TED Talk | Story Telling

TED Talk: Adventures in Twitter fiction by Andrew Fitzgerald 

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Twitter has become essential to people's lives and is a mechanism of broadcasting. 

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  Fitzgerald's main point is that new mediums create new formats of story telling which create new and evolved stories. Twitter and the Internet are both new mediums that connect many authors to many readers. Twitter is now being used as both a distribution medium but also a production medium. Short stories are split into tweets that are serialized where audiences can tune in daily at a certain time. This builds suspense because the reader no longer controls the speed of reading. Through Twitter there are parody accounts with fictional characters engaging in the real world providing a social commentary as well as non fiction real time story telling from historical accounts (eg. on this day 60 years ago...). Some historical examples of new mediums creating new stories is short stories in the digital marketplace becoming longer and longer because of reader requests. The digital format allowed for a quick feedback system. Also radio evolved from broadcasting reading of books to broadcasting live play of a story in a serialized manner. 

  Fitzgerald's purpose is to prove that new mediums (specifically Twitter) are creating new formats and new stories. He uses ethos when he begins the presentation "in my job at Twitter..." by showing that he is employed by Twitter he is thus knowledgeable on what users utilize Twitter for. He uses logos when he uses specific authors names and their Twitter accounts to prove his point. He is biased to believe that Twitter is revolutionary and impacts all users. The authors and accounts he mentions include Hugh Howey, Jennifer Egan, The New Yorker, Elliot Holt, West Wing, Mayor Emanuel- parody account, Dan Sinker, Crimer Show, RealTimeWWII, and Teju Cole. Fitzgerald uses pathos when he uses leading words. For example, when referring to the account RealTimeWWII he says: "you're beginning to see ways in which people are telling stories with nonfiction content that can be built into new types of fictional storytelling." Particularly, the word "new" is very leading because similar formats have been published such as in daily newspapers or emails having a "on this day in history" section. The word: "new" causes an emotional excited reaction in readers as they feel an advancement has been made but it is possible that the reality of the newness of the idea is not truly accurate. Fitzgerald kept most of his words scientific in nature which helped to build ethos but some leading words can still be found. 

  I chose this TED Talk because I am interested in the use of social media. I use social media to spread information pertaining to Millbrook and DECA events. I also have researched using social media to advertise to users. I was very interested to see how writers have creatively used Twitter to tell fictional stories. Using evolving mediums to tell stories is something very important to consider as it possibly (as Fitzgerald says) will impact the plot and message of the stories themselves. This relates to last year's theme of mass media. Author's change how they write and what they write if there is instant feedback from the audience. Author's may change their message to appease their audience if they get negative feedback and need to "boost" ratings.  

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This GIF is just an example of the use of Twitter to get instant feedback. Even it is from yourself :P

Scandalous Stanwyck

5. How is Barbara Stanwyck’s character portrayed in this film? What type of angles is she shot in? What type of lighting surrounds her? Is she a good, likeable, moral person? How does she interact with and treat Fred MacMurray’s character? What does this tell you about the way that women were viewed in the 1940s?

Good ol' Barb's character is portrayed as very sensual as in the first shots of her she is in only a towel. Additionally she is seen fixing her hair and makeup propagating the stereotype that women care significantly {and primarily} on their looks. Another situation to consider is the initial conversation between Stanwyck and MacMurray's characters. In this scene Stanwwyck is sitting or should I say "sexy" slouching {if that is a thing}. A notable part of this scene is that Stanwyck's ankle is highlighted. While nowadays it takes a lot to be consider scandalous apparently in those days all it took was a glance downward to the ankles. {Apparently, the 1940s to ankles is the 2010s to shoulders}. Finally it should be noted that there is a focus especially with the camera angles on her legs and their {magical} existence below the hemline of her dress.

Stanwyck's character is shot in many close and tight angles. Her outfit, face, hair, and legs {as previously mentioned} are highlighted. It is well known that is film was low budget which is reasoning for many of the tight shots but the producers and directors still chose to have these shots of not just Stanwyck's face and mouth {when it was moving}. The lighting that surrounds her is very stark. Her face {or legs} are very bright and the background is dark. She is portrayed not only through movements and camera angles but also through her verbal actions as sultry and troublesome. Throughout the film Stanwyck and MacMurray's characters banter. While on first glance showing Stanwyck's character talking might seem like a win for 1940s feminists it actually is not because she is shown as heartless. Phyllis appears to have no morals as she is proponent of adultery, murder, and well she is plain greedy and manipulative. Additionally all the men in her life end up in major trouble {dead, collapsed} as she does herself.

Although sometimes the curtain is blue just for the sake of being blue {see image below - apology for the curse word} it is interesting that Walter is the one who is able to overcome emotion and kill his S.O. This shows a transition in Phyllis from heartless to a emotional position where {as the kids say it} she is hit in the feels. Is should be noted that Phyllis does previously admit to Walter that she never loved him and in the words of Shakespeare "The lady doth protest too much". So maybe all her talk was simply that, talk, and she really did love Walter. Stanwyck's character's portrayal in the film is very indicative of the social situation of women in the 1940s. In the 1940s World War II was in full swing for the first half of the century. While this meant that women got more jobs out in the workforce and some even went to war there was still a movement of conservatism. The majority opinion was though in favor of working women since the economy depended on it. Women were encouraged to be masculine and help their countries by getting a job outside the home so it is no coincidence that Phyllis' scheming and power {money} hungry mind was showcased. This high level thinking was indicative of a man but a woman was having these thoughts instead {who would have though it}. You can definitely argue that Double Indemnity is more chauvinistic with the required help of a man and Phyllis' reliance on men but I believe {hope} that it was slightly feministic in nature.


{A review of my discussion in photos}

While Double Indemnity isn't a family film. I certainly saw more of Stanwyck's bare skin than MacMurrays.

Woah! Look at those shoes highlighting her ankles {scandy}. 

Hmmm. 1940s : ankles = 2010s : shoulders.

This is "why" women should care about their aesthetic {like Stanwyck's character}.
NOTE THE DRUNK MISSPELLING OF ANGEL! 

In Double Indemnity it appears as if Phyllis heartlessness makes her more appealing to Walter.
{Preach T-Swizzle}

Because women are creatures guided by only harsh and cruel emotions.

Excuse the language but sometimes teachers {AND IB STUDENTS} are like this when analyzing.

Those feelings sure hit Phyllis because she was a woman.
{Note: this is a crash course JOHN/HANK GREEN episode <3}

Rosie the Riveter was released two short years before Double Indemnity was released.
Women were prided for their strength and "manly" qualities such as scheming {perhaps}.

Found that feminism ;)

Netflix and NO Chill {Macbeth Style}

1. How to Get Away with Murder
Macbeth would watch Viola Davis star in the highly acclaimed series centering around murder, guilt, and drama. Macbeth after committing more than one violent act on his own would watch HTGAWM in order to ease his guilt conscious and to get tips about how to deal with guilt. Also he is a fan of Shonda Rhimes because she gives him the major feels and as well as know Macbeth is highly emotional.

2. Gossip Girl
While you might not originally think Macbeth would watch such a girly show, think again cause he sure would. Macbeth {before he becomes a murderer} is quite in touch with his feminine side. He also relates strongly to the female centric plot of Gossip Girl where women manipulate, convince, and connive in order to gain more and more power.

3. Person of Interest
Although Person of Interest is a very modern and current show focusing on the power of technology to act as a big brother. But Macbeth finds solace in watching a show that has a similar level of paranoia as he does. POIs paranoia focuses on a God-like machine while Macbeth worries about the witches' prophecies and being dethroned.

4. Alias
Macbeth other than just adoring Jennifer Garner loves the premise of Alias with it's focus on the supernatural and corrupt leadership. He most identifies with the antagonist Arvin Sloane as Arvin kills anyone who gets in his way to achieving power. Additionally Arvin believes that killing his opponent's family {Jack Bristow} is definitely okay which makes Macbeth feel less guilty about the fate of Macduff. Also Alias relates to the premise that Macbeth is surrounded in of two sides and masks {Fair is foul and foul is fair}.

Blog Post 6: Freebie

Freebie :)

Blog 5: Swords + Epic Poems

No known artist (creator) - Western European 

Sword 

ca. 1400 

Steel, silver, copper, leather 

102.3 cm in length 

This sword was created in Great Britain / Ireland (more broadly known as Western Europe) in about 1400 AD. The culture surrounding this piece relates to values placed on being a chivalrous, valiant, sword wielding knight. 

The sword has the words (in Latin) "Here, too, virtue has its due reward", which is a line from the epic poem Aeneid about a warrior who became the ancestor of the Romans. The use of copper for the cross guard implies that it was for ceremonial not battle usage. The sword represents the profession of a knight as they were who would use swords and be awarded them ceremoniously. The poem line inscribed is meant to remind the knight who was give the sword that virtue is important. Perhaps this sword along with public recognition and probably a gift of land, was a reward for the knight's virtue on the battle field. This could possibly be considered a new treatment of the traditional theme of ceremonial swords. Often times symbols would be inscribed as oppose to words because some knights were not literate. The creator chose to inscribe words (in Latin) because he/ she believed that the recipient would be able to read them and understand their significance in relation to the Knight's own actions. 

The artist uses shape in order to look similar to swords of the time period as a ceremonial sword should be recognizably at that time modern. The art is organized to look like a regular sword with a bit of decoration. Knights while respected were not the highest social group and thus did not have the nicest swords or weapons. The relatively novel technique of using acid to inscribe the poetry enhances the meaning that this was a ceremonial gift and type of reward. Whoever commissioned this sword to be created wanted it be one of a kind and mean something to the recipient. 

The purpose of the work is to show the value of chivalrous knight-like behavior. The clues are mainly in the inscription being in Latin, being made using acid, and the usage of copper. Some implied themes include the value placed on specific (chivalrous) behaviors and the value (in a community) of a knight. The creator of this sword (as previously stated both the commissioner and the actual creator are being analyzed) aligned with pre-existing similar ideas regarding that virtue and chivalry is very important and that knights are valued (not most, but still a large amount). The title is Sword and thus is named by probably the museum so the title does not have any real significance. It is notable that the sword was regular enough to not garner a special name (Excalibur). The sword still signifies similar beliefs at the time it was created and now. In today's society the value of the art is mainly historical since it is one of the first instances of acid inscribing and the words regarding virtue from Aeneid are still significant as the epic is regarded as a important and telling work of literature. 

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/32.75.225

Blog 4: Canterbury Tale's Rural Academy Theatre Performance

I was at the performance and thus don't have to write a blog :)
Thanks @ Mrs. Genesky for giving us this opportunity!

Blog 3: Bed and Breakfast | Sloth and Gluttony

First off Blogger deleted my original version of this blog and I was unable to retrieve it so this blog is definitely going to be WAY less quality as I am trying to remember what I wrote before (oh and ya I did think it was my best blog entry... EVER). okay apologies. My rant is finished. 

This advertisement was created by Volker Schrader in Germany in July 2012. 

The advertisement is of mattresses | pillows | blankets arranged to look like toast with bacon and a soft boiled egg. The writing is very minimalistic in order to not draw attention away from the image. On a shallow level the audience will think the advertisement is cool as they probably thought it was real food at first and will admire the technique of the artist.

On a deeper level the advertisement relates to two of the deadly sins: sloth | gluttony. Sloth is defined as reluctance to work or make an effort. What is a better example of sloth than lying around in bed all day? Gluttony is defined as habitual greed or excess in eating. Eating a huge breakfast that you have been thinking about since you booked your vacation seems like a very good example of gluttony. 

The intended audience of the advertisement is middle class or wealthier citizens in anywhere that toast is a seemingly normal breakfast food (Europe and the U.S. to just name two). The audience is most likely middle class or wealthier because they are okay with spending money on a vacation. This advertisement is usable in a wide range of locations such as on a billboard, in a magazine, or on a website because it features not much about the B&B’s ideal guest (such as gender or ethnicity) which could narrow the market. The audience must have the cultural knowledge of acknowledging that bacon | eggs | toast are breakfast foods and thus this advertisement is hinting that the website is for a B&B. Schrader uses the layout of a large background image with very little text to make the advertisement look more like real food. He also uses colors that are close to accurate but not exactly in order to entice viewers to take a closer look. Honestly, it must have taken forever to find the exact shade of blanket and pillow to make a semi realistic breakfast food bed. 

Schrader deceives the audience with the breakfast food actually being bedding but other authors and artist deceive their readers and audiences with hidden biases. Schrader uses the stereotype of bacon | eggs | toast as breakfast foods in order to achieve the effect of the audience that when they look at the advertisement they instantly think of a delicious breakfast and then a good luxurious night's sleep. Additionally as mentioned before this advertisement is appealing to a wide and more diverse audience. This can be seen in mass media through either not specifying gender | ethnicity or specifying a "unique" gender | ethnicity (ie. mixed race family in cheerios' ad, or a hallmark ad featuring a domestic partnership [now most likely marriage] between two women). This type of "hip" "morally accepting" advertising can either represent the bias of the company or what the company thinks the majority of their customers' bias is.

Here are the two other images | advertisements in this set:

This breakfast assortment of eggs | sausage | spinach (?) looks definitely less normal to me (a North American)

Same as the previous image. Pickles | cheese | lettuce (?) on toast does not look appealing nor normal to this American. But I am sure that in the area that these advertisements was used [Germany (?)]. These two other images were of typical breakfasts.

Source: CreativeAdAwards.com