Brainwashed

 In Seth Gordin's article, Brainwashed: Seven Ways To Reinvent Yourself, he discusses how when we were first born we were forced into being compliant people. If we stepped out of the lines we were forced back in. If we showed any sense of creativity we were frowned upon. Gordin feels that the world used to need compliant workers but now not so much. Once the job markets start to fail and many people begin to be out of work, people start to giving up. Gordin talks about how we don't have to be like that anymore because there is more freedom now if you are up for the challenge. Gordin believes that if you have the time and the intellect to get your ideas out there than you have the ability to reinvent yourself.

Gordin than goes on to discuss the seven layers in which one can reinvent themselves; Connect, Be Generous, Make Art, Acknowledge The Lizard, Ship, Fail, and Learn. Acknowledging The Lizard in simple terms means, acknowledging the resistance in our minds and ignoring it. In more complex terms, the lizard is the prehistoric brainstem that we all must listen to. It is the part of our brain that worries and gets angry so as a result it shuts off the artistic ideas that come into our heads. This shutdown is considered resistance and because resistance thinks its rules us, resistance always wins. Artists have learned that this is the only barrier between their art and the real world so they have realized that they have to acknowledge it to ignore it and move on. 

A second layer that "spoke to me" was Make Art. This layer is about how making art is an original gift. It is a human ability to make a different. Art does not always have to be something physical like a painting or photograph but instead, it can be interacting with others so that you have a platform to create something new. Art is creating the uncreated. Art doesn't follow rules or instructions but it connects people to one another. Art always feels risky because it is always risky. It can get laughed at and made fun of but that's all a part of it. When an artist takes these risks, is when they are truly an artist and can be rewarded.   

These two layers can help me with this blog that I am creating in several ways. Acknowledging the resistance in my head and ignoring will help me move forward in my creative process and my work for this blog. If I can't ignore the resistance than I can never move along on this project that could last a life time. Making art completely applies to my blog because every time I post something, I am taking a risk and making my own art. I know that people read my blog but I put myself out on the line and hope that my art can inspire my viewers and is not too risky. If it is too risky, well that's the risk I take as an artist, especially in the industry I am about to enter into.  These exercises make me a better artist because if I just made art but never took a chance and showed it to an audience, well than would it really be considered art? These exercises allow me to take a risk, get feedback, and help me connect with other students who may share similar ideas with me.

Tom Petty or John Mayer?

People tend to think of artists who cover songs as being lazy or not creative. Believe me, I used to feel the same way. I always like the original version better but this cover changed my mind. I am, of course, a John Mayer fan but I can honestly say that its not so much his music I enjoy but the sound of his voice in all his songs. I do enjoy Tom Petty as well but when John Mayer covered Free Fallin’, my whole mind changed on artists who cover songs. Tom Petty’s, Free Fallin’ is definitely a classic and a great listen but John Mayer’s is definitely a beautiful cover and one of my favorites. Both versions have the same lyrics and share other similarities but are also very different. 

Tom Petty is an adult contemporary and classic rock artist, so his original fell under those categories. The rhythm of his version seems to be regular and consistent throughout the entire song. The constant source that drives the rhythm is the drums, which is the affinity throughout the entire song. The contrast in his version would be the drum riff that leads into the chorus and the guitar riff that is played during the bridge because they are different then the rest of the melody played throughout the song. The instrumentation includes drums, guitar, and a few other instruments, which differs from John Mayer’s cover. This version has a simple and crisp timbre and its organization is straightforward and classic as well. The tension in the song is definitely the chorus because that is what the verses lead up to. The release of the song would be the music and lyrics played right after the chorus because now the audience can relax and enjoy. The intensity is medium in some parts and than gets louder as the tension is approaching. The pitch of the instruments is low but the pitch of Petty’s voice is decently high. 

John Mayer is an acoustic rock artist who is known for his guitar skills and his version of Free Fallin’ completely displays how he plays his music. Similar to Petty’s version, Mayer’s rhythm is consistent all throughout the song. In Mayer’s version, the constant source that drives the rhythm is his guitar, which is also the affinity throughout the entire song.  The contrast in Mayer’s version is the guitar riff he plays during the chorus. Another difference between the two versions is Mayer’s choice of instrumentation, which includes just guitar and bass. This version also has a crisp and simple timbre with the instruments but contains a lot of layering of Mayer’s voice. The tension in the song is also the chorus especially in this version because Mayer changes the pitch and intensity of his voice during it. The release is still the music and lyrics played after the chorus because the audience can relax again. During the verses Mayer’s pitch is low and his intensity is soft but then during the chorus his pitch is very high and his intensity is loud. 

I didn’t think I would ever admit this but I enjoy John Mayer’s cover better than the original. Tom Petty’s, Free Fallin’ will always be a classic to me but I really enjoy the layering of voice that John Mayer put into his cover. I know both versions are the same song but I feel like I’m listening to two different songs. Tom Petty’s is very simple and classic while John Mayer’s is acoustic and the vocals are outstanding.

 

 

My Song

Soundscape

What is your howl?

In Jonathon Flaum’s, FIND YOUR HOWL, he references two different stories. The first story is about a wolf named Mumon, who needs to "find his howl". In other words, the wolf needs to find his one-of-a-kind authentic voice.  He goes on a journey to do this and basically sacrifices everything. He spent time alone, did things he believed he couldn't do, and pretty much walked away from the life he had always known. Along the way he meets different animals that try and help him. He does not completely understand what the animals are trying to say to him but he tries to listen and take their advice. At the end of his journey he finds himself "dying". In reality, he is finding his howl. It was a long journey for Mumon but he survived it and found his distinct voice. He will always be Mumon, only now, he is better because he has found his howl. 

The main point that Flaum tried to portray throughout this story is that sometimes our journey to finding our voice will be hard but we just need to tunnel through it and keep searching. It will be even more beneficial in the end than we had ever imagined. Our journey will not be easy, it's going to be long, dark, and treacherous but we need to trust our instincts, keep going, and trust the help offered to us along the way. In the end we will not settle for anything less than our official howl.

Read Flaum's story for yourself and decide what you think. Hey, maybe you should find your howl as well.

After Reading Flaum's story, I decided to find my own howl.  

Want Breakthrough Ideas...

Picture this, you’re sitting in your, what you’d like to call it, “thinking chair”, trying to stir up a new idea for a project. As you are rolling and rocking the chair, you soon realize, that no matter how powerful you think your “chair” is, it’s not going to give you the new idea you’re looking for this time! Now you see, you need some help. You could call up mommy and see what she says or you could look around, do some research. You may just stumble upon Mitch Ditkoff’s, “14 Ways To Get Breakthrough Ideas”, at first site it may not look that interesting but it is actually an extremely beneficial and informational guide to finding new ideas! After I read through it I chose three suggestions that I believed were the most motivating and interesting. You may agree with me, or you may go read it for yourself and find others more stimulating. You can find and download his article here and figure out for yourself, just how to get new ideas!

1.   Follow Your Fascination

When something fascinates you, don’t just let is pass. Follow it. Participate in it. Make it. Help it evolve into more than just another one of your many fascinations. Ditkoff is right when he says, “Fascination, quite simply, is nature’s way of getting our attention.” When our minds feel like its time to give up, we dream and become fascinated about other things. Well, now its time to use those fascinations to revive our minds. Put those dreams into our own realities. I mean, if we are not planning on using them in our creative lives then why are we going to waste our time thinking about them? This is a great suggestion and one that everybody, creative people or not, should implement in their daily lives. It’s nice to sit back and just dream, but sometimes it’s also really fun to live those dreams and by that I mean, turning a fascination into reality. I knew I wanted to work in a creative industry so about a year and a half ago, I chose the media industry. I used to be so fascinated about the industry and what it would be like to study at a university that had more opportunities available than I could count on one hand. Look where I am now, attending Ohio University all the way from New York! I made my fascination a reality when I chose to apply and now I am currently living in my fantasy. Don’t you want to say you did that?

a)   What new idea is fascinating you?

A new idea that is fascinating me is doing a photo of the day project over the course of one year. I find this idea to be very creative and because I enjoy photography I think I may just make it a reality. I want others to see what pulls my eye everyday and what I choose to photograph. I want all my travels to be remembered and my memories to be shared. When it’s all finished, I want to make a photo album titled a year in photographs. It’s not much, but it’s fascinating to my creative mind.

                                   

b)  What new possibility has captured your attention?

I have the opportunity to go on a trip to Los Angeles over Spring Break, with one of my media professors. The application process is simple. Apply, have a good GPA, and good references. The rest is up to my professor. I would give anything to go on this trip. We will be going to several different studios in the city and talking to many OU alumni. I can’t explain in words how beneficial and extraordinary this trip would be if I get to attend.

c)   In what ways can you honor this inspiration today?

The only way to honor this inspiration is to hope that my professor sees the passion behind me. I haven’t done much when it comes to media but I know that this is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life. I know that this is what I want to call “work” when I am older. I have to hope that my professor sees all this and considers be for the wonderful opportunities the trip has to offer.

4.   Make New Connections

      Now I know that when we here this, the first thing that comes to mind is, meet new people and don’t burn bridges. Now while that is a very good trait to have in this industry, this type of making new connections refers more to thinking outside of your box. This suggestion is a good suggestion and one that you should implement right away! Step outside of your comfort zone and take the plunge. Think rationally or, hey, think irrationally. We are so used to thinking about ideas that make sense and are easy but maybe its time to just think. If it sounds crazy, well it probably is, but that doesn’t mean it is impossible. Go for it; think of ideas that connect in ways you’d never thought possible! 

7.  Listen to Your Subconscious 

      Ditkoff was telling the truth when he spoke about how most of the world’s great thinkers came up with there ideas at times that were not on purpose. This suggestion is also a good suggestion that I think everyone, especially creative people, should start doing everyday. I mentioned before that sometimes we sit in our “thinking chairs” waiting for our next best idea to come to mind. Unfortunately, we all know that totally does not work. Take a break sometimes and maybe go do something else. I guarantee that while you’re brushing your teeth and playing that addicting computer game, the light bulb will light up in that creative mind of yours and you’ll have it! The next best idea!

My Creativity is Influenced By...

My creativity literally comes from within my mind. When I have a great idea, I try very hard to make it a reality by using a camera or even a pencil. I don’t love to write or even draw, my passion is photography so sometimes my creativity doesn’t come to reality exactly how I had imagined but it always suffices my ideas. Three famous artists including photographer Ansel Adams, painter Salvador Dali, and another photographer, Alicia Bock, inspire my creativity. All three are completely different artists, but all three inspire my creativity. 

  

Ansel Adams, Road

This is photograph is called Road—Nevada Desert and was taken by Ansel Adams. He was a landscape photographer who inspires me to shoot what I see, even though the image will not be exactly what my eye initially saw. His art inspires my creativity to be spontaneous and just go for any shot I see! In addition, this photograph specifically portrays the ideas of objective and subjective thinking. When someone first views this photograph, they see a long road in front of them. The road to them is a just a peaceful landscape photo that the artist wanted to capture. As the viewer continues to look beyond the obvious in this photograph they soon understand the subjective of the artwork. The viewer will see their future or the long road ahead of them in life. They may also feel that this future is uneventful and quite possibly boring because there are no bumps along the way. There are no choices in this life because there are no road signs or even cut-offs to other places. In an objective glance this is just a road, but in a subjective look, this is a whole future about to start. For Adams’ photographs, it certainly is not just what meets the eye but rather, he makes his viewer go one step further and interpret. This technique influences my creativity and allows me to keep my viewers in longer as they try to truly understand where my art is taking them.

Salvador Dali, Lexus

This painting was done by Salvador Dali and is called Lexus. Dali was a surrealist painter of the late 1900s whose bizarre and abstract paintings inspire me to follow anything that my creativity might come up with. His work encourages me to be ok with my art even if it does end up being a little bizarre or not perfect. If my ideas seem a little jumbled in my head and end up coming out the same way in my art, it is ok. It is still my creativity and my ideas. In addition, this painting displays the ideas of active and didactic learning. With his painting, Salvador Dali wants his viewers to have to find out the information for themselves instead of getting it spoon-fed to them. He wants his art to be a lot more powerful and his viewers to use their creativity within themselves to figure out his creativity that is right in front of them. He strives to makes his viewer’s active learners and figure out what is going on in the painting. Dali wants his viewer’s to be scratching their heads and wondering why all the objects are so bizarre and oddly laying on other objects. Dali’s techniques continue to inspire my creativity in ways unimaginable. When viewers see my creativity I want them to figure out what was going on in my head at the time, I want people to think. Otherwise, my creativity has no meaning and everyone in this world would be able to understand me perfectly, and we know that is just not possible!

 Alicia Bock, A fine way to spend the afternoon

This photograph was taken by Alicia Bock and is called A fine way to spend the afternoon. Bock is a modern photographer who tries to capture light and shadows in many of her photographs. This inspires me because those are two aspects that I strive for in all my photographs as well. She also attempts to capture memories, which stimulates my creativity to be active all the time and my fingers to constantly be snapping shots. Bocks work also portrays the ideas of conscious and subconscious thinking. When viewers admire Bock’s work, they are consciously thinking state fair but subconsciously they are thinking childhood, memories, and fun. This technique inspires my creativity because I want my viewers to have conscious thoughts followed by subconscious thoughts. I want my viewers to be thinking between the lines and not just what is right in front of them.

Video Production

I chose Video Production as my major for a few different reasons. When I initially chose my major, I did not know what I was getting myself into but I knew it felt right. After my tour of the RTV building I knew this was the right major and the right school for me, granted I was traveling all the way from New York just for this amazing program! I also chose Video Production because all throughout my life I have been a creative person but I never really stepped beyond my art classrooms. I thought that using my creativity and my artistic abilities for something completely out of the box for me was a great choice!