Reviewing the Arts: a class where you comment and critic on different works of art whether it be a movie or a gallery. Throughout this semester I have experienced what it is like to be a critic. Being a critic is someone that helps bring ideas and opinions to the world. Critics are important to the world and a lot people seem to rely on them to decide where to go or what movie to see. They have a lot of influence on people these days and their opinion seems to matter whether it is good or bad. This class helped me see how to write like a critic and how to get my opinion organized in a way to get my ideas out there. This is called reviewing the arts.
Something that I learned about how to review the arts is how to make my blogs well written is that I should write my blogs casually, but clearly from the Slate article. It gave a lot of good insight about how to blog and that has helped me throughout the semester. What also helped to understand how to review the arts is Roland Barthes. He showed me that reading too much into it was sometimes a good thing and it helps to get a deeper meaning on things and to more detailed and precise about ideas. John Berger brings the idea of bringing it all into context. This way it could be understandable and relatable. So I used whatever I was reviewing and relating things to my life or something that I could relate in the world.
These ideas from these articles helped me to get a better understanding of how to review the arts. It also helped to look at other reviewers reviews to get a better understanding of how to review the arts. Websites like rottentomatoes.com helped to show me how to review. Also looking at other people’s reviews from the class helped as well. It just helped to show the different ways to review the arts, but they still have that one common goal to be a critic.
Overall throughout the semester I tried to improve on my writing and to be a better critic or reviewer of the arts. I think after learning all the skills needed from the readings that we have done for class I have improved. One blog that showed my improvement is the Supernatural blog. I wrote it earlier in the semester then went back and fixed when we needed to pick one essay to edit. I noticed that I could write a lot better than I did before. I added more detail to my blogs and made them more clearly written. I worked hard to try to achieve it and I believe I did a lot better than my earlier reviews. I see that after a semester full of learning I know how to review the arts. To review the arts is to make an opinion or evaluate the arts, which can be anything from music to movies to galleries. There are many forms of art and things that you can review. Now I know how to review the arts and this is how I review the arts.
Choosing one place that would best describe Columbia College Chicago, and that I would send that one person to, is very hard because there are so many elements to the school that one part would not show the complexity of Columbia. What I ended up doing is I went to the one building I know best and where a lot of the action happens. It is the 623 S. Wabash building. The art and design department is one of the largest in the school. I would say it would be the most representational of the school. It is a place where different majors come together to learn, but they still have that one connection with the Art and Design Department. Also not only is that building for the art and design majors at the school, but also it is the same building that holds the math and science classes. It brings together students which make up Columbia College.
To be more specific about where at 623 S. Wabash I would say best describes Columbia is the first floor of the building. It is a place where students come together. As I walked through the front doors of the 623 I see people walking to the elevators, others talking and sitting on the yellow green chairs. People are walking to get to their classes while others stop and grab a bite to eat at the Plum Cafe. The overall mood is relatively relaxed except for the couple of people rushing to class. The 1st floor is the main floor where you see Columbia students together socializing or just trying to get to their class on time. It shows the community of students that is a part of Columbia. It is a great place to see all of the students come together. What makes it Columbia is the students that go to the school. When you see the group of students and what they are dressed in you just know that they are students from Columbia College as well as the huge portfolios that they carry to their classes. I am at this building most of the time and I see the mass of students that makes up Columbia.
Betch! Is one of the many phrases Kelly aka Liam Sullivan says when performing. Chaos Week Comedy Crack up hosted by The Student Programming Board of Columbia College features Liam Sullivan, Chris, and the Columbia improv team. It was a night of laughs when these comedians came and brought their best jokes to the stage. Columbia’s improv team had the audience be a part of the act as they had people shout out jobs, relationships, and types of movies. They performed improv skit games that really showed what these Columbia students could do. There was one individual, named Chris that did the standup for the night. He was the first of the performers. Following Chris it was Columbia improve team and then lastly it was Liam Sullivan performing as some of his characters he has done on youtube.com. Liam Sullivan played as himself when he sang songs and talked to the audience about his life. He came out as Aunt Susan and Kelly (what he is most famous for) to share with the audience some of his videos that he has done. Afterwards there was a chance to take pictures and get autographs with him as Kelly as well as buy your own betch shirt for $10 (which I actually bought).
The show was filled with a lot of comedy and it was a lot of fun to be a part of. I would have never though that Kelly would come to our school, this school Columbia College Chicago. With this in mind I thought that it was because of our identity and that Columbia is a school of the performing arts as well as an art school in general. Columbia College is known for art in all of its forms and that is part of the school’s identity. They not only had students demonstrate their talent and what they have learned at this school, but also they had a successful comedian come and perform as well. It was a good collection of people performing at the comedy night. It shows what Columbia is all about and how people come together to see these people perform. We support each other because we understand what art really is since we go to this school. We can actually appreciate the art that is being performed on stage.
Being a part of this event was very enjoyable. If there was another event like one of these I would definitely like to go. I would recommend this event to anyone, but it was only a one time event. Columbia is hosting other events for Chaos Week that may be enjoyable as well. It is a great time to go and hang out with other Columbia students and see people perform on stage. If you want to go to something fun and not another Columbia gallery this is for you. I have been a fan of Kelly for so long and that may be why I enjoyed it so much, but I also enjoyed the Columbia performers as well. It was a blast I would definitely go again, if I could, in a heartbeat.
Time passes by so quickly and what we have of the past is present in this gallery. The Doug Lofstrom Exhibit celebrates a milestone birthday for Doug Loftstrom, a faculty member of Columbia College Chicago. It shows all of what he has done in the past in his career starting from the late 1960s to the present. He has made musical compositions for orchestras such as Metropolis Symphony Orchestra and many others. He plays bass and composed orchestral, chamber and theatrical music. This exhibit shows his success throughout his career and to celebrate his birthday since he is working at Columbia College as a faculty who is a part of the music department. In this exhibit there is a collection of posters, photographs. as well as some samples of his work. It is interesting to see what people the faculty have had done throughout there career instead of always focusing on the students and this exhibit has done just that.
Since this is my second review on a gallery that was taken place at the first floor of the library at Columbia College I would like to compare and see if this time the gallery did a little more for me. Overall I think that it was a pretty good gallery that was set up in the library. I would say that compared to the other gallery (Chicago Anti Apartheid Movement Collection) it did a much better job activating the space. Although I would still say that it may not be the best place to hold a gallery. Even though this is true the collection of pieces we good. The one that I liked the best was the poster of a band with each person displayed in a colorful box and it was all set on a black background. That one seem to stand out to me. I believe that there was supposed to be samples of his music but when I arrived there it was not working so I am not sure what kind of music he had or how to even describe it. That was also another problem with this gallery.
What this gallery shows Columbia College as the creative school that it is. From the students to the faculty members people will come to see this gallery and know what Columbia has to offer. It has great faculty that are successful and then they come to teach at Columbia to help students become successful themselves. They come and bring what they know and help students on their way to the career of their choice. In this case it has to do with the music department and how this man helped to shape Columbia from how long he has been here. To see into Columbia you can see this exhibit and see what Columbia is all about as well as into the life and success of the man who works at Columbia College Chicago. The exhibit is being held in along side the Doug Lofstrom and the New Quartet April 9th concert at noon in the Music Department Concert Hall at 1014 S. Michigan Ave.
The Harrison stop on the red line is an important one to Columbia College Chicago. It is the entrance way to the school as well as to the loop as a whole. On January 30, 2008, the Harrison Haiku was unveiled as a mural of poetry throughout the station. It contains many pieces of Haiku poetry from students from Columbia College as well as Jones College Prep. The Harrison station came alive as it was enriched with the words of poetry as well as bright colors that turned a dark subway station to a beautiful site. It welcomed people coming into loop as well as it served as a purpose to welcoming people onto the Columbia College campus. The Harrison station serves as part of Columbia’s identity with the color and art that flows throughout the station.
The kind of statement that it brings is what goes along what Columbia is all about creating change. Columbia creates change with the way it brought change to the station. By just adding a simple idea of poetry and a few forms of leaves throughout the station it brought change. The creativity was brought out of Columbia and into the world. That just shows what Columbia can bring. Creativity is part of the identity we have as students that go to Columbia College. That is why it is shown through the work that was done in the station.
Although I have to say that even though it does show our identity as a school as a whole it lacks a bit of excitement to it. I use the Harrison stop quite a bit, but I have never noticed that it was even there. I may have noticed the words on the wall or the colors, but I did not realize what they were for. What does this say about our identity? Are we invisible to our society although we add to the beauty of our world? Are we just another one of those art schools that are not important because we don’t do to a real school (to some people in our society)? I don’t really know the answer to any of these, but it seems like that may be part of the whole idea of our identity. You may get a glimpse of the colors and the words, but never really understand the full understanding that this is Columbia College Chicago this is where the school is. We are busy people and we are constantly on the go especially in the loop. People don’t stop and smell the flowers and that is what exactly what the station is which shows the identity of the school. The school may just be that another school that seems to blend in with all the others.
Ghosts, demons, fight scenes, sex, blood, and a little bit of comedy, what else can you want from a perfect show? Supernatural is a horror show on the CW, which features two young men, who are brothers, and their journey to help rid the world of monsters (demons, shapeshifters, etc) that people may not believe are real, but they really are. These stories are based on many myths that have been in known about in our society. Many people just see them as myths for the most part like in the show, but this show turns it around and makes the stories come alive. Many innocent people are dying because all of these strange incidents, that cannot be explained , and it is up to Sam and Dean because honestly they are one of the only ones who know what is really going on. Sam and Dean ( played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) are the ones that must save the world from these monsters and just recently saving the world from the incoming Apocalypse. This is my favorite show that I like to watch every Thursday at 8pm CT. It appeals to me and many other supernatural lovers. It takes your horror films or horror stories and puts them into the plot of the story.
Growing up with a father who was a hunter of all these monsters. Sam and Dean grew up knowing that the monsters in their closet were real. They ended up learning about all these things that people did not believe in were really true. After their mother died being burned by a demon when Sam was a baby their father tried to protect them from all of these things that were out there because in fact they were real. Later after their father had died by selling his soul to the devil so that his son Dean could live after nearly dying, it was up to them to pick up from where their dad left off. They had to leave their so called normal lives behind and go after and hunt these demons by following the strange deaths that were happening all over the United States. If they weren't going to do it then who would? This was just the beginning to their quest. Eventually they would encounter all sorts of things that even they themselves did not know existed. Supernatural which is now in their fourth season have come across many different ideas and now have gotten into angels and god and how everything is coming together because the demons are breaking the seals for the Apocalypse. All forms of the supernatural come into play in this show. You come to see all of the different things they encounter, but also you come to learn about the characters past that always adds a little extra spice to the show. I don’t want to give too much away, but you get the idea Sam and Dean are the good guys that must conquer evil.
Supernatural is probably mostly geared towards teen to young adult men because of the violence and bloodshed that is shown in most of the episodes, but it can be appealing toward teen and young adult women because of the young men that are the main characters of the story. I mean don’t get me wrong there are girls like me that like the whole horror movie kind of story, but for some people that don’t it may just get them because of the main characters. The show is mostly portrayed to basically both genders and to a white, middle class audience. It is also mostly geared towards people who believe in the supernatural and through this show they bring all those stories that you have heard and have people experience them in the show. The media is finding out that we are the people that just don’t want to see the same old drama show with teens having sex and getting pregnant. We need a real show that has suspense and really wonder what will happen next without having to wait for the next horror movie to come out.
As any other show the media believes that sex will always sell and that is where these two guys come into this. Basically as I can recall all shows have some reference to sex to attract the audience to their show. It seems to work for the most part. That’s what the media tries to do if they can’t get them to watch the show at first. I personally don’t watch it because of that I just love it because it’s suspenseful and that it’s about supernatural beings. I believe that these things exist and that probably why many people watch enjoy watching the show as well. Also, the show always keeps you guessing. You never know what is going to happen next. It is not your ordinary show that is why I believe it is a must see show. People from viewpoints.com have agreed with me saying that “Like television shows that give thrills and chills? Our reviewers say that Supernatural will do just that.” and “ ‘Supernatural is one of the best shows ever created,’ raves one person.” This is one of the best shows that have been created in a long time. I know because these days they don’t know what new idea to put out there on TV and it ends up either being really stupid or something that has been overused all of the time. This is a show that will make you think and a little scared because you do not know what to expect will happen after it gets back from commercial it is just that good.
Supernatural brings everything together angels, old myths, demons, family, and even religion plays a part of it. It just can show how complicated life can really be and brings all these elements into the story. Life can be scary and that’s what Supernatural shows. Watch Supernatural on Thursdays at 8pm CT on the CW and you’ll just see what you’re missing.
Every time I hear country music it’s very painful to listen to. Now I normally do not listen to country music, but my little sister loves to listen to it and I just groan in disgust whenever she puts on Rascal Flatts or any other country music band. I just don’t understand why people would listen to this genre of music. Like for one, I don’t know how can people stand like the sound of the music. It has like a weird twangy sound or the sound of a banjo. Country music is just not my style I can’t relate to it and it’s hard to see how people can like this genre of music. I can say that I don’t hate all country music, but most of it, if I hear it, I tend to run out of the room or switch the station.
When I came to figure out why people seemed to like country music, the response that I got was that it was “full of insight into the human condition” and overall it was that they liked the lyrics. I can see how some people think that it would relate to them. It is possibly how they grew up. Also country music is like “American” music. So if you’re a real American then you like country music and can relate to the stories that are told. There really isn’t much said about how people who like country music why they like the way it sounds, they just seem to like it. People just like it because it sounds great and that’s really what I could get out of it. It is very different from any other genre of music and that might be why they like it along with the lyrics that the enjoy singing along to.
I think it all depends on who you are and where you are coming from if you like country or if you like heavy metal. Some people can relate their lives to the lyrics of country and that is why they enjoy listening to it. To be honest I can say that I’ve listened to some country songs and say that they aren’t that bad. So I can see why some people might like country music. The ones that I like seem to be more pop rockish than country and I can relate to the lyrics otherwise I’m not exactly sure how people can like it. I mean yes they have good lyrics some times, but I’m not sure about the sound. It all depends on how you feel and grew up. It is all culturally influenced. I personally like music that is expressed in a way that their deepest feelings are put into song and I hear a scream or two in the music I hear. Now for others they probably don’t understand why I like that kind of music. I think I have somewhat of an understanding now why people like country music since they like the lyrics for the most part, but I do have my doubts and may never truly understand why people like country music.
Block Party, a documentary by Dave Chapelle shows the idea of bringing people together of different races to a rap concert and how people see the hip-hop culture in a sense where it is not just for blacks. When Dave Chapelle goes to Ohio to pass out golden tickets to people for the rap concert there are not only blacks that would like to go to the concert, but there are others that want to go. Although not everyone likes rap music there are people in the documentary that express their opinion like the couple at the Broken Angel House. That is what is good about this film you see what people think of the hip-hop culture in America. The basis of this film is around the idea of the black pop culture and how it is viewed. It tries to bring everyone in America in the mix of this event. It shows how different races are viewed and the real behind the scenes look of the hip-hop culture.
This film is a must see, it is humorous, but informative. The Urban Cinefile Critics said, “One of the best films of the year so far, this party begins with an inspired act of generosity: Dave Chappelle handing out golden tickets to a New York block festival, featuring hip-hop's biggest acts.” I agree with this statement because it is one of the best films well documentary that I've seen. Also in the film it shows as the critic said giving out golden tickets to people in Ohio. He was not giving it to certain people of race, gender or age, but he was just giving them out to people who he thought may want to go to a free rap concert. He even was trying to give them out to old people as well, which he seemed to attract according to Dave, and may want to go to this event because he was the one giving out the tickets. So it brings about the issue is it that people want to go because they like Dave and it’s free or they really like rap music. I would say a little bit of both. The way that the documentary is set up with seeing all sides of what makes up this block party makes it a great film.
According to Michael Eric Dyson, “Hip-hop’s appeal to white youth extends the refashioning of mainstream America by black popular culture.” I say, that I would have to agree with his statement. Hip-hop is not just about listening to the music, but it also how you live your life that goes along with listening to hip-hop music. It is the clothes that you wear and how you act that makes you a part of that culture. The music is what rubs off on people and that is how not only blacks will listen to hip-hop and rap, but there are whites that will also enjoy it as well. At the same time people like to listen to the songs, but will try not to make that influence their lives to be those kind of people. Although that doesn’t happen all the time and that is why people always assume that all black are the same because of the songs that they sing. It is evident in the film because when Dave Chapelle was giving out tickets it was not only blacks that were wanting to go to this concert, but also it was white people and people of other races and of varying ages and genders. Also in the film there were band kids that live their life playing with their school band and they like rap music and they are evidence to show that what you hear about black culture is not always true.
With everything going on and people think that Dave’s work is being racist and stereotypical like in this film, he can be hypocritical. Dave Chappelle says in Time, “This is sketch is racist, and I don’t want this on the air.” I say, that I was surprised to see that he was worried about airing certain sketches because they were racist. To me, he seems like the person who doesn’t really care what people think of him and what he say since he goes off on saying racist jokes all the time in this film. In the film he his playing on the drum and the makes fun of the audience and how it is all black for the most part and then says with some white people in the crowd. Then he says are there any Mexicans? There are no Mexicans here. Yes this movie can be a little racist and have stereotypical jokes it is still a good film that shows how races are viewed even through a joke. I know that it is just a joke and in them there is some truth, which is how people are viewed stereotypically.
I think the film was very well done and interesting for a documentary. There are people who would disagree with me such as Jim Lane. He says, “…it looks like run-of-the-mill party videos shot by a drunk.” I would disagree with this statement because I think this was a well-done film that uses comedy to make the documentary interesting along with seeing the hip-hop culture in this way. In the film you see how the concert is being set up from inviting people to the concert to practices before the show. It is better than a person at the concert trying to get shots of the concert. The overall quality is great without being too mechanical as a film. It shows how things come together and I believe that’s why it is so strong.
If you like Dave Chapelle, are interested in seeing something that has to do with the hip-hop culture, and just want to see something weird and hilarious, this film is for you. It is an informative, but yet very entertaining documentary that gets you behind the scenes of the culture you may have once thought about knowing more about. Also you can see Dave Chappelle’s work in relation to the whole controversy, although I don’t think it plays a factor. He is just doing what he wants to do like he always does. It is a very effective film and I recommend it. Block Party is now out on DVD.
“Ahhh what is that awful music?!”, I yell to my sister who has the song called “Burnin’ Up” blasting on her laptop. This is something that definitely doesn’t appeal to me. Trying to listen to the whole Jonas Brothers CD, “A Little Bit Longer” was pretty horrifying. I mean it made my ears bleed in agony from the sound of their music and their singing that is very exaggerated. Speaking for the people who like Jonas Brothers, it appeals to them because of the cute boy band idea that has young girls going gaga over these guys. The 90s boy bands were a thing of the past until a band like the Jonas Brothers came to be. The band started in 2005 when they got their label deal signed, but it wasn’t until 2006 when it all got started. The band is made up of 3 members Joe, Nick, and Kevin, who are all brothers.
The type of audience that the Jonas Brothers and usually any boy band are the preteens and some teenagers. After being a preteen it all depends on who they are and what kind of music they are interested in. Also they are cute boys who are teenagers so who won’t stick around with them just to hear and see them in concert and while enjoy some decent music? I wouldn’t know it just doesn’t appeal to me whatsoever. I mean my sister is 17 years old and likes the Jonas Brothers and I don’t know why. The music is most appealing to young girls, but I guess it has some sort appeal to some older teens.
I think the audience for the most part is white girls. I don’t think that there are any boys that like the Jonas Brothers, but I can be wrong. They are the intended audience that are grabbed by the whole hotness or cuteness factor that involves these young men. They are brothers and that’s what’s even better. Then there is a whole thing where people decide about who do you like the best. So it is not always about the music, it’s about the looks too. The music is very upbeat and popish and have lyrics that relate to all of the girls out there in that age range. I have looked online to see the craziness that goes along with the Jonas Brothers fade and these girls just love them. There is one picture that I saw on Flickr where their fans signed their tour bus. I looked at some of the comments and some of them said something like I licked that bus and put my phone number on it and they called me and we talked to me for an hour. All I thought was wow. They really got them hooked and I may never truly understand why.
Living Out Loud a 1998 film that shows a middle age woman, Judith Nelson trying to find herself after being divorced. She meets an elevator man, Pat Francato, who is also recently divorced and who’s daughter dies. They turn to each other to better their lives as single people so they can make the most out of it. Judith looks back to her childhood and childlike self to try renew her life and start fresh and to try to build herself back up to what she was, the adventurous woman who did anything and everything she could. She left her career to get married and she hopes she can do more with her life and go back to school to be a pediatrician.
Living Out Loud is a movie filled with flashbacks and things that seem to happen, but really don’t can be really confusing at times, but it was an interesting way to see what the main character of the story was feeling. When you watch a movie you can only imagine what the character might be thinking or feeling, but this gives it to you in a way that it is a given. You see how Judith Nelson views her life like when she wants to jump out the window and kill herself. It shows just how she feels after the divorce and how she doesn’t know what to do. Flashing back to her childhood and how she used to be this dangerous girl and now into this upper class woman. She tries to get that back when she travels to the other side of Manhattan.
This film is in a way a very random comedy that plays off these two peoples’ lives and how they come together to try to help each other. It may be a little confusing and may not have much plot, but it is still a must see movie. It may be a movie that is for woman and woman power and all, but men can see it too and not it’s not those kinds of movies that you drag you boyfriend to watch with you. It is a good all around movie, but it may be preferable to women. I give it a thumbs up. Having just seen this film on a random occasion in my class, I probably never would have thought that this would have an interesting film to see. It does not see much a film at first, but if you ever get the chance and are interesting in seeing a good old 90s movie this is for you. Living Out Loud now out on DVD.
Ghosts, demons, fight scenes, sex, blood, and a little bit of comedy what else can you want from a perfect show? Supernatural is a horror show on the CW, which features two young men, who are brothers, and their journey to help rid the world of monsters that people may not believe are real, but they are. Innocent people are dying and it is up to Sam and Dean to save the day. This is my favorite show that I like to watch every Thursday at 8pm CT. It appeals to me and many other supernatural lovers. It takes your horror films or horror stories and puts them into the plot of the story. Now this is the best show if you like horror films and even if you don’t how can resist two hot guys fighting monsters. I mean come on people you know it’s awesome!
Supernatural is probably mostly geared towards teen to young adult men because of the violence and bloodshed that is shown in most of the episodes, but it can be appealing toward teen and young adult women because of the young men that are the main characters of the story. I mean don’t get me wrong there are girls like me that like the whole horror movie kind of story, but for some people that don’t it may just get them because of the main characters. The show is mostly portrayed to basically both genders and to a white, middle class audience. It is also mostly geared towards people who believe in the supernatural and through this show they bring all those stories that you have heard and have people experience them in the show. The media is finding out that we are the people that just don’t want to see the same old drama show with teens having sex and getting pregnant. We need a real show that has suspense and really wonder what will happen next without having to wait for the next horror movie to come out.
As any other show the media believes that sex will always sell and that is where these two guys come into this. Basically as I can recall all shows have some reference to sex to attract the audience to their show. It seems to work for the most part. That’s what the media tries to do if they can’t get them to watch the show at first. I personally don’t watch it because of that I just love it because it’s suspenseful and that it’s about supernatural beings. I believe that these things exist and that probably why many people watch enjoy watching the show as well. Supernatural brings everything together angels, old myths, demons, family, and even religion plays a part of it. It just can show how complicated life can really be and brings all these elements into the story. Life can be scary and that’s what Supernatural shows. Watch Supernatural on Thursdays at 8pm CT and you’ll just see what you’re missing.
Barbie a childhood toy that many girls play with when they are young. Like any other doll they are able to role play with and dress up into different clothes, but one thing is different and that's the doll itself. What seems like a harmless toy given to children can be something more than an innocent toy. It can be something can affect children psychologically at a young age. Although not seen as effecting them at the time when they first play with Barbies it grows into a problem as they get older. They see this girl with perfect features (blond hair, blue eyes, and really skinny) and can have everything she wants. She has a hot boyfriend with equal perfection to her and they have a mansion as a house and an expensive looking car. These unrealistic views on life get into children's heads and as they grow older they have this goal that they should have everything that they should ever want.
Along with that body image is something that they want to perfect as they get older. They want to be like Barbie a girl with the perfect body and hair and they want to look the same. This idea can get as far as having them get plastic surgery when they are old enough so they can look just like her. She is the representation of the perfection of a woman who everyone strives to be. From this you get anorexia, bulimia, and it may go as far as suicide if they can't get what they want and hate themselves because they cannot be like Barbie. Although people strive to be like Barbie you stop to think who wants to be beautiful without brains. I mean Barbie is being controlled by children because it doesn’t have a mind of its own. So what this saying? That beauty is everything and that everything else is secondary. That is scary thought that people would rather have everything that they can ever possibly want, but they don’t have to have the brains to do it. Barbies send out the wrong message to kids. We live in a society that perfection is the utmost important thing for a person. This is sending the wrong ideas to kids and then as they grow up teach their children the same idea when they hand them their first Barbie.
This is a vicious cycle that society gets people into. If it is not shown from Barbies at a young age then it is things that they see on TV that relate to the whole idea of perfection with celebrities being very thin and if they start to gain weight then there is this whole uproar of, oh she’s getting fat or is that a baby bump? This whole idea of having the perfect body is portrayed everywhere in magazines, TV, runways with models having to be a size 2 in order for them to even be eligible to be a model. It’s terrible to think that we have come this far and people are brainwashing children and teens to think that they are not perfect the way they are. This has become a social norm and it is hurting how people see themselves. Barbies may have been the start of this and if it isn’t well then we can see where kids may get some of their ideas from and that is from Barbie.
Struggling for justice in a country that did not want to give justice to it's people. That is South Africa or was for that matter. In 1990 they were able to elect a president for the first time. "Chicago Anti Apartheid Movement Collection" is a collection of pieces that are being shown at Columbia College Chicago's Library. It depicts the struggles that people of South Africa as well as some of its surrounding counties struggled for equality.
There were many posters and t-shirts that hung on the first floor of the library. They each depict a form of protest that was brought about when it was most problematic. There is even a computer that you can look at archives of things like different newspapers around the time when people in the US even tried to bring awareness to apartheid. There were protests even at Columbia College Chicago in the late 1980s.
One piece that stuck out to me was the one poster of a pair of hands trying to pull apart two bars. It just showed how the country struggled to get justice. I am guessing that after 20 years that they were able to get justice because it says it behind the bars. I felt that this image was very strong that the country’s struggle for justice had finally ended. I am not sure if that is the correct way of interpreting that piece, but I just assume it is because the way the hands are showing the two bars being pulled apart and they are bent. The words 20 years appears behind it. So it makes sense if that was what it was showing.
The gallery for me was good, but not good enough for me. It was interesting to see all of the different posters and t-shirts that showed the struggling South Africa and how it wanted justice for their country. Although it was good I felt that it lacked information. The pieces that I saw, most of them were not labeled and I was not sure what I should think of it. Before I went to this I did not know what the Anti Apartheid Movement was. It was not after I looked at the informational card about how South Africa and other surrounding countries were affected by apartheid and wanted justice in their country. I was still not really sure what it was so I looked up some information online to find out more about it because it seemed interesting and I wanted to learn more about it. This collection was a good collection, but I felt like I could have learned more if they added some more information.
If you are interested in the Anti Apartheid Movement you can come see the different pieces that were made at the time of the movement. If you have no clue what it is, I wouldn’t bother because it gives you little information that makes you wonder what it is really about. The “Chicago Anti Apartheid Movement Collection” runs through the February 28, 2009 at 624 S. Michigan Ave on the 1st floor of the library during library hours.
The C33 gallery at Columbia College Chicago "If Artists Ran the Media" depicts many different types of artwork that try to go against the biased views of the media that are usually shown in the news, but as well as other forms of media. These artists portray the real truth in a sense what the real news should be. They take the messages that are sugar coated or hidden from the audience and break away from the status quo and make a statement of truth through their artwork. This gallery for the most part gave a sense to the theme that it was trying to portray, but in some cases there were pieces that I was not sure if they really belong. Although it had it's flaws, overall it was a very successful gallery and most of the pieces were recognizable and related to the theme.
One of the best examples that I viewed and enjoyed in the gallery was the piece "Sorry Iraq" by Steve Cejtin and it was a mixed media with inkjet print. It was a very large piece that illustrated the conflict in Iraq between the groups of people and the US's involvement. It was made to look as the game sorry which reinforced the different players of the game like the Sunnis and the Shiites. All over the board there were references to war, disease, and death along with many pictures of suffering Iraqis in the background. This is a strong piece that people in the news would probably rarely show and it is true that the US does not know how much Iraq has suffered throughout the years. The United States believes that they are helping Iraq, but at the same time they are also hurting it.
There were two pieces made by the same artist, Ralph Carlie Browne, whose pieces I felt didn't seem to go with the rest of the pieces in the gallery. The two pieces that he made were " A Peculiar Programmed Plummet" and "Shit on the Wire". These two pieces were both acrylic on canvas. He used the idea of media and how everything that you see in the media is not always the whole truth and you don't always get everything you should know or see. I did not know this until I read the card next to the piece of what it actually meant to see how it related to the gallery. Although they have a connection to the gallery, I feel like they are out of place. All of the other pieces had a certain idea chosen from the media, which made up their piece. These two pieces just the theme in mind instead of picking like the Iraq. Overall, the gallery was very interesting to visit. I enjoyed seeing all the different pieces the artists came up with. The gallery runs from December 3, 2008- February 20, 2009. So I recommend anyone who is interested to see it. It is worth the time to see the talent brought to these pieces and the idea of how it would be if artists ran the media.
I give a thumbs up to Mindless Self Indulgence new album if. Compared to their other albums, this one seems to be a lot more upbeat and has a lot of interesting lyrics that have brought out their style of music. I give a thumbs down to Panic at the Disco's new album Pretty Odd. The band has really changed their style of music to what seems folksy. Their songs became a little boring, but I liked one of their songs called Nine in the Afternoon. Overall their album isn't very good. They seemed to be more interesting when their music was more upbeat and more towards alternative music. They may have thought that changing their style would help make their music sound better and gain more listeners, but in reality they may have lost a lot of listeners because of this new style.
Here are the two album covers of the albums I have reviewed.
If you would like to listen to some clips of their songs from these albums visit:
