back feel. The Gourd’s version has a faster, upbeat rhythm that coincides with its major tone. It sounds like it’s something that makes you want to get up and go crazy, as opposed to Snoop’s relaxed and chill rhythm, that makes you relaxed and chill.
Tension & Release
Snoop’s version builds tension in the chorus, with increasing volume and more background singers, and when he goes back to the verse there is a release when he goes into his rapping. The Gourd’s start off quiet with the mandolin and builds up volume going through the first verse, and then the second verse comes in with the drumbeat and more layers of sound. Once the chorus hits there is the most tension, and then there’s release going back into the verse. And after they jam they go back to being really quiet with just the mandolin and singing, and then the volume and layers increase again.
Didactic Lyrics
Snoops lyrics don’t require any active thinking. He is telling you straight up a story of living a wild lifestyle in Long Beach. I don’t think there’s any hidden meaning behind his lyrics, but it’s lyrics are pretty vivid, and you see the kind of life he lives. It’s good to have lyrics that require you to think, but sometimes it’s good as in Gin and Juice to not have to think about it, Snoop’s being real.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Blog 1B- Response to "Ways To Get Ideas"
14 Ways to Get Ideas
I personally thought all the steps were good explanations of how to be innovative. This article defines 14 different approaches to being innovative, stepping out of the box, finding connections and similarities, and ultimately changing yourself. Many of the steps are based off how highly innovative/creative thinkers from history approached situations in life, such as Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison. I guess the article could be a called a guideline for being creative.
Step #1: FOLLOW YOUR FASCINATION
"Fascination is quite simply nature's way of getting our attention."
I think this is one of the most important quotes; many influential people would not have changed the way we live or our society if not for following fascinations. What if Jimi Hendrix dismissed his fascination for guitar, the blues, or performance? What if Ben Franklin had not continued to pursue his fascination with electricity? George Washington Carver and his fascination with the peanut led to peanut butter and a bunch of other uses for the peanut. Our society would be different and history would be changed if not for these innovators. I'm glad for myself for continuing playing guitar; a lot of people give up on things or do dismiss interests as the article says. In some ways it's probably a mental workout or mentally stimulating to find new things, especially if you find something that changes your life. I haven't had much hands on experience with audio recording, but after reading about different recording techniques used by artists such as Jimmy Page or producers like Phil Spektor creating a "wall of sound" sounded awesome to me and I want to find out more. So far it has been a good experience for me.
Step #2: IMMERSE
I've always believed this step to be true, even before reading this. This step brings up the idea that it's good to immerse yourself in something you enjoy to escape from the distractions brought upon you. I think it's kind of like the common study tip that it's better to take periodic breaks while studying, and as a result you are more successful in studying. It probably keeps many people sane to have certain immersions, like drawing or painting or running. In a way it's therapeutic. And as this article says, I feel it definitely helps spark innovation. Plus, if such successful companies like google, one of the biggest websites today, or 3M which itself is based on innovation, gives its employees the opportunity to set aside time during their work schedule to immerse themselves in something that interests them, obviously it would have some positive turnout, so why not try it. I sort of already do this in my life, losing myself in playing an instrument or building something when I need small escape, and I definitely think it helps me be creative or stimulated more often then if I were not to.
Step #11: BRAINSTORM
This step is all about how new ideas and innovation are the result of multiple thinkers collaborating and inspiring each other, feeding off each other's creativity, to be even more creative. The article uses Paul McCartney and John Lennon as an example of two amazing artists joining together to create something huge. But I think it's not just them; any band, any company, is more successful and accomplishes more when there's people working with each other to be creative. Ideas from one person bounces off another's ideas. One of my favorite things to watch is SNL, because it's the result of talented comedians coming together and creating genius sketches. And then some of those sketches go on to become more than just a sketch when they become movies. I think it's fun playing music with other people, or thinking of ideas of movies to make, just feeding off other's creativity to create one idea after another. It's true, sometimes people can be extremely creative on their own, but these people can also be equally or more creative when working with other creative people.
Response to Prompt from Step 4:
This was a fun task, I could do it every night before bed. I didn't think this would work at first and even though I didn't come up with any brilliant inventions, I think some cool ideas came up. Some things, connections, I noticed were edible candles, candles that bubble into different colors, colorful popcorn, something that would reheat popcorn, hemp sewing machines, some sort of machine that allows you to relax while cleaning. I definitely think this technique has potential to create awesome ideas.
I personally thought all the steps were good explanations of how to be innovative. This article defines 14 different approaches to being innovative, stepping out of the box, finding connections and similarities, and ultimately changing yourself. Many of the steps are based off how highly innovative/creative thinkers from history approached situations in life, such as Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison. I guess the article could be a called a guideline for being creative.
Step #1: FOLLOW YOUR FASCINATION
"Fascination is quite simply nature's way of getting our attention."
I think this is one of the most important quotes; many influential people would not have changed the way we live or our society if not for following fascinations. What if Jimi Hendrix dismissed his fascination for guitar, the blues, or performance? What if Ben Franklin had not continued to pursue his fascination with electricity? George Washington Carver and his fascination with the peanut led to peanut butter and a bunch of other uses for the peanut. Our society would be different and history would be changed if not for these innovators. I'm glad for myself for continuing playing guitar; a lot of people give up on things or do dismiss interests as the article says. In some ways it's probably a mental workout or mentally stimulating to find new things, especially if you find something that changes your life. I haven't had much hands on experience with audio recording, but after reading about different recording techniques used by artists such as Jimmy Page or producers like Phil Spektor creating a "wall of sound" sounded awesome to me and I want to find out more. So far it has been a good experience for me.
Step #2: IMMERSE
I've always believed this step to be true, even before reading this. This step brings up the idea that it's good to immerse yourself in something you enjoy to escape from the distractions brought upon you. I think it's kind of like the common study tip that it's better to take periodic breaks while studying, and as a result you are more successful in studying. It probably keeps many people sane to have certain immersions, like drawing or painting or running. In a way it's therapeutic. And as this article says, I feel it definitely helps spark innovation. Plus, if such successful companies like google, one of the biggest websites today, or 3M which itself is based on innovation, gives its employees the opportunity to set aside time during their work schedule to immerse themselves in something that interests them, obviously it would have some positive turnout, so why not try it. I sort of already do this in my life, losing myself in playing an instrument or building something when I need small escape, and I definitely think it helps me be creative or stimulated more often then if I were not to.
Step #11: BRAINSTORM
This step is all about how new ideas and innovation are the result of multiple thinkers collaborating and inspiring each other, feeding off each other's creativity, to be even more creative. The article uses Paul McCartney and John Lennon as an example of two amazing artists joining together to create something huge. But I think it's not just them; any band, any company, is more successful and accomplishes more when there's people working with each other to be creative. Ideas from one person bounces off another's ideas. One of my favorite things to watch is SNL, because it's the result of talented comedians coming together and creating genius sketches. And then some of those sketches go on to become more than just a sketch when they become movies. I think it's fun playing music with other people, or thinking of ideas of movies to make, just feeding off other's creativity to create one idea after another. It's true, sometimes people can be extremely creative on their own, but these people can also be equally or more creative when working with other creative people.
Response to Prompt from Step 4:
This was a fun task, I could do it every night before bed. I didn't think this would work at first and even though I didn't come up with any brilliant inventions, I think some cool ideas came up. Some things, connections, I noticed were edible candles, candles that bubble into different colors, colorful popcorn, something that would reheat popcorn, hemp sewing machines, some sort of machine that allows you to relax while cleaning. I definitely think this technique has potential to create awesome ideas.
Blog 2- Response to Johnathon Flaum's Find Your Howl
Article: Find your Howl
In the first story in Flaum's article, Mumon-one of only a few remaining red wolves remaining in the wild- is brought into captivity in order to preserve his species. Scheduled feeding times and shielding from the danger of the wilderness to keep him alive creates a life of safety for him, and over time he loses his ability to howl, an essential part of survival for the wolf pack. Once released back into the wild, Mumon forgets and becomes fearful/shameful about what it is that is his purpose, and must find his howl. Experiences like hunting a deer, being shot at by a fearful man, speaking with ravens about finding his howl, lead him on the path of facing his fears head on of leaving safety and gaining his freedom, of what he's supposed to be. This story's message is gaining enlightenment, freedom, your purpose, you must go through hardships of facing fears and finding yourself, before you achieving it.
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
-John Lennon
I really like this lyric from John Lennon's song "Beautiful Boy," which I think was his way of expressing his excitement and joy that will come to him watching his son Sean grow as a person and experiencing life with him. The lyric to me means you don't realize it, and you may strive for more and more in life, but all you experience and go through is part of what makes up your life. You want to do more and more to fulfill and do as much in your life as you can and define you as a person. I think John really wanted to be apart of who Sean would become as he went through more and more in life. While you’re busy doing everything in life, experiencing many things, making other plans, you’re really living your life, life is what happens.
In the first story in Flaum's article, Mumon-one of only a few remaining red wolves remaining in the wild- is brought into captivity in order to preserve his species. Scheduled feeding times and shielding from the danger of the wilderness to keep him alive creates a life of safety for him, and over time he loses his ability to howl, an essential part of survival for the wolf pack. Once released back into the wild, Mumon forgets and becomes fearful/shameful about what it is that is his purpose, and must find his howl. Experiences like hunting a deer, being shot at by a fearful man, speaking with ravens about finding his howl, lead him on the path of facing his fears head on of leaving safety and gaining his freedom, of what he's supposed to be. This story's message is gaining enlightenment, freedom, your purpose, you must go through hardships of facing fears and finding yourself, before you achieving it.
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
-John Lennon
I really like this lyric from John Lennon's song "Beautiful Boy," which I think was his way of expressing his excitement and joy that will come to him watching his son Sean grow as a person and experiencing life with him. The lyric to me means you don't realize it, and you may strive for more and more in life, but all you experience and go through is part of what makes up your life. You want to do more and more to fulfill and do as much in your life as you can and define you as a person. I think John really wanted to be apart of who Sean would become as he went through more and more in life. While you’re busy doing everything in life, experiencing many things, making other plans, you’re really living your life, life is what happens.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)