Comedy of Errors

Stage before the play started

1. Describe the Theater, sets, and costumes
    The Drayton Hall Theater has a proscenium stage that faces an audience of about 400.  The stage is raised just a few feet above the first row of seats.  Although there was a front curtain it was not used for this production.  However, the backdrop curtain was used to block the stuff backstage.
    For the production of The Comedy of Errors the set stayed the same throughout the play.  There were two doors that represented the Chapel, a wall that represented Antipholus and Adriana's house, a wall that represented the Belly Dancer's house, and a wall for the cafe.  During the jail scene, two additional walls were brought onto the stage to off set the jail from the rest of the set.  The wall colors were neutral colors so they would not interfere with the actor's costumes.  The buildings were gray, tan, and a light red color with what looked like stucco on them.  The buildings were off to the side to make it look like there was a courtyard or market place in the middle of the stage where most of the scenes took place.  
    In contrast to the set, the costumes were extremely colorful.  The two sets of twins- Antipholus and Dromio- were dressed in the same outfits, but with a little difference to tell them apart.  The two Antipholus' were dressed in bright orange suits with orange hair, but Antipholus of Ephesus wore a blue flower in his coat pocket and had his sleeves rolled where as Antipholus of Syracuse wore a green flower in his pocket and left his sleeves down.  The Dromio twin wore purple plaid outfits with a large bright yellow tie and yellow hair.  Dromio of Ephesus had his shirt untucked and his socks were worn uneven.  Dromio of Syracuse had his pants up very high with his shirt tucked in and knee high socks.  Adriana wore a bright green skirt to match her hair with a white shirt with green poke-a-dots.  Luciana wore a bright blue skirt and jacket that matched her hair; she also wore large glasses.  The Belly dancer's costumes were blue, green, purple, red, yellow, and pink with hair to match their outfits.  

2. In what period does this play take place? Who is the author? What period did the play write live?
    I was not clear on what period the play take place in because some of the costumes looked like they were from the present day, but then some costumes looked like they were from an older time period.  The author of The Comedy of Errors is the brilliant William Shakespeare.  Shakespeare was an extremely talented play write, poet, and actor.  He lived during the Elizabethan period (1558-1603) of history.  Shakespeare has written some of the worlds most rememberable plays like Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.  The Comedy of Errors was one of Shakespeare's earliest plays and his shortest.  This particular play is a farcical comedy with slapstick comedy and mistaken identity.  The Comedy of Errors has been adapted into an opera, a movie, a stage production, a musical.

3. Discuss the plot
    The plot of The Comedy of Errors can be confusing if you do not pay attention to the small details like in this production the clothing differences.  The play is about two sets of twins that get separated soon after birth.  Egeon and Emilia (their parents) have one set of twins (Antipholus of Ephesus and Syracuse) and buy the other set of twins (Dromio of Ephesus and Syracuse) from a poor couple.  While returning home they get into a ship wreck and each parent takes a different twin.  Emilia's babies (Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus) are taken from her by pirates and Egeon safely gets back home with his two babies (Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse) and raises them.  Egeon eventually tells the boys this story and they set off on a journey to find their respective twin.  This brings them to Ephesus where they are mistaken for their twins.  This case of mistaken identity leads to many wild mishaps including beatings, arrests, seduction, infidelity, theft, and madness.  In the end it is discovered that they were twins and all was forgiven and it turned out that their mother never died and their father followed them to Ephesus.  In the city the family is happily reunited and all is well.

The Phantom of the Opera

Poster for The Phantom of the Opera

Describe

    The Phantom of the Opera is the film adaptation from Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical.  The Phantom of the Opera was filmed in 2004, but was first announced in 1989.  However, production on the film was halted because Webber's divorce from Sarah Brightman.  Brightman was the star in the original stage production and was the frontrunner to star in the film version.
    The final product stars Gerard Butler in the role as the Phantom, Emmy Rossum as Christine Daae, Patrick Wilson as Raoul, and Miranda Richardson as Madame Giry.  The film was directed by Joel Schumacher, produced and co-written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and was distributed by Warner Brothers.  The film is 143 minutes.  The Phantom of the Opera was released on December 22, 2004 (in the United States).

Analyze
    The Phantom of the Opera is the story of the Phantom of the Opera that resides in the Paris Opera House and his obsession with Christine Daae, a chorus girl who he has trained through her dreams to be the lead singer in the Opera.  The Paris Opera House has just come under new ownership of Mr. Firmin and Mr. Andre and the patronage of Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny.  The new owners have their hands full with their prima donna- La Carlotta, who refuses to take the stage in a cursed theatre.  Christine Daae, who has been coached by the Phantom, steps in to take her place and does a superb job.  During her debut performance, Raoul remembers Christine from his childhood when they were childhood sweethearts.   As the film progresses, Christine and Raoul begin to fall in love again.  This is where the love triangle comes into play because Christine has an innocent and pure love for Raoul, but when she is under the influence of the Phantom, she is able to explore her "dark side."  The Phantom's obsession with Christine becomes more intense when he realizes she loves someone else.  The Phantom's obsession ultimately results in his downfall and loss of Christine.

Interpret
    The film is ultimately a love story between three people: Christine, Raoul, and the Phantom.  When Christine is with Raoul, their love is an innocent love that developed from a childhood friendship.  Christine's relationship with the Phantom is the complete opposite and is formed under false pretenses.  When watching the movie, you know the right man for Christine is Raoul, but at the same time you are intrigued by her relationship with the  Phantom.  With Christine and Raoul, you get to see a childhood friendship develop into a romantic relationship. On the other hand, when Christine's relationship with the Phantom was more dark and dangerous.  Even through the songs the couples sing, you can see the difference between the relationships.  When Christine and Raoul  would sing together their songs are lighter and pure love.  However, when Christine and the Phantom sang together it is the complete opposite; their duets are dark and more edgy.  The two relationships were something  every girl goes through in falling for and being intrigued by the "bad" boy, but ultimately she ends up with the the "knight in shining armor."


Evaluate
    I throughly enjoyed The Phantom of the Opera.  The film was a classic love story about a girl who falls for a "good' and "bad" boy.  The film keeps you in suspense of which guy Christine is going to ultimately pick in the end.  Although, I enjoyed seeing The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, I understand why Andrew Lloyd Webber wanted to make a film adaptation of the stage production.  With the film version, Webber was able to reach an entirely different audience that may not have ever heard of The Phantom of the Opera or have the chance to see it on Broadway.  I loved the costumes in the film and attention to the small details.  One of my favorite scenes was in the very beginning when the chandelier was being raised in the run-down Opera House and then we see the Opera House in its prime.  I thought the characters were perfectly cast and their takes on the characters.  I would recommend for anybody who loved the stage production or who's hearing of it for the first time to watch the movie!

Assignment 8

1. Describe the difference between opera, light opera, and musical theater?
    Opera-  a dramatic work in one or more acts, set to music for singers and instrumentalists; usually classical music.
    Light Opera-  a short amusing opera, usually has a happy ending and some of the text is spoken.  Is also called an operetta.
    Musical Theatre-  a modern musical-dramatic work that is performed on a smaller scale than, and without the conventions of, a traditional opera.

2. How long does it take for someone to have a fully trained operatic voice?
    No singer is born able to sing with an operatic voice.  It takes many years of practice and training to be able to sing at that level.  You must work with a vocal coach for 2-3 hours a day for many years and practice diligently, and you must study a foreign language (French, German, Italian).  Most opera singers do not reach their full potential until the age of thirty.

3. Choose an Opera by Puccini? Describe and interpret.
    Puccini was a great Italian composer, who has captivated audiences for years and continues to do so.  One of his greatest pieces ever written was Madame Butterfly, written in 1904.  Madame Butterfly is about US Navy Lieutenant Pinkerton in Japan, who has acquired a house with servants and a geisha wife, Madame Butterfly.  They marry despite her family's opposition to the marriage and later leaves Japan for America promising to return to his wife.  Three years pass and Madame Butterfly still waits for her beloved husband with their son.  During her husband's time abroad, Madame Butterfly turns down many suitors because she believes her husband will return when he discovers he has a son.  When Lieutenant Pinkerton finally returns to Japan, he brings his American wife.  When Madame Butterfly sees her husband's American wife this crushes her.  At the end of the opera Madame Butterfly kills herself because she cannot take her beloved husband loving someone else.
    I was very fortunate to see Madame Butterfly years ago with my family.  Although, I enjoyed the performance, it was hard for me to watch the singers and read the subtitles because it was sung in Japanese.  However, from what I could interpret from the body language of the singers, Lieutenant Pinkerton loved Madame Butterfly and she loved him in return.  When he had to return to America, Madame Butterfly was devastated.  She did have hope of his return with the birth of their son.  When Madame Butterfly kills herself, has to be the most climatic part of the entire opera.  I believe she committed suicide because she could not deal with the fact her husband left her for another woman.

Assignment 7

1. Describe the difference between a thrust stage and proscenium stage.

Thrust Stage

Proscenium Stage

    A thrust stage is a stage that extends into the audience on three sides.  This kind of stage is also connected to the backstage area by its up stage end.  The thrust stage allows for a certain amount of intimacy between the actors and their audience.  A proscenium stage is a stage with an arch that separates the stage from the audience.  The actual stage is a few feet above the first row of seats.  In a product preformed on a proscenium stage, the actors only have to worry about playing to the audience from one direction, unlike the thrust stage, where the actors have to play to three sides.  All New York Broadway theaters are proscenium stages and the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis is a thrust stages.

2. What is the fly gallery?

Fly Gallery

    The fly gallery is a narrow elevated platform at the side of the stage in a theater, from which a stagehand works the ropes controlling equipment in the flies.  Scenery can be "flown" in and out.  Many of the lights are arranged on the fly gallery and are then hoisted into the air.  The backdrop and curtains also hang from the fly gallery.  People who work on the fly galleries are normally dressed in all black, so they are not noticed by the audience members.  

3. How does a scrim work?

Scrim from Peter Pan

    A scrim is a curtain of thinly woven fabric.  Opaque when lit from the front and transparent when lit from the back.  A dreamy or foggy look can be created by lighting a scene entirely behind a scrim.  Many times a scrim will be used to project images or colors onto the stage, but they disappear when the light is taken away from the scrim.

Columbia Museum of Art- Art Event

KISS- Dressed to Kill, NYC, 1974

Describe the photograph - how big is it, who owns it, who shot it, who is the photograph of and what year was the photo taken. Is is black and white, color or some sort of special photographic process. If you don't know what this process is, look it up and describe it.
    Bob Gruen's photograph (he also owns the picture) of KISS was taken in 1974 for the rock-and-roll magazine CREEM.  The photo was to be used a "photo comic strip."  The piece was named, "KISS Komix Presents Clean Machine Grip Gotham- But Their Lives Were Saved by Rock & Roll."  It was about an Amish boy from Pennsylvania, moves to New York City and becomes a disc jockey with the intention of eliminating the destructive forces of rock and roll.  The members of KISS, wipe out the forces of "good clean fun," and once again, rock and roll saves the day.  From the photo above you can the picture is black and white.  Gruen focuses on the band members making the objects in the background, like the car, blurred.  Because there were no measurements listed; I looked up the measurements.  I found the original photo to be  14 by 11 inches.

Analyze the photograph - What is the photo about, what are/is the people/person doing in the photo, what is the setting, what are clothes like? What does the photograph reveal about the person in the picture?
    The photo is about how the band members of KISS saved the rock and roll from an Amish boy, who wanted to rid the world of rock and roll.  This particular photo was later used as the cover art for the band's 1975 album Dressed to Kill.  The band members of KISS are posing for the CREEM magazine photo comic strip set on the streets of New York.  The members are wearing what appears to be business suits with their signature face make-up.  I think the reason they are wearing the suits is so they would be like ordinary people who are actually heros.  Their hero side is shown through the face make-up.  I believe it is a play on Clark Kent/Superman because he wore the Superman costume under his everyday clothes.

Relate some of the photographer's or the person in the photographs history.
    Bob Gruen has photographed many famous musicians through the years like the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, and Madonna.  He first concert photos were of Bob Dylan in 1965 where he talked his way into getting a photo pass where he could go down front to get photos.  He moved from New York to London to work.  Later in his career he worked for the magazine CREEM.  During his tenure at CREEM he took this photo of the band KISS.
    Kiss is an American rock and roll band formed in 1973 New York.  The bands most famous attribute is the face make-up the members wear and their flamboyant stage outfits.  Today the band has been awarded 24 gold albums, sold more than 40 million records in the United States.  However, their worldwide sales exceed 100 million albums. 

The Big Apple- Art Event

1. Even though the shag is danced to music that is 4/4 time, how does the dancer count when they are dancing the shag?
    8 count-  1-2-3, 4-5-6, 7, 8
    We practiced the 6 count-  1&2, 3&4, 5, 6.  However, most people keep pace with the song they are dancing too.  They listen to the beat of the music to determine the pace of the beat.

2. Discuss the Big Apple building. Discuss its features architechtural feature of Columbia, and a brief history. What was the first name of the building?
    The Big Apple building was used as an African American juke joint during the 1930s.  Since blacks and whites were not allowed to mingle together the white students at the University would go to the Big Apple Night Club and watch the dancers and their steps from the balcony.  They would take the steps they had seen and go dance them. 
    The Big Apple building was originally built in 1907-1910 as the House of Peace Synagogue.  The Synagogue had a large open floor with a balcony.  During services the women would sit in the balcony and the men would sit on the floor at the bottom.  The dome at the top of the building has the Star of David in stain glass.  The outside of the building is white with two red doors in the front.  There are also stained glass windows above and around the front door.

3. Discuss the Shag. What is the history of the shag and what is its relevance to South Carolina?
    The Shag originated along the coast of the Carolinas.  Some people from North Carolina claim to have started the shag, but most people believe it originated in South Carolina.  South Carolina put a permanent hold on the dance because it is South Carolina's state dance.  The shag was very popular at the beach areas during the 1940s and 1950s.  During the summer in Myrtle Beach, the Pavilion would hold a shag contest.  This contest is portrayed in the movie SHAG.  Like in many other dances, the shag has a leader and his partner follows his moves.

Assignment 6

1. Describe the baroque period of dance.
    The Baroque period of dance began in 1600 and lasted until 1750.  Baroque is characterized by the dynamic movement, overt emotion and self confident rhetoric.  The elements of baroque dance are very grandeur, sensuous richness, drama, vitality, movement, tension, and emotional exuberance.  The word "baroque" originated from the Portuguese word "barroco" meaning mis-shapen pearl.  There was also a tendency to blur the distinctions between the various arts.  During this period art, dance, music, and architecture flourished.


 2. Discuss why people dance?
    People dance for many reasons like: form of expression, hobby, fitness, spend time with significant other or friends, performance, social interaction, is expected at social functions (weddings and parties), and because it is fun!  When I started dancing it was because my mom wanted me to make friends and to learn something new.  However, the longer I kept taking dance the more I enjoyed for me not because my mom wanted me to do it.

My 1998 Dance Recital
(I'm second from the left)

3. Describe on non western dance art form.
    The Argentine Tango is a social dance, but also a musical genre, written in a 4/4 measure and with a binary musical form.  The Argentine Tango originated at the end of the 19th century in the suburbs of Buenos Aries.  Its popularity quickly grew and was internationally spread.  The actual dance itself consists of a variety of styles that developed in various regions and eras.  The Argentine Tango can be danced in an embrace that can vary from very open, where the leader and follower connect at arms length, to very closed, where the connection is chest to chest.  In the close in embrace, the chest of the leader and follower are touching and their heads are also touching or close to touching.  This particular dance relies heavily on improvisation- there are no basic steps.  Since much of the dance is based on improvisation, there must be a clear communication between the leader and follower.  It is danced along the outside of the dance floor and it is frowned upon to cross the middle of the dance floor.  Another element of this dance that is important is "Walking."  In the Argentine Tango the walk is on the outside of the legs of the follower.  Throughout its history the Argentine Tango has developed a set of codes and superstitions.  One example is the "cabeceo"- an eye invitation from a man to a woman to dance which is practiced in Buenos Aries.  Today, many people can see the Argentine Tango on the hit television series Dancing with the Stars.

Film Art Event

Made in Dagenham poster inside the Nickelodeon Theatre.

Describe and interpret the Establishing Shot of the film you viewed at the Nickelodeon. How did this set the stage for your experience with the film?
    The establishing shot of Made in Dagenham opened the movie with women riding bicycles at the camera.  The camera was focused from out in the distance so when the bicycle riders got close to the camera it was like you were standing in the middle of the riders.  Then a voiceover started speaking about the Ford Motor Company in the late 1960 in the England.  There were stills of the London Bridge, Big Ben, and other prominent buildings in London, England.  I believe the director wanted bicycle riders to ride into the camera to the viewers know the film was predominately about women of the late 1960s working for Ford Motor Company in England.
    The establishing shot clearly let the viewers know where the movie was taking place and let them know that the movie was going to focus on women by letting them be the only bicycle-riders you saw.  When the riders stop they went into a factory, letting the viewer know part of the movie was going to take place in a factory.  I believe it clearly set the stage for the events that transpired during the movie.  After the voiceover started talking about the Ford Motor Company in England, as the viewer, we knew where the film was taking place and what the storyline was going to be about.


Describe any interesting camera angles that were seen in the film.
    The establishing shot was a type of low-angle shot because as the bicycle riders got closer and closer to the camera it was as if the viewer was in the middle of the riders.  You could see their skirts and dresses whipping in the wind.
    However, when Albert was addressing the women in the factory about Ford's decision not to accept the women's request for more pay, there was a combination of a high-angle shot and an eye-level shot.  The high-level shot looked down on the women as Albert addressed them and let the viewer see the reactions on their faces.  The other shot in these scenes was an eye-level shot because here it was like the camera was among the women being addressed because you saw the back of other heads.  However, the eye-level shot was not a point-of-view shot.  It kept the focus on Albert as he addressed the women.


Describe and interpret the story line of the film. What scenes moved you, drew you in, made you feel uncomfortable, etc? Did you view anyMise-en-Scene or staging in the film?
    The story line of Made in Dagenham was about the women who worked in the Ford Motor Company's Dagenham factory in England, who wanted their wages to equal those of the men.  The movie particularly follows Rita O'Grady, who is voted to represent the women of the factory.  Throughout the film, the viewers get to see the downside of Rita's journey as well as the joys, like her finding her voice.  We also see just how much of a difference the status between men and women was.
    There was scene when Rita goes to her son's school to confront his teacher, Mr. Clarke, for hitting her son.  She goes into the classroom prepared to tell Mr. Clarke all these things, but does not get a chance to because Mr. Clarke belittles her.  He completely undermines her chance to stand up for her son because she is a woman.  I thought Mr. Clarke was a jerk for one hitting children and secondly because he thought it was his place to not take Rita seriously because she was a woman.
   There was another scene when Lisa Hopkins, wife of a Ford Company manager, comes to visit Rita.  Lisa tells Rita not to give up because she (Lisa) has a degree from one of the finest Universities in England and her husband thinks all she can do is cook, clean, and take care of children.  The look on her face and the emotion in her voice was so real, it was like she really was fighting for equal pay and status for women.
    One scene that I believe was Mise-en-Scene was when the women from the Dagenham factory go to the meeting of the Unions and factory managers.  This scene had chairs and actors set for the scene.  Any of the scene featuring the inside of the factory was Mise-en-Scene because all of the sewing machines had to be set before the actors came into the room.


Analyze the roles of the actors. Were they convincing in their depiction of the character they played? Why or why not?
    Rita O'Grady-  was the main character of the film and was portrayed by Sally Hawkins.  Rita was chosen by her fellow workers to represent them in a meeting about receiving equal wages as the men.  She becomes the spearhead for the strike of women to get equal pay.  Sally Hawkins interpretation of Rita was excellent.  She was very convincing as the character.  She brought the emotion that was needed for the character.  Hawkins made the character of Rita real and made her relatable to other people.
    Albert Passingham-  was one of the male factory workers, who oversaw the women and was portrayed by Bob Hoskins.  In the movie, Albert seemed to really the women going on strike.  Later in the film it was revealed that Albert had a single-mother who raised him and his brother.  His mother barely made enough to get by so she had to get a second job; she also had to pay a family member to keep her children during the day.  Bob Hoskins performance during this scene was so heartbreaking because the emotion just came so freely from him.  Every victory the women received it was like he was proud father!
    Monty Taylor-  was one of the Union owners who seemed to be on the women's side, but when he was only with the other Union owners or factory owners he would be on their side.  Monty Taylor was portrayed by Kenneth Cranham.  Kenneth Cranham was very convincing as Monty Taylor because his character was very shady.  HIs character reminded me of the character Prince John from Robin Hood.
    Barbara Castle-  was a women in a high position in a man's world and was portrayed by Miranda Richardson.  The character of Barbara Castle was fighting everyday in her own job for respect for women.  Her assistances treated her like she was inferior to them when in reality they were inferior to her.  Even though her character could not give the women of the Dagenham factory everything they wanted, she respected and applauded them for their efforts in Women's Rights.  Miranda Richardson gives a wonderful and convincing performance as Barbara Castle.


How did the music orsoundtrack of the film influence your interpretation and experience of the film?
    The music/soundtrack from the film helped date the movies to the late 1960s and added to the theme of inequality between men and women.  One song by James Brown "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World," reinforces the idea that women are inferior to men.  Some of the songs were happy, however, there were other songs that added to the sadness of a scene.  Overall, the music of the film added to the experience of film and made it more enjoyable.


Describe the genre of the film. (Refer to Chapter 10.)
    I believe Made in Dagenham is a bit of a Historical Drama and a Comedy.  The reason I think it is a historical drama is because because the costumes and hairstyles were obviously from the 1960s.  However, because this was an independent film there was not a large budget, the sets were not very elaborate.  I think it is a comedy because parts of the film and many of the lines were extremely funny.


Describe, analyze and interpret the context of the film. What message or meaning did you derive from the film?
    Describe-  Producer: Tim Haslam
                     Director: Nigel Cole
                     Screenplay: William Ivory
                     Cinematography: John de Borman
                     Editing: Michael Parker
                     Actors: Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins, Kenneth Cranham, and Miranda Richardson
    Analyze-  The movie was created with different angles and through a wonderful script.  The music made the film more enjoyable because it replicated the feelings the actors were portraying.  The script was written beautifully and the actors were able to take the words and created wonderful performances.
    Interpret-  Made in Dagenham is about the female workers of the Ford Motor Company in Dagenham, England who wanted and deserved equal pay.  The film chronicles the journey of Rita O'Grady and the rest of the women workers as they fight for their right to equal wages.  It shows the hardships and the victories the women of the Dagenham factory.  The film also showed how Rita and the other women were trailblazers for Women's Rights.
    Message or Meaning-  I believe the message of Made in Dagenham is do not be afraid of fighting for what you believe in no matter how unrealistic it may be.  I also believe the message of the film is that every person has a voice waiting to be heard.  My favorite part of the movie is when Rita is in a meeting with Mrs. Barbara Castle, a woman who has reached an incredibly high position in a man's world, still refuses to take anything less than equal pay to the male workers.  It made realize to fight for what I hold true and do not give up no matter what anyone tells me.

Assignment 5

1. Describe Jazz music. Where did it come from, and what makes it particularly unique to Americans?
    A type of popular music originating (esp. in ragtime and blues) among African Americans in the southern United States, typically performed by ensembles and broadly characterized by regular forceful rhythms, syncopated phrasing, modifications to traditional instrumental tone and pitch (such as the use of blue notes), and improvisatory soloing (Oxford English Dictionary).  Jazz originated in New Orleans, Louisiana at the turn of the 20th century.  Jazz music is unique to Americans because it takes parts from other styles of music like Big Band music and incorporate it into their own style.  One of the most famous Jazz performers is Louis Armstrong with songs like "What A Wonderful World."


2. In Peter and the Wolf, what instruments play Peter, the duck, the wolf, the bird, Grandfather and the Hunters?
    Peter: Stringed Instruments
    The Duck: Oboe
    The Wolf: Three Horns
    The Bird: Flute
    Grandfather: Bassoon
    The Hunters: Woodwinds
    The Cat: Clarinet


3. Discuss Classical music. Who are some of the composers that are considered classical musicians?
    Classical music came from the Classical period around 1750 to 1820.  During this time the piano became on of the predominate instruments used.  Composers like Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven established norms of composition, presentation, and style.  They also liked to have a complex relationship between the emotional content and the intellectual meaning. 

Assignment 4

1. Take a picture of any building on campus and post it on your blog

Barnwell College, just off the Horseshoe

2. Describe two architectural features or elements of the building - use architecture vocabulary
    The columns on the building are Ionic Columns.  Ionic Columns have a base, unlike Doric Columns, that separates the shaft from the platform.  The top of the columns curves to make what looks like an "I" at the top.  Ionic Columns are more slender than Doric Columns.  Around the the edge of the roof of the building are small decorative blocks called, Dentil.  In architecture, dentil by definition is, " a small tooth-shaped block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice."
3. Discuss the buildings style
    Because of the Ionic Columns this building has characteristic of Greek Temples from the Greek Revival period.  The Greek Revival style was frequently used during the pre-Civil War years to represent timelessness. 

Assignment 3

1. Do you remember how I talked about making a practical experience into an aesthetic experience? 

    Every morning I open the blinds in my room to see the sunlight and say "Good Morning" to the world.  As I start to open the blinds, little by little rays of light lighten the room, until the room is filled with sunlight.  I stand if front of my window and peer outside to the sight of people walking to and from class.  When classes are getting out and people are leaving it is like they are walking in a race and they have just rounded the final turn!  In the evening, I watch as the like become a rainbow of colors with the sun starts set.  The street lights come on and they let me know its time to say good-bye to another day that has come and gone.  I begin to close the blinds and then the darkness fills the room. 

2. Post your picture that you drew in class when we listened to "Nessum Dorma" and drew what Pavarotti might have been singing about. What were some of the feelings that you thought while he was singing.

    When listening to "Nessum Dorma" I drew a heart with a line through it because I felt like the singer was in love with someone, but had recently had his heart broken.  The blue on the outside represented my emotions, I felt "blue" (hints the color blue).
  
3. Describe the establishing shot in a movie. What is its purpose? What does it tell us as the viewers of a film? How important is the establishing shot in a movie?
    The establishing shot of the movie is probably one of the most important shots in the whole movie.  The purpose of the establishing shot is to let the viewer know where they are like the location of the film and it often includes an popular landmark.  The establishing shot could possible set the "tone" of the movie.

Assignment 2

Describe the 4 domains of creativity:

Fluency:        generating many ideas

Flexibility:     moving from one idea to another

Originality:    coming up with or creating a new idea

Elaboration:   adding onto an idea to improve it

Describe the Feldman Method of Art Criticism:

Describe:     In this stage of criticism the viewer should stay objective to what they are seeing by asking questions like- Who's the artist?, What's the median?, How big is the art work?, What are the characteristics of the art work?


Analyze:     In this stage of criticism the viewer should gather more information by describing the principles of design (rhythm and movement, balance, proportion, variety, emphasis, harmony, and unity) present in the art work.  They should ask questions like- How do the lines, space, color, and texture create rhythm and movement?,  Is the art work balanced?  Do the elements of art create a sense of harmony and unity?
 
Interpret:     In this stage of criticism the viewer should ask question about what the artist is trying to convey through the art.  The viewer should use questions like- What does it (the piece of art) mean?,  How do the images create a metaphor?,  What kind of feeling does it give me (the viewer)?,  and Does it have a social meaning?


Judge or Evaluate:     This stage of criticism is the viewer's point of view.  Did I like it?  Also, ask what I did or didn't like about the piece of art.

Assignment 1

a. Have you ever made art? What kind of art do you like?
    I have made numerous pieces of art over the years.  I mostly made art during elementary school and durning Vacation Bible School.  My favorite kind of art is the kind children make for their parents, especially if the particular piece of art includes a handprint or footprint.  The reason I like this particular type of art is because seeing a child's handprint or footprint brings a sense of innocence.  I also like images wether painted or photographed of the outdoors, particularly Southern images of oak trees and a dirt road with a house in the distance. 

b. Have made a drawing, painting, sculpture?
    I have done drawings of my family when I was in elementary school.  I also remember making ghosts out of footprints at Halloween and turkeys from handprints at Thanksgiving.  During art class painting was one of my favorite things to do because you were able to make a mess and it was not frowned upon.

c. Have you ever been to a museum, gallery, or artist studio?
    I visited the National Gallery of Art and National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. during a class trip.  There were many wonderful paintings in the galleries.  A few years ago when I was with my parents at the South Carolina Bankers Association annual summer meeting, we had lunch in an art gallery.  This particular gallery had a display of paintings with a concentration on Southern images.

d. Have you ever been to a play, opera, art film?
    I have been to many plays over the years and have been in a few during middle and high school.  My mom made us go see the Japanese opera, Madame Butterfly, which was extremely hard to understand.  Also, during a trip to New York City, we saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.  I am actually not sure if I have ever seen an art film.

e. Do you dance?
    I do dance when I'm at a wedding.  Then there are times when I will dance around my room if a good song comes on my ipod.  I also started dance lessons when I was three years old and continued for ten years.  Even though I took dance when I was younger, I do not think I am that good at it.

f. Under what conditions do you learn the most?
    I learn best when I am in a small group almost like a one-on-one group.  I like when I can listen to what the teacher is saying and take notes.  I do not do very well when there are distractions in the room.

g. Why are you taking this class?
    I am taking this class as an additional humanities requirement.  Also, I had a friend who had just taken this class and said she loved it!  She thought I might enjoy it as well!

h. Have you ever looked at at or anything really and been moved by what your eyes see?
    My mom recently participated in the Honor Flights for World War II veterans and there was a television crew that went with them to document the trip.  Well everywhere they went they had people to greet them and watching the video of their trip almost brought tears to my eyes.  Because, you could see in the veterans eyes how much it meant to them to have those people there to greet them and just tell them thank you for their service.  However, the most moving part of the video was when veterans from the Vietnam War escorted them to the WWII memorial in D.C. because many of the Vietnam vets did not have the same kind of welcome or thanks for their service.

i. What inspires you?
   I am inspired most by my parents because they are two of the kindest people I know.  They go out of their way to make someone who would be considered an outsider feel like they are at home.  Also knowing that maybe someday I could make a difference in someone's life like my parents have for others inspires me.

j. Do you consider that movies are a form of art? How about video games, Comics, Television?
    I do consider movies and television a form of art because someone has worked extremely hard to the movie just like a painter does for his paintings.  Even though I am not a fan of video games and comics, I do consider them art because they have been created just like a drawing.

k. Who decides what is good art?
    To me anyone can decide if something is art.  Art like beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  There may be a piece of art that does not appeal to me and I do not want to consider it art, however, someone else might consider it a masterpiece.  Do not have to be an expert to decide what is good art.


l. When you debate music with your friends what are your critical elements or standards to which you hold the music to?
    When I debate music with my friends, I am usually a little negative towards their taste in music because it includes Rap, which I am not a fan of, and some hard Rock.  I do not care for music where you can barely hear the words because the beat overpowers the words.  I would prefer to listen to James Taylor, Michael Buble, and possible because I take after my mom Big Band music.  I like the music I am listening to to have a meaning not just a beat.

m. What was the best movie you saw last year?
     I have seen so many movies over this past year I could not pick my favorite.  Many of the movies I was were fabulous!  If I were to pick an action/war movie I would saw Robin Hood with Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett would top that list.

n. What is an Art Film?
    I not sure what an Art Film is, but I hope by the end of the semester I will be able to answer that question without any hesitation.  However, if I were to guess I would say it was a short film like SCAD students make during their senior year as their project.

o. What music is in your ipod or mp3 player, car, albumns
    I have a variety of music on my ipod.  I really like James Taylor, Michael Buble, John Mayer, and many Country artist.  In my car the CD that plays is a mix of University of South Carolina's own, Darius Rucker.