American Fate Story

This is our short film. It's centered around the idea that Americans can no longer accept fate as a plausible cause for happenings. The two characters are brought together by fate and torn apart by their inability to believe in it.

Created by:
Rachel Bailey
Jim Martin
Stephanie Rosario

Pledge of Allegiance By: Bling Nation

Bling Nation
Jessica Axelrad
Yael Ginossar
Blake Moskowitz
Rachel St.Pierre

Our movie is comprised of 8 shots which take place in different materialistic settings.  Each shot has a singular line from the Pledge of Allegiance.  Jimi Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner plays in the background.  We wanted to keep our shots tight so the audience couldn't connect a face to the character but rather just see their hands.  We played around with lighting techniques using flashlights (paparazzi shot in elevator)  and handheld colored filters (poker chip shot with green lighting).   Overall we had a fun time and worked really well as a collaborative group.

Banksy, west bank

Artist: Banksy. December 2007, Bethlehem, Israel. 

The photograph of the mural was retrieved from: 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7125611.stm

The image depicts a role reversal that redefines the hierarchy of power between IDF soldiers and Palestinians. In reality IDF soldiers are the dominant and powerful agent in the occupied territories and the Palestinians are the oppressed group. Part of the daily practices of IDF solders is to conduct search on suspected Palestinians. IDF justify these kind of practices by claiming they are necessary for the security of Israel. This image challenges this perspective by depicting an absurd situation of a girl conducting a search on a solder. This situation obviously challenges the typical hierarchy. The girl symbolizes naivety and innocent represents Palestinians. The unexpected reversal role is amusing at first, but quickly becomes disturbing. This is a powerful allegory about the reality of the two nations. The medium of graffiti strengthen the message of the image. Graffiti is created in the public sphere and is an unauthorized act. Stencil graffiti, that was used in this case, implies of recurring pattern of IDF solders acts. 

Who do you see?

Jimmy Armstrong the dwarf, Clyde Beatty Circus, New Jersey, 1958. Photograph by Bruce Davidson.

I saw this image while I was reading Lapham’s Quarterly, Comedy. Comedy, for me, should be something makes you happy and laugh. And clowns are the ones to bring happiness to everybody. I was astounded when I saw this picture, because instead of happiness, all I can see is sorrow and loneliness. This image makes me think about what the meaning of happiness is, and how we can easily define someone is happy or not. Just like this clown, even though he showed his happiness and brought joy to the audience, how many people ever care about his true life behind the stage? How many people care about his probably tragedy story?

This picture was taken by Bruce Davidson, an American photographer. He described that when he took this picture, his camera shutter did not seem to disturb the clown. “He seemed to know that it was the inner moment I was drawn to and not his clown face or physical appearance.” Yes, it is the inner moment of the clown that makes this image so powerful.


http://www.dandy-club.com/2011/05/bruce-davidson-circus.html

I tried very hard to think of a meaningful image from our incredibly media rich world. My favorite image from memory is a personal one and I hope that is acceptable because it has always held great meaning for me while growing up.

As a child I looked forward to turning the page and seeing this particular photograph in my family album. This is a photograph taken by my Aunt Peggy well over 35 years ago. It was ten years before I was born and ten years before I was even manifested by my parents. It was the evening my parents decided to get married.

Paint by Touch

In 2001, John Bramblitt became completely blind. It was then that he decided to start painting. Unlike most seeing painters, Bramblitt’s process is done by touch. First, he lays down the outline with fabric paint. This creates a raised line that he can use later to guide him in applying the color. Second, he applies the paint through a tactile approach based on the texture of the paint. Titanium White, for example has a toothpaste-like texture, where as the Black is more watery. 

Shown above, Street Cello by John Bramblitt, displays an excellent aesthetic quality in color and design. The painting resonates with me in two primary ways. One, it shows brilliant use of color and design to illustrate a sense of movement. It is easy to get swept away in the imaginary song that the cellist is playing.  Two, the painting demonstrates the arts as true form of expression for everyone, including the physically disabled. The artist’s plight and perseverance to overcome his physical limitations are as inspirational to me, both as an artist and a person. 

Bramblitt, J., “About”, Aug. 2009. http://bramblitt.net/?page_id=1315 Accessed Jan. 5 2009.

Bramblitt, J., “Street Cello”, Jun. 2013. http://bramblitt.net/?page_id=1315 Accessed Jan. 5 2009.

Balance

http://www.flickr.com/photos/froggerjaunt/5354946007/
The photo I chose speaks to me in many different ways.  It was taken in San Juan Puerto Rico at the once famous Swimming Natatorium. I was hoping to capture some amusement in the eyes of the 4 student-athletes in the shot, who were nearing the end of 10, long, intensive training days.  Instead, I think I managed to capture the innocence of 4 student-athletes who are mesmerized by the opportunities student-athlete life has awarded them in the years since they'd become Wheaton College Lyons.


photo by: James Martin
Jan 13, 2011