Video Games, Art, Technology

Site #1

“I broke a sweat for Wii Fit, but it called me names,” by Matt Harley, Globe and Mail on May 22, 2008, explains how technology is promoting an active lifestyle. Video games are usually thought of as inhibiting an inactive lifestyle but the Wii is making strides to counteract this stigma.
“With the Wii, Nintendo has flipped the video game world on its head. The revolutionary system expanded the gaming market beyond basement-dwelling teenage males with its motion-sensing controllers – called Wii Wands or “Wiimotes” – which allow gamers to play by physically mimicking the motion of swinging a racquet or hitting a baseball rather than mashing buttons,” says Harley.
I really enjoy that Nintendo has listened to the people and made a positive attempt to help the countries obesity epidemic rather than promoting this “super-size” lifestyle. Even though the Wii does not show results of a large amount of weight loss or muscle gain it does, however, calculate body mass index and moves a gamer from the couch to an active position.
“Nintendo isn't making any specific health claims about the Wii Fit. The company says the game encourages physical activity and hopes families will find it a useful tool for staying active, says Nintendo Canada spokesman Matt Ryan,” explains Harley.
As this class has discussed earlier, technology is beginning to change in new ways that which have never been understood before. Technology is finding its way into every aspect of our lives. Whether it be adopting a “pet,” incorporating new exercise routines or even training the military, technology and the use of concept art through video games has, in many ways, improved the way we go about activities.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080522.wgtwiifit0523/BNStory/Technology/home

Site #2

“James Cameron Will Make You Believe,” found on Empire magazine’s Web site, spotlights a new feature film that incorporates concept art in filmmaking.
The movie, “Avatar,” uses computer-generated characters alongside of real human actors. ”Making beings in a computer that remain completely convincing alongside live-action humans is something that has never been fully achieved in movies, although Peter Jackson has come closest and made enormous leaps. But Cameron believes he has the technology,” explains Empire.
This is a new up-and-coming way that technology has become art where virtual characters interact with characters played by real human beings. Without this technology art would not exist.
Cameron has been dedicating so much time to this new technology that the story of the film may not be as good, but it is still art.
“He goes so far as to say that he's been concentrating so hard on getting the technology right that "I don't know whether [this] will be [a] great film from a narrative and critical standpoint. The experience of Avatar will be an experience unlike any other movies,” says Empire.
As we have discussed in this class, art comes in many forms and has changed over time. When something changes over time, it does so with technology. New ways of doing something, like creating art, is technology. How can you fight technology when it has brought forth so many great forms of art? Roy Lichtenstein is a well-respected pop artist who used the technology of screen-printing to create beautiful pieces that are now on display in museums.
http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=22615

How do you define “spirituality”?

I really like how Ann Hamilton portrayed spirituality in the video of contemporary art. She spoke of how our body is an organ/membrane that absorbs our surroundings and our spirituality is personified depending on how our senses are interpreting what it is around us. I believe in people, objects, surrounding having good vibes and bad vibes and our spirituality at the time is reflected by what my senses are absorbing.

Does spirituality differ from religion?

This is a really touchy subject because there is such a fine line between spirituality and religion. I would say a basic definition of religion is that it is a set of beliefs and practices that a community joins together to with a selective standard in mind. Spirituality although can be the same or similar can differ when someone who is not religious has a set of beliefs or practices that is outside any religion. Spirituality can almost be a reflection of someone’s emotions at a particular time.

How do you define “creativity”?

I believe that spirituality and creativity are very much linked. Just like spirituality, creativity spawns from our nature surroundings. It is the ability to generate concepts and ideas from what our mind and body draws from what is around us. Creativity in my perspective is a great outlet for spirituality and can be seen if many form from all religions.

What is the source of creativity?

Creativity as mentioned above spawns from our nature surroundings and how our mind is interpreting it at the time. This is why almost anyone can be creative at a given time. Musicians throughout time have demonstrated that even when our mind is in an unstable state because of psychedelic drugs, people are still able to be creative. This shows that creativity really is an outlook of what our mind is interpreting our surroundings.

Horror Films

Horror films without sound

The website I found deals with how sound can affect if a movie is scary or not scary. I’m actually one of those rare people out there that actually enjoy horror films. John goes on to talk about how movies without the sound of the slash of a knife or sound of a gun going off just doesn’t have quiet the same affect if you do not hear it. I completely agree with this website and put it to the test some time ago. I heard a while ago that by just turning the sound off in a horror film would make it not scary. Being the curious creature that I am, I went home and gave the no sound theory a try because I was a bit skeptical of it. My thoughts at the time were that visuals were the most important aspect of a horror movie. By watching a scary movie without sound I quickly learnt that sound was a main benefactor for making movies scary. It now makes a lot of sense to me now because I still enjoy old school scary movies even though they aren’t as visually stimulating as newer movies, the sound behind them is just as creative as movies being made today.
In one of my groups recent post we discussed how most people are less scared by watching scary films in the comfort of their own home rather then in a movie theater. This article sheds some light on the issue because obviously movies theaters are much louder then what we can achieve in our own home (unless of course your have your own movie theater..) and this contributes why most people like watching scary movies at home.

“Music and Sound Effects of Horror Films”, by John Hubinette

Retrieved May 11, 2008 from http://www.eng.umu.se/monster/john/sound_music.htm



Why we watch horror films

This website basically goes along with the reading “Paradox of horror films” by talking about how people watch scary movies because they almost want to view something that is not reality. I partially agree with this but I also like the viewpoint that most people enjoy horror films because of curiosity and mystery of the unknown. I personally like scary movies because of the fiction and mystery they create. I don’t think its escaping reality that people are trying to do but rather viewing a alter reality that in most cases will never exist in this world. Scary movies allow us to almost think outside the box and use our imagination in ways you would never think possible. Just like when you were a kid after watching a scary movie and lying in bed thinking that a monster is under your bed and was waiting for the right time to strike. Our imagination from watching these horror films is able to create something that will never exist yet the fear is implanted in our head.

“Justin’s guide too…why we watch horror”

Retrieved May 11, 2008 from http://www.mutantreviewers.com/rjg16.html

Personal Style

I traveled around the world for the first 15 years of my life; Japan, Australia and Germany are only a few of the many countries I spent my adolescent years. I was what many call a “military brat.” My father was a pilot in the Air Force causing us to relocate every few years.

Interestingly enough, my military background has had more of an affect on my style of dress than any of the dozens of cultures I’ve experienced. Every day I shave, style my short hair, find a clean shirt and put on a pair of jeans embellished by a leather belt. I make sure that my jeans are never tattered and my shirts always pressed. Whenever I go out to a nice dinner or a night on the town I wear a button-down shirt, designer jeans and loafers.

Many people would perceive my style of dress as “conservative.” I make the decision to have a conservative style because of my upbringing in the military. Familiarity is what keeps my style consistent. The only way my style has ever evolved would be with time and what is the “in” style. If I ever follow a trend it would be with a conservative attitude.

My style of dress is definitely consistent with those who I call my friends. I am currently a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and we pride ourselves on being upstanding gentlemen. Based on my observations, every member, for the most part, shares a similar style. I also believe that this has to do with our upbringings and family values.