Week 12 Television and Video Art

After reading the chapter, visit a few of the sites listed on page 354. The addresses are: www.billviola.com, www.davidhallart.com, http://ukvideoart.tripod.com/, wwwltonkonow.com/campus.html, wwwlkortermand.dk/overview.htm, http://home.snafu.de/ruinekuenste.berlin/wolf.htm, www.videoart.suite.dk/videobank/index.htm, www.c3.hu/sccs/butterfly/vasulkas/synopsis.html

Which work do you find the most interesting and successful? Why?
What qualities do you find revealed in the piece you most admire?
In which was the participative experience the most intense?

Week 11 Film

Using what you've learned from reading the chapter on film, examine a scene or shot from a film from a descriptive critical point of view. Please choose different scenes. You can use the same movie as another student, but not the same scene.

As a basis for a movie, use a film or scene that is classroom appropriate--no porn.

Enjoy

Week 10 Dance

After reading the chapter on dance, go to U-Tube, think of a dance you saw performed, watch a dance movie, do some sort of visual research on dance. In the blog comments, tell what you learned and how it relates to the chapter.

For example, a few weeks ago, my son showed me the Blue Men on U Tube. It seems to me that they danced, sang, and had a light/laser show. It was cool, but not having read the chapter or having much experience with dance, I didn't have much to say about it. Of course, your assignment is to outdo my efforts.
Enjoy

Week 9 Music

For this week (March 17-21) after reading the chapter on music, focus on what role music plays in your life. My maternal grandmother was trained as a classical pianist when she was young. For spending money, she played piano for the silent movies, think Perils of Pauline, and in the 1920s was a flapper. She played lots of jazz while I was growing up and we have several tapes, which have made the transition to CDs, of her playing. It was her influence that helps my brother and sisters and I find music an integral part of our lives. I began playing the piano when I was 7 and quit when I was 10 to play guitar. I still play guitar and also am learning the harmonica. My son plays the upright bass and the drums.

If you don't play an instrument, what songs have played a part in your life? What music do you like? What's your favorite song(s)? I like classical, jazz, "classic" rock, blues, and any lyrics that make fun of people. Yes, I'm a big Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show and Frank Zappa fan. John Prine and Todd Snider are in there too. My favorite songs, "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin, "Hotel California" by the Eagles (I know I should be sick of hearing it, but for some strange reason, I'm not), "Please Don't Bury Me" by John Prine, and any current semi-obnoxious song I can't get out of my head. Right now, it's the "Ballad of the Backbone Tavern" by Todd Snider.

I know the book looks at music from a different perspective, which reminds me of my college days and my friends who were music majors explaining the new release of "Freebird"on the Skynrd Live album. They could tell me which measures were repeated and how many times and why it was so cool. I remember thinking it was amazing they could do that with the music. I just liked listening to it.

Enjoy.