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This week I am asking you to prepare a single image for the dome. The image should be constructed in the round and exported from photoshop as a 32bit Targa file. This will be somewhat large so bring it to class this week on your laptop or flash drive. I will collect them onto my flash drive. There is a photshop template you can use for this at this link:
http://webspace.ringling.edu/~lfjones/fd_templates/fd_templates.html
There are further links and information on the Cosmix Event blog at http://ringlingcosmix.blogspot.com
Remember you are trying to create an image that is as immersive as possible--an image to be in, not to look at.
This week we will catch up on all the performances from class members we haven't yet seen. We will also have some in-class writing excercise. Remember to join us for Tai Chi at 11:45 in the fitness center, bring your student ID.
This week we are looking at the difference between writing through characters and writing through persona. The assignment is to create a text that is presented through one of these, either a character or a persona. Several people have been somewhat confused by this. No wonder. It is not always an easy distinction to understand.
Persona is a projection of the self in which there is an identification between the author/presenter/performer and the image presented athough there may be a change in name. Charachter is when the author/presenter/performer changes shape, inhabits or shifts into another personality which is worn like a mask. These two approaches to creating the identity of a fictional speaker are interrelated. If you are uncertain about what to do you can wait until after class this week to make a work. The class is large enough that I am having trouble getting to everyone, each week anyway, so I would rather you take your time to make a more interesting work. This week in class we will write through an excercise in character, especially archetypal character and persona. Class will once again begin meeting in the fitness center, bring your ID or student number. Class begins at 12:30 there. Before class there will be Tai Chi from 11:45 to 12:20 which is highly recommended.
Remember to create your own blog on which to post your writing and assignments. Send me the url of your blog so I can link it to the class blog.
Write something and present it through something that you can do. Please take any one skill or ability that you have on the list you compiled in class of things that you can do. Use that skill to perform/present an original text next week. Whatever you do should be short 1-3 minutes and capable of being presented to the entire class. May be a work in media, live performance, projected image(s) etc., etc....
If you need clarification, email me.
Our next class meeting will begin in the fitness center in the fitness room. This is a nice wooden-floor room with mirrors. I would like to start next week's class there in order to work through some approaches to combining writing and movement with an emphasis on how to recognize and exploit your own, existing movement vocabulary. We will move from the fitness room back to our regular room, Goldstein 6 at the mid-point break. Please wear comfortable clothes. No previous movement experience is required or necessary to participate. All movement will be acessible and low impact. As a general warm-up I am highly recommending that you attend the noon tai-chi class offered in the fitness center starting at 11:45. The tai chi class will end at 12:20. My class will start in the fitness room at 12:30. Please arrive a little early if you have not previously signed a waiver form, because you have to sign one to be in the fitness center.
If you need to freak out about any of this, email me.
In respect to Ukulele performance let me suggest to you the following videos of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain which feature virtuoso musicianship, high levels of performance values, well-developed performance personas and charming self-reference and self-irony (virtually inescapable for a ukulelist. The selections below include a couple of songs if you want a quick sample. If you want the full effect try viewing the extended set of "Anarchy in the Ukulele." This ensemble invites you to transcend your expectations about music, instruments and genre. If you let yourself just listen, view and enjoy the set, you can get a sense of the way they take traditional music hall ukulele stage business, traditional ukulele music as a base expectation and build upon it in multiple directions, expanding into unexpected reaches of repertory. They manage some very complex levels of emotion and audience involvement showing really practiced and at the same time spontaneous performance qualities.
Go here for a cover of "Smells like Teen Spirit."
Go here for a cover of Isaac Hayes's "Shaft."
Go here for their music video cover of Kate Bush's very interesting literary song, "Wuthering Heights."
Go here for their cover of one of the greatest Northern Irish punk songs ever, "Teenage Kicks," the favorite song of legendary English D.J., John Peel.
Go here for a surprising lyrical cover of "Teenage Dirtbag" by Wheetus. One element very evident in this clip is the incredible performance energy generated by 6 or 8 performers working together, orchestral energy. This can be harnessed even when each individual part is not necessarily difficult or complicated although this ensemble likes to integrate in complex fashion.
Go here for a solid cover of Talking Heads "Pscyho Killer."
Go here for a great cover of Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love."
Go here for a full set of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain on German Television entitled Anarchy in the Ukulele.
For further exploration try these links to some of UOGB's Hester Goodman's performance pieces. Go here for her Mary Poppins Experience. The Film Noir Show. Go here and she covers a hip-hop song. Here is a link to her My Space page to listen to a few of her original songs. Try the well-written "Love in a Cafe." "Sleep Tight" also is a very effective song that develops well from verse to verse.
Surfing out further consider Julia Nunes, YouTube ukulele phenomena. Here is her homemade music video. Here she is in concert this month in L.A.
