Film Art Event

The Establishing Shot for The King’s Speech was a microphone. The movie began with a dramatic close up of a microphone. This set the stage for the movie in a huge way. The King’s Speech is about a Duke, forced into Kingship, who has a terrible stuttering problem. He stresses about giving speeches in front of the country, using the microphone shown in the Establishing Shot. The Establishing Shot of this movie gave huge insight about what was to come.

There were a lot of really cool camera angles in The King’s Speech. There were upward angles, downward angles, and also sideways angles. One of my favorite camera angles was when Bertie and Elizabeth were squeezed into a tiny elevator. The camera angle portrayed how small the space was. They were forced into each other and the camera angle really accentuated that. Another camera angle I liked was the close up of Bertie and his microphone as he gave the last speech of the film. It was a powerful angle because it portrayed just how difficult it was for him to get his words out.

After the death of his father King George V and the scandalous resignation of Prince Edward VII’s, Bertie who has suffered from a devastating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth, the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue.  After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, his government and Winston Churchill, the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio-address that inspires his people and unites them in battle.  Based on the true story of King George VI, The King’s Speech follows the Royal Monarch’s quest to find his voice. A lot of scenes drew me in. Whenever Bertie was at Lionel’s office, I was drawn in. They had an incredibly awkward start but they grew to like each other. Also, the dramatic scene where Bertie breaks down under the pressure really got into my heart. He poured his heart out to his wife and it was a moving scene.

                                       The Cast of The King's Speech accepting their Oscar

Colin Firth did an excellent job in this film. He even won best actor at the Oscar’s! He was very convincing and was fantastic playing the role of Bertie. I don’t know how he was able to portray his speech impediment so well. He really delved into his role and took hold of it. He was very convincing. Also, Helena Carter was very convincing as her role of Bertie’s wife. I usually see her in very dark roles, but this was a pleasant change. She did a great job at playing a queen. I felt like I really connected with her. She took control of her role and made it her own.

The soundtrack to the film was awesome! It also won an award at the Oscar’s. The score was very time relevant. It sounded like something you would have heard in the time of King George VI. It was powerful in times where it needed to be powerful and soft in times where it needed to be soft. The music really makes a film. I was moved by many scenes in the film just because of the wonderful music. At the end when Bertie is presenting the speech, the music made me feel like I was in the small room with him and Lionel. It really moved me.

There were two genres to the film. The King’s Speech was a drama as well as a biography. It told the story of King George VI in a very dramatic way. A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. The emotional theme in this movie was his speech impediment. He had a terrible stammer and the movie develops as he develops a friendship with his speech coach.

There were many messages I derived from The King’s Speech. One that I thought was very important was the message behind Bertie and Lionel’s relationship. Bertie was very rude to Lionel at first because he was taking out his frustrations. He didn’t want to associate with him because he was from Australia. As the film went on, Bertie realized how much Lionel was helping him and they became great friends. The message there was to “not judge a book by its cover.” Also, Bertie’s speech really held him back until he got help from Lionel. This movie was a great story but it also gave the message of perseverance. Bertie could’ve given up at any time. His father died, his brother stepped down from the throne, but Bertie kept persevering. He knew he needed to be the voice of his country as they went into war, and he eventually made a non-replaceable impact.

Me outside Nickelodeon

Assignment #5- Music

1)      Jazz is a specific musical art form. It is characterized by blue notes, syncopation, swing, call and response, polyrhythms, and improvisation. It originated from an earlier music called “blues”. It’s very improvisational. It has been called the first original art form to develop in the USA. Jazz has its roots in West African culture and was brought to America as blacks immigrated to the cities. The first mainstream form of jazz came from early marching bands. The instruments from these bands carried over into jazz of today: brass, reeds, and drums. The United States wasn’t known for creating new or innovative art forms. This is why jazz is so unique. When it became popular in places like New Orleans, people were shocked because it was such a mixture of musical styles (ragtime, blues, marches, etc.).

2)      In Peter and the Wolf:

Peter is played by the strings

The duck is played by the Oboe

The wolf is played by the French horn

The bird is played by the Flute

The grandfather is played by the Bassoon

The hunters are played by the Timpani Drums

3)      Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, particularly between 1000 and 1900. Classical music is mostly performed in a solemn or quiet place. The audience is usually very quiet and respectful. This is so that everyone can hear every note played. Classical music is usually played by the instruments in an orchestra, such as the violin. Prominent composers of the Classical era include Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Johann Stamitz, Joseph Haydn, Johann Christian Bach, Antonio Salieri, Muzio Clementi, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Luigi Boccherini.

Assignment #4- Architecture

1)      This is Sims! Sims is one of the dormitories on the Women’s Quad. I live in McClintock, which is right next door and I’m constantly admiring Sims. Sims has many architectural features.

2)      Two main features I notice about Sims are the Corinthian columns and Dentil molding. You can’t really see in the picture, but Sims has Corinthian columns. The capitals of the columns are intricately sculpted with leaves and foliage. The capital also flows upward to enhance the height of the column. The Dentil molding is also very evident on the front of Sims. Dentil molding is a tooth-like cornice or molding. The Dentil molding lines the triangular top of the building. Dentil molding is very typical of neoclassical decoration.

Corinthian Column

Dentil Molding

3)      I think Sims is the “Classical or Greek Revival” style. It is very grandeur and decorative. It has elaborate Corinthian columns and shows signs of Greek-like features. The Greek Revival style is also very symmetrical. Sims is extremely symmetrical in all aspects. Just by looking at the front of the building you can see the symmetry. If you were to cut it down the middle, both halves would look the same. Sims also has a very large porch, which was another decorative element borrowed from Greek and Roman architecture.

Assignment #3- Aesthetics and Movies

1) Every day, I look into my boyfriend’s eyes. Whether it is accompanied by a warm embrace or just a smile, I love gazing into Gil’s eyes. I fall into the ocean every time I see the swarming blue shades. I’m lost in a forest when I stare at the green lines of pigment. The yellow hues weaved in and out of his eye are like laying in a sunflower field soaking up the sun. His eyes melt my heart like an ice cream cone left in the summer sun’s piercing rays. A simple glance can pull me into an unknown world full of bliss and happiness. Something as normal as making eye contact with my boyfriend sweeps me off my feet over and over again.

2) When Pavarotti was singing, I imagined many things. When the song first started, I thought he was singing about something happy. He voice sounded very upbeat and uplifting. I imagined him falling in love for the first time. As the song went on, I felt a sense of sadness. He seemed to be having internal conflict. I thought he was fighting with himself about the girl. Maybe she cheated on him and he was trying to decide what to do. I imagined Pavarotti’s “split personality” coming into play. He would be happy and joyful and then sound dark and sad. In my drawing I start out with light, happy colors. I use swirls because when I see swirls, I think of delight.  But as the song began to sound depressing, I used dark colors and thick strong lines. The light and dark colors are fighting each other on the page, just as Pavarotti was battling himself.

3) An establishing shot is usually the first shot of a new scene, designed to show the audience where the action is taking place. The viewers are able to see the scene where the next part of the movie is going to happen. The establishing shot is very important. Without it, the viewers might be very confused. Without the establishing shot, the viewers wouldn’t know what the remainder of the scene was going to be about. A lot of establishing shots are important landmarks to show where the scene is taking place. Landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty are commonly used. Without the establishing shot, it’s the viewer’s responsibility to figure out where the scene is taking place.

Assignment #2

Describe the 4 domains of creativity:

Fluency

·         When you’re fluent, you generate many ideas.

·         You’re “fluent” in the language of design.

·         Someone who’s fluent in the form of art has many ideas on what they want to create. They are able to stimulate their imagination.

Flexibility

·         If you’re flexible you can move from one idea to another very quickly.

·         You can imagine ideas in a different perspective.

·         A flexible thinker can develop and think with analogies and metaphors.

·         Drawings that are flexible shift viewpoints and can also rotate the image.

·         Flexible thinkers can also shift between right and left brain thinking.

Originality

·         When you’re original you can generate many unusual ideas.

·         In other words, “think outside the box.”

·         You cross boundaries when you’re original.

·         Art that’s original is different than most. It has a fresh spin on it that makes it seem unique.

This is an example of original art, in my opinion.

Elaboration

·         Elaboration is adding to ideas to improve them.

·         When you elaborate you invest time and effort to test for quality.

·         Elaborating on your piece of art involves aspiring for development beyond completeness.

·         Some people who elaborate too much think their work of art is never finished.

Describe the Feldman Method of Art Criticism:

Describe

·         Who is the artist?

·         What is the medium? (water color, pastel, dance, ballet, jazz etc..)

·         How big is the work of art?

·         What are the characteristics?

Analyze

·         Use the elements and principals to further describe the work of art.

·         How do colors relate?

·         Do forms create a mood?

Interpret

·         What does it mean?

·         How do the images create metaphor?

·         What kind of feelings does it give you?

·         Does it have an alternate meaning?

·         Does it have a social meaning?

Judge or Evaluate

·         Do you like it?

·         Do you dislike it?

·         Why do you like it?

·         Why don’t you like it?

Assignment #1- Biographical Statement

a.    Have you ever made art? What kind of art do you like?

·         I’m not an artistic person in any way, shape, or form. I know art takes many different forms, but honestly, I’m not particularly talented in any type. The closest I’ve come to “making art” in the past few years is making posters with the cheerleading squad at my high school and putting together a picture collage for my dorm room. I love looking at art, all kinds of art. I’m just not talented in that department. I love looking at paintings and pictures. I wish I had the gift of taking pictures. I love looking at photographs, whether it be online or in a museum. My favorites are animals and landscapes. Bob Ross, a very famous painter, (but I’m sure you know who Bob Ross is) comes on television at 12:30 every night and I stay up just to watch his 30 minute episode on how to paint a mountain. My boyfriend is a film major here at USC and watching him edit movies is such fun. I’ll never understand how to use all the technologies to put together a movie. It’s incredible!

b.    Have you ever made a drawing, painting, sculpture?

·         I’ve never really drew, painted, or sculpted for my own purposes. In elementary and middle school, I would make these three things in Art class, but never for my own enjoyment. Don’t get me wrong, I used all kinds of coloring books when I was a youngster, but I’ve never been into that sort of thing as I grew older. I painted sculptures to help out with prom decorations a couple of years ago, but I was asked to stop helping because I didn’t have the ability to paint the actual sculpture and not the ground.

c.    Have you ever been to a museum, gallery, or artist studio?

·         I’ve been to many museums, galleries, and art studios! In 8^th grade, I went on a field trip to Washington D.C., where we visited lots of these places. I really enjoyed most of the, but after being on your feet all day, it can grow tiring. I’ve also been to a few museums in Columbia. I’ve been to ED-Venture, the children’s museum, and also the State Museum right beside it. They were both very enjoyable. I loved looking at all the exhibits. I want to be a teacher so places like ED-Venture could be very helpful. I could take my students there for field trips.

d.    Have you ever been to a play, opera, art film?

·         I was actually in a play in high school. I was in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” my senior year. My boyfriend, whom I mentioned earlier, was one of the main characters, Demetrius, and I was a fairy dancer. I really enjoyed being a part of the play! It was a great way for me to step out of my box. I’ve also watched multiple ballets at home and the Columbia area. The Nutcracker is one of my favorites.

e. Do you dance?

·         I love to dance! I was a part of a dance studio up until the 5^th grade, and I’ve been cheerleading since 6^th grade. I’m more of a jazz or hip hop dancer than a ballet dancer but I like to do all genres of dance. Dance is such a great way to express yourself. Whenever I dance, I lose myself in the music. I get so caught up in the rhythm and movement that I forget where I am sometimes.

f.     Under what conditions do you learn the most?

·         I think I learn the best in quiet conditions. If music is playing, I can get very distracted. Also, one on one with the teacher is very beneficial to my learning. I’m able to focus on one person and not be distracted by other students around me. When I’m in class I try to tunnel my vision directly at the teacher and tune everyone else out. It seems to help a lot.

g.    Why are you taking this class?

·         I’m taking this class for a few reasons. First and foremost, I need this credit to graduate. For Middle Education majors, this class is directly needed to be able to graduate. I’m also taking this class because I want to become more interested in Art. I think there are lots of great ways to become involved in the Arts, and by taking this class, I can find these opportunities.

h.    Have you ever looked at at or anything really and been moved by what your eyes see?

·         I’ve looked at photographs and been really moved. There are some landscapes in the world that genuinely amaze me. When I look at a picture of a grassy plain with the sun setting in the south, giving off brilliant purples, blues, and pinks, my heart melts. I have never seen anything as beautiful. Once I stumbled upon a close up picture of an eye and it stopped me dead in my tracks. Looking at the intricate lines of color within the eyeball is amazing.

i.     What inspires you?

·         I’m inspired by many things. One particular inspiration stands out to me. When I was student teaching my senior year of high school, I helped out in a 6^th grade math classroom. Mrs. McCaskill, the teacher, was such an inspiration to me. She connected with her students and really knew how to interact with them. They were all so attentive and genuinely understood the math problems. After that incident, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. She inspired me to go out and succeed. I want to become just as successful as her. I want to have that connection with my students when I’m a teacher years down the road.

j.     Do you consider that movies are a form of art? How about video games, Comics, Television?

·         I consider movies to be a form of art, most definitely. Like I said, my boyfriend is a film major, and his movies are all art. I agree that video games, comics, and television are all forms of art as well. People possess the ability to create video games, draw comics, and draw/edit television shows. These are all forms of art. Think about the intricacies that go into making a video game. If you don’t consider these things art, you should re-evaluate your thinking!

k.    Who decides what is good art?

·         No one can decide what good art is and what bad art is. Art is of itself. What some might call trash, others might call treasure. No one should be the judge of another person’s art. Art is something that comes from within and is whatever you want it to be.

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, my standards are very high. I believe that cliché pop music is, in my opinion, bad music. Take Ke$ha for example. She’s a very popular and successful singer, but her music is of no depth. She sings about waking up and brushing her teeth with Jack Daniels. I know some would argue with me, but that’s ok. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I think music should be more about the lyrics than the catchy beat. I think a lot of undiscovered bands are better than some that are extremely popular. Some are in the business for the money and others are in it for the music. The bands/singers in it for the music are, in my opinion, the ones we should look up to.

m.  What was the best movie you saw last year?

·         The best movie I saw last year was Toy Story 3. That movie captured my heart and renewed my love for Disney movies. It had all the right amounts of humor, sadness, happiness, and adventure. Not to mention, the graphics were amazing. Toy Story 3 still doesn’t compare with the original Toy Story, but going to see the midnight premiere was well worth my time.

n.    What is an Art Film?

·         I think Art Films are films made independently rather than with a famous producing company. Most Art Films are made for the message and not the money. Most Art Films are shown at obscure film festivals. Art Films are usually based on realism. But, I do consider movies a work of art, so technically, all movies are Art Films.

o.    What music is in your ipod or mp3 player, car, albumns

·         Well, my ipod was stolen not too long ago, so I rely on my computer for music. Right now, I’ve been really into Matt and Kim, The Black Keys, MGMT, and Usher. A wide variety, I know. I try to listen to all kinds of music, but I can’t stand country music. I literally can’t listen to it. I am pretty open-minded though. My boyfriend listens to a lot of obscure bands and he’s introduced me to a lot of great music while we’ve been together.