The power of optimism. The power of connection through the internet. Before all these things like Second Life and Maple story youtube dominated people's connections. People would speak through video responses. And once and a while a great video united people. It didn't have anything to do with Britney Spears or a cat farting, it was a purely joyous video that got millions of views. I am speaking of the Free Hugs Campaign video.
This post is in accordance with the post "One World."
I feel the reason these two videos became so incredibly successful is because there is a disconnectedness in the lifestyle we are growing accustomed to. For many of us, the only way we can communicate with our closest friends is through text messages, voice on a cellphone, or instant messaging. These videos find a way for us to come together. To create and collaborate. This video is nothing but optimism at its best, and I think it is a great way to speak in ways 'One World' can not.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
My One World Contribution
This is something I did a long time ago but still think is very cool. Something anyone can do whenever and be united with thousands of people.
One World is something that was started on youtube. MadV, one of the most viewed members decided to use his popularity to start a productive movement. He decided to send out an open invitation to anyone who wished to respond. The message was, anything you wanted. The point was to unite us all, and come together. This is not a big deal, it is particularly too sentimental for me. But what happened, was a huge mass of responses, people all over the world voicing their message. Hundreds of thousands of people watched and it became the most talked about and responded to video on youtube. I made one as well.
There is another video that i am going to post, which i feel goes hand in hand with MadV's One World movement. Please check it out.
One World is something that was started on youtube. MadV, one of the most viewed members decided to use his popularity to start a productive movement. He decided to send out an open invitation to anyone who wished to respond. The message was, anything you wanted. The point was to unite us all, and come together. This is not a big deal, it is particularly too sentimental for me. But what happened, was a huge mass of responses, people all over the world voicing their message. Hundreds of thousands of people watched and it became the most talked about and responded to video on youtube. I made one as well.
There is another video that i am going to post, which i feel goes hand in hand with MadV's One World movement. Please check it out.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Blogs opening new doors
I never knew blogs could be catalysts. But this story is a testament to that being true.
I want to praise blogging for a moment. And i am going to do that in a round about manner. A few nights ago I was searching for an image to save as my desktop background. As a side note (to this tangent) I only select the best backgrounds. My selection process includes scouring google images for an action shot from a favorite film.
So last night as I looked through Scarlett Johansson images I found a picture that peaked my interest and I clicked on it. The link brought me to a page called Cinephilia. The text began: "Truth be told: I do not get Brian De Palma. Which I think is very different from not liking Brian De Palma. He is a cinephile of the highest to degree, to be sure. But there is something absolutely missing from his films." at that I was in love.
I had mistakenly found myself onto someone's blogger page, and it was quite delightful. As I continued to read I became more and more pleased. This was a true lover of cinema, and even further a well educated woman who casted a very critical eye. She was very hard on the director's and their work, but it was fair and just. It was fair to say I liked her from the start.
It seems this person, has commented on some 100 films, all recent. I started by reading what movies I had already seen. To build her credibility. To see if I agreed. For the most part, I agreed, her vocabulary and mannerisms extremely sophisticated. It was not too hard to follow but she definitely possessed an insight I desire.
I am praising blogs because they have brought me to a place where I can learn more about technical terms and read an urbane critique of films I love. Without blogging, I could never have seen a this part of the world, and definitely not communicate. This is the link.
I want to praise blogging for a moment. And i am going to do that in a round about manner. A few nights ago I was searching for an image to save as my desktop background. As a side note (to this tangent) I only select the best backgrounds. My selection process includes scouring google images for an action shot from a favorite film.
So last night as I looked through Scarlett Johansson images I found a picture that peaked my interest and I clicked on it. The link brought me to a page called Cinephilia. The text began: "Truth be told: I do not get Brian De Palma. Which I think is very different from not liking Brian De Palma. He is a cinephile of the highest to degree, to be sure. But there is something absolutely missing from his films." at that I was in love.
I had mistakenly found myself onto someone's blogger page, and it was quite delightful. As I continued to read I became more and more pleased. This was a true lover of cinema, and even further a well educated woman who casted a very critical eye. She was very hard on the director's and their work, but it was fair and just. It was fair to say I liked her from the start.
It seems this person, has commented on some 100 films, all recent. I started by reading what movies I had already seen. To build her credibility. To see if I agreed. For the most part, I agreed, her vocabulary and mannerisms extremely sophisticated. It was not too hard to follow but she definitely possessed an insight I desire.
I am praising blogs because they have brought me to a place where I can learn more about technical terms and read an urbane critique of films I love. Without blogging, I could never have seen a this part of the world, and definitely not communicate. This is the link.
Applying a Critical Lens (dreaming of the days when I have become a teacher)
Last night, searching through youtube I came across something very interesting. My favorite band (and Jason Webley, very interesting man who opened for them...plays the accordion, and i will add, he plays it rather stylishly) covered "Living on a Prayer" by Jon Bon Jovi. I thought this was an interesting selection because The Dresden Dolls (my favorite band) don't strike me as Bon Jovi fans. So, the video began and several things made me want to turn it off: at first there was no visual image, then they just started to play and the quality was bad, and the video quality was not clear ...But then it happened.
Something that I think is exceptionally cool. They stopped playing. And the three of them proceeded to analyze the lyrics of the song. What was happening (in my eyes) was a visual critical paper. They presented their argument, their thesis, and then they provided examples to support their thesis. I thought this was extraordinary. They looked at this song critically and reflected upon it. I love artist's social commentaries on other performer's work. So here is the video, watch it, it is brilliant.
Similarly, in the classroom, (when I eventually become a teacher) I would show my students this clip and then tell them to do the same thing. I would assign them to look critically at a song, analyze and interpret it, and give a visual response. I think that is a very cool assignment, I know as a student I would love to do it.
Something that I think is exceptionally cool. They stopped playing. And the three of them proceeded to analyze the lyrics of the song. What was happening (in my eyes) was a visual critical paper. They presented their argument, their thesis, and then they provided examples to support their thesis. I thought this was extraordinary. They looked at this song critically and reflected upon it. I love artist's social commentaries on other performer's work. So here is the video, watch it, it is brilliant.
Similarly, in the classroom, (when I eventually become a teacher) I would show my students this clip and then tell them to do the same thing. I would assign them to look critically at a song, analyze and interpret it, and give a visual response. I think that is a very cool assignment, I know as a student I would love to do it.
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