Video Project

http://youtu.be/bBZz3HqkGG8  Video #1


http://youtu.be/tnKicEn9cGQ  Video #2

Blog #9

In the article, The Freak Factor,  David Rendall focuses his attention on self-improvement with strengths and weaknesses. His three basic options of self-improvement include: Fix weakness, build on strengths, and do both. Rendall then goes on to talk about uniqueness and your own quirks.

3. Flawless: There’s Nothing Wrong With You

This comes down to your unique characteristics and how you view your weaknesses. This is a valid way to overcome weaknesses. If you have an optimistic or pessimistic view on your weakness then it will change entirely. A weakness can be a strength, and weakness can just be a weakness. How you would go about using that weakness determines if it can become something to help with your success. Some of the weaknesses the author listed were stubborn, unrealistic, and inconsistent. When it comes to the creative process being stubborn, could just mean you have a vision and you want to keep it the way you wanted it to look. Being unrealistic can make your project more interesting and maybe a fantasy or science fiction idea. The last one, inconsistency, could add a more spontaneous aspect to your work in order to stray from the same cliché. No matter how many weaknesses you have, they could add to your success.

5. Foundation: Build On Your Strengths

I believe this is a very valid rule to help with your strengths and weaknesses. Not only does it take the pressure off eliminating your weaknesses, but also it makes your strengths stronger. This whole process will help with your self-esteem, which is a big part of self-improvement. Especially in the creative process, confidence is key. A man in charge with no confidence is destined to fail, because his workers will not be able to follow. Working on your strengths will give you success. If you work at what you are already naturally good at, your strengths will bring you more success. Maybe in the end your strengths will be so strong that your weaknesses will not be a problems. Once your weaknesses are hard to find then it will make it easier to fix them, because they will be so small. Some of your strengths could help fix your problems.

8. Freak: The Power of Uniqueness

The author uses the Leaning Tower of Pisa as an example. Some people see it as a mistake, while other embrace the only leaning tower in the entire world. That’s what I think of when it comes to certain things that make people unique. They tried to fix the tower but it only caused it to lean more. When people attempt to change some ones unique personality it comes out even more unique. Then the Italian government decided to keep it because it increased the amount of tourists. That’s when everyone should embrace uniqueness, and consider the power of it as a valid way to overcome weakness. Some may think a characteristic is a weakness, because it is out of the norm, but you can develop it into a strength. In the creative life, being unique adds certain differences into your projects. Edgy and independent projects are being praised every day in the way it is different from cliché cinema. Being unique can add that certain feel to you project and become a successful creative person.

In regards to my creative process, I know there are a lot of things that I consider my weaknesses, as well as my strengths.

Weaknesses:

Voicing my ideas is something that I sometimes struggle with, because I am often afraid of what others will think of an idea. I tend to keep ideas to myself, because I feel I have a hard time dealing with criticism or getting an idea shot down. I also feel one of my weaknesses is talking in front of others.  I believe my biggest weakness is procrastination, which stems from lack of motivation.

Strengths:

I feel my strengths are my ability to be creative and think "outside the box".  Also, I don't take things too seriously, which helps me work through things without all the stress.  My biggest strength is my musical ability/knowledge, although that really only applies to one part of media.  

 I also feel I am strong organizationally, as I have often taken the lead in organizing group projects and making sure things are getting accomplished. 

Blog #8

Seth Godin’s article “Brainwashed – Seven Ways to Reinvent Yourself” describes how our culture has lead us to believe that we are average and illustrates how we have the ability to change our ways if we so choose. Godin suggests seven different ways to pull ourselves away from what we have been brainwashed with over the years and to revel in these new ideas to transform ourselves: connect, be generous, make art, acknowledge the lizard, ship, fail, and learn.

ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIZARD - The suggestion “acknowledge the lizard” that can be used for reinvention immediately caught my attention because of the odd name. The lizard brain as Godin likes to call it is the prehistoric brainstem that all of us must contend with. Basically the lizard brain is his way of saying that people have never and will never enjoy being laughed at – embarrassed, and initially scared to try new things. Because of this “lizard brain” we lash out in anger and prevent ourselves from creating art.  It is essential that we acknowledge this voice in our head and that we break down this barrier and have the courage to create and challenge the world. 

FAIL - Another layer, one that I find to be very important, is to have the ability to fail.  The reinvention of yourself demands the ability to fail, over and over again and not be set back by it.  You must take risks to succeed, and in taking risks there is a large chance of failure.  It goes back to "Acknowledging the lizard," where you have to ignore the part of you that is safe and not be afraid to take risks.


MAKE ART - Godin explains that art “is an original gift, a connection that changes the recipient, a human ability to make a difference,” and that it is not simply the ability to paint or write poetry, but rather the ability to create something new. Art is something that we all can do, and simple interaction with others is the only platform we need to make art. Godin continues to explain that art isn’t like math or science, and I really like how he defines art as “the very human act of creating the uncreated,” something that does not need instructions or a manual. Godin concludes this layer by saying how in order to create art you have to take risks; there is no other way around it. But these very risks are what lead to great rewards.

I feel in someway that Godin’s three layers above are directly connected to this very blog. Through this blog, I am creating a form of art. Though following instructions (something that Godwin explains art does not need), what I post on this blog is my act of creating something uncreated before, something that truly unique to me. And I feel throughout this blog, I am taking risks by posting things that I don’t know if others agree with, may laugh at, or is “right” (if there even is a definition of “right” in art). This also relates to the lizard brain. I am often hesitant while writing or doing a project, and often hear that resistance in my head trying to limit my creativity and prevent me from taking risks by writing or creating what I feel is right. But as Godin explains, artists need to acknowledge and ignore this voice so that we can successfully take risks and create art.

I feel that the assignments we are doing are not completely useless but I also feel that we could do different projects and exercises that we could benefit more from.  The blogs and projects do a good job of introducing us to media that we will and should be exposed to for our major, but they don't allow or create the incentive to put forth great effort in our work.  I think that doing fewer projects, ones that have more weight and that we are given more time to complete, would increase my interest in actually putting forward my best effort towards this class.

Blog #7