Thoughts Regarding Irony in the media

Today in class the "Acting Group" presented. I found their presentation to be really interactive, fun, engaging, and astute. 

Not only is the media riddled with parodies and ironic news tales; but, in general, everyday life is! Here's a list I found of random, everyday actions with irony fueling them all: click the link below

Everyday Irony We All Face

Yeahhhh, isn't it ironic, don't ya think? .... ok now I have to make a video since the song is stuck in my head...with any luck, I'll take you down with me...ENJOY!

30 seconds of me

Enjoy some Everyday Words about Everyday Life :) 

http://boxstr.com/files/4248934_jgdmy/12-3%20Recording.aif

Thoughts Regarding My Final Project

In the aftermath of my final project, I find myself continuing to reflect on the validity and outcomes of such an endeavoring. I was a member of the group who attempted to make notice of the bombardisment of advertisements in our society - and the negative impact on people's lives such media has.

The signs throughout campus were a first and foremost, fun. It was fun to make them, as I enjoy creating art - especially meaningful art, fun to post - watching people's inquisitive and curious faces while we climbed, taped, and displayed out signs, and fun to look at throughout the day - knowing we were making a statement at a positive aim. 

More than just being a fun activity though, looking at media in a new light opened my eyes to - for lack of a better term - "the light".  And now I can't help but feel a sense of agitation and aggrevation when I see advertisements directed at consumerism, and other values I don't share. I want that time and mind space back which was robbed from me with a blaring announcement or advertisement posting. 

I liked how we went about conveying to the everyday people on our campus this need for awareness. The posters were discrete - only a person who had happened to be staring at the tv screen would have noticed the signage. The signs, themselves, didn't direct attention, they offered another means of mind-space diversion: but one with an important message: STOP. THINK. 

But what about, you may ask? About what the blaring "boob tube" is really saying, displaying, and actualizing you, as a consumer, to do. Instead of watching the silly add, our posters demanded the individual to THINK. Something most people nowadays avoid. Myself, included. 

My only hope is that our presentation adequately displayed this common frustration we all felt at the lack of awareness on the viewer's/bombardee's (made-up word, but a good one at that) part. As well as the harassment and injustice we are all faced with on a daily basis. 

I had a great time working on this meaningful and FUN project. I hope you all got something out of it too!

Fireworks: Art in Everyday Life

I was in Fireworks, a gallery which sells practical, everyday tools with funky artistic twists. While browsing the shelf I realized that this store objectifies art in everyday life. The owner has made a purposeful choice to sell useful everyday objects, but which also will bring joy in their attractive nature. 

It, for me, redefined my definition of everyday tools. Thus, when picking up the hammer off the shelf which is crafted to be both functional and serve as art, combines two previously disparate notions. Art is not practical. And the practical is not art. Something so simple was able to break this barrier for me, negating a theme which society preserves time and time again. I got the sensation to slow down and enjoy the art of using this device. 

Just shopping in an everyday store, picking up everyday objects. And realizing how art can be practical and the practical can be artful. I don't know if I would have appreciated these details had I not taken this course. My journey through the store, and now through life can be mirrored in our first blog, it seems. To sit for twenty minutes. To find the realness in life. And, life's little offerings of art. Only by seeking awareness, and slowing down, is one able to grasp these flickers of real life. 

 The creator of Fireworks, Michele Manasse, furthers this idea in her company's "about us statement": "The medium is not as important as its ability t0 be functional and entertaining. Thus, "celebrating art in life"