Abelardo Morell

This is my favorite example of camera obscura. I actually have had the chance to experience using a camera obscura. it was one of the most interesting pictures i have experienced taking. The house-sized camera obscura is on a whole new level. It is absolutely incredible the way a tiny hole can reflect and refract light. It is a natural phenomenon which there are few left in this society. I especially like this example beacuse the furniture and plants inisde the home match the outside exhibit almost perfectly. Everything in this picture just looks like it should be there which is incredible. If i had the chance, i would love to do this.

contempory blackface

In tropic thunder, which was made in 2008, Robert Downey Jr. plays an actor playing blackface. Its pretty bad to say the least. He changes his voice, his attitude, and his appearance to what he thinks an african american would play. I mean he goes all out, never steps out of character for one scene. Just as racist as it was in the 20s.

Technology on Broadway

Wicked on broad way uses technology to defy gravity. This is my favorite special effect. There are no wires or anything showing, actually giving the illusion of floating. They made this possible by using a very long mechanical arm and on the end of the arm is a device that she can both stand on, and it grabs her around the waist as soon as she touches it

What do I even need to say. The iPad mocking used in blue man group are amazing. The huge screen in the back is choreographed along with this huge iPads. This is just visually amazing.

Spidey has now been given the ability to actually fly over the entire audience. The technology used in wiring is amazing. Nothing is held by hand, but programmed machines that know tension and direction of the wires and the stage.

The chandelier in the phantom of the opera has been crashing for more then 25 years. The technology behind the crash has gotten better and better throughout the years and has only become more realistic.

All I can say is how. What is used, how is it used, and where can i get one. This was just freakin beautiful. The transformation of the beast is my favorite broadway special effect, and i would love to know how to do it.

The Documentary + Madame Butterfly Movie

The documentary was very informational. I took good notes and it gave me a a general idea of the time period. I did not really enjoy the movie a whole lot though. I just couldnt find a connection in it and therefore was kind of boring for me. Though it related to the topic greatly, i just couldnt keep myself interested.

Madama Butterfly Short Animation

Madama Butterfly Short Animation

My initial reaction to this animation was, "wow this is a really graphic cartoon!" As I watched this in the Sykes computer lab, I had a feeling that everyone was looking over my shoulder thinking why in hell is this kid watching doll porn. As the video goes on, my focus is drawn into emptiness of Madama Butterfly's face.The music in the background only adds to the depth of her abandoned face. As her baby is her born and they start to play together a warm feeling of happiness overwhelms me. The warmth only seems to grow as the sailor returns to Madama Butterfly and his newly born daughter that he has yet to meet. As darkness falls unto Madama Butterfly an empty feeling is thrown into my stomach, with only the worst thoughts in mind. The sun rises and the sailor follows as he meets his little girl for the first time, but something is still not right. A new, beautiful blond woman comes with the sailor only to take Madama Butterfly's child along with them. As the umbilical cord is ripped from her stomach a punch is felt along with the yank of the cord. As the sailor, his new love, Madama Butterfly's daughter, and many adopted children leave, Madama Butterfly runs into darkness where only the music can express the feelings that are pulsing through her body. She collapses and rips her body to pieces trying to define the feeling of losing the one item that she cared about most, or maybe the usefulness of her life without her daughter in it. Without any feeling of hope left in the world, Madama Butterfly's pieces roll over the horizon and a butterfly appears out of the darkness. daylight falls again and the butterfly perches itself on top of Madama Butterfly's head, resembling a never ending, painful circle of life. A very depressing short video, and I would love to see the entire opera.

A Modern Day Use of Opera

BioShock - The Ocean On His Shoulders

Final Fantasy VI

Both are video games of the modern age. Opera is used in both to add a suspense, dramatic filled scene in the game. Opera, which in its prime, was a mixture of arts including dance, song, and design, was the form of entertainment which really brought out the emotions of the audience depending on the opera. In both of these games, the opera music adds an eerie, frightening feel which also brings out the emotions of the player. This makes the player relate more to the game, just from hearing the music and relating the sound to story.

Microbiologist Raul Cuero PhD on Sparking Creativity on Living Smart with Patricia Gras

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZugtaO85T_Y&feature=youtu.be

Anyone from all ethnic, economic, social, and geographic backgrounds has the ability to become an intellectual. You have to trust your own potential and ability to overcome local or universal prejudice of you. Being creative can overcome life's problems. Change the expectations buy doing something no one can expect you to do. Doing the unknown will change the way other people think about you and expand the expectations others have on you. Creativity comes from how you see nature.  The more time you spend outdoors and play with nature, the more your creativity will rise. Do everything with intensity, have a passion and go after it without fear of failure. Creativity comes in a step-wise process. You can not plan creativity but enjoy the process in the meantime. Become a working piece of society through your intellectual abilities and creativity.

How Can I Apply These Ideals to my Everyday Life:

My parents pressure me to go with one major that I have no interest with. I am going to have to show them my own potential and what I can do with it. They believe that I will not have job opportunities right out of college. As I go along the unknown path they do not see, I am changing my own expectations they have upon me. I need to believe in my own potential in the field I want to work in, and let know ones opinion of me deter my work. I need to work without fear of failure and complete the task with intensity.