The Topic We Read In Class

First and for most, I'd like to say that I totally agree with this article. People of the current day seem to be more impatient in multiple aspects. As far as writing goes, people like to read quickly and easily. This also transfers into the way people structure their sentences. I've read papers in which reading from word to word is a headache. I think this is due to the new age people are so intertwined with. So many acronyms, symbols, and slang to create shortcuts where ever possible degrade one's ability to write a fully developed essay. In a way, the more technologically advanced our society becomes, the less our brains work. Back in the day people knew how to speak eloquently at very young ages. Now, you can find college students writing at 6th grade levels. This can almost deffiniatly be blamed upon technology. Social networks such as Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, chat rooms or texting have caused our generation to become "watered down". At our age, we should be capable of writing very professional papers but due to our need to get things fast, we've cut all the richness out. You can certainly see how our advanced society has so many positives, but with those advantages come disadvantages. The problem is, society hasn't figured out a way to balance the two.

space odyssey

To me, the movie 2001 space odyssey was brilliant. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to watch a movie and examine the details so much. This movie made me think from start to finish. I think that a lot of people say it’s too slow or that they don’t get it but this maybe because they are a little desensitized. In today’s world, everyone wants things as fast as possible. We live in an age when technology allows us to instantly talk to other people around the world on a live feed… but this contributes to that desensitized thing I mentioned just a few seconds ago. It seems, in general, that people go into a movie and want to have the plot, action, and dialogue to be very apparent. This in affect dumbs down an audience, for we now just sit in a movie on “auto pilot” and receive the information thrown at us like a baby receives a spoon full a food. So when you step out of that realm and watch a movie with a little bit more artistic flair to it, it seems awful. Artistic usually implies slower scenes, more shots of just scenery, and sometimes shots of people doing nothing at all. This requires a little bit more maturity from an audience. You can’t just sit there and have the movie bluntly tell you what’s going on, because it won’t. Movies such as 2001 space odyssey are made to make you interpret and think about what’s happening instead of being told directly. So if you are used to the typical movie where you aren’t required to do much as a viewer, then you might not like this film the first few times you see it. It’s almost as if you have to prepare yourself for what you’re about to see. You can’t go into the film thinking it’s going to be like Star Wars, you have to go into the film as if you are about to solve a puzzle or mystery. That’s what makes this film so special. There are so many ways one can interpret any scene in the movie, because Kubrick doesn’t openly come out and state what’s going on at any point, he kind of leaves it up to you. Thus, I don’t believe there is a right or wrong answer to this film for it’s so deep that one can interpret multiple ideas out of one event. Furthermore, his use of long drawn out scenes and lack of dialogue make you feel different things. Moments such as the time a character is breathing in his space suit outside of the ship for 3 or so minutes makes me feel the vastness of space around him. There are no sounds anywhere except for his inhalations and exhalations… it makes him seem more alone. Also, the moment in which you see the black rectangle (which can signify so many things) you hear an eerie sound… then if you remember the intermission that occurs half way through the movie, the screen turns completely black and that sound is heard once again (the screen itself is the shape of a rectangle… therefore one can assume that you are looking at that mysterious object or rather, it is looking at you). That to me is something brilliant in itself. Kubrick clearly has a point to everything in the movie which is something you really don’t see in mainstream films anymore. It seems as though it’s more about the best graphics, hottest girls, and coolest action… so on and so forth. For the record, I for one love hot girls, action, and cool graphics in movies; but I also like to watch something that is completely different and prods my mind. I can’t stand it when people just sit there and say “I don’t get it” or “it’s just too slow moving for me”. If you watched the film and got those two things out of it, then you didn’t really watch the film. Usually this can be solved by just going into it with a different though process because it really isn’t your typical film. It’s a puzzle for the brain and you can influence the way others interpret the film. If it really is too much for you to handle to re-watch over and over (which I can understand with any movie)… just click forward a few seconds at a time since it’s on YouTube- this may make it more tolerable. Go forth and watch the film again but with a different mindset and find out for yourself what this film means to you. Because in the end, it’s just what you think, it’s all personal interpretation. Interpretation being the key word.



The movie (I thought) represents mankind's continual mission for more (whether that "more" be technology or knowledge) and how that characteristic hasn't changed since the dawn of our existence. This can be related to the very first few scenes that represent the dawn of man and the discovering of tools. As the story progresses we find ourselves in the year 2001, with more tools that are much more advanced (space craft, space stations, communication technology, space food... etc). But there is an element of mystery that shrouds humans even still despite all of the knowledge we posses. This element is shown as a black rectangle. This object, that represents something unknown, is seen in the first few scenes by the first humans. The irony is, you see the object again later on in the story but on the moon, but the more advanced humans still approach the object in the same way the apes did (this is even more evident by the use of the hand to touch the object- a basic human instinct that we see the monkeys do earlier). Well as the need to know more prods at the humans in the film... a mission to Jupiter is scheduled (apparently the object left some sort of trail that aims in that direction). At this point we find ourselves aboard one of mankind's advanced space vessels. Commanding the vessel is a very advanced computer the HAL 9000. Soon we find that the computer is too smart for it's own good, and begins to kill off the crew. The last astronaut alive manages to defeat the computer fortunately, but only to discover he's on a mission to find the origins of some alien like object (the mission was top secret so even the crew wasn't informed). Then, we see the black object appear in space with Jupiter in the foreground and the ship approaching it. What follows has been described as "trippy" but one can assume the last astronaut is put through some sort of space travel. When its all over, the man finds himself in a room. At this point it gets a little surreal, but some suggest that he experiences himself in different forms... like entering alternate realities. And, in the process, the black object reappears in the middle of the room. The man at this point seems to be on his death bed, but seconds later he is then a baby. This could mean he is reborn, and since the body of the baby itself appears altered (it has a much larger head) you might think that he is some sort of "star child". Its as if he finds out the meaning of life by means of the black object. Lastly, he is seen moving towards the planet earth, perhaps to answer the questions of mankind.


In closing, I’d say that this movie was something that I truly enjoyed watching, thinking, and writing about. At first I’ll admit, that I wasn’t really looking forward to doing this paper and spending my time watching the movie multiple times… but now I am glad I did. Seeing how I’m a film buff and my major is currently film and production, this movie certainly gave me some ideas. Films today (at least the big blockbuster hits) just don’t touch that sort of artistic depth anymore. Such a sad realization.

Late Group Report o.O

My group seems to get everything done and together easily. This is probably due to the fact that we all get along real well and hear each other's ideas out. We had a great conference with Mrs. Evans and we just now finished our outline (how we will present our project) for Thursday. It just seems like our group is a good one; no matter what assignment we'll probably have fun just because we don't mind each other's company. If I had to find some sort of stress I would have to say that they would be minuscule (such as trying to figure out how I-Locker works haha).

Bracken TAG

Bracken Tag is my group project and it's basically about tag in Bracken Library. However, this isn't just some normal tag you might have played as a child in elementary... Its more strategical and suspenseful. The game is played in a Library, therefore there are certain rules that apply. for example one being that you cannot run while playing, only walk. You'll see all of the rules in the video via scenes that we (the group) created. We used a video camera and plan to edit the movie via adobe software. Everyone in my group added their own little bit to eventually create a master piece... which is still in the editing process. As you watch our video you might find yourself wanting to play Bracken tag with your friends some day when there is nothing to do. Or if you just want to have some fun- this game is always a winner. Enjoy

-palmer

das next blog

So far, I've determined that re-reading your paper is a wonderful thing. I've found so many flow errors and basic punctual errors just by reading it allowed to myself. I guess spell check and other computer tools can't do it all for you. Also, it's much easier to type a paper days in advance versus the day before. English is a class that you can't just procrastinate to the last day and hope to get an A. It's definitely a process to write something. At times it can take hours to think of what you want to type, how to put your thoughts on paper, and how to make sense of it all. If you wait, and try to spend all your time all at once... Your probably going to get impacient and turn out an average paper. Thus, English takes time if you hope to succeed (this coming from a high school procrastinator who is now changing his ways because college is a little bit more demanding). One final thought, Once you post or submit your work, it's "set in stone" and you most likely won't get a chance to change or edit it anymore... So if you take your time, odds are you'll weed out many more problems by the time you turn it in.

Palmer's awesome next blog

Editing papers is always kind of shady especially when everyone in the group has no idea how to truly edit a paper. It always seems as though no one ever knows what to look for, which can get frustrating because often when your paper gets to the teacher, it can be like sending a first draft depending on how much help your group was. I personally know that I'm not the best editor. I tend to lose track of whats going on and don't know specific literary points to look for. I am a thinker however, and try to ask abstract questions to make the writer question him/herself. But that is often the only input I can contribute. Although, I will say, peer editing is a great way to refine your paper, simply because you can gauge by how confused or how involved the group is.

Blog III

As I read the assignment, the part about writing and using many details relates best to me. I would have to say that I tend to use tons of descriptive words when writing stories. I would say that i like to use as many details as possible simply because I write from a "movie scene" perspective. I love writing out the scene as it happens in my head in exact detail. From how high things are or wide, to what the characters are thinking. Although, I can see how using too much detail could get a little redundant and boring for a reader... which could very well be the case for me. But I just can't help it... you'll see so many descriptive words in my future papers (mostly if they are free writes) because I tend to write down what is pictured in my head. The reading also got me thinking about dialogue and how important it really is. Even if an entire scene has one sentence with about two words worth of content is better than nothing- and can sometimes be more effective. I think that dialogue enhances a story so much more just because it gives any paper a more human feel to it (which allows readers to connect with the tale). Again, those two chapters stuck out to me even though I do believe that chronological order or at least some form of order to a story can be pretty important; especially if you are writing to a diverse and large audience (it's easier to understand). Deadlines are also always the right thing to do, and as long as you aren't lazy or if you have the time, it's the best possible way to type a paper.