"Brainwashed: Seven Ways to Reinvent Yourself"
In this post, I'm going to talk about several of Seth Godin's proposed ways to reinvent yourself, as discussed in his article Brainwashed.
#4: Acknowledge the Lizard
Our brains have been trained not only by our own lives, but by the lives of our countless ancestors. "The lizard brain," as Godin refers to it, is afraid of what might happen if we don't follow rules. It is afraid of being laughed at, and afraid of taking risks. Steven Pressfield refers to this concept as, "the resistance." "The resistance" is why, when faced with the opportunity, we choose to follow rules instead of follow our creativity. As artists, we need to always acknowledge this feeling so that we can ignore it.
#6: Fail
The idea behind this method is that in previous generations, it was common practice to distance yourself from art, holding a certain nonchalance to remove yourself from any risks. Businesses were based on low-risk endeavors so as to avoid financial losses.
Today, though, the market demands risk in return for growth. Businesses can no longer remain competitive without risking failure, and artists can no longer benefit from fear of failure, or a fear of "the lizard brain".
Why does this matter?
I would say that both of these ideas can be applied to our blogging project, although not as well of some of Godin's other suggestions. "Acknowledging the Lizard" can definitely be applied to blogging. To really provide interesting and unique opinions and writings, people need to be confident enough to listen to their creativity instead of the lizard brain. "Fail" could be related in the same way. Failure needs to be a risk if someone wants a great reward, although that idea isn't as applicable as the other point.
I think that the blogging project is undoubtedly a good idea, encouraging students to read about new concepts of learning and creativity and expressing their creativity through intuitive prompts. I believe that the blogging project will help me increase my ability to express creative thoughts and improve my understanding of important terms in the media industry.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Week Three (A)
Exploring Cover Songs
As a genre, heavy metal tends to stay underground. Some heavy metal bands do make it big, but the genre is usually less popular than a lot of others with modern Americans. Every so often, though, a heavy metal song slips through and becomes so well-known that it's almost easier to find someone who has heard it than someone who hasn't. "Walk", by Pantera, is one of those songs.
While Phil Anselmo uses a relatively high vocal pitch most of the time, it still feels very close to the low-pitched guitar chords because of the raspy growl he sings in. Overall, the song is very low pitched, from the guitars to even the tuning of the drums, giving the perfect emotional intensity for the song.
The song's lyrics are mostly received consciously. Most of the lines are straightforward and can be understood directly. Some of the lyrics might be understood only subconsciously, though. I would say the subconscious message is mostly just enforcing the conscious message, which would be that people piss Phil Anselmo off. Seriously, though, I think the subconscious message would be that we're better off being independent than we are trusting people because of mankind's problems with jealousy, greed and all those other beautiful things.
A large amount of tension can be felt by the listener throughout the song. Mostly buildup, the tension increases during the verses and is released during the choruses and guitar solo. This tension is created by the slow, adamant guitar riff and steady drums, along with Anselmo's unrelenting vocals.
Possibly the perfect band to cover a Pantera song, Avenged Sevenfold recorded (and play live) a flawless cover of this song. For the cover, Avenged Sevenfold didn't change the song much from the original version, which I think was the best decision. Don't mess with perfection, right?
The intensity of the cover is just as loud as the original, combing relentless guitar tone with guttural vocals and simple but powerful drum parts. For both the original song and the cover, the intensity is undeniably, well, intense.
This intensity comes from not only the instrument and vocal tones, but from the lyrics. Avenged Sevenfold also kept the original lyrics intact, so the two songs are the same in that way as well. The entire song's lyrics can be summed up by some of the last in the song, "Are you talking to me? No way, punk."
Avenged Sevenfold also keeps the rhythm exact to the original song, which is responsible for much of the song's character and feeling. The rhythm is driven more by the guitar than the drums, but the drums are still vital to the groove of the song, which I would describe as slow and unstoppable.
Now, I can compare them forever, but which is the overall better song? In my opinion, as perfect as Avenged Sevenfold's cover is, no one can beat Pantera's original version. Avenged Sevenfold nailed the intensity, and everything else, of Pantera's version, but as with most classics, the original will always remain the best.
As a genre, heavy metal tends to stay underground. Some heavy metal bands do make it big, but the genre is usually less popular than a lot of others with modern Americans. Every so often, though, a heavy metal song slips through and becomes so well-known that it's almost easier to find someone who has heard it than someone who hasn't. "Walk", by Pantera, is one of those songs.
While Phil Anselmo uses a relatively high vocal pitch most of the time, it still feels very close to the low-pitched guitar chords because of the raspy growl he sings in. Overall, the song is very low pitched, from the guitars to even the tuning of the drums, giving the perfect emotional intensity for the song.
The song's lyrics are mostly received consciously. Most of the lines are straightforward and can be understood directly. Some of the lyrics might be understood only subconsciously, though. I would say the subconscious message is mostly just enforcing the conscious message, which would be that people piss Phil Anselmo off. Seriously, though, I think the subconscious message would be that we're better off being independent than we are trusting people because of mankind's problems with jealousy, greed and all those other beautiful things.
A large amount of tension can be felt by the listener throughout the song. Mostly buildup, the tension increases during the verses and is released during the choruses and guitar solo. This tension is created by the slow, adamant guitar riff and steady drums, along with Anselmo's unrelenting vocals.
Possibly the perfect band to cover a Pantera song, Avenged Sevenfold recorded (and play live) a flawless cover of this song. For the cover, Avenged Sevenfold didn't change the song much from the original version, which I think was the best decision. Don't mess with perfection, right?
The intensity of the cover is just as loud as the original, combing relentless guitar tone with guttural vocals and simple but powerful drum parts. For both the original song and the cover, the intensity is undeniably, well, intense.
This intensity comes from not only the instrument and vocal tones, but from the lyrics. Avenged Sevenfold also kept the original lyrics intact, so the two songs are the same in that way as well. The entire song's lyrics can be summed up by some of the last in the song, "Are you talking to me? No way, punk."
Avenged Sevenfold also keeps the rhythm exact to the original song, which is responsible for much of the song's character and feeling. The rhythm is driven more by the guitar than the drums, but the drums are still vital to the groove of the song, which I would describe as slow and unstoppable.
Now, I can compare them forever, but which is the overall better song? In my opinion, as perfect as Avenged Sevenfold's cover is, no one can beat Pantera's original version. Avenged Sevenfold nailed the intensity, and everything else, of Pantera's version, but as with most classics, the original will always remain the best.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Music Assignment
I composed a song in GarageBand for class. The link is underneath.
http://www.box.net/shared/xv8h6aqk39
http://www.box.net/shared/xv8h6aqk39
Monday, January 24, 2011
Soundscape Assignment
The intended emotion of this soundscape was pride. My partner was Peter Fumosa.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Week One (B)
Ways to Get Ideas
14 Ways to get Breakthrough Ideas
The article linked above, written by Mitch Ditkoff, is an interesting look at innovation and creativity in the modern job market. Ditkoff begins by presenting two radically different ways of looking at innovation, which he refers to as the Western approach and the Eastern approach. He states that the Western approach, which is centered around thinking, can be equated to the quote, "I think, therefore I am." The Eastern approach, in contrast, is more similar to the quote, "I am, therefore I think."
The article presents (you guessed it) fourteen ways to conjure up new, innovative ideas. Of these fourteen ideas, I couldn't find one I fully disagreed with, so I'll explain my three favorites. I would argue that the best suggestions from the article are fantasizing (number 5), taking a break (number 8), and noticing and challenging existing thoughts (number 9).
Number 5: Fantasize
While the example wasn't my favorite, I might agree with this point most of all. The idea behind this suggestion is that if someone wants a fantastic idea, they have to remember to fantasize. When we're kids, imagining and fantasizing is second nature to us. As we grow up, though, we're taught to withhold our minds inside the realm of reality, forgetting the possibility that things could exist beyond what we already know. To truly innovate, one must put aside the restraints of reality. If no one had fantasized, we wouldn't have electricity, water pipes, culture or anything else man-made.
Some of the music I've written that I'm most proud of came from ignoring what I know about music and simply fantasizing. Another example could be my playercard on Call of Duty: Black Ops, which is a space-dragon with a jetpack and chainsaw, which is nowhere near possible (or is it?).
I believe fantasizing also contributes a sense of uniqueness to any idea or creation. Everyone fantasizes differently, and simply going by what is already existent will produce something everyone already knows.
Number 8: Take a Break
I especially agree with this point, though the first paragraph seems like it would be more fitting for a different point, possibly for one talking about creativity in general.
The point features a great example, though. I wouldn't personally consider digging a hole to be a "break", but the idea of focusing your mind on something entirely different for some time to reinvigorate your creativity on a project is very true from personal experience.
For example, I got stuck after writing the first sentence for this point, so I went outside and smoked a cigarette. When I got back, I knew exactly what I wanted to write (but don't smoke, it's bad. Just eat some celery or something).
Number 9: Notice and Challenge Existing Patterns and Trends
This suggestion was well-conceived and, for me, is tied with fantasizing when considering importance. As I said with the fantasizing suggestion, rehashing what people have already experienced is much less meaningful than creating or thinking up something that contrasts what they already know. Besides, if no one had challenged existing views, we would still be living on a flat, geocentric planet worshiping golden cow statues (alright, maybe I made that last part up).
I especially enjoyed the quotes Ditkoff chose to use with this suggestion. "The act of creation is first of all an act of destruction," stated by Picasso, resonates with me the most. To truly come up with something new, something else must be destroyed, or at least outdated. The invention of paper put stone tablet-carvers out of business (those might not have existed, but it's the point that counts)
One of my main goals whenever performing a creative task is to think of things in new, different ways. Doing so helps assure that my work will be memorable and innovative.
Prompt: What can you do this week to suspend practicality, logic and rationality in service to birthing your big idea?
To help birth my big idea, I could suspend logic in several different ways. I could start by thinking from a completely different perspective. For example, I could imagine the idea from the brain of a mouse and see possibilities that the brain of a human wouldn't pick up on. I could continue by drawing inspiration from things that might seem unrelated to my idea. What if I made a vehicle that was influenced by a cheetah?
In conclusion, this was a very thought-provoking look at creativity in the modern job market. While some of the examples were weaker than others, I agreed with all of the suggestions presented.
14 Ways to get Breakthrough Ideas
The article linked above, written by Mitch Ditkoff, is an interesting look at innovation and creativity in the modern job market. Ditkoff begins by presenting two radically different ways of looking at innovation, which he refers to as the Western approach and the Eastern approach. He states that the Western approach, which is centered around thinking, can be equated to the quote, "I think, therefore I am." The Eastern approach, in contrast, is more similar to the quote, "I am, therefore I think."
The article presents (you guessed it) fourteen ways to conjure up new, innovative ideas. Of these fourteen ideas, I couldn't find one I fully disagreed with, so I'll explain my three favorites. I would argue that the best suggestions from the article are fantasizing (number 5), taking a break (number 8), and noticing and challenging existing thoughts (number 9).
Number 5: Fantasize
While the example wasn't my favorite, I might agree with this point most of all. The idea behind this suggestion is that if someone wants a fantastic idea, they have to remember to fantasize. When we're kids, imagining and fantasizing is second nature to us. As we grow up, though, we're taught to withhold our minds inside the realm of reality, forgetting the possibility that things could exist beyond what we already know. To truly innovate, one must put aside the restraints of reality. If no one had fantasized, we wouldn't have electricity, water pipes, culture or anything else man-made.
Some of the music I've written that I'm most proud of came from ignoring what I know about music and simply fantasizing. Another example could be my playercard on Call of Duty: Black Ops, which is a space-dragon with a jetpack and chainsaw, which is nowhere near possible (or is it?).
I believe fantasizing also contributes a sense of uniqueness to any idea or creation. Everyone fantasizes differently, and simply going by what is already existent will produce something everyone already knows.
Number 8: Take a Break
I especially agree with this point, though the first paragraph seems like it would be more fitting for a different point, possibly for one talking about creativity in general.
The point features a great example, though. I wouldn't personally consider digging a hole to be a "break", but the idea of focusing your mind on something entirely different for some time to reinvigorate your creativity on a project is very true from personal experience.
For example, I got stuck after writing the first sentence for this point, so I went outside and smoked a cigarette. When I got back, I knew exactly what I wanted to write (but don't smoke, it's bad. Just eat some celery or something).
Number 9: Notice and Challenge Existing Patterns and Trends
This suggestion was well-conceived and, for me, is tied with fantasizing when considering importance. As I said with the fantasizing suggestion, rehashing what people have already experienced is much less meaningful than creating or thinking up something that contrasts what they already know. Besides, if no one had challenged existing views, we would still be living on a flat, geocentric planet worshiping golden cow statues (alright, maybe I made that last part up).
I especially enjoyed the quotes Ditkoff chose to use with this suggestion. "The act of creation is first of all an act of destruction," stated by Picasso, resonates with me the most. To truly come up with something new, something else must be destroyed, or at least outdated. The invention of paper put stone tablet-carvers out of business (those might not have existed, but it's the point that counts)
One of my main goals whenever performing a creative task is to think of things in new, different ways. Doing so helps assure that my work will be memorable and innovative.
Prompt: What can you do this week to suspend practicality, logic and rationality in service to birthing your big idea?
To help birth my big idea, I could suspend logic in several different ways. I could start by thinking from a completely different perspective. For example, I could imagine the idea from the brain of a mouse and see possibilities that the brain of a human wouldn't pick up on. I could continue by drawing inspiration from things that might seem unrelated to my idea. What if I made a vehicle that was influenced by a cheetah?
In conclusion, this was a very thought-provoking look at creativity in the modern job market. While some of the examples were weaker than others, I agreed with all of the suggestions presented.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Week One (A)
"Who influences you as a creative person?"
My sense of creativity has been shaped by countless individuals of vastly different styles. Having been formed by such varying influences, I like to think my creative style is discernible from most people's, blending quiet optimism with a humorous cynicism. These are the sources that have influenced me the most as a creative person.
1. The Black Dahlia Murder (band)
While I listen to numerous genres of music, my most preferred type includes spine-snapping bass drums and brain-exploding guitar solos. You can call them melodic death metal or deathcore, metalcore or whatever crazy genre you can make up, but you can't deny that The Black Dahlia Murder are some of the most talented musicians in the American death metal scene.
Like most modern death metal bands, The Black Dahlia Murder utilize tension and release extensively. While other bands employ more release through the use of slow parts with lots of empty space (my best explanation of "breakdowns"), The Black Dahlia Murder has a more European style with much more tension
and less release. In the song I embedded, "What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse", the releases are subtle, occurring during the chorus, and less noticeably during the changes in the verses when the drummer slows his speed on the snare drum. By changing the pace of the music, the tension that had been built up during the faster parts is released, giving the listener a feeling of resolution.
2. Tetsuya Nomura (and Final Fantasy)
One of my biggest influences in majoring in digital media is the Final Fantasy franchise. The character designer of the games since Final Fantasy IV (according to Wikipedia at least), Tetsuya Nomura, has created some of the games (and a movie) that influenced me to become a media major.
In this trailer, and in a good number of the Final Fantasy cutscenes, characters are put into a believable (albeit stylized and cartoony) environment, but are shown performing feats that are totally impossible in our world, creating a strange sense of contrast and affinity. In this example, for instance, the environments could easily be imagined in our world. The cars, statues, skyscrapers and many other things are not that different from what we see in our own lives, creating an affinity for the viewer. However, the physics in Final Fantasy are in direct contrast to our own. Most likely, you'll never see someone materialize a sword from thin air or teleport halfway up a building when you're walking down the street.
Advent Children was what got me to seriously think about a career in digital media. I'm still amazed by how believable and polished the movie is, and by the idea of an entire movie done entirely by CGI (featuring a more realistic world than what most animated movies create). The plot isn't as strong as the visuals, but the movie is still an accomplishment by all means. The communication in this movie is mostly didactic, instead of active. The movie directly gives the viewer the information it conveys, instead of inviting the audience to actively absorb the message.
My sense of creativity has been shaped by countless individuals of vastly different styles. Having been formed by such varying influences, I like to think my creative style is discernible from most people's, blending quiet optimism with a humorous cynicism. These are the sources that have influenced me the most as a creative person.
1. The Black Dahlia Murder (band)
While I listen to numerous genres of music, my most preferred type includes spine-snapping bass drums and brain-exploding guitar solos. You can call them melodic death metal or deathcore, metalcore or whatever crazy genre you can make up, but you can't deny that The Black Dahlia Murder are some of the most talented musicians in the American death metal scene.
Like most modern death metal bands, The Black Dahlia Murder utilize tension and release extensively. While other bands employ more release through the use of slow parts with lots of empty space (my best explanation of "breakdowns"), The Black Dahlia Murder has a more European style with much more tension
and less release. In the song I embedded, "What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse", the releases are subtle, occurring during the chorus, and less noticeably during the changes in the verses when the drummer slows his speed on the snare drum. By changing the pace of the music, the tension that had been built up during the faster parts is released, giving the listener a feeling of resolution.
2. Tetsuya Nomura (and Final Fantasy)
One of my biggest influences in majoring in digital media is the Final Fantasy franchise. The character designer of the games since Final Fantasy IV (according to Wikipedia at least), Tetsuya Nomura, has created some of the games (and a movie) that influenced me to become a media major.
In this trailer, and in a good number of the Final Fantasy cutscenes, characters are put into a believable (albeit stylized and cartoony) environment, but are shown performing feats that are totally impossible in our world, creating a strange sense of contrast and affinity. In this example, for instance, the environments could easily be imagined in our world. The cars, statues, skyscrapers and many other things are not that different from what we see in our own lives, creating an affinity for the viewer. However, the physics in Final Fantasy are in direct contrast to our own. Most likely, you'll never see someone materialize a sword from thin air or teleport halfway up a building when you're walking down the street.
Advent Children was what got me to seriously think about a career in digital media. I'm still amazed by how believable and polished the movie is, and by the idea of an entire movie done entirely by CGI (featuring a more realistic world than what most animated movies create). The plot isn't as strong as the visuals, but the movie is still an accomplishment by all means. The communication in this movie is mostly didactic, instead of active. The movie directly gives the viewer the information it conveys, instead of inviting the audience to actively absorb the message.
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