1. Practice
2. Finish website
3. Coordinate costumes
4. Write written report
Sam, Cristina, Nick and Lauren- Practice
Cristina- finish graphics
Sam- find corny music
Lauren- add more to written report
Nick- look for corny music and figure out whether to switch slides or have them side by side
Proposal:
Lauren: Hi and thank you for joining us in celebrating the launch of Onondaga Lake’s new fun filled attraction, Lights on the Lake.
Sam: This family orientated project highlights the history of one of Onondaga county’s most famous landmarks.
Cristina: By combining history and beauty, the 2 mile long sparkling display attracts audiences of all ages.
Nick: Lights on the lake is all year round. Viewers are able to take night time drives through the festive atmosphere or relaxing strolls along the shoreline. The scenic walk is a great way shed those extra holiday pounds.
Lauren: As our fabulous website points out, it only costs $8 per car or $6 on Monday and Tuesday with a Wegmen’s shopping card. This show cannot be missed. You can even have your companies name be part of the unique experience.
Sam: That’s right, Lauren. Companies such as Allied Signal and Solvay Process Company have jumped on board to help share Onondaga Lake’s history with all of Syracuse. There is so much fun to had that you must experience it for yourselves.
Cristina: The Towering light displays, animals, amazing animations, flying fish, beautiful beach displays and breath taking architecture can only be enjoyed by those willing to fully immerse themselves in the lake’s culture.
Nick: If you visit our website, www.lightsonthelake.org, you are able to view pieces of the multi faceted, stunning production. Here (point to fish) we have two deceased fish that have entirely absorbed all that Onondaga Lake has to offer.
Lauren: Look how gorgeous they appear. Almost breath-taking. The beautiful beaches are represented by the 12 foot “no swimming” and “no fishing” signs that flash in different colors as you pass. When you can do everything on a play station who actually goes out and swims nowadays?
Sam: Very True. And speaking of fun toys like play station, Lights on the lake gift certificates make great presents for the holidays and you don’t want to miss the virtual tours that are now available to view on the website.
Cristina: We hope that you all come out to experience the sheer brilliance of all that Onondaga Lake has to offer. During the holidays Santa is known to stop by and give out gifts to the young children. These gifts include packets with safety warnings and precautions for the kiddies to take when playing near the lake. Safety is always our number one concern.
Nick: Thank you all for coming out and listening to our presentation. We hope that you attend the show. It is mounds of fun and should not be missed!
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Mock Lights on the Lake Art Project
1. The project is a mock version of lights on the lake. It is meant to make a statement about the pollution in the lake.
2. The project will be a mock website that we create, going off of the original lights on the lake website.
3. We have chosen a site a few miles down from the original lights on the lake, so that our lights on the lake could happen at the same time.
4. The lake has been polluted since around 1884. Despite recent cleanup efforts, the lake still remains one of the most polluted lakes in the world. Lights on the lake has been a long kept Syracuse tradition, attracting many different people.
5. This site is appropriate because it allows us to make a statement. People love lights on the lake and although an actual mock lights on the lake would cause controversy, it would also raise awareness and hopefully dialogue about the pollution plaguing Onondaga Lake.
6. I’d say this project is an intervention because it will cause controversy. We are really making a statement by transforming a holiday ritual, enjoyed by children and adults alike, into our own personal declaration about the pollution in the lake.
7. No we will not. If we were to actually do the lights on the lake we may have to. We, then also risk being denied permission due to our projects inappropriate nature.
8. It will definitely disrupt the surroundings.
9. The Yes Men have been our largest influence. Just as they took the WTO website and transformed it into their own version, we are doing the same with lights on the lake.
10. Our goal is to educate people about the pollution problem in Onondaga Lake. We also hope to shock people into conversation.
11. We will measure the success of our project by the amount of people who attend and the amount of shock and conversation that our project ensues.
12. The people of Syracuse are our target audience. Many people do care about the pollution problem, while others really could care less. We expect to shock our audience.
13. We want them to come to our lights on the lake, believing that they are just there to see a Christmas light show. We hope they drive or walk through the entire two miles and although many people will be offended, we hope that they understand our goal. They must see the whole thing in order to fully grasp our concept.
2. The project will be a mock website that we create, going off of the original lights on the lake website.
3. We have chosen a site a few miles down from the original lights on the lake, so that our lights on the lake could happen at the same time.
4. The lake has been polluted since around 1884. Despite recent cleanup efforts, the lake still remains one of the most polluted lakes in the world. Lights on the lake has been a long kept Syracuse tradition, attracting many different people.
5. This site is appropriate because it allows us to make a statement. People love lights on the lake and although an actual mock lights on the lake would cause controversy, it would also raise awareness and hopefully dialogue about the pollution plaguing Onondaga Lake.
6. I’d say this project is an intervention because it will cause controversy. We are really making a statement by transforming a holiday ritual, enjoyed by children and adults alike, into our own personal declaration about the pollution in the lake.
7. No we will not. If we were to actually do the lights on the lake we may have to. We, then also risk being denied permission due to our projects inappropriate nature.
8. It will definitely disrupt the surroundings.
9. The Yes Men have been our largest influence. Just as they took the WTO website and transformed it into their own version, we are doing the same with lights on the lake.
10. Our goal is to educate people about the pollution problem in Onondaga Lake. We also hope to shock people into conversation.
11. We will measure the success of our project by the amount of people who attend and the amount of shock and conversation that our project ensues.
12. The people of Syracuse are our target audience. Many people do care about the pollution problem, while others really could care less. We expect to shock our audience.
13. We want them to come to our lights on the lake, believing that they are just there to see a Christmas light show. We hope they drive or walk through the entire two miles and although many people will be offended, we hope that they understand our goal. They must see the whole thing in order to fully grasp our concept.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Valery's Ankle Essay
Lauren Glass
November 5, 2007
The Art of Valery’s Ankle
Hockey is often seen as a symbol of Canadian culture. The sport has transformed into one of Canada’s most popular past times. Although hockey requires much athletic skill, the escalating violence in the sport tends to overshadow the importance of talent and the game itself. Canada’s love of hockey overlooks and often sanctions the increasing brutality that is associated with the sport. Using this as a basis for an experimental essay film, Brett Kashmere created Valery’s Ankle. The thirty-one minute documentation of Bobby Clarke's deliberate attack on Valery Kharlamov's ankle during the 1972 Summit Series and subsequent violent incidents combines stills, previously recorded clips, music and a background narrative, by Kashmere himself, to create a basis for discussion. Because his composition was not made for popular release, Kashmere employed copyrighted works in order to generate his piece of art. Brett Kashmere questions many commonly accepted customs and socially acceptable ideals through his illustration of the danger of hockey violence, both to the players and to the art of hockey itself. Valery’s Ankle has artistically crossed, political and social boundaries enamoring both those who admirer and those who oppose the sport.
Although aggressive behavior has always been part of the sport, hockey violence has escalated to a hazardous level. This became extremely evident during the 1972 Summit Series when, in an act of desperation, Bobby Clarke, following orders from assistant coach John Ferguson, intentionally broke Valery Kharlamov's ankle (Houston). Without their star player, the Soviet Union was unable to beat Canada in the eighth and final game of the series. The 1972 Summit Series “was to be the only time in sporting history that a team - an entire nation, so boldly laid their hearts on the line; so positive that they were going to win without a doubt. To sum it up in just three words, it was, in fact, The Cold War” (Yee). Canadian victory was widely celebrated by both Canadians and Americans as it was also seen as a victory for “capitalism against communism” (Gross). In 1972, children stayed home from school and adults called into work sick in order to be able to watch the games (Yee). This win continues to be celebrated as it is often dubbed as one of Canada’s proudest moments. Spectatorship of ESPN Classic Canada increased by fourteen times when the channel replayed the series in 2002 (Houston). Even now, Clarke’s slash pails in comparison to Canada’s victory. Similar to the vast reactions to the film, there are many different interpretations of hockey violence and its affect on society in general. While many people believe it is a crucial aspect of the sport, numerous others agree that excessive violence in hockey is unnecessary, “Some people think violence occurs because hockey is an intense emotional game, but now is the time when the inaccuracy of such explanations is most clear” (Moore). Hockey is an intense sport and this intensity is frequently seen as an excuse for malice. Just as malevolent hits are illegal outside of the game of hockey, they must be stopped on the ice. The “goon tactics” (Moore) exploited during hockey matches subtracts from the sheer dexterity that is necessary to play the complicated sport and the utter brilliance of the sport itself.
Viewers of Valery’s Ankle respond differently to the film and to its questions. Some of the audience members cringe at the site of these horrendous attacks, while others marvel at the brutal nature of the sport. To Kashmere, celebration of the 1972 victory and succeeding celebrations of hockey violence should raise questions about the morality behind this violence and what it says about society in general:
Hopefully the film also provides an occasion for others to also ask questions about masculinity and success, corporate culture, organized sports, the politics of identity and nationality, nation-building etc. If anything, I think the film says: Wait a minute, something is wrong, we need to look at this problem critically and creatively (Kashmere).
Just as the 1972 Summit Series has been seen as a metaphor for the Cold War, Kashmere uses hockey as a metaphor for common social acceptances in Valery’s Ankle. Women’s hockey is not as physical as men’s hockey. It is also not nearly as popular and there are no professional women’s hockey leagues. Men have been stereotyped as being the more intimidating of the two sexes and often are taught to express their masculinity through bullying behavior. Corporate culture awards this ruthless “do anything to win” attitude and rarely calls it into question. Little boys admire their hockey heroes and often aspire to mature and be just like them. Being rewarded with large sums of money and fame only ensues that more young children will desire the notorious reputation, good and bad, associated with becoming a bully like figure.
Both conventional and unconventional forms of art are frequently used as tools for expressing oneself and getting the community involved. Through artwork, artists are able to make statements, as well as ask questions. Different interpretations of a work of art allow the viewer to embark on a journey of conversation and thought. Valery’s Ankle is Brett Kashmere’s interpretation of what hockey violence articulates about present society. By imposing interesting questions onto his audience, Kashmere creates a community of conversation, "Art in the public interest is activist and communitarian in spirit; its modes of expression encompass a variety of traditional media, including painting and sculpture, as well as untraditional media" (Kwon, 105). As Kwon states in One Place After Another, art can take many forms. Kashmere’s brilliant use of media draws the viewer into the film. Valery’s Ankle is composed of montages of stills and previously recorded excerpts from larger pieces about hockey or from actual hockey games. Many of these montages contain clips of vicious hockey fights and malicious player on player assaults. The footage is real and is put together in order to expose the viewer to the violent aspect of the sport:
While a painting, even one that meets photographic standards of resemblance, is never more than a stating of interpretation, a photograph is never less than the registering of emanation (light waves reflected by objects)—a material vestige of its subject in a way that no painting can be (Sontag, 350).
Although Kashmere raises questions through his film layout and narrative, all of the images and video are real life footage. Kashmere does not modify the images in order to force his own interpretation onto the audience. A painting, as Sontag explains, is always subjective, but a photograph is a chronicle of the past. Kashmere expresses his own views towards hockey violence through his creation of the film. The audience is able to ponder his inquiries and produce their own conclusions about themes brought into question by his portrayal. To Sontag, photographs are true historical references. Because Kashmere was not present at many of the events documented in Valery’s Ankle, photography and previously recorded media played an imperative role in the construction of his film.
Underground artwork is often used to tell a story that the artist is unable to clearly tell in the public eye. Valery’s Ankle is Brett Kashmere’s expression of art. Although he hopes for a vast audience, he also understands and appreciates the fact that because of the copyrighted material used throughout the film that it could never be a wide released movie, “The best film essays challenge traditional modes of representation and narration, so they can be difficult for mainstream audiences” (Kashmere). If Valery’s Ankle were to be more commonly released, its individuality would be compromised. Kashmere would not have been able to use the copyrighted work without being granted permission. His own identity would be called into question, rather than society’s principles. Valery’s Ankle would fall victim to our culture’s fear of speaking the unspoken and defying social customs. The film’s unconventional nature has birthed a large underground following. Instead of succumbing to Hollywood’s glamour and egotistical nature, Kashmere has remained humble. He makes countless appearances, sells Valery’s Ankle for little more than production cost and is still astonished by the success of his film and all that it has accomplished (Kashmere).
Valery’s Ankle has succeeded in becoming a piece of dialogic art. Brett Kashmere utilized his talent to create a film that forces thought and conversation. This film has sparked countless conversations about hockey, violence, and society in general. By making its way to Universities, younger generations are beginning to contemplate the importance of Kashmere’s questions. If silenced, this violence and other negative aspects of society will intensify. Creating thought and dialogue is the first step towards change. In forcing people to become active in the thinking process, Brett Kashmere’s Valery’s Ankle transgresses aspects of popular film making social questioning and communal change an art form.
Works Consulted:
Kashmere, Brett. Email Interview. 3 November 2007.
Houston, William. “Hockey series brings dramatic increases for ESPN Canada”. The Globe and Mail. 20 September 2002. 28 October 2007..
Gross, George. “The 1972 Summit Series hardly is mentioned in Toronto these days, but in Russia, they continue to salute the historic event.” The Toronto Sun. 26 August 2007. 28 October 2007.
Moore, Mark. “Playoff violence bad tactic; This is the part of the season when hockey should be at its best, not a time for cheap hits, writes Mark Moore.” The Toronto Star. 23 April 2007. 29 October 2007
Yee, Krystal. “Discovering the 1972 Summit Series.” 1972 Series.com A September to remember. 2007. 3 November 2007.
Miwon, Kwon. "From Site to Community in New Genre public Art: the Case of ‘Culture in Action’" One Place After Another. 2004. MIT Press. 105.
Sontag, Susan. "The Image-World". 1977. 352.
November 5, 2007
The Art of Valery’s Ankle
Hockey is often seen as a symbol of Canadian culture. The sport has transformed into one of Canada’s most popular past times. Although hockey requires much athletic skill, the escalating violence in the sport tends to overshadow the importance of talent and the game itself. Canada’s love of hockey overlooks and often sanctions the increasing brutality that is associated with the sport. Using this as a basis for an experimental essay film, Brett Kashmere created Valery’s Ankle. The thirty-one minute documentation of Bobby Clarke's deliberate attack on Valery Kharlamov's ankle during the 1972 Summit Series and subsequent violent incidents combines stills, previously recorded clips, music and a background narrative, by Kashmere himself, to create a basis for discussion. Because his composition was not made for popular release, Kashmere employed copyrighted works in order to generate his piece of art. Brett Kashmere questions many commonly accepted customs and socially acceptable ideals through his illustration of the danger of hockey violence, both to the players and to the art of hockey itself. Valery’s Ankle has artistically crossed, political and social boundaries enamoring both those who admirer and those who oppose the sport.
Although aggressive behavior has always been part of the sport, hockey violence has escalated to a hazardous level. This became extremely evident during the 1972 Summit Series when, in an act of desperation, Bobby Clarke, following orders from assistant coach John Ferguson, intentionally broke Valery Kharlamov's ankle (Houston). Without their star player, the Soviet Union was unable to beat Canada in the eighth and final game of the series. The 1972 Summit Series “was to be the only time in sporting history that a team - an entire nation, so boldly laid their hearts on the line; so positive that they were going to win without a doubt. To sum it up in just three words, it was, in fact, The Cold War” (Yee). Canadian victory was widely celebrated by both Canadians and Americans as it was also seen as a victory for “capitalism against communism” (Gross). In 1972, children stayed home from school and adults called into work sick in order to be able to watch the games (Yee). This win continues to be celebrated as it is often dubbed as one of Canada’s proudest moments. Spectatorship of ESPN Classic Canada increased by fourteen times when the channel replayed the series in 2002 (Houston). Even now, Clarke’s slash pails in comparison to Canada’s victory. Similar to the vast reactions to the film, there are many different interpretations of hockey violence and its affect on society in general. While many people believe it is a crucial aspect of the sport, numerous others agree that excessive violence in hockey is unnecessary, “Some people think violence occurs because hockey is an intense emotional game, but now is the time when the inaccuracy of such explanations is most clear” (Moore). Hockey is an intense sport and this intensity is frequently seen as an excuse for malice. Just as malevolent hits are illegal outside of the game of hockey, they must be stopped on the ice. The “goon tactics” (Moore) exploited during hockey matches subtracts from the sheer dexterity that is necessary to play the complicated sport and the utter brilliance of the sport itself.
Viewers of Valery’s Ankle respond differently to the film and to its questions. Some of the audience members cringe at the site of these horrendous attacks, while others marvel at the brutal nature of the sport. To Kashmere, celebration of the 1972 victory and succeeding celebrations of hockey violence should raise questions about the morality behind this violence and what it says about society in general:
Hopefully the film also provides an occasion for others to also ask questions about masculinity and success, corporate culture, organized sports, the politics of identity and nationality, nation-building etc. If anything, I think the film says: Wait a minute, something is wrong, we need to look at this problem critically and creatively (Kashmere).
Just as the 1972 Summit Series has been seen as a metaphor for the Cold War, Kashmere uses hockey as a metaphor for common social acceptances in Valery’s Ankle. Women’s hockey is not as physical as men’s hockey. It is also not nearly as popular and there are no professional women’s hockey leagues. Men have been stereotyped as being the more intimidating of the two sexes and often are taught to express their masculinity through bullying behavior. Corporate culture awards this ruthless “do anything to win” attitude and rarely calls it into question. Little boys admire their hockey heroes and often aspire to mature and be just like them. Being rewarded with large sums of money and fame only ensues that more young children will desire the notorious reputation, good and bad, associated with becoming a bully like figure.
Both conventional and unconventional forms of art are frequently used as tools for expressing oneself and getting the community involved. Through artwork, artists are able to make statements, as well as ask questions. Different interpretations of a work of art allow the viewer to embark on a journey of conversation and thought. Valery’s Ankle is Brett Kashmere’s interpretation of what hockey violence articulates about present society. By imposing interesting questions onto his audience, Kashmere creates a community of conversation, "Art in the public interest is activist and communitarian in spirit; its modes of expression encompass a variety of traditional media, including painting and sculpture, as well as untraditional media" (Kwon, 105). As Kwon states in One Place After Another, art can take many forms. Kashmere’s brilliant use of media draws the viewer into the film. Valery’s Ankle is composed of montages of stills and previously recorded excerpts from larger pieces about hockey or from actual hockey games. Many of these montages contain clips of vicious hockey fights and malicious player on player assaults. The footage is real and is put together in order to expose the viewer to the violent aspect of the sport:
While a painting, even one that meets photographic standards of resemblance, is never more than a stating of interpretation, a photograph is never less than the registering of emanation (light waves reflected by objects)—a material vestige of its subject in a way that no painting can be (Sontag, 350).
Although Kashmere raises questions through his film layout and narrative, all of the images and video are real life footage. Kashmere does not modify the images in order to force his own interpretation onto the audience. A painting, as Sontag explains, is always subjective, but a photograph is a chronicle of the past. Kashmere expresses his own views towards hockey violence through his creation of the film. The audience is able to ponder his inquiries and produce their own conclusions about themes brought into question by his portrayal. To Sontag, photographs are true historical references. Because Kashmere was not present at many of the events documented in Valery’s Ankle, photography and previously recorded media played an imperative role in the construction of his film.
Underground artwork is often used to tell a story that the artist is unable to clearly tell in the public eye. Valery’s Ankle is Brett Kashmere’s expression of art. Although he hopes for a vast audience, he also understands and appreciates the fact that because of the copyrighted material used throughout the film that it could never be a wide released movie, “The best film essays challenge traditional modes of representation and narration, so they can be difficult for mainstream audiences” (Kashmere). If Valery’s Ankle were to be more commonly released, its individuality would be compromised. Kashmere would not have been able to use the copyrighted work without being granted permission. His own identity would be called into question, rather than society’s principles. Valery’s Ankle would fall victim to our culture’s fear of speaking the unspoken and defying social customs. The film’s unconventional nature has birthed a large underground following. Instead of succumbing to Hollywood’s glamour and egotistical nature, Kashmere has remained humble. He makes countless appearances, sells Valery’s Ankle for little more than production cost and is still astonished by the success of his film and all that it has accomplished (Kashmere).
Valery’s Ankle has succeeded in becoming a piece of dialogic art. Brett Kashmere utilized his talent to create a film that forces thought and conversation. This film has sparked countless conversations about hockey, violence, and society in general. By making its way to Universities, younger generations are beginning to contemplate the importance of Kashmere’s questions. If silenced, this violence and other negative aspects of society will intensify. Creating thought and dialogue is the first step towards change. In forcing people to become active in the thinking process, Brett Kashmere’s Valery’s Ankle transgresses aspects of popular film making social questioning and communal change an art form.
Works Consulted:
Kashmere, Brett. Email Interview. 3 November 2007.
Houston, William. “Hockey series brings dramatic increases for ESPN Canada”. The Globe and Mail. 20 September 2002. 28 October 2007.
Gross, George. “The 1972 Summit Series hardly is mentioned in Toronto these days, but in Russia, they continue to salute the historic event.” The Toronto Sun. 26 August 2007. 28 October 2007
Moore, Mark. “Playoff violence bad tactic; This is the part of the season when hockey should be at its best, not a time for cheap hits, writes Mark Moore.” The Toronto Star. 23 April 2007. 29 October 2007
Yee, Krystal. “Discovering the 1972 Summit Series.” 1972 Series.com A September to remember. 2007. 3 November 2007
Miwon, Kwon. "From Site to Community in New Genre public Art: the Case of ‘Culture in Action’" One Place After Another. 2004. MIT Press. 105.
Sontag, Susan. "The Image-World". 1977. 352.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Valery's Ankle Essay
Thesis: Through his film essay, Valery’s Ankle, Bret Kashmere illustrates the danger of hockey violence, both to the players and to the art of hockey itself.
Thesis: Bret Kashmere’ underground film essay, Valery’s Ankle, has helped the underground film industry transform into a trendy, political art genre.
1. Art is often used as a tool for expressing oneself and getting the community involved.
"Art in the public interest is activist and communitarian in spirit; its modes of expression encompass a variety of traditional media, including painting and sculpture, as well as untraditional media" (Kwon, 105).
2. Film has evolved into a popular art form.
(quote from critical art ensemble)
use quote from: New American filmmakers : selections from the Whitney Museum of American Art Film Program
Quote from Sontag:
“Such images are indeed able to usurp reality because first of all a photograph is not only an image (as a painting is an image), an interpretation of the real; it is also a trace, something directly stenciled off the real, like a footprint or a death mask” (Sontag, 350).
3. Underground artwork is often used to tell a story that the artist is unable to clearly tell in the public eye.
Quote Bret
4.. Although violence has always been part of the sport, hockey violence has escalated to a hazardous level.
“Some people think violence occurs because hockey is an intense emotional game, but now is the time when the inaccuracy of such explanations is most clear.” (Mark Moore)
or
“I am not a preacher of non-violence. But violence belongs in war, not in sports. As do most Canadians, I like tough, physical hockey and played it. As do most Canadians, I don't like the cheap illicit stuff - the knees, the checks from behind, the charging, the goon tactics when a team is down.”( Mark Moore)
5. Kashmere’s film essay has had a profound affect on its viewers.
(Quote from Bret and quote from his website)
6. Conclusion
I will also talk about the implications of making an underground film throughout the paper.
Thesis: Bret Kashmere’ underground film essay, Valery’s Ankle, has helped the underground film industry transform into a trendy, political art genre.
1. Art is often used as a tool for expressing oneself and getting the community involved.
"Art in the public interest is activist and communitarian in spirit; its modes of expression encompass a variety of traditional media, including painting and sculpture, as well as untraditional media" (Kwon, 105).
2. Film has evolved into a popular art form.
(quote from critical art ensemble)
use quote from: New American filmmakers : selections from the Whitney Museum of American Art Film Program
Quote from Sontag:
“Such images are indeed able to usurp reality because first of all a photograph is not only an image (as a painting is an image), an interpretation of the real; it is also a trace, something directly stenciled off the real, like a footprint or a death mask” (Sontag, 350).
3. Underground artwork is often used to tell a story that the artist is unable to clearly tell in the public eye.
Quote Bret
4.. Although violence has always been part of the sport, hockey violence has escalated to a hazardous level.
“Some people think violence occurs because hockey is an intense emotional game, but now is the time when the inaccuracy of such explanations is most clear.” (Mark Moore)
or
“I am not a preacher of non-violence. But violence belongs in war, not in sports. As do most Canadians, I like tough, physical hockey and played it. As do most Canadians, I don't like the cheap illicit stuff - the knees, the checks from behind, the charging, the goon tactics when a team is down.”( Mark Moore)
5. Kashmere’s film essay has had a profound affect on its viewers.
(Quote from Bret and quote from his website)
6. Conclusion
I will also talk about the implications of making an underground film throughout the paper.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Mary Jane Jacobs Lecture
"Art in the piblic insterest is activist and communitarian in spirit; its modes of expression encompass a variety of traditional media, including painting and sculpture, as well as untraditional media" (105).
By bringing art to the streets, Mary Jane Jacobs has transformed many people's ideals of what constitutes as art. As she explained in her lecture, primarily about South Carolina, sites in the communities become the art projects. Often times, people from the community are involved. For example, she mentioned the two white houses in South Carolina. One was turned into a museamesque portryal of the history of fashion. Outside of the home, the owners created a fashion show. This also brought up South Carolina's strong historical ties with slavery. Clothing warn in the fashion show and displayed in the house, was often clothing from this era. This forced conversation about slavery.
Althought I did not find Jacobs' speech particularly interesting, some of the art projects that she glanced over were remarkable. The house that was painted army style was one of these projects. It created public interest and communication. It also used a traditional form of art to create an unconventional piece of art. The artist simply painted a house. The fantastical colors and pattern are what make it unconventional and spark conversation. Jacobs is succeeding in her goalfor art to become a more public medium and allow people to get involved and talk about her art.
By bringing art to the streets, Mary Jane Jacobs has transformed many people's ideals of what constitutes as art. As she explained in her lecture, primarily about South Carolina, sites in the communities become the art projects. Often times, people from the community are involved. For example, she mentioned the two white houses in South Carolina. One was turned into a museamesque portryal of the history of fashion. Outside of the home, the owners created a fashion show. This also brought up South Carolina's strong historical ties with slavery. Clothing warn in the fashion show and displayed in the house, was often clothing from this era. This forced conversation about slavery.
Althought I did not find Jacobs' speech particularly interesting, some of the art projects that she glanced over were remarkable. The house that was painted army style was one of these projects. It created public interest and communication. It also used a traditional form of art to create an unconventional piece of art. The artist simply painted a house. The fantastical colors and pattern are what make it unconventional and spark conversation. Jacobs is succeeding in her goalfor art to become a more public medium and allow people to get involved and talk about her art.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Valery's Ankle
Topic: Valery's Ankle
Questions (I know I only needed two but I came up with four):
1. How does underground art become popular?
2. How has film essay evolved into a form of art?
3. What are the political implications of making an underground film?
4. What was the historical and political context of the film and the message behind the film?
4 resources:
1. Book:
Title: New American filmmakers : selections from the Whitney Museum of American Art Film Program
Published: New York, N.Y. : American Federation of Arts, c1976
2. Book:
Title: Film art : an introduction
Authors: David Bordwell, Kristin Thompson
3. Article:
Title: Translating the Essay into Film and Installation
Personal Author: Alter, Nora M.
Journal Name: Journal of Visual Culture
4. Article:
Title: Just call it Moscow in Motown
Journal Name: State, The (Columbia, SC)
Questions (I know I only needed two but I came up with four):
1. How does underground art become popular?
2. How has film essay evolved into a form of art?
3. What are the political implications of making an underground film?
4. What was the historical and political context of the film and the message behind the film?
4 resources:
1. Book:
Title: New American filmmakers : selections from the Whitney Museum of American Art Film Program
Published: New York, N.Y. : American Federation of Arts, c1976
2. Book:
Title: Film art : an introduction
Authors: David Bordwell, Kristin Thompson
3. Article:
Title: Translating the Essay into Film and Installation
Personal Author: Alter, Nora M.
Journal Name: Journal of Visual Culture
4. Article:
Title: Just call it Moscow in Motown
Journal Name: State, The (Columbia, SC)
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The Power of Photography and Film
Before the invention of the photograph, people relied on stories and memories to translate the past. Although photographs have been useful tools in understanding the past, they have also allowed for the elimination of interpretation. Film and documentaries rose from photography and similar to it, the artist caters to a certain audience by placing emphasis and drawing attention to a particular theme or interpretation. Because Hollywood creates history through its clear manipulation of the public’s ideals, even documentaries must be viewed with skepticism and critical awareness. Film must be seen as a form of communication, rather than a chronology of history.
To Sontag, a photograph is a documentation of history. She believes that photographs are necessary to the understanding of an experience, “Such images are indeed able to usurp reality because first of all a photograph is not only an image (as a painting is an image), an interpretation of the real; it is also a trace, something directly stenciled off the real, like a footprint or a death mask” (Sontag, 350). Photographs are chronicles of the past. They tell a story, yet leave the viewer to his or her own interpretation. Critical Art Ensemble stresses the authority photography and film have over the viewer’s understanding of a piece, while Sontag believes that photographs are pure traces of history and powerless, in the sense that the interpretation is left to the viewer.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Lauren Glass
October 14, 2007
Superfund and Onondaga Lake
The Superfund program began in 1980, in order to clean up some of America’s most polluted areas. Although eight hundred and eighty-six sites have been cleaned since Superfund’s introduction, this year only forty high-priority waste sites have been cleared, leaving 1,203 dangerous areas on the “National Priorities List”. Fewer harmful regions are being decontaminated, as a direct result of lack of funding. This financial crisis is putting the one out of four Americans living within four miles of a hazardous waste site in danger (Knickerbocker).
Most often, the polluter of an area donates the money necessary for its cleanup. From 1980 until 1995, taxes on oil and chemical industries and an additional income tax on other corporations raised funds for the clearing of sites that were unclaimed. Presently, Superfund is nearly bankrupt, due in part, to the fact that Congress did not renew these fees when they expired in 1995. Senate Democrat Barbara Boxer and a small number of other democrats in the Senate, desire a revival of this tax, mainly affecting oil companies. The reinstatement of this tax is vital in order to provide the funding necessary to clean affected sites (Knickerbocker).
Superfund directly affects many inhabitants of Onondaga County, particularly members of the Onondaga Nation. Onondaga Lake is one of the most polluted lakes in the United States and was added to the Federal Superfund National Priorities List in 1994 (Onondaga Nation, Onondaga Lake 'Clean-Up' Plan). This 4.6 square mile lake has fallen victim to countless years of pollution abuse by sewage and chemical companies, who infect the water and produce “waste beds” (Landers). These “waste beds” reside along the lake’s shore, some of which span sixty-five feet or higher and occupy about one third of the lake (Landers). Onondaga Lake contains many chemicals that are poisonous to humans, such as mercury and many other carcinogenic substances (Landers). Piles of waste now lay where people were previously able to fish and swim. The once thriving ecosystem has been mutilated. Large amounts of phosphorus and ammonia deprive wildlife of oxygen; killing the wide variety of fish that once inhabited the lake (Onondaga Lake 'Clean-Up' Plan).
The Onondaga Nation is strongly affected by the pollution of Onondaga Lake. On June 17, 2005, the Nation sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Environmental Conservation, demanding change and threatening legal action (Statement of the Onondaga Nation Concerning the Onondaga Lake Superfund Site: The Nation’s Sacred, Spiritual, Historic, Archeological and Environmental Interests in Onondaga Lake.). On March 11, 2005, the Nation filed an action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York requesting, “declaratory judgment that certain lands and waters in New York State, including all of the lands and waters constituting the Onondaga Lake Superfund Site, are owned by the Nation” (Statement of the Onondaga Nation Concerning the Onondaga Lake Superfund Site: The Nation’s Sacred, Spiritual, Historic, Archeological and Environmental Interests in Onondaga Lake). The Department of Environmental Conservation responded by ignoring the desires of the Nation and scripting their own plan. They did confer with members of the Onondaga Nation. The Nation was merely presented the inadequate plan, and was not given formal speaking time to object to its conditions and try to appease the situation. Many members of the Nation feel betrayed by the agency, “Their visit to the Longhouse was perfunctory, almost an afterthought. In all likelihood, the plan was already in print” (Hill). Sidney Hill, the chief of the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs, concluded that the Nation’s sacred connection with the lake was not taken into consideration and because Superfund is so financially unstable, the program seems more interested in a “quick fix” to quiet the public, rather than actually remedying the situation.
The Onondaga Nation believes that the remedies outlined to clean the lake are insufficient. The plan would only clean up a portion of Onondaga Lake and place sand caps over Mercury, rather than removing the deadly chemical from the lake. The Onondaga Council of Chiefs pled for the removal of all harmful toxins that damage and destroy life in and around the lake. The Nation is further upset by the clear disregard of their spiritual and historical ties with Onondaga Lake and how its pollution has affected and continues to affect aspects of The Nation’s lives. Although the four hundred and fifty-one million dollar plan is said to take care of much of the cleanup necessary to revive Onondaga Lake, the plan appears to be only a temporary solution to the lake’s contamination problem. A permanent and more effective solution would cost around 2.16 billion dollars (Onondaga Lake 'Clean-Up' Plan). The proposed plans, which includes dredging up much of the lake’s soil, capping areas of the lake’s floor and treating the water (Statement of the Onondaga Nation Concerning the Onondaga Lake Superfund Site: The Nation’s Sacred, Spiritual, Historic, Archeological and Environmental Interests in Onondaga Lake), unless remedied, not only hinder the public from experiencing the beauty of the lake, but also deprive future generations of The Onondaga Nation of experiencing the sacred importance of Onondaga Lake.
Although the pollution of Onondaga Lake goes widely unnoticed by a majority of the nation, inhabitants of Onondaga County must live in close proximity to the toxic lake, endangering their lives and the lives of their future offspring. In the past, the lake was a place of leisure, providing visitors with an area to swim, fish and simply enjoy the beauty of the natural environment. Presently, the lake is considered by many to be the most polluted lake in the nation, despite poorly designed clean-up efforts. The Onondaga Nation has been the source of much controversy concerning the pollution in Onondaga Lake thus, educating and informing people of the poisons in the lake. They have produced a following of people who concur that the steps being taken to clean the lake are frivolous. Although, the Nation has ruthlessly fought to return the lake to its purest form and has helped spark some change, their efforts have largely been ignored. They will continue to fight until they are content with the cleanliness of their sacred lake. More money must be spent in order to successfully clean the lake. The government should provide a higher budget for Superfund and new fundraising techniques must be discussed. Because, at times, it is difficult to determine which corporation polluted where, all industrial companies must be taxed, in order to prevent the deterioration of the natural world. If a company is proven to be the sole polluter of an area, that company must be given certain financial flexibility due to the taxes collected. Superfund should provide an amount of money based on how large and how contaminated the region is. If the cost exceeds the ability of Superfund, the company must be held fully responsible for the complete clean up of the infected area. If pollution is ignored, members of Onondaga County and other areas on the “National Priorities List” will continue to suffer from the short term and long term affects of living near an area of toxic waste. Our lakes will continue to be polluted, wildlife in and around the lakes will cease to exist and disease will spread to those living near the affected areas.
Works Consulted:
Atlantic States Legal Foundation. "Onondaga Lake Superfund Update." Atlantic States
Legal Foundation, Inc. 6 October 2007.
Hill, Sydney. “Our Debt to Nature”. Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation Working in Solidarity with the Onondaga Nation. 2004. 12 October 2007..
Knickerbocker, Brad. “Superfund Program: A Smaller Cleanup Rag.” Christian Science
Monitors. 2003. 2 October 2007.
Landers, Jay. (2006) New life for Onondaga Lake. Civil engineering, 76(5), 64. Wilson Applied Science Full Text. H.W. Wilson. Syracuse University Library, Syracuse,New York. 3 October 2007.
Onondaga Nation. "Onondaga Lake 'Clean-Up' Plan." Onondaga Nation. 2005. 4
October 2007..
Onondaga Nation. “Statement of the Onondaga Nation
Concerning the Onondaga Lake Superfund Site: The Nation’s Sacred, Spiritual, Historic, Archeological and Environmental
Interests in Onondaga Lake.” Onondaga Nation. 2005. 6 October 2007
October 14, 2007
Superfund and Onondaga Lake
The Superfund program began in 1980, in order to clean up some of America’s most polluted areas. Although eight hundred and eighty-six sites have been cleaned since Superfund’s introduction, this year only forty high-priority waste sites have been cleared, leaving 1,203 dangerous areas on the “National Priorities List”. Fewer harmful regions are being decontaminated, as a direct result of lack of funding. This financial crisis is putting the one out of four Americans living within four miles of a hazardous waste site in danger (Knickerbocker).
Most often, the polluter of an area donates the money necessary for its cleanup. From 1980 until 1995, taxes on oil and chemical industries and an additional income tax on other corporations raised funds for the clearing of sites that were unclaimed. Presently, Superfund is nearly bankrupt, due in part, to the fact that Congress did not renew these fees when they expired in 1995. Senate Democrat Barbara Boxer and a small number of other democrats in the Senate, desire a revival of this tax, mainly affecting oil companies. The reinstatement of this tax is vital in order to provide the funding necessary to clean affected sites (Knickerbocker).
Superfund directly affects many inhabitants of Onondaga County, particularly members of the Onondaga Nation. Onondaga Lake is one of the most polluted lakes in the United States and was added to the Federal Superfund National Priorities List in 1994 (Onondaga Nation, Onondaga Lake 'Clean-Up' Plan). This 4.6 square mile lake has fallen victim to countless years of pollution abuse by sewage and chemical companies, who infect the water and produce “waste beds” (Landers). These “waste beds” reside along the lake’s shore, some of which span sixty-five feet or higher and occupy about one third of the lake (Landers). Onondaga Lake contains many chemicals that are poisonous to humans, such as mercury and many other carcinogenic substances (Landers). Piles of waste now lay where people were previously able to fish and swim. The once thriving ecosystem has been mutilated. Large amounts of phosphorus and ammonia deprive wildlife of oxygen; killing the wide variety of fish that once inhabited the lake (Onondaga Lake 'Clean-Up' Plan).
The Onondaga Nation is strongly affected by the pollution of Onondaga Lake. On June 17, 2005, the Nation sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Environmental Conservation, demanding change and threatening legal action (Statement of the Onondaga Nation Concerning the Onondaga Lake Superfund Site: The Nation’s Sacred, Spiritual, Historic, Archeological and Environmental Interests in Onondaga Lake.). On March 11, 2005, the Nation filed an action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York requesting, “declaratory judgment that certain lands and waters in New York State, including all of the lands and waters constituting the Onondaga Lake Superfund Site, are owned by the Nation” (Statement of the Onondaga Nation Concerning the Onondaga Lake Superfund Site: The Nation’s Sacred, Spiritual, Historic, Archeological and Environmental Interests in Onondaga Lake). The Department of Environmental Conservation responded by ignoring the desires of the Nation and scripting their own plan. They did confer with members of the Onondaga Nation. The Nation was merely presented the inadequate plan, and was not given formal speaking time to object to its conditions and try to appease the situation. Many members of the Nation feel betrayed by the agency, “Their visit to the Longhouse was perfunctory, almost an afterthought. In all likelihood, the plan was already in print” (Hill). Sidney Hill, the chief of the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs, concluded that the Nation’s sacred connection with the lake was not taken into consideration and because Superfund is so financially unstable, the program seems more interested in a “quick fix” to quiet the public, rather than actually remedying the situation.
The Onondaga Nation believes that the remedies outlined to clean the lake are insufficient. The plan would only clean up a portion of Onondaga Lake and place sand caps over Mercury, rather than removing the deadly chemical from the lake. The Onondaga Council of Chiefs pled for the removal of all harmful toxins that damage and destroy life in and around the lake. The Nation is further upset by the clear disregard of their spiritual and historical ties with Onondaga Lake and how its pollution has affected and continues to affect aspects of The Nation’s lives. Although the four hundred and fifty-one million dollar plan is said to take care of much of the cleanup necessary to revive Onondaga Lake, the plan appears to be only a temporary solution to the lake’s contamination problem. A permanent and more effective solution would cost around 2.16 billion dollars (Onondaga Lake 'Clean-Up' Plan). The proposed plans, which includes dredging up much of the lake’s soil, capping areas of the lake’s floor and treating the water (Statement of the Onondaga Nation Concerning the Onondaga Lake Superfund Site: The Nation’s Sacred, Spiritual, Historic, Archeological and Environmental Interests in Onondaga Lake), unless remedied, not only hinder the public from experiencing the beauty of the lake, but also deprive future generations of The Onondaga Nation of experiencing the sacred importance of Onondaga Lake.
Although the pollution of Onondaga Lake goes widely unnoticed by a majority of the nation, inhabitants of Onondaga County must live in close proximity to the toxic lake, endangering their lives and the lives of their future offspring. In the past, the lake was a place of leisure, providing visitors with an area to swim, fish and simply enjoy the beauty of the natural environment. Presently, the lake is considered by many to be the most polluted lake in the nation, despite poorly designed clean-up efforts. The Onondaga Nation has been the source of much controversy concerning the pollution in Onondaga Lake thus, educating and informing people of the poisons in the lake. They have produced a following of people who concur that the steps being taken to clean the lake are frivolous. Although, the Nation has ruthlessly fought to return the lake to its purest form and has helped spark some change, their efforts have largely been ignored. They will continue to fight until they are content with the cleanliness of their sacred lake. More money must be spent in order to successfully clean the lake. The government should provide a higher budget for Superfund and new fundraising techniques must be discussed. Because, at times, it is difficult to determine which corporation polluted where, all industrial companies must be taxed, in order to prevent the deterioration of the natural world. If a company is proven to be the sole polluter of an area, that company must be given certain financial flexibility due to the taxes collected. Superfund should provide an amount of money based on how large and how contaminated the region is. If the cost exceeds the ability of Superfund, the company must be held fully responsible for the complete clean up of the infected area. If pollution is ignored, members of Onondaga County and other areas on the “National Priorities List” will continue to suffer from the short term and long term affects of living near an area of toxic waste. Our lakes will continue to be polluted, wildlife in and around the lakes will cease to exist and disease will spread to those living near the affected areas.
Works Consulted:
Atlantic States Legal Foundation. "Onondaga Lake Superfund Update." Atlantic States
Legal Foundation, Inc. 6 October 2007
Hill, Sydney. “Our Debt to Nature”. Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation Working in Solidarity with the Onondaga Nation. 2004. 12 October 2007.
Knickerbocker, Brad. “Superfund Program: A Smaller Cleanup Rag.” Christian Science
Monitors. 2003. 2 October 2007
Landers, Jay. (2006) New life for Onondaga Lake. Civil engineering, 76(5), 64. Wilson Applied Science Full Text. H.W. Wilson. Syracuse University Library, Syracuse,New York. 3 October 2007
Onondaga Nation. "Onondaga Lake 'Clean-Up' Plan." Onondaga Nation. 2005. 4
October 2007.
Onondaga Nation. “Statement of the Onondaga Nation
Concerning the Onondaga Lake Superfund Site: The Nation’s Sacred, Spiritual, Historic, Archeological and Environmental
Interests in Onondaga Lake.” Onondaga Nation. 2005. 6 October 2007
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Superfund and Onodaga Lake
Lexis Nexis
onlakepartners.org
epa.gov
The Superfund program began in 1980 and called for individual taxpayers to pay eighteen percent of its total cost. Since then, the costs to individuals have risen to fifty-three percent. Although 886 sites have been cleaned since Superfund’s introduction, this year only 40 high-priority waste sites have been cleaned, leaving 1,203 dangerous areas on the “National Priorities List”. Fewer harmful regions are being cleaned, as a direct result of lack of funding. This financial crisis is putting the 1 out of 4 Americans living within four miles of a hazardous waste site in danger.
Most often the polluter of the area donates the money necessary for its cleanup, but there are many dirty areas that have yet to be claimed. From 1980 until 1995, taxes on oil and chemical industries and an additional income tax on other corporations raised funds for the clearing of these sites. Presently, Superfund is nearly bankrupt, due in partial to the fact that Congress did not renew these fees when they expired in 1995. People are divided as how to appease the situation. Senate Democrat Barbara Boxer, and a small number of other democrats in the senate, desires a revival of this tax, mainly affecting oil companies. Others deem this tax unfair, as the pollution is no longer solely the fault of the companies. Some believe that there should be particular industry taxes forcing the polluter to pay, while others believe that Superfund causes too much trouble and should eliminated. Because Superfund holds even those parties whose pollution contribution is extremely miniscule responsible, those apposed to Superfund, consider that people looking to invest may shy away from previously industrialized areas so that they are not eligible for culpability. Although Superfund will not be eliminated, new strategies for raising money for Superfund are being debated throughout the United States.
onlakepartners.org
epa.gov
The Superfund program began in 1980 and called for individual taxpayers to pay eighteen percent of its total cost. Since then, the costs to individuals have risen to fifty-three percent. Although 886 sites have been cleaned since Superfund’s introduction, this year only 40 high-priority waste sites have been cleaned, leaving 1,203 dangerous areas on the “National Priorities List”. Fewer harmful regions are being cleaned, as a direct result of lack of funding. This financial crisis is putting the 1 out of 4 Americans living within four miles of a hazardous waste site in danger.
Most often the polluter of the area donates the money necessary for its cleanup, but there are many dirty areas that have yet to be claimed. From 1980 until 1995, taxes on oil and chemical industries and an additional income tax on other corporations raised funds for the clearing of these sites. Presently, Superfund is nearly bankrupt, due in partial to the fact that Congress did not renew these fees when they expired in 1995. People are divided as how to appease the situation. Senate Democrat Barbara Boxer, and a small number of other democrats in the senate, desires a revival of this tax, mainly affecting oil companies. Others deem this tax unfair, as the pollution is no longer solely the fault of the companies. Some believe that there should be particular industry taxes forcing the polluter to pay, while others believe that Superfund causes too much trouble and should eliminated. Because Superfund holds even those parties whose pollution contribution is extremely miniscule responsible, those apposed to Superfund, consider that people looking to invest may shy away from previously industrialized areas so that they are not eligible for culpability. Although Superfund will not be eliminated, new strategies for raising money for Superfund are being debated throughout the United States.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Hendricks Chapel Anti War Panel
Hendricks Chapel was full of emotion and a sense of togetherness as the girl duo, Emma, took the stage. Their guitars shook the chapel, as their soft voices sang of freedom, war and motherhood. Anti war buttons were being sold and money was being collected to support future demonstrations. Soon after Emma excited the crowd, the panel took the stage.
Dahlia Wasfi spoke first explaining her views on the General Patreas report and the status of Iraq now, compared to the country’s status before American occupation. Wasfi opened her remarks by mentioning that she was half Arabic and half Jewish and has many relatives in Iraq. She eloquently stated that the general’s report was “a load of crap” and post American occupation; Iraq now has AIDs and a horrible job market. She discussed September 11 and how it affected her, personally. She was working at Georgetown University’s Hospital and after the attacks she had to endure racist comments from her co-workers, including one doctor who believed that “we should just nuke them”. The ridicule eventually became too much and she quit her job. Wasfi has taken countless trips to Iraq and has seen first hand the damage that this war has caused.
Scott Ritter spoke second. He was the United Nations chief weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991 to 1998. Ritter, expanding on Wasfi’s discussion, grabbed the audience’s attention by explaining that just because he is anti war, that in no way means that he is anti the troops. He made this clearer by using a firemen analogy. No one likes fire, but people support the firemen who fight the fires. Ritter, then discussed the importance of America leaving Iraq. His argument went beyond America’s departure, as he believes that America needs to take care of the soldiers and help out with the financial burden that we have caused in the Middle East.
Last to speak was Jimmy Massey, who had the young men and women who have served in Iraq stand up. They received a standing ovation from the crowd. He referred to them as his brothers and sisters, as Massey explained his own experiences serving in the military. He explained that soldiers are given the order to “shoot now and ask questions later”, which he vehemently disapproves. Massey went on to give his “wish list” for the future course of the war. He, as the other panel members expressed before him, believes in the abdication of American troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Although Massey pointed out that his last wish is extremely unlikely, he wishes that every member of congress who was pro war would be forced out of office. It is congress’ responsibility to monitor the executive branch and protect America from partaking in wars such that this.
I knew I was in my element as soon as I entered Hendricks Chapel. My father and I have attended many anti war protests and I always enjoy standing up for something I believe in. I thought all of the speakers were very well spoken and appealed to their audience. The ten to fifteen minute speeches were long enough to get the panels’ point across and short enough to hold the audience’s attention. Their evidence was clearly presented and by the nodding heads and clapping hands of the audience, I could tell that everyone was extremely engaged in the speeches. I was surprised that the majority of the audience was older. I had hoped that there would be a good number of students attending the panel, in order to educate themselves on the politics of our country. Whether you are pro or against the Iraq war, I believe that you have to educate yourself in order to fully take advantage of everything our country has to offer. I find it very sad that so many young adults, my age do not care about politics or the future of their country. I was extremely moved by the veterans who attended the protest and the panel, many of whom were young men and women who served in Iraq. I love that people were voicing their opinions and standing up for what they believe in. I wish more people cared about the status of our country as much as they care about Britney Spears’ weight and ill fated comeback.
Dahlia Wasfi spoke first explaining her views on the General Patreas report and the status of Iraq now, compared to the country’s status before American occupation. Wasfi opened her remarks by mentioning that she was half Arabic and half Jewish and has many relatives in Iraq. She eloquently stated that the general’s report was “a load of crap” and post American occupation; Iraq now has AIDs and a horrible job market. She discussed September 11 and how it affected her, personally. She was working at Georgetown University’s Hospital and after the attacks she had to endure racist comments from her co-workers, including one doctor who believed that “we should just nuke them”. The ridicule eventually became too much and she quit her job. Wasfi has taken countless trips to Iraq and has seen first hand the damage that this war has caused.
Scott Ritter spoke second. He was the United Nations chief weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991 to 1998. Ritter, expanding on Wasfi’s discussion, grabbed the audience’s attention by explaining that just because he is anti war, that in no way means that he is anti the troops. He made this clearer by using a firemen analogy. No one likes fire, but people support the firemen who fight the fires. Ritter, then discussed the importance of America leaving Iraq. His argument went beyond America’s departure, as he believes that America needs to take care of the soldiers and help out with the financial burden that we have caused in the Middle East.
Last to speak was Jimmy Massey, who had the young men and women who have served in Iraq stand up. They received a standing ovation from the crowd. He referred to them as his brothers and sisters, as Massey explained his own experiences serving in the military. He explained that soldiers are given the order to “shoot now and ask questions later”, which he vehemently disapproves. Massey went on to give his “wish list” for the future course of the war. He, as the other panel members expressed before him, believes in the abdication of American troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Although Massey pointed out that his last wish is extremely unlikely, he wishes that every member of congress who was pro war would be forced out of office. It is congress’ responsibility to monitor the executive branch and protect America from partaking in wars such that this.
I knew I was in my element as soon as I entered Hendricks Chapel. My father and I have attended many anti war protests and I always enjoy standing up for something I believe in. I thought all of the speakers were very well spoken and appealed to their audience. The ten to fifteen minute speeches were long enough to get the panels’ point across and short enough to hold the audience’s attention. Their evidence was clearly presented and by the nodding heads and clapping hands of the audience, I could tell that everyone was extremely engaged in the speeches. I was surprised that the majority of the audience was older. I had hoped that there would be a good number of students attending the panel, in order to educate themselves on the politics of our country. Whether you are pro or against the Iraq war, I believe that you have to educate yourself in order to fully take advantage of everything our country has to offer. I find it very sad that so many young adults, my age do not care about politics or the future of their country. I was extremely moved by the veterans who attended the protest and the panel, many of whom were young men and women who served in Iraq. I love that people were voicing their opinions and standing up for what they believe in. I wish more people cared about the status of our country as much as they care about Britney Spears’ weight and ill fated comeback.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Work Cited:
Since my footnotes did not transfer when copying and pasting from word to my blog, I reprinted my blog with page numbers from my sources. Sorry for the mixup!:
Binh Danh’s exhibit showcases the eternal consequences of war. Although the Vietnam War ended in 1975, Binh Danh’s pictures allow the viewer to transcend time and evoke a sense of reality and thought that otherwise might have been ignored. Binh Danh goes beyond the standard, yearbook style of printing photographs of war casualties by imprinting images of the lost lives onto foliage. These imprinted images are “symbolic of the jungle itself, bearing witness to scars of war that remain in the landscape” (Guth, Laura. Assistant Director of Lightwork). Binh Danh’s work displays the scars embedded not only in the landscape, but also in the hearts and minds of all those affected by the war and ultimately all those who come to view his work. These scars force the viewer to question ones own ideas about the Vietnam War and the current war in Iraq. Personally, I am vehemently opposed to both, the Vietnam War and, the present War in Iraq. Thus, Binh Danh’s exhibit reinforced my own anti war sentiments. Allowing me to view the images of real people, induced my own sense of actuality, “Such images are indeed able to usurp reality because first of all a photograph is not only an image (as a painting is an image), an interpretation of the real; it is also a trace, something directly stenciled off the real, like a footprint or a death mask” (Sontag, 350). As Susan Sontag explains, photographs are a piece of the real. Binh Danh’s pictures are traces of lives lost, “Photographic images are pieces of evidence in an ongoing biography or history. And one photograph, unlike one painting, implies that there will be others” (Sontag,358). Looking at these photos, one is forced to grasp the enormity of what they represent. These were everyday people, such as you or I, who were killed in the jungle of war, and whose eternal souls are now on display for others to view. Although Binh Danh’s exhibit is meant to be impartial about the war, it invokes thought and strong opinions of both sides of the spectrum.
Binh Danh’s exhibit showcases the eternal consequences of war. Although the Vietnam War ended in 1975, Binh Danh’s pictures allow the viewer to transcend time and evoke a sense of reality and thought that otherwise might have been ignored. Binh Danh goes beyond the standard, yearbook style of printing photographs of war casualties by imprinting images of the lost lives onto foliage. These imprinted images are “symbolic of the jungle itself, bearing witness to scars of war that remain in the landscape” (Guth, Laura. Assistant Director of Lightwork). Binh Danh’s work displays the scars embedded not only in the landscape, but also in the hearts and minds of all those affected by the war and ultimately all those who come to view his work. These scars force the viewer to question ones own ideas about the Vietnam War and the current war in Iraq. Personally, I am vehemently opposed to both, the Vietnam War and, the present War in Iraq. Thus, Binh Danh’s exhibit reinforced my own anti war sentiments. Allowing me to view the images of real people, induced my own sense of actuality, “Such images are indeed able to usurp reality because first of all a photograph is not only an image (as a painting is an image), an interpretation of the real; it is also a trace, something directly stenciled off the real, like a footprint or a death mask” (Sontag, 350). As Susan Sontag explains, photographs are a piece of the real. Binh Danh’s pictures are traces of lives lost, “Photographic images are pieces of evidence in an ongoing biography or history. And one photograph, unlike one painting, implies that there will be others” (Sontag,358). Looking at these photos, one is forced to grasp the enormity of what they represent. These were everyday people, such as you or I, who were killed in the jungle of war, and whose eternal souls are now on display for others to view. Although Binh Danh’s exhibit is meant to be impartial about the war, it invokes thought and strong opinions of both sides of the spectrum.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Binh Danh's Exhibit
Binh Danh’s exhibit showcases the eternal consequences of war. Although the Vietnam War ended in 1975, Binh Danh’s pictures allow the viewer to transcend time and evoke a sense of reality and thought that otherwise might have been ignored. Binh Danh goes beyond the standard, yearbook style of printing photographs of war casualties by imprinting images of the lost lives onto foliage. These imprinted images are “symbolic of the jungle itself, bearing witness to scars of war that remain in the landscape” . Binh Danh’s work displays the scars embedded not only in the landscape, but also in the hearts and minds of all those affected by the war and ultimately all those who come to view his work. These scars force the viewer to question ones own ideas about the Vietnam War and the current war in Iraq. Personally, I am vehemently opposed to both, the Vietnam War and, the present War in Iraq. Thus, Binh Danh’s exhibit reinforced my own anti war sentiments. Allowing me to view the images of real people, induced my own sense of actuality, “Such images are indeed able to usurp reality because first of all a photograph is not only an image (as a painting is an image), an interpretation of the real; it is also a trace, something directly stenciled off the real, like a footprint or a death mask” . As Susan Sontag explains, photographs are a piece of the real. Binh Danh’s pictures are traces of lives lost, “Photographic images are pieces of evidence in an ongoing biography or history. And one photograph, unlike one painting, implies that there will be others”. Looking at these photos, one is forced to grasp the enormity of what they represent. These were everyday people, such as you or I, who were killed in the jungle of war, and whose eternal souls are now on display for others to view. Although Binh Danh’s exhibit is meant to be impartial about the war, it invokes thought and strong opinions of both sides of the spectrum.
Monday, September 3, 2007
My Definition of Art
Art is a culmination of what we, as humans and as individuals, believe art to be. My third grade class took a bus into the inner city of Detroit to view the Heidelberg Project. I would later realize that this short-lived fieldtrip provided me with my most memorable experience with an artwork. This incredibly creative political protest is a series of houses painted with bright colors and covered in recycled garbage. Although, I was only able to spend about an hour, on a bus, viewing these incredible works of art, I have since gone back and spent more time analyzing and contemplating the genius of gluing trash on an abandoned house and turning it into art. I would describe these houses as brightly colored, extremely out of place and wonderfully different. Even in third grade, I knew these houses profoundly affected me. I could not take my eyes off of them and each time I’ve been back since, I continue to spot new and creative aspects of the houses. I tried to penetrate the artists mind and have constantly asked myself what would motivate someone to turn abandoned homes into artwork using garbage? My best guess is that the artist, Tyree Guyton, was looking for something beautiful and different, in an area that had been deteriorating since the Detroit Riots of 1967. I also believe that Guyton desired a reaction that would force people travel out of their comfort zones, into his neighborhood and show the vast economic problems that plague Detroit. I believe that Guyton’s work was successful in producing a huge following and reaction. On two occasions, aspects of Guyton’s work were torn down. After much uproar from Heidelberg Project admirers, and much to the disappointment of political leaders, a court ruled that Guyton’s work is protected by the First Amendment and is no longer allowed to be destroyed or demolished.
Although I found de Duve’s essay to be extremely long and somewhat repetitive, I agree with a lot of his points. I believe that his essay could have been much more succinct by simply stating, art is too difficult and ambiguous to define. As humans, we vary immensely, from our various professions, to what foods we like and dislike. Art is very similar to humans, in that it is too vast to explain using one definition. One may profess to be an art historian, but that does not need to limit one’s taste to that of artworks from the past. Personally, I cannot define my taste in art. Sure, my most memorable art experience was that of the avant-garde, but I also enjoy historically famous artists, such as, Monet and De Vince. I cannot categorize myself as liking only a certain type of art. By becoming an extraterrestrial trying to understand art, Duve proves that art is too complex to define.
Although I found de Duve’s essay to be extremely long and somewhat repetitive, I agree with a lot of his points. I believe that his essay could have been much more succinct by simply stating, art is too difficult and ambiguous to define. As humans, we vary immensely, from our various professions, to what foods we like and dislike. Art is very similar to humans, in that it is too vast to explain using one definition. One may profess to be an art historian, but that does not need to limit one’s taste to that of artworks from the past. Personally, I cannot define my taste in art. Sure, my most memorable art experience was that of the avant-garde, but I also enjoy historically famous artists, such as, Monet and De Vince. I cannot categorize myself as liking only a certain type of art. By becoming an extraterrestrial trying to understand art, Duve proves that art is too complex to define.
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