Opener 3(f): Spike Jonze for Ikea

Thanks to Mallory for finding this gem for us to watch today. The ad can be found here.

In addition to directing the great and odd Being John Malkovich, Jonze has also done some work on videos for a guy called Fatboy Slim. Here's a funny video he did for his song "Praise You." Jonze is the guy in the striped shirt who seems to be running the show. It's not great art, just goofy dancing.

Opener 3(e) "Bleeding Love"

For today's opener, Emily has suggested we have a look at this dance choreographed to the song "Bleeding Love." It's one of those hip-hop numbers the kids are all doing these days.

How do you describe movement? What kinds of movement do you try to describe? Is there a narrative here? How is the story told and what moods are being evoked here? How many tone shifts can you detect?

Opener 3(d): Transformers, Dark Side of the Moon

Today: Transformers 3! What do the editors of this trailer want us to know about their movie? How do they go about selling it to us? What stylistic choices do they make here?

Opener 3(c): The Graduate

Here is a link to the final minutes of the Mike Nichols film The Graduate (1967). Discuss the nature of Ben's parallels with Christ--if he is a Christ figure, what kind of Christ figure is he? What do these parallels add to the film's social commentary?

Opener 3(b): Adele

Madison has shared a link with us for this video of Adele's "Hometown Glory."

To help the process of observation along, remember SCASi: Setting, Character, Action, Style (the "i" stands for "ideas").

Describe the setting and the mood it creates.
What can you observe about the character?
What significant action, motion, process takes place here?
How does the director's style affect the mood? Lighting, camera shots and angles, editing.

And the music, too, what about that?

Opener 3(a): The Johnny Cash Project

Ryan is our curator for today, suggesting we train our eyes on The Johnny Cash Project, an artistic online collaboration focused on Cash and his music.

Oppener 2(e): The Second Meeting

For our final opener prompt in this batch, respond to this first extended scene, the second meeting, in chapter 2, pages 32-38.

Discuss the significance of physical setting in this scene, or pick on character and characterize him based on what we see here. Are power relationships changing? Who gains power and how? How is Ralph's leadership in this scene? How does Piggy function?

Opener Response #2 will be due in two days, on Monday. Pick any two of the last five prompts and respond. Opener 2(c), by the way, is basically the same prompt here, except that it uses the first meeting as its focus.

Opener 2(d): The Beatles

"Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," The Beatles

Bianca suggests that we analyze the different color effects and how they correspond with the slow, melodic music in the background. Also, notice the characters in the video and how they relate to the song.

With a video as crazy as this one is, it is easy to get really hung up on the "what does it mean?" side of things, but don't. Instead, focus more on the left side of things, your description and characterization of the things you see and hear. Inference work can be saved for the end of your paragraph, some gentle suggestion of possible themes or tonal values you have sensed here.

Another option is to compare and contrast the style and effects of this video with Air's video for "Sing Sang Sung."

Opener 2(b): The Cycle of Terror and Tragedy (2006), by Graydon Parrish

This image does not quite look as good or clear here as it could. Click on the image if you want to see a larger version. The original, apparently, is over 6' x 18'; pretty staggering. Thanks to Devin for bringing this one to our attention.

Opener 2(a): Donnie Darko

For today's opener, Max has suggested that we observe this trailer for the 2001 film Donnie Darko. An interesting response could look at the way this clip characterizes the main character of Donnie, or it could try to define the setting--focus on the physical and social setting--what kind of world is being depicted here? What kind of school/world is this place?

Opener 1(e) MGMT, "Congratulations"

Wyatt's contribution to the "Openers" project is this video by MGMT for their song "Congratulations."

Check out the list of "moods" attributed to them at the All Music Guide site. Do you see any of these here? Some of the words listed are more descriptive of their literal sound, and therefore observational, and some seem more descriptive of the emotions that can be inferred. Which are which? What other words can you think of to describe their sound?

Open Response #1 will be due on Wednesday, September 7. Two typed paragraphs total, each with a simple, original title.

Opener 1(d): One Day on Earth

For today's opener, respond to the trailer for the film One Day on Earth. Observe the clips it edits together into the trailer and try to find unities--are there any connections you can see? That is, what recurring motifs unify this brief film? What images, actions, people, places, seem to be repeated, and what attitude do these motifs take toward their subject?

Opener 1(c): Theo Jansen's "Strandbeests."

For today's opener, respond to this interview with Theo Jansen about his "Strandbeests."

Respond to anything you like in this piece, but here are a couple of prompts that might help get you started:

(1) "[Discuss what Jansen's creations] imply [about their creator's ideas concerning 'life.']"

(2) "[Discuss the emotional effect] created by [Jansen's creations.]"

Opener 1(b): "Wooden Heart," by Listener

Today's opener is provided by Racine.
Lyrics can be found here.

Racine suggests that we consider observing the instrumentation, the voicing, and their inter-relationship with the lyrics to infer something about the ideas and attitudes of the piece. Also consider elements of the video itself. How is it shot? Color, edits, action, etc.

Opener 1(a)

A finished version of your in class video response to the beginning of Pride & Prejudice.