Activism in Art

      Activism in art can move between the lines of commentary and artistic experience. Activist art can influence social change by engaging in contemporary issues like politics or social justice. It acts as a statement of protest. It also be a form of experience because the art can shift and offer a perspective. It’s a creative process and when an audience is engaged in the work of art it is presented as not only a piece of work but as a work of art that transforms into an experience. Art offers an alternative expression for activism. Two artists that would be considered activists are the Guerrilla Girls and Ai Weiwei. As a political activist, he has been highly and openly critical of the Chinese government’s stance on democracy and human rights. Guerrilla Girls are female artists devoted to fighting sexism and racism within the art world. 

Ryan Garrett's Things to Remember

1. Considering the articles you've read for class today, which documentary mode or modes does the film borrow from? Please explain specific elements from the film to support your observations.

Expository: It has parts of the film that were educational like the explanation of place and why it was kept off limits to the public as well as provided visuals as the narrator kept speaking. 

Participatory: There were excerpts of personal interviews from a couple of people in the town as well as a Japanese photographer that was near by the destruction of the town when the atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima 

Poetic: the filmmaker emphasized cinematic values to create a visual narrative like shot designs of William Eggleston’s photography and the other photographer that took shots of the quarantined town. There was also a slow paced rhythm with the music choice. 

2. Why do you think the filmmaker chose to automate the voice of the narrator? What does it add or detract from the film?

I think they chose an automated voice for the narrator to be an experimental element because it does not feel human or personal at all. It’s more like a robot is narrating throughout the whole film without emotion and the voice sounds cold. 

3. What were some of the more experimental aspects of the film in terms of image and storytelling?

The automated voice over, the visual compositions for the separate parts of the film highlighted by individual white text and visuals, the way the photographs were shown, the recount of the story told by the Japanese photographer with text over an image and the low quality video footage of the fire that happened in the library.

4. Does the film come across as a work of fact or fiction? Why?

The film comes across as a work of fact because there is evidence such as video footage and photos from that period of time and interviews. 

"Blood for Oil"

1)       "Blood for Oil" is film studies scholarship that supports its argument by thinking through metonymy.  What is metonymy and why is it important for analysis and creative practice?

Metonymy is a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated. It’s important for analysis and creative practice because it can be used to present a set of meanings to suggest a similarity between actions or events. 

2)      "Blood for Oil" studies scholarship that is new historicist in its framework.  What is new historicism and why does it matter?

New Historicism seeks to find meaning in a piece of work by considering the work within it that may contain ideas and assumptions of its historical era. It could shed light on a particular role or effect that the historical era of a work is trying to reproduce for others to see.

3)      The article begins with an analysis of the written and aural components of the film’s opening.  Why?  (This analysis carries through to the analysis of Franklin, the generator, and the chain saw itself.)

The articles begins with an analysis of the written and aural components of the film’s opening because it is the most important part of the film. The whole social and political background of the the film is established in the opening with the radio station voice narrating the current situation of the time and recent issues with grave robbers, dead bodies, oil crisis, and economical crisis. 

4)      Corporate signage figures heavily in the argument.  Why does genre matter to how we think about corporate signifiers?

Genre matters when we think about corporate signifiers because some genres could use corporate signage in a positive advertisement-type of way and other genres may use it to point out something negative about a corporation. 

Romeo and Juliet directed by Baz Lurhmann

Opening Sequence:

    The similarities between the film and the beginning pages of Prince Of Cats are that they take place in the city, it starts by introducing a group of boys, and differences in ethnicity between some of the characters. The differences between them are the division of land between both houses in the film, the film's plot is given as a general synopsis through the help of the media, and the introduction of characters are done in the beginning of the film rather than through separate acts like in the graphic novel.

    The rapid fire editing and sped-up action set the tone for a city highly dominated by scenes of chaotic violence. The opening shots of the division of city sets the scene for the upcoming action of the film. Media coverage of the civil unrest stresses how the feud between the families affects the entire city.

   The setting and culture of Lurhmann's film refers to the Italian city near water, Verona. It is a modern city near a beach and it shows civil unrest and violence, which also could be alluding to the similar civil unrest that took place in the riots in LA in 1992.

Costume Party:

   The similarities between Lurhmann's party scene and the costume party that takes place in Prince Of Cats are the scene where Tybalt expresses anger against Romeo's presence. Also, Romeo is dressed up as a clown in the graphic novel to show how he behaves in a really comical manner perhaps. While in the film he dresses up as a knight to show nobility and a person who's service is devoted to a woman or a cause. Juliet is dressed up as Wonder Woman in the graphic novel to reflect strength and an independent spirit. While in the film she was dressed as an angel to show purity and delicacy.


Father Lawrence v. The Apothecary:

   My interpretation of the presence of drugs in the play, film, and graphic novel is that it could symbolize a distortion of reality or as a source of entertainment like the drug Romeo took in the film and the drug taken by one of the Montague boys in the graphic novel. It could also symbolize something dangerous like the poison given to Romeo in the film and play as well as something medicinal like the sleeping drug, similar to anesthesia, given to Juliet.


 

Prince Of Cats

    The new setting and culture that the classical story of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is interpreted through in the graphic novel ‘Prince of Cats’ may influence those who come from the same background and share the same culture. It is, for the most part, similar characters and conflict, but with a new time period and people being portrayed. Themes like violence, love in dangerous situations, and societal rules are still present. It now has a hip-hop influence added as a story element as well as an urban setting taking place in Brooklyn during the 80s. The life of the youth is now shown through young people from different ethnic groups, modern society, and gang warfare. When there is a new interpretation of an older story it opens up new possibilities to include different aspects of a culture that could make the story even more compelling. For example, language, customs, knowledge, morals, and art could bring a more interesting element to a story that has been told or read several times. We are able to see how a story like Romeo and Juliet can be represented from Ron Wimberly’s own personal life and inspiration from living around the NY street culture in the 80s as well as through a different protagonist, Tybalt. 

Audio Stories

     In today’s visual age, audio stories whether it be in the form of podcasts, audiobooks, radio, etc., are still an alternative that many enjoy to use on a daily basis. For instance, it’s portable and many are able to listen to it on a personal computer, a cellphone, or on the radio inside the car. Captivating stories being told by an engaging host can affect the audience tremendously. When people are able to convey a story through not only words but through sound effects and the sound of their voice it is quite intimate and influential. The expressiveness of tonality in the voice of the speaker can really sell the story. Stories that express enough emotional response or have created extreme tension are stories worthwhile because it leaves the audience on their toes and they could possibly relate to it on a personal level.
    I listened to part of an excerpt of the podcast called “No Place Like Home” on the This American Life website. The aspects that make the story engaging to the listener is the exchange in conversation almost like these two people speaking are right in front of you. The comfortable atmosphere that the two speakers create makes it more personal. Along with the tidbits of guest voices and sound effects, it keeps the story moving and interesting. Also, the fact that the audience has no clue of where the story may lead at the moment fills them with curiosity and wanting to listen to maybe more than just one podcast. 

Asterios Polyp Response

   The most compelling way of storytelling demonstrated through illustration in the graphic novel Asterios Polyp is through the series of illustrated panels and with no dialogue whatsoever. Because there is no dialogue in some the panels, the story relies heavily on being told through images. It’s simple but quite impactful because it takes the reader through the story visually and swiftly. Also, with the use of interesting compositions and stylistic choices of illustration it draws the reader’s eye to what is happening. It directs the reader’s eye around the panel without the aid of words, which is pretty neat.

   Storytelling may play an important role through my own work because it provides a narrative for the audience. A piece of artwork that is visually stimulating is probably, I guess in my opinion, not as impactful as a piece of artwork with a strong story behind it. Or in it’s own perspective it could be really impactful. It leaves an impression on the viewer that could really inspire them. I want to create visually pleasing art work, but if I can achieve that and attach a very compelling story with it and that could perhaps be thought-provoking then I would be quite satisfied. With my future work in photography, I hope to create more narrative-influence based work because I don’t feel as if enough of my work really explores that element just yet.