"Texture 2"

Project #5 Explanation

Project #5 may not be very long. It may not be very exciting. It took a lot of work, however. Getting three others to collaborate with myself was kind of tough... and then came the algorithm. I did decide to expand on Project #4, which I thought, although adhering to the prompt, was a little drawn out.

For this project, I took the everyday, the real events, and turned them into a kind of poem. The algorithm follows as such: myself, along with three others, sat own with our cellular phones. Starting with me, and my most ancient "out" text message, I scrolled up three. And wrote that. The person to my left scrolled up three from their oldest "in" message. If it was a response, it took. If not, up through until it was. I wrote that. And then, they took the action and scrolled three more to their oldest "out". I wrote that. And on and on through the collaborators, until I came up with this.

Like I said, it isn't very exciting. I took the really neat juxtaposition of thought, word, and added to it. Through a short series of visual messages and the "typing" audio, and the visual "TV snow" and audio static, my project was born. At first, it is all purposefully aligned. As you move through the piece, however, it purposefully becomes chaotic. This echoes the actual collaboration. We had a great time, and a lot of laughs, forming the foundation for the project. It became more and more hectic and loose.

I created a sort of movie that started out with a visual and audial match up and then let it flow, much as the feelings I had when gathering the information. This project deals with the everyday, the banal, the real event. It mixes it up in a way that is not real, at least for the participants. All of the participants knew their own question or statement, and knew their own answer. After awhile, I allowed the audio and visual to blend together in an unexpected way.

I personally appreciate how this turned out. Although not obvious to the viewer, it is really "mixed up."

Plans for Project #5

For the past several days I have been trying to decide between expanding Project #4 into Project #5, or starting something all together new for Project #5. I believe that I will use Project #4 as a springboard. The project showed a series of texts, sent and received by me, in a sort of movie presentation. I have asked some people to "lend" me their text messages, between them and others (and sometimes me), to expand on this concept. I am not exactly sure of details yet, but I will again present this in a movie form, this time adding images. My other project had no images, just text, audio, typography manipulation and some "special effects" from Movie Maker. I plan to (somehow) take a lot of information and condense it, as it can be really lengthy. I have some ideas for doing this. This project should successfully combine "real events" with "mixed-reality." (I plan to post it on my blog.)

Thoughts on Project #5

I have been thinking about mapping something (a specific geographical area, or similar components in a larger area) using photos, text, sound. I thought a little about something like this for project #4, but couldn't really come up with anything to fit the prompt. I also love the "bird's eye view" idea of looking at maps. I was addicted to Microsoft World for a while, just "flying around," and noticing how very different geographical placement really is, compared to how I think it is while on the ground, using roads. I also might just do something like "a day in my life." I have a lot of different ideas, I just need to focus on one and come up with a plan!

Blogs...

Start class on your blog, responding to the following: It is common to speak of the "blogosphere" or the collective space of all blogs and their interconnections. Time magazine named "user-generated content" (such as blogging) as the 2006 "person of the year." Political and journalistic blogs supposedly influence the direction of policy and opinion. Do you read blogs? Why are blogs so important today? Why are people excited about them as a form of writing? Is there something new, different, and specific about blogs? Are blogs in any way more cooperative or democratic or open or participatory? As you think about this, you might look at blog art for alternative uses of blogs (i.e. must blogs inherently be about reporting/content/commentary?). If you want, extend your thoughts to the web in general - is it really open and participatory?

I personally have not spoken much about the "blogosphere" or the collective space of all blogs and their interconnections. Before this semester, I only browsed a few blogs. A lot of blogs out there seem to be too "cutesy" or personal, and do not interest me. I have looked at blogs for the past few months for a political science class that I am taking, and have really enoyed the more political ones that I have come across.

Have to wrap it up per Dr. Baldwin... more to come!

Project #4 Metatext

For project #4, I have used the required “everyday” and “personal”, and have involved other people. I have used a series of text messages from a six week period. They are both sent and received messages between my family and friends and me. They show the everyday, sometimes mundane and utilitarian, the emotional, sometimes touching, and also the humorous and absurd.

The involvement with others is apparent, but I have decided to blur the line between different people and different chunks of conversation by using a consistent design throughout. This adds a mysterious element, and makes for some strange juxtaposition between different messages and ideas.

My project turns the uncreative (text messages from my phone) into something creative, presented in a multimedia fashion. With Windows Movie Maker, I have incorporated the text, with is inherently a modern and highly digitalized way of communicating, into a simple, “reminiscent of the past” type of presentation. I have used a simple, traditional font, grayscale colors and a grainy texture, along with the sound of typing, to purposefully clash with the contemporary idea of text messaging.

My project presents the identities of my correspondents and me, which may, or may not be, difficult to determine. The “chatter” is streamed into one big conversation, with some conversation boundaries clear, and others not.

I enjoyed this project a lot. It was fun to try and creatively express the everyday in a new way. It involves the reader in way that makes them wonder, perhaps bores them a bit, but hopefully entertains them in some small way!

Project #4 Final Draft (FINALLY!!)

Technical difficulties... Project #4 coming!

I have been trying to post my video since 9am this morning, and I am having a terrible time. I am tring again now... sorry for the inconvenience. It shoud be viewable soon!

Boring? Stupid?

I don't know if I like mine or not. I don't know if it is interesting enough. I do like the flow, and how it is visually presented. I was experimenting with sound effects last night, which I think might liven it up a bit... Not sure about the project overall, though! Any comments appreciated.

Comments on Project #4 Draft...

Below is a draft for the upcoming project. It is a glimpse into my (and others') mundane, everyday life through text messages. Dry, boring, but personal, with a few funny, weird, touching parts. I plan on adding some audio, perhaps sound effects. Is it too long? Should I trim it down? Do you like the colors? Or would black and white be better? Thanks in advance for and suggestions.

Project #4 Draft

Details on project #4

Well, IF I decide to do what I wrote about below, the tools that I would use would be my digital camera, to record videos, Limewire and my computer, to download and play requests, and possibly Microsoft Movie Maker to put something together. Really, this project would focus more on collaboration. What interests me is what people might request for a song. I know a lot of people with hugely diverse musical tastes, so I thought that it might be interesting to juxtapose different songs. This is personal because I am using my baby as a main part of the project, and exploiting his rug cutting capability. It might be lame, though, like I said earlier, beacause this stuff might bore a lot of people. I'm not sure... What do you think?

Thoughts on project #4...

I am still not certain about exactly what I am going to. My son Franklin is fourteen months old and loves to dance, so I was thinking about sending out an email to my family and friends with a link to my blog, showing a video of him dancing to a certain song, and having them watch it and then requesting a song that they would like to see him dance to, and then adding that video, and so on and so on... I'm not sure. Something like this might only be entertaining or "cute" to people who know him/us. It would be personal, everyday, and collaborative. I'm not sure... I do, however, call him Sammy Davis, Jr..

Response #6... A List

Number of windows in my house: 16

Number of trash bins in my house: 5

Number of different kinds
of fruit in my house: 7

Number of layers of wall paper
my boyfriend and I scraped from
our bedroom walls: 4

Number of houseplants in my house: 9

Number of stamps left in the
book hanging on the bulletin board: 4

Number of cuckoo clocks in my house: 1

Number of current and different
phone books in my house: 6

I was just sitting here in my house, randomly looking around and counting things. I have no idea, really, what I am going to do for the fourth project and I hoped that an exercise like this might help, but I am still unsure.

I would like to do something that incorporates my family, and maybe music or dancing. That light bulb over my head just hasn’t lit up yet with a great, creative idea yet.

If I can't think of anything else, having other people add on to a list or story appeals to me. I'll think of something!

Thinking of Project #4...

Wow, there is a lot to think about when it comes to Project #4. The examples on the syllabus are so creative and interesting! I hope that I can think of something cool... I am attracted to the idea of having people add to or participate somehow. Maybe I will do something about my family/house. I will have to think about it. Or maybe my neighborhood, a rather strange place... We'll see!

About Project #3

For my first set of texts, I have used the lyrics of theme songs for some television shows that everyone is probably familiar with: The Brady Bunch, and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. I translated them numerous times, into different languages, using Google’s translator tool. I chose these two texts because they are something that everyone is familiar with, and probably finds some sort of comfort in, as well. By seeing these texts in a different way, it makes the reader really consider the texts original meaning. It is also strange when the generated texts produce negative images/thoughts, or strange images/thoughts, because the original texts are so inherently wholesome (like “Kinky and the youngest one” and “Not-Not-Please, do not you my neighbor? I think that it is these types of juxtaposition that add the most interest.

For my second text, I chose an excerpt of a short story that I really haven’t done anything with for a while (i.e. edit it, finish it…). The algorithm I applied to this text was like the N+7 method we did in class once, in which we went either seven, or beyond to the first noun not containing the root word of the original word. I used my OED for this, and I really like the way that it turned out. I like it better than the original. It has a strange quality to it, mix its mix of familiar and unfamiliar words. (There are like three or four different kinds of strange fish in there!) The N+7 makes the story seem mystical and haunting, in a way. Some of the phrases generated were neat, like “We didn’t even eat dinosaur” and “Chattering pepperboxes, probably sitting on the pork, relaxing.” Some really bizarre things come up! Overall, I liked the way the N+7 worked, and how it gave an almost alien quality to the text.

Lastly, I did a recipe “cut up.” I really like how recipes turn out with the cut up method. I like the way that the numbers visually break up the text. I think that it adds texture, and gives the reader a break from all of the jumbled words/letters. I like the silly words that come up using cut ups. I went through ten or twelve different combinations before I found one that I liked (that contained some good silly words!). I love the words like “seasocrumbs,” “mediucrease,” and especially “Tabascokle!” I didn’t really like cut ups at first, because they seemed boring. I like them much more now. I like the element of silliness that you can get from them.

Overall, I like the way my texts turned out. I appreciate how the changes generated by the algorithms complement each one, either in meaning or visually. This was very interesting and fun.

Project #3 (Final)

PART I

Here is something familiar...

Here's the story
Of a lovely lady
Who was bringing up three very lovely girls
All of them had hair of gold
Like their mother
The youngest one in curls

Here's the story
Of a man named Brady
Who was busy with three boys of his own
They were four men
Living all together
Yet they were all alone

Till the one day when the lady met this fellow
And they knew it was much more than a hunch
That this group would somehow form a family
That's the way we all became the Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
That's the way we all became the Brady Bunch


...and here it is (the lyrics to the Brady Bunch theme song) translated from English → Russian → Korean → Czech → Swedish → English:


Here is the story of a beautiful woman
Year old male was dragged into a very nice girl
They are all just like my mother's golden hair
Kinky and the youngest one

This trade is a man named Brady
We were busy with three children
Living with 4 men
But all alone

To a day she met fellow
And they know more than I realized it was
This is part of the family as a group
This is what we all Brady Bunch

The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
This is what we all Brady Bunch


Some more familiar lyrics...

It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?

It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood,
A neighborly day for a beauty,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?

I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you,
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.

So, let's make the most of this beautiful day,
Since we're together, we might as well say,

Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?

Won't you please,
Won't you please,
Please won't you be my neighbor?

Hi neighbor!


...and then translated from English → Norwegian → Romanian → Japanese → Hindi → Spanish → Vietnamese → Dutch → Greek → English:


It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood,
For the beautiful neighbor,
Can you tell me?
We call you?

On this day, a neighbor is the beauty of the forest,
Berber is a good day in the neighborhood for
I found you?
We call you?

I always like your neighbor, but want to
I am always with you, and I live in the neighborhood.

Therefore, the majority prettify
Why can talk to each other:

I found you?
We call you?
It is not my neighbor?

Not
Not
Please, do not you my neighbor?

Hawaii neighbor!


PART II

Here is an excerpt from a short story that I have been piddling with for awhile, with the N+7 (or the first word that doesn't contain the root word of the original) applied to it:

Volatile oils, faint yet clear, drifted through the aisle. I took another long drail, and it filled my lunkers with a million tiny little split peas, but comic relief nonetheless. I held it there for a little while, and exhaled half of it through my nosh, and the last half through my movement. I tipped back my bottom, welcomed another pulmonaria from my beestings, and let the rich sweet F-layer mellow in my movement. I liked it somewhat warm, or should I say not ice cold.

Regardless of a beestings’ temple, it doesn’t last long enough to really matter.

I listen to the volatile oil. Chattering pepperboxes, probably sitting out on the pork, relaxing. Maybe the same pepperboxes that were doing up the supper dishonorable discharges. We didn’t even eat dinosaur. We can’t sit on the pork, and merrily converse. It is ragpicker and jeet kune do and oviduct, (which I usually refer to as “being a big bacalao”) that we share. We don’t talk any more. Not like we used to.

Before, when we were frigates, frigates with this sparrow of Magnificat, this foolish wit, this almost lonicera for one another, it was then that we could smile. It was then that we could look steadily into the eyots of the other, unwavering, quizzical. It was then that my heat was warm, tender. And his too, from what I understand. But that was not enough. That sinciput, that tendril, it just wasn’t enough. Instead, our passive immunity exploded in our facilities. Colossi, lignin, sents. Oh, such Passive immunity. Passive immunity that we still share, either while arguing or in the sacrament.

Here is the original text:

Voices, faint yet clear, drifted through the air. I took another long drag, and it filled my lungs with a million tiny little splinters, but comfort nonetheless. I held it there for a little while, and exhaled half of it through my nose, and the last half through my mouth. I tipped back my bottle, and welcomed another pull from my beer, and let the rich sweet flavor mellow in my mouth. I liked it somewhat warm, or should I say not ice cold.

Regardless of a beer’s temperature, it doesn’t last long enough to really matter.

I listen to the voices. Chattering people, probably sitting out on the porch, relaxing. Maybe the same people that were doing up the supper dishes. We didn’t even eat dinner. We can’t sit on the porch, and merrily converse. It is rage and jealousy and over sensitivity, (which I usually refer to as “being a big baby”) that we share. We don’t talk any more. Not like we used to.

Before, when we were friends, friends with this spark of magnetism, this foolish wish, this almost longing for one another, it was then that we could smile. It was then that we could look steadily into the eyes of the other, unwavering, quizzical. It was then that my heart was warm, tender. And his too, from what I understand. But that was not enough. That simplicity, that tenderness, it just wasn’t enough. Instead, our passion exploded in our faces. Colors, light, senses. Oh, such passion. Passion that we still share, either when arguing or in the sack.


PART III

Here is a recipe that has been cut up:

n tomatooys 3 smes, halvall greeto Po' Been TomaFried Grk slicesto 1/2-i Salt annch thicd cut inhwise aned lengtp dry br to tastead crume 3/4 cu pepper,y groundd freshlive oil oning 3 4 stripsTbsp. olBay seassp. Old bs 1/2 t brand oor your f faux bfavorite Bacon (fe Smart Lightlie mayonn 2 Tbsp.aise (tr egg-freub rolls6-inch sacon) 2 ves Tabaaine letsco sauctuce lead) 2 romise brany Nayonat and peomatoes pper. Cowith salon the tste Sease, to taning in nd Old Ba shalloay seasocrumbs ae bread mbine thently tolices an coat evd toss gtomato sAdd the w bowl. ve oil iTbsp. ofn a larg the oli Heat 1 t aside.enly. Seon' and at. Add cook on the 'bacedium het over me skiller to papthrough.er towel Transfe heated es untilboth sid olive oining 2 il to thTbsp. ofthe remain. Add s to dram-high. he heat Cook theto mediucrease tt and ine skilleh sides-den browabout 5 n on botntil golslices u tomato ransfer m the heto paperat and tmove froutes. Reto 6 minally ande rolls spread horizont. Cut thto drain towels se. Linegg-free the botmayonnaith the esides withe cut f. Top eth a letach withtuce lea roll wi of eachtom halfes on torange thp, sprine tomatocon.' Ars of 'ba 2 striplf of thplace the roll. e top ha, and re Tabascokle withtable. N Tabascoote: Po' on the ottle ofth the bServe wi. Faux smade withrimp cah shrimpionally e tradit boys are of or s recipein addit in placd to thi be adden easilyrvings. kes 2 seacon. Maion to b

The Recipe, actually:

Fried Green Tomato Po' Boys

3 small green tomatoes, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices

Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

3/4 cup dry bread crumbs

1/2 tsp. Old Bay seasoning

3 Tbsp. olive oil

4 strips Lightlife Smart Bacon (or your favorite brand of faux bacon)

2 6-inch sub rolls

2 Tbsp. egg-free mayonnaise (try Nayonaise brand)

2 romaine lettuce leaves

Tabasco sauce, to taste

Season the tomatoes with salt and pepper. Combine the bread crumbs and Old Bay seasoning in a shallow bowl. Add the tomato slices and toss gently to coat evenly. Set aside. Heat 1 Tbsp. of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the "bacon" and cook on both sides until heated through. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Add the remaining 2 Tbsp. of olive oil to the skillet and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook the tomato slices until golden brown on both sides-about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to paper towels to drain. Cut the rolls horizontally and spread the cut sides with the egg-free mayonnaise. Line the bottom half of each roll with a lettuce leaf. Top each with 2 strips of "bacon." Arrange the tomatoes on top, sprinkle with Tabasco, and replace the top half of the roll. Serve with the bottle of Tabasco on the table.

Note: Po' boys are traditionally made with shrimp. Faux shrimp can easily be added to this recipe in place of or in addition to bacon.
Makes 2 servings.

Drafts for project #3

Here are some things I am considering for project #3:

The Brady Bunch theme song translated from English → Russian → Korean → Czech → Swedish → English


Here is the story of a beautiful woman
Year old male was dragged into a very nice girl. They are all just like my mother's golden hair; Kinky and the youngest one.

This trade is a man named Brady
We were busy with three children
Living with 4 men
But all alone.

To a day she met fellow
And they know more than I realized it was
This is part of the family as a group.
This is what we all Brady Bunch.
The Brady Bunch

This is what we all Brady Bunch.
The Brady Bunch.


A sort of N+7 method applied to an excerpt of a short story I have been writing:

Volatile oils, faint yet clear, drifted through the aisle. I took another long drail, and it filled my lunkers with a million tiny little split peas, but comic relief nonetheless. I held it there for a little while, and exhaled half of it through my nosh, and the last half through my movement. I tipped back my bottom, welcomed another pulmonaria from my beestings, and let the rich sweet F-layer mellow in my movement. I liked it somewhat warm, or should I say not ice cold. Regardless of a beestings’ temple, it doesn’t last long enough to really matter.

I listen to the volatile oil. Chattering pepperboxes, probably sitting out on the pork, relaxing. Maybe the same pepperboxes that were doing up the supper dishonorable discharges. We didn’t even eat dinosaur. We can’t sit on the pork, and merrily converse. It is ragpicker and jeet kune do and oviduct, (which I usually refer to as “being a big bacalao”) that we share. We don’t talk any more. Not like we used to.

Before, when we were frigates, frigates with this sparrow of Magnificat, this foolish wit, this almost lonicera for one another, it was then that we could smile. It was then that we could look steadily into the eyots of the other, unwavering, quizzical. It was then that my heat was warm, tender. And his too, from what I understand. But that was not enough. That sinciput, that tendril, it just wasn’t enough. Instead, our passive immunity exploded in our facilities. Colossi, lignin, sents. Oh, such Passive immunity. Passive immunity that we still share, either while arguing or in the sacrament.

Translating George Bush

Here is the original quote from G. Bush:

"I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf. I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal."
-George Bush


And then translated from English to Hindi to Lithuanian to Finnish to English:


"I have recently, a boy to play golf and the police chief to see a dead mother may want nothing. I think the solidarity of the family, so I can with them, would be the best the debtor can feel it. I believe that during the golf game with only the war in the wrong signals."
-George Bush


(They seem similar, haha.)

Response #5... Playing with texts

These text generating tools are fun to explore. I generated two funny ones from the "haiku-a-tron" which was pretty neat:

mourning ass fun
lyric swans listening rub
fresh look

bronzeberry cadaver odor
clear feed feared hell
inexorable write

I also "sliced and diced" a recipe, which turned out rather interestingly...

Black Forest Vegan Cheese Cupcake Recipe

eCupcakes I4 Vanilla wangredients 2 Vegan CheesBlack Foresteese 1 1/4 cleached Suga Organic UnbeganCream chfers 16 oz V2/4 c soy yopple sauce 1gurt 1/4 c aa 2 T Flour r 1/3 c Cocoound soft/si T lemon juilken tofu, 4r cream (1 p c Vegan Soubrown rice v2 t salt) 1/inegar, 1 1/la oil, 4 t ce, 6 T canoy pie fillin Black Foresg , -chilledxtract cherr2 t Almond eSour Cream Tdients 1 c Vopping Ingrecakes Cocoa t Cheese Cup soft/silkenemon juice, tofu, 4 T leam (1 poundegan Sour crn rice vinegsalt) 1/4 c ar, 1 1/2 t il, 4 t brow6 T canola o 2 Tbsp cocost Vegan Chea Black Foreeached sugarorganic unbling Ingredieart cherriesnts 8 cups t Cherry Fillese Cupcakesespoons corn Forest Vegastarch Blacksugar 5 Tabl 2 1/2 cups Filling Dir and pit cheections Washcakes Cherryn Cheese Cupgar and corn in cherriesstarch. Stir. Combine surries. Drain begin to fl minutes. Coow, about 30until juices; let stand l mixture beken. Black Fgins to thicum heat untiok over medikes Directio to 325 degrns Heat ovenCheese Cupcaorest Vegan th foil-lami cups. Placenated bakingffin pans wiees. Line mu of each. In bowl, beat large mixerer on bottom vanilla waf smooth. Addleached suga organic unbcheese untilvegan cream nd well. Addand applesau soy yogurt d flour; bler, cocoa, anur cream andact. Fill ea almond extr. Stir in soce; mix welll with mixtu25 minutes ore. Bake 20-c almost fulch prepared oven; cool tes. Spread 5 to 10 minu Remove fromr until set.cream on eaccompletely ih cup. Cool cocoa sour heaping t ofnish with dory pie fillillop of cherigerate. Garn pans; refrRefrigerate akes 18-24 cleftovers. Mre serving. ng just befoeese Cupcake Cream Toppis Cocoa Sourck Forest Chupcakes. Blaher ingredie bowl until nts in smalls Stir togetng Direction is dissolved. eached sugarorganic unbl

The first "word", eCupcakes, is pretty relevant. Ha!

I really enjoyed reading about the OuLiPo, and their interesting ways of fashioning texts. I am also going to try some of their ideas (which take more time and thought, in my opinion).

Project 2 Workshopping

This morning I pulled my draft... I worked on it for a week, and I decided today that I didn't feel comfortable with the content. I am working with Windows Movie Maker for my project. It is easy to use and it combines text, images and sound well. Instead of my original idea, I am now going to use an excerpt of a short story that I have been working on, along with images and sound. I feel confident in my new project, and do not anticipate any problems. I will post it later today after completion, if anyone would like to comment then. Sorry for not having anything now, but I chickened out! Erin

Thinking of Project #2...

For project #2, I am thinking about telling a short story and incorporating sounds and images to emphasize each part. I really liked how Windows Movie Maker worked, and I don't think that I would have any trouble using it.

I also liked the Google map idea to tell a story, and I thought about using it to talk about the state of Pennsylvania, based on a quote that I read from a political scientist.

I need to find out if the two programs can be combined...

If I don't use Google Maps, I think that I will still somehow incorporate the story of PA into my project.

Link to Project #2

Here it is!

Applying McCloud's Concepts

Well, the examples from last Thursday's class were pretty simple and it was rather easy to see McCloud's ideas, such as icon and simplification, and apply them to the works. But when I looked over the newer examples, however, they didn't seem to be as cut and dry as the first ones...

Looking again, though, gave me some more vision into them, making the cross-referencing easier.

First, "On the Night of Mr. Melvyn's Murder" was truly terrific, and such fun. It can certainly be discussed in the "sequential writing" (or lack thereof) topic. It uses links, that you as the reader choose, to meet new characters, see how they connect with one another as characters, and that ultimately tells the story. You can't make a wrong choice. You can just either lengthen or shorten the story, depending on the path you choose. The fun of the story would be gone if it had to read sequentially. Part of the excitement is trying to make sure you get through every character profile before the end. The non sequential aspect really works, and adds thrill, to this writing.

Also in this piece is the iconic portrayal of the characters. They are pretty stereotypical (and hilarious), and do wonders for the writing, as it would be pretty bland without their visual presence. ("Drag" is pretty funny.)

The "Zombie and Mummy" cartoons seem to fit well into the "amplification through simplification" approach. The illustrations are easily recognizable in their form, and go well with the simple and ironic stories.

The juxtaposition of the small, non-framed, continuous scroll cartoons within the larger scene really add to the effect. Because you actually have to locate, and interact with the cartoon its self, is a significant part of the reading. The use of boundaries (or none) is important in "Zombie and Mummy."

Final Project #1 "The Itsy Bitsy Spider"

(Draft) Project #1 and Preface

For my first project, I decided to add some visual elements and kinesthetics to a traditional text, the nursery rhyme "The Itsy Bitsy Spider."

I first thought about experimenting with my own text, and creating a sort of concrete poem, but the more I tried, the more it went downhill... For some reason (probably because I recite it a few times a week to my children) "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" popped into my head, and I started thinking about how the text would "look" to a reader, in a visual way.

Certainly there is much movement reciting the nursery rhyme, with its generally prescribed movements, but I tried not to think of them, and instead focused on the movement of the words as they are read.

There is quite a lot of movement indicated by the verse's words, and I juxtaposed the text in a way that (hopefully) gives the feeling of moving along with the words, the story. Once, I think, the reader orients them self with the text placement, it makes sense. To look at the text placement in a traditional way adds confusion, naturally, but the familiarity of the verse allows one to easily navigate it after looking it over for a moment.

I also utilized repetitive color and images to give impact to the nouns in the rhyme, and to create a visual element for the mind to focus on while reading.

I feel that since my adaptation is a variation of a familiar writing, it really addresses the reader, and involves kinesthetics. The eyes must travel in the correct path to understand, and when they do, the movement actually goes along with the words of the verse.

A note on technology:

I used Microsoft Word to create my multimedia writing, although I downloaded Gimp and tried (for a long while...) to reproduce the writing there with a bit more pizazz (the images, mostly), I was unable to succeed. I will continue practicing with Gimp, and hopefully be able to use it for future projects. I do, however, think that the simplicity of my creation suits its purposes, as one can move around it freely without much distraction.

Strike Microsoft Word... I ended up using Paint.

Countdown to a Textual/Visual Intersection

I really enjoy our assigned "readings" for this class. People are so creative and can mesh their talent with technology to produce some great things. For the first project, I would love to create a highly layered, highly digitized piece of art, but I can tell you honestly that that is not going to happen, because I am not technologically savvy enough to implement such devices....

I am aiming more toward a concrete poem, still creative, but not so "techy."
I have also, however, bravely thought about doing something with just a few links... I'm not sure, but I doubt that I will.

I have been thinking about a lot of subjects/words to use in my "notated word" project, but I am still not sure of exactly which I will choose.

Some subjects/words I have tossed around are:

Baby, Aeroplane, Cheese, Haircut, Clams, Bibliothek...

I just have to move on and do some sketches on paper. I will probably use either MS Paint or MS Word (or both) as the vehicle for my poem?story?game?

I guess it's time to get started...

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Countdown to a Textual/Visual Intersection, Supplemental

After reading the email before class, and then hearing even more information in class, I fell confident in the project. I felt pretty confident before, but the extra information was helpful. I have been thinking a lot about the project between my blog posting last night and class today.

I really do not have any questions, because I think we will see some examples of technology used in this manner in class today, which will probably clarify my technology questions...


(Some practice above.)

On Young on Notation...

Young’s essay on reading poetry captures different types of notation used by four various cultures during four different time periods. He explains how notation plays an important role in how one did/could read a text.

Young explains how the ancient groups in Mexico, such as the Mayans and Aztecs, with no written language, used notation (as heavy elaborate “book paintings”, for example) in their religious/mythical/historical studies to intensify their current knowledge, as a tool to their primarily oral learning.

Mayan and Aztec notation was read in many ways, depending on the situation. It might accompany elaborate public religious ceremonies, as large book paintings hung on walls as guidance for prayer, or it could be used more intimately, such as a singer performing for a small audience holding up pictures to further define his song/story.

Kinesthetics were probably involved mainly through the senses of hearing (the story, lesson, prayer, etc.) and sight (the powerful imagery) and the connection perceived by this pairing. Notation would seem a powerful tool for any society with much oral use and no written language.

Young explains how poetic notation in 9th century China was used to evoke responses, such as singing, music, or more writing from the reader. Text was also used everywhere, such as on buildings and cliff faces, requiring readers to travel to interact with the words.

The act of physically writing the poetry (as in cursive calligraphy) was purposeful in getting readers to intimately interact and respond to the text. Chinese poems demanded gesture and vocalization from the reader, which seems highly kinesthetic.

English poets in the 1600s also employed notation in order to get readers to become more in touch with the text. Many were ambiguous in their spelling, use of letters, punctuation, and meter. They used this peculiar form of notation to force the reader to read aloud and linger longer, and hence gain a better understanding of the text.

Manuscripts were passed around and transcribed, which also played a part in reading and absorbing the text, as did elaborate usage of puns, which could also be interpreted as a sort of notation. The act of copying the text would have been kinesthetic for the reader, as well as the vocalization. Like the other cultures, this vocalization seemed to play a very important role in understanding the text.

Young shows the final culture, contemporary North America, as using notation to aid in the reading and performance of poems. Many poets also use notation to not only to stimulate vocalization and movement, but also as a graphic statement.

Many poets also employ notation in the hopes of regaining the act of reading as an “art.” They do this much the same as the English poets, to force the reader to slow down and gain a better understanding of the writing.

Just perform, or watch some poetic performances on TV or the Internet, and you can grasp immediately the kinesthetics, through sound and movement. The readers and performers are aware and passionate, exactly how those of the other cultures certainly must have been.

The Web and Myself

The web... I've used it since I was 18. That would be about 13 years. It seemed so incredible to me when I first used it. I would travel a half hour to my friend's house just to use MiRC, which was/is(?) a popular (still is? isn't?) chat program.

I don't chat anymore. Nowadays, I probably take the web for granted, and really have no "strange feeling of awe that takes over me" like I used to. I don't think that it could ever evoke a response in me like it did at first.

I use the web in almost the same way everyday... I check my two email accounts, browse Craigslist and participate in my online courses. If I have some extra time, I look at the WWE webpage, Youtube, some gardening sites, take some surveys (paid ones), go on Webkinz, or surf for whatever I might have on my mind, or on a piece of paper, to study about on the Web...I am a Wikipedia addict.

I truly love the Web. My first experiences with it was like the beginning of a passionate love affair. It was very intense, and I couldn't get of it. Now, it is a part of my everyday life, and I rely on for various reasons. It helps me with a lot of things, gives me happiness, and entertains me.