IR Blog Post 1- Health & Safety

"Health & Saftey"

Lorin Ashton (Bassnectar) is considered to be a freeform electronic musician or Dub-step DJ. He produces his own music as well as assisting and collaborating with other electronic artists. He stepped into the scene in the '90's and has become increasingly popular in the last decade. After reading the DJ & Musician's blog post about health & safety, I was definitely surprised at his point of view. 


The culture and lifestyle that has been created around Dub-step music is fast-paced, high-energy, and saturated with drugs. Concerts and festivals that include this type of music look, sound, and feel similar to a rave-- glow-sticks included. With this environment, heavy usage of LSD, MDMA, and other drugs come right along with it, therefore many often associate Dub-step/electronic musicians with this lifestyle as well. An dubstep arist known as Ikonika in the Uk agrees. In the interview previously linked, she says, " The drug influence definitely played a part in the music and the sound that was coming out of [the UK rave scene] which influences the scene in the US. However, Lorin has a completely different outlook and lifestyle compared to the scene his type of music has created, and the people who listen to his music. 


While many of the DJs like Bassnectar do participate in the reckless atmosphere their music can create, Lorin says that he "still enjoy[s] some occasional vices (drinking wine and coffee), and of course if I have a head ache I take Tylenol or whatever," but he also says that he never " ‘get[s] high’ or ‘part[ies]’ irresponsibly." "I LOVE being clear, and I deeply believe that Bassnectar has grown as a successful project in a large part due to the clarity and focus of my mind." The reason this surprised me so much is because I see Bassnectar as the epitome of his type, I view him as one of leaders of the "Dub-step" movement, and typically the leaders of musical movements are a part of the drug counter-culture. For example, in the 1960's & '70's the Beatles were one of the most popular bands of their kind, and they participated in the drug counter-culture. 


Even though Lorin's viewpoint surprised me, I actually really respect where he is coming from. I also respect the fact that he makes incredible music and is one of the most popular "Dub-step" DJs and he doesn't even have to alter his mind or body to accomplish this. I value his viewpoint on the subject of health and safety because with a scene that can threaten both, he is encouraging his fans to be educated, healthy, and safe. 

Invisible Man Prologue

In the prologue picture posted, the photograph shows the invisible man in his "hole". During the prologue, he explains that he enjoys the luxury of free and monopolized light and electricity. He also describes that he uses many lights in his "hole"-- the expensive light bulbs too, to make sure his shelter stays warm. Even though this man enjoys free lighting and electricity, he is still invisible. He even gives off an attitude of sarcastic resentment towards the society that causes him to be invisible. He may view his free services as a small price to pay for being invisible.

Great Gatsby Final Project

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuKtmGFDDLc


Thesis:
 In comparison with the materialism and greed of the 1920’s, our societies definition of happiness is based off of charity and helping others.

Using pictures and a recorded voice thread, my group tried to show the contrast between American society in 1920 and our current day. The main observation we drew from a comparison in time periods is that our present society learned from the monetary mistakes of the 1920's. Being a millionaire in 1920 was a fantastic and new phenomenon in which many kept everything for themselves or wasted their money on gaudy possessions. 

The basic mindset of the roaring '20's eventually destructed the stock market and economy all together, which caused America as a whole to learn the true definition of the good life. As a country, we learned that happiness can be achieved solely from necessities as well as charity and helping others, whereas life in the fast lane, consisting of money, cars, and clothes defined the "good life" in the 1920's. 

The web tool my group used was a voice thread combined with pictures to create a video. I would definitely used this method again, I have used to frequently for projects such as this. I find this method to be relativity easy to put together but still effective in exploring a deeper topic such as a thesis and extensive examples.

The way my group split up the work, was effective. We separated the research and script for the video and then edited the writing piece under one person. All four of us helped to pick out pictures. I wrote the introduction while Amanda wrote the conclusion. Desiree and Rich wrote about the past and present from the research we all did together. I also created the thesis, and we all contributed to the underlying idea. Lastly, Rich did the voice recording and put the video together. This helped for the voice thread to be fluid in description and style. Next time, I will work to embed videos in such videos as well as pictures; a variation in media would have made the project more effective.

Independent Reading Project

Using Mixbook, I created a digital scrapbook based off of the novel Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns. The detail that stuck out the most to me in this story, was the fact that the beginning and end of the book contained the death of a major character. I believe the most descriptive part of my project is located on the second page. I used two pictures of separate beds to show that the main character Rucker, and his new wife, Miss Love, actually sleep in separate rooms and do not have a "real" marriage.

I enjoyed using Mixbook to synthesize this novel and I definitely would use it in the future. It was a very user-friendly version, and fairly easy to work with. The main design technique I utilized was organization and placement of text. This helped my work to be more appealing to the eye as well as being easier to understand. I enjoyed the novel I chose to an extent. The story was for the most part, engaging and exciting. However, the next novel I choose will be in a different genre; I'm not a huge fan of complicated love stories.

http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/interests/cold-sassy-tree-4965347

Gatsby- Chapter 3

My idea of "the good life," is far different from the mentality during the Roaring 20's. In the 1920's, this lifestyle entailed endless designer clothing, glamorous cars, and living in the "fast lane". This era heavily valued money, social status, and material possessions.

In my mind, living the good life means achieving the goals I set for myself, progressing as a person, and striving to do the best at what I do. I define this lifestyle by pure joy and happiness in everyday life. "The good life," consists of loved ones, success(sometimes without monetary gains), and learning new things everyday.

My life is stimulated by the desire to always become a more helpful and compassionate person, while aiming to complete the personal and career goals I define.

Independent Reading Project

Cold Sassy Tree
Olive Anne Burns
9.30- Chapters 1-20
10.18- Chapters 21-35
10.28- Chapters 36-50

Rucker Blakeslee is a southern man living in Cold Sassy, Georgia. His wife has died, but Mr. Blakeslee has taken a liking to a young girl who makes hats in his shop. Her name is Miss Love Simpson. Although Rucker has feelings for Miss Love, his family is alarmed by the fact that his wife, Mattie Lou, died only three weeks prior. The narrator of the story is Will Tweedy, Rucker's grandson.
Upon Miss Love and Rucker's marriage Will becomes friends with Miss Love and discovers her marriage is only of convenience for both her and his grandfather.

UbD & F. Scott Fitzgerald

Some themes we may study this marking period are the American Dream, society in the 1920's, and fiction vs. reality. Other themes could include loss and deception, human relationships, and the effect of monetary issues.

Background knowledge will be very important to The Great Gatsby because it occurs in a different time period than we live in. Story-lines can be immensely different depending on the time period, therefore it will be imperative to understand 1920's culture. Knowledge of historical events that occurred in this time period will help to understand some internal and external conflicts. During different time periods, various events can effect the lifestyle of societies and this in turn can determine peoples' actions and reactions.

There are definitely many discussion worthy points that come up after reading these two documents. These points include: the effect of Zelda's behavior on Fitzgerald and the characters in his stories, the effect of his on again, off again fame and fortune, and what Fitzgerald wanted his life to be vs. what it turned out to be.

What's your flavor?

My favorite genre of stories and movies is definitely drama. I enjoy actors and directors that can convey serious stories in an interesting manner. Films that are based around deep level issues and flaws of human nature such as White Oleander have always caught my attention; I can often relate more to this type of genre than a simple comedy.

Surface level conflicts and solutions in movies such as Superbad and Wedding Crashers can typically lift one's mood and are satisfactory for a good laugh. I also enjoy these types of films from time to time, but not to the same level as other genres. Sometimes, a mindless story plot requiring little to no genuine concentration are necessary.