Artsy Fartsy

This weekend I had the privilege to go see Blue Man Group for the first time. The experience was incredible, Blue Man Group is hilarious among being quite a party. Being in such a unique concert and the Blue Man Group's video voice over helped me to understand and appreciate how technology has progressed not just in efficiency, but into an art form.

During the show there is a segment discussing how animation has reached a new level of sophistication. In our parent's age, yes, they had animation like Mickey Mouse in black and white, but nothing compared to today. Movies like Monster's Inc, Finding Nemo, and the Incredibles (among other Pixar movies) have exceeded expectations in technological art. The video, displayed on a screen with shaving cream that in itself was quite a technological confusion for the audience (I'm still trying to comprehend how they achieved the display), explained how animation has improved over the ages. In the beginning of time historians and anthropologists believe that the cave drawings of animals that are superimposed on another were animated through the flicker of the fire light. From that, came animation. Now a days, we don't just use individual pictures flipped like in a flip book; we use computers.

Technology has made way for new art forms that are expressed in the Blue Man Group's performance. At one part of the show, the Blue Man Group each hold up signs with words going across them (message boards? I can't quite remember the word for them). Each have different phrases and sayings and then they become the drum sticks. It was so incredible! Though in my last blog post, I question if our society has become too reliant on technology and how it is not always good, the Blue Man Group opened my eyes to yet another point of view: art.

However, Blue Man Group is not all happy with technology also. During the animation segment, there is a sign that says, "Internet Cafe" and it goes on to show a stick figure man with coffee in front of his laptop. The voice over is sarcastic and explains how wonderful the Internet cafe is where you can sit quietly in a room full of people talking to people who aren't there, though there are people existing all around you. It was very funny and I couldn't help but think of American Studies.

There's No Techno-Logic

I remember my dad's phone in the car growing up. Its buttons would glow in the dark, it resembled a normal house phone, and it was stationed near the arm rest in between the driver and front seat. And I was never allowed to use unless it was an absolute emergency. Clearly, this "cell phone" was not much of a communication helper, it wasn't even portable. Even since the 90's, our technology has advanced beyond our wildest dreams. But although technology is advancing, are we?
From my dad's car phone that was untouchable, he now owns a Blackberry, or what my family prefers to call it: a Crackberry. At home, in the office, on vacation, even during dinner under the table, my father can be found typing away on his little keyboard. But he's not the only guilty one. Cell phones today have dominated the way we communicate and has changed our behaviors. I got my first cell phone in eighth grade for emergencies or contacting my parents for rides. The only reason I got it was because it came with a deal for my older sister. In a matter of a few years, we can see as young as third graders carrying cell phones. I find this despicable and disturbing. Children can use house phones to contact parents, and parents do not need to be in constant contact with their children. In fact, I believe this is bad.
Cell phones have created a completely dependent society. One cannot just be alone, I often find myself needing to text a friend instead of having alone time. Having kids and parents in constant communication with cell phones makes it more difficult to separate and for the children to become independent.
While cell phones have created a dependency for everyone, it also isolates people. It is not that we are more dependent on being physically near someone, in fact, its the opposite. I find that while with my friends, at least one person is texting someone. This is now normal, but it is terrible etiquette. It is like walking away from a conversation without warning. We cannot be with someone without talking to someone else.
Of course, this opinion is an extreme. People are not completely cut off of physical interaction by using cell phones, however, the behavioral patterns have certainly shifted with the advancement of technology. Though cell phones are a fantastic reach in technological advancement, is it possible that they are setting back our communication skills as well?


In my blog I expressed how I feel about children owning cell phones, this article explores the pros and cons of it.
Here are other people's views on cell phones and the pros and cons, this is from yahoo answers

It's Always Sunny in 1776

One of my favorite TV shows currently on television is It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It's crude humor, vulgar language, and often offensive material led me to believe that I would never relate it to school. However, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and American Studies have proved me wrong. In this past week's episode (spoiler alert), the characters went back in time to 1776 for a wild time during the American Revolution not seen by history books. Mostly, the lack of historical evidence of the events is because it was made up, but it still is relateable to our American Studies class. In the episode, two characters, Dennis and Mac, discuss how the meetings for the revolution are taking place in their bar, and they don't like it. The two are frustrated and confused because they claim that the alliance with Britain "rocks", and that it'd be ridiculous to separate from them. So, to retaliate the revolution, Mac and Dennis decide to write "The Declaration of Dependence." This humorous episode represented people during the American Revolution who did not want to split with Britain. However, because of how the characters are depicted in the show as complete idiots, it makes it seem that keeping an alliance would have been not well thought of. The episode did lead me to question how many people did not want to split with Britain? I think it has been, overall, a good idea to break away from them because that way, in 2008 we would be able to elect and have an African American president for the first time.

WE DID IT!

I am too tired to fully write a blog entry but for now...
Congratulations Obama, YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.