This graphic novel follows Asterios Polyp's life after his house burns down.. He was a professor and architect who taught at Cornell University before that all went down. He was kind of on the snooty side and always had something smart to say. Polyp decided to take what was left and travel on a bus looking for a new life. He becomes a mechanic.
I did not finish the entire graphic novel as of yet but just from the first few pages, you get a sense that it's not your typical comic book for kids. I think it is interesting that the narrator is his dead brother. It is definitely a different point of view and gives him freedom to be at any time and any place of his life because he saw it all happen. He is a reliable narrator.
I really liked the artwork. When Asterios explains technical things, his designs turn into very geometric and abstract art and that shows the character's personality a lot more than just a simple panel with words of him explaining it. It is also eye candy for the viewer.
His journey seems to look like it will mirror the Odyssey but I am not sure. I hope to finish it.
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Monday, April 18, 2016
The Color Purple
Link to the work: http://www.slideshare.net/mistatys/the-color-purple-alice-walker
Link to a theatre performance of the play version by an academy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No9zyJvUqPk
I think The Color Purple should be included because you get a different point of view. It could be a good alternative reading for Week Six's assignment: Reading from Diverse Positions.
The main character has a different tone of voice and the writing is written in the way she speaks so just from the writing alone, you can tell that the main character is not educated. You don't always see stories told in a series of short sentences unless it is a children's book. If someone nowadays were to turn that book in to a publisher, they might reject it due to the style it is written. People want vivid descriptions and lots of feelings but because of the narrator's personality, we do not get that. Instead, we just hear the story told by her.
Once you get past the language, you then have to tackle the subject matter. Color Purple is not the happiest book ever and everything that happens in that book will not be relatable to everyone. There is rape, arranged marriage, abuse, and separation from family. It is a little harder to relate to the experiences when you have not experienced those things first hand but it is relatable in a sense of how she handles it and regains her independence.
The questions that we had to answer about Jamaica Kincaid's story "Girl" can be applied to this story due to its themes. You can easily talk about the operations of the patriarchy here in the story, powers of the sexes, and sisterhood since there are some female relationships the main character develops.
Link to a theatre performance of the play version by an academy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No9zyJvUqPk
I think The Color Purple should be included because you get a different point of view. It could be a good alternative reading for Week Six's assignment: Reading from Diverse Positions.
The main character has a different tone of voice and the writing is written in the way she speaks so just from the writing alone, you can tell that the main character is not educated. You don't always see stories told in a series of short sentences unless it is a children's book. If someone nowadays were to turn that book in to a publisher, they might reject it due to the style it is written. People want vivid descriptions and lots of feelings but because of the narrator's personality, we do not get that. Instead, we just hear the story told by her.
Once you get past the language, you then have to tackle the subject matter. Color Purple is not the happiest book ever and everything that happens in that book will not be relatable to everyone. There is rape, arranged marriage, abuse, and separation from family. It is a little harder to relate to the experiences when you have not experienced those things first hand but it is relatable in a sense of how she handles it and regains her independence.
The questions that we had to answer about Jamaica Kincaid's story "Girl" can be applied to this story due to its themes. You can easily talk about the operations of the patriarchy here in the story, powers of the sexes, and sisterhood since there are some female relationships the main character develops.
NewsWorld II Questions
1. Are there any prominent symbols in the story that you read? If so, what are they and how are they used?
I think the prominent symbol would have to be the Twin Towers. Throughout the story, the narrator talked about childhood and it coming to an end. The Twin Towers being crashed into represents the end of that childhood. They all came to see it because they have never seen anything like that. In that sense, they were seeking knowledge but when they were caught by an authority figure, they felt embarrassed and ashamed but also defiant. They did not cry out. They stood there, ready to take responsibility for their actions. Then, the jets curved into the towers, destroying their children and innocence they had.
2. What connections did you make with the story? Discuss the elements of the work with which you were able to connect.
The connections I made with the story were very minimal. I connected with the memories the narrator shared like "Animaniacs" and commercials of Six Flags. I knew Disney existed but I only went when I was too small to remember anything later on in life. Other than those type of references, I did not really connect with the story all that much. I was in America when the Twin Towers were hit but when they hit, it honestly did not affect me all that much because I was too young to understand I think. When I got older, they had lectures in school about 9/11 but I don't think I could ever connect with it on emotional level because I have never lost anyone to a tragedy like that. I also was a pretty obedient child. I did not sneak out or sneak into places. I was too scared of my parents. I think if I was a character in this particular story, they might have just left me home. I might have been too much of a buzz kill.
3. What changes would you make to adapt this story to another medium? What medium would you use? What changes would you make?
I think the best medium to adapt this to would be a comic strip because it would not need to be super long and drawled out if it were a movie. It is very short. We would lose all the vivid descriptions we get and substitute that for drawings in a panel. We would have to probably introduce the other characters either at the beginning or as we go through school scenes. The narrator would have to be shown first and we would have to switch from a third person limited point of you to a first person. It would be easier for the narration. The main character would have to say to the audience the comparisons that he makes just so we don't lose that comedy that was in the story.
I think the prominent symbol would have to be the Twin Towers. Throughout the story, the narrator talked about childhood and it coming to an end. The Twin Towers being crashed into represents the end of that childhood. They all came to see it because they have never seen anything like that. In that sense, they were seeking knowledge but when they were caught by an authority figure, they felt embarrassed and ashamed but also defiant. They did not cry out. They stood there, ready to take responsibility for their actions. Then, the jets curved into the towers, destroying their children and innocence they had.
2. What connections did you make with the story? Discuss the elements of the work with which you were able to connect.
The connections I made with the story were very minimal. I connected with the memories the narrator shared like "Animaniacs" and commercials of Six Flags. I knew Disney existed but I only went when I was too small to remember anything later on in life. Other than those type of references, I did not really connect with the story all that much. I was in America when the Twin Towers were hit but when they hit, it honestly did not affect me all that much because I was too young to understand I think. When I got older, they had lectures in school about 9/11 but I don't think I could ever connect with it on emotional level because I have never lost anyone to a tragedy like that. I also was a pretty obedient child. I did not sneak out or sneak into places. I was too scared of my parents. I think if I was a character in this particular story, they might have just left me home. I might have been too much of a buzz kill.
3. What changes would you make to adapt this story to another medium? What medium would you use? What changes would you make?
I think the best medium to adapt this to would be a comic strip because it would not need to be super long and drawled out if it were a movie. It is very short. We would lose all the vivid descriptions we get and substitute that for drawings in a panel. We would have to probably introduce the other characters either at the beginning or as we go through school scenes. The narrator would have to be shown first and we would have to switch from a third person limited point of you to a first person. It would be easier for the narration. The main character would have to say to the audience the comparisons that he makes just so we don't lose that comedy that was in the story.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Sofia Coppola
I watched Marie Antoinette, Lost in Translation, and A Very Murray Christmas. Just from those three movies, I have come to these conclusions. First and foremost, Bill Murray must be her favorite actor. She used him in two out of those movies as the lead, practically playing the same character but in a different setting and context. One takes place in Japan and the other takes place in New York during Christmas. Two, I think it is safe to assume that she finds glamour interesting. She likes to shoot films that shows glamour in a different light - what's behind all the glitter and gold of the hollywood world. You can see that theme clearly in Lost in Translation and A Very Murray Christmas for sure.
She takes the very serious topic of glamour and royalty and makes it more comedic. The comedy brings up back to reality a bit because if it were stiff, it would be watched more like a documentary and less like a movie. Her comedy is not in your face comedy but rather done through mostly the blocking of the characters and the way they interact. After watching these movies, I think I might be able to tell her apart depending on the theme of the movie but probably not all the time because that kind of comedy is not really uncommon in today's society. It is often preferred because a lot of people find serious movies boring. And her color palette changed from Marie Antoinette to Lost Translation. There is a big difference so I think color definitely can't be one of her defining features as a director. The theme and the blocking makes it hers.
She takes the very serious topic of glamour and royalty and makes it more comedic. The comedy brings up back to reality a bit because if it were stiff, it would be watched more like a documentary and less like a movie. Her comedy is not in your face comedy but rather done through mostly the blocking of the characters and the way they interact. After watching these movies, I think I might be able to tell her apart depending on the theme of the movie but probably not all the time because that kind of comedy is not really uncommon in today's society. It is often preferred because a lot of people find serious movies boring. And her color palette changed from Marie Antoinette to Lost Translation. There is a big difference so I think color definitely can't be one of her defining features as a director. The theme and the blocking makes it hers.
Monday, March 28, 2016
In class: Dream and Observation
Dream:
I am at a restaurant. I have already sat down. The tables are covered with white tablecloth and the chairs are black and ornate. There is a black vase in the middle of the round table I'm sitting at and it is filled with white droopy flowers. The waitress comes to my table and asks me what I want to order. I look around and everyone's plate starts levitating and start floating to the back of the kitchen.
She asks me again, what would I like to eat and I ask her about the floating plates. She asks me again, what would I like to eat as the items then stop and turn towards me, still floating in the air.
I am at a restaurant. I have already sat down. The tables are covered with white tablecloth and the chairs are black and ornate. There is a black vase in the middle of the round table I'm sitting at and it is filled with white droopy flowers. The waitress comes to my table and asks me what I want to order. I look around and everyone's plate starts levitating and start floating to the back of the kitchen.
She asks me again, what would I like to eat and I ask her about the floating plates. She asks me again, what would I like to eat as the items then stop and turn towards me, still floating in the air.
Observation:
The lonely amphitheater finally has some visitors. A girl with a rainbow umbrella is shielding herself from the bright sunlight that is coming from in front of the amphitheater. It is peachy in color and has a pebbled texture.The amphitheater has white paint splatters going down the stairs. There are black paint splatters on the stage. Due to the bright sunlight, there is a sharp caste shadow on the right as all the light is concentrated on the left side of the theatre. An ant is walking in and out of the top row of the amphitheater. The girl has headphones on and has a palette next to her legs. She is painting More people walk down the stairs of the amphitheater but no one dares stand in the middle. The stage is the loneliest part of all. The wind blows the tree branches from left to right. It is a soft breeze - not at all harsh in nature. When the wind hits the brush, only some parts of it move from left to right. The wind lessens.
Monday, March 21, 2016
The Anniversary Party
Set Designer
If I was the set designer, I would focus a lot on the interior of the house. There should be wedding photos on the walls and smaller frames with photos of Joe and Sally on the counter. The photos of them are repeated a lot because the photographer comes to the party as well. The characters mention how soft and subtle the interior is the color palette of the room should be neutral tones with a few pops of color here and there. I picture the wall in the living room being a light tan shade with a white panel near the floor. I picture the couches being dark brown leather because Joe mentions that Sally had to change a couple things to suit him. The floors will be wood with a artsy carpet with shades of red, orange, and brown that form a linear pattern. The pillows on the couch will be a golden shade to go with the dulled shades in the carpet. The coffee table will be glass while the counters and other tables in the house with be the shade of the couches. There will be a couple vases in the house with roses in the vase because it is an anniversary. The book case will also be dark brown wood and full of books including the book that the main characters were given to put in the book case to kiss up to the neighbors next door. The piano will be in the corner of the room and will be black with a red cushion on the seat of the piano. The windows will have curtains that are gold to match with the pillows.
If I was the set designer, I would focus a lot on the interior of the house. There should be wedding photos on the walls and smaller frames with photos of Joe and Sally on the counter. The photos of them are repeated a lot because the photographer comes to the party as well. The characters mention how soft and subtle the interior is the color palette of the room should be neutral tones with a few pops of color here and there. I picture the wall in the living room being a light tan shade with a white panel near the floor. I picture the couches being dark brown leather because Joe mentions that Sally had to change a couple things to suit him. The floors will be wood with a artsy carpet with shades of red, orange, and brown that form a linear pattern. The pillows on the couch will be a golden shade to go with the dulled shades in the carpet. The coffee table will be glass while the counters and other tables in the house with be the shade of the couches. There will be a couple vases in the house with roses in the vase because it is an anniversary. The book case will also be dark brown wood and full of books including the book that the main characters were given to put in the book case to kiss up to the neighbors next door. The piano will be in the corner of the room and will be black with a red cushion on the seat of the piano. The windows will have curtains that are gold to match with the pillows.
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