Learning Something New

I recently had a conversation regarding the topic of real estate. Through this conversation, I learned of the current market conditions, recent regulations, opportunities, and various career paths. I have just recently looked into the real estate market as a potential career path, and I have come across a number of online articles and books. However, I was skeptical of the validity of some of these sources, so I wanted to hear from someone I trusted who currently works in real estate. Coming away from this conversation, I had a much better understanding of current trends in real estate, and I could be more confident in relying on this information. Furthermore, I had learned all this in a matter of minutes through conversation, as opposed to hours while scouring various online sources and comparing and contrasting information. Considering this experience, I feel it can be much easier to consult with someone directly and in-person to acquire information and expertise as opposed to learning by reading about a subject. During conversation, you are able to ask questions and clarify ideas as well as focus on areas of most concern to you.

Talking Points

Hampe seems to dislike large amounts of interviews within a documentary. How much of a film could be made up of interviews and still be interesting? Can interviews somehow be more interesting in themselves?

Hampe also stressed the importance of planning out the shots for the documentary beforehand. What would be important things to consider at this stage?

Contemporary Art

My experience with contemporary art has been a thought-provoking one to say the least. I have encountered contemporary art in person at museums, as well as by viewing it on the internet. Oftentimes, the question comes up “How is this art?!.” Other reactions include “I could do this!,” “That looks like something a 5 year old made” as well as “I can’t believe they’re getting paid for that.” This is often the case with unconventional art forms that appear to have taken little effort to complete. However, although perhaps not always requiring the most technical skill and mastery, contemporary art seems to be able to quite regularly elicit some sort of response from the viewer, and will often make the viewer think. Furthermore, contemporary art seems to be especially polarizing for its audience – either a viewer thinks it’s absolute garbage or it’s absolutely brilliant.

Manifesto

A Day in the Life

Wednesday morning. 11 am class. Alarm set for 9:15. Alarm goes off. I’m tired – I was up working until 5…again. Snooze. 5 minutes later. I need to go to the bank and pay the rent before class. Snooze. 5 minutes later. Snooze. 5 minutes later – ok i’m ready to get up. Turn off the alarm. Fall back asleep. 10:55 and I just wake up. I’ll never make it to class. I hate showing up late. Go back to sleep. It’s 12:15 and I just wake up. I’m going to be late for my next class and I still haven’t paid the rent. I’m going to have to hurry. Eat breakfast. What do I wear? Brush my teeth. Rushing. I’m not sure what to wear. Rushed. Fix my hair. Alright I need to pick something to wear. Does the bank close early on Wednesdays? I’m not going to make it to the bank. I’m going to have to ride my bike to class. Hurry. It’s cold out. I should’ve worn gloves. I’m riding so fast that the cold wind against my eyes makes it hard to see. Everything is blurred. I try to lock up my bike but it doesn’t have a kickstand and it keeps falling over. How do I do this again? I’m late to class. Now I’m writing. I’ll go to the bank after class – it’s open until 5.

Scratching

I draw inspiration from a variety of sources. Many are man-made. Formerly, my main mode of expression was music. It follows that I used to find a great deal of inspiration in the music I listened to. I often noticed the instrumental aspects more than the lyrical. My own inspiration for lyrics often came from conversations. My own way of scratching was through keeping scraps of paper with phrases written on them, whether they were things I heard other people say or ideas I came up with myself. I then would try to fit a variety of these ideas together. More recently, I have noticed that the most noticeable thing I take away from music is emotion that in turn inspires other thoughts. An inspiring, creative band that I listen to occasionally: Minus the Bear. Also, I am inspired by all things jazz.

I scratch for photography primarily through other photographers as well as classic art. One specific source of inspiration is Richard Avedon, who was a prominent force in fashion photography. He helped shape what fashion photography is today. Although I do not particularly wish to emulate his style, I find great inspiration in the simplicity of his photos coupled with the truth of emotions he was able to capture.

Shakespeare’s works have provided me inspiration for several of my own writing pieces. It was often through scratching, specifically certain terms or phrases, that ended up shaping my finished work.

Architecture – I scratch with modern as well as classic architecture. From an old cathedral or the Colosseum to a Manhattan loft apartment, I find inspiration in the ornate, in the understated, in lines, shapes, and the use of space.

Psycho-cybernetics – a repetitive book backed up by little research, it nevertheless got me thinking about the power of imagination and the power we have to shape our own lives

Role model: Kyle Cease – a great comedian as well as an inspiring person with a great deal of control over his own life

Role model: Warren Buffett – one of the wealthiest men in the world, yet still humble and still human

Salvador Dalí

Dead Poet’s Society – One of my favorite quotes from the movie: {To quote from Whitman, “O me! O life!… of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless… of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?” Answer: That you are here – that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?}

I think part of what makes this movie successful is its addressing of heavy issues that many of us struggle with such as finding our own purpose, figuring out how to cut through all the clutter and create our own beliefs, and how one looks at the world.

My interest is primarily in the narrative and dialogue from the movie, although something I think that is worth noting is the occurrence of scenes that in fact seem drawn out and exaggerated, yet within the context of the movie seem fitting and still work.

New Apartment

When moving in, I would first bring in the bed and couch. These are the largest and most cumbersome to move. I would then bring in the bookshelf and desk since I will be able to store things in or on top of them right away. Next would come the TV and entertainment center, followed by the table and remaining chairs. Last but not least, I would bring in the plant.

Arrangement: I would arrange the couch and two chairs so that they are all somewhat facing each other to encourage conversation, in addition to making sure that they all have a good view of the TV. Ideally, the table would be in between the kitchen and living room area as a good transitional piece. The plant would most likely be in the kitchen or living room, and the desk and bookcase would be opposite my bed in the bedroom.

Man with the Movie Camera

the complexity of modern life

the parallels between nature and man-made creations

the placement of the videographer within the shots/awareness of film

repetition of movement

pacing and mimicking machines 

blades

machinery

lens and eye

work/leisure 

rich/poor

man/machine

 

 

 

Manifesto

You create your own reality

You are a collection of your habits

Laugh every day

Rather than getting caught up in following the trivialities of other people’s lives, create your own life worth living

Look around you; appreciate everything

Take more chances

Produce more, consume less

Seek and you shall find

Create your own meaning

Nothing matters

Noun/Verb/Adjective Reflection

The Noun/Verb/Adjective project involved a mix of rituals and methods to reach the final products. It began as an orderly process with taking time to brainstorm ideas as the first step. With the format of the project in mind, I began to first compile a list of general themes. This was followed by distilling these general ideas into something more specific and narrative in form. Many ideas were thrown out, and some of the more promising ones were revisited and revised later on. Furthermore, after getting halfway through filming one of my ideas, I decided that I would not pursue it any further and instead transformed the project into the abstract in&out piece, which I turned out liking even better.