Media Meditation: Parov Stelar

Parov Stelar: Emerging Talent.

Over the weekend, my roommate loaded this video, made it full screen, and plugged it into his LOUD DJ equipment.

I do not take dance lessons. I do not watch youtube videos of people dancing. I have never appreciated choreographed dance before this video.

The music is upbeat, modern, and energetic. It is a song that I could see played at Higher Ground. Modern songs like these are not usually associated with professional dancing, which is partially why I was so amazed at the video. This guy can move!

This video on youtube is under-viewed, but has the potential to make Parov Stelar famous. CONVERGENCE has allowed users like this to post their talents online, in hopes to one day be recognized.

PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES in this video are simple. It appears as if the dancer has set his camera on a table, and is recording himself dancing in his basement. It is made with very SIMPLE editing techniques which puts the entire emphasis on Parov's talent. A little bit of music and some empty floor space seems to be all Parov Stelar needs to entertain an audience.

The video is a serious display of talent, but at times the viewer finds themselves laughing out-loud and smiling. The video isn't funny, but somehow TRANSFERS HUMOR to the viewer. His talents are so superior to the average person that it is almost comical that he is "that" good.

His outfit appears to be an example of NOSTALGIA. He is dressed in outdated clothes that might appeal to a distant generation, but certainly not the 21st century.

We watched the video a bunch of times before realizing he has many videos posted on youtube. We browsed through them all and found some to be more impressive than others, and some more unique than others. The most impressive one I found was this one:

I consider this video to be both an expression of media, and art. The video features the dancer dancing in locations that you would not normally find a dancing performance. The dancer wears headphones that allow him to dance wherever he goes. The video shows him dancing in a crowded train station, crossing a street in a crowded city, on a moving train, in a park, in the middle of the woods, by a river, and on top of a mountain. These are very unique locations to shoot a dance performance. Throughout the production I couldn't stop thinking about a quote that I read a while ago:

"Those seen dancing are thought to be insane by those who cannot hear the music."

Through the use of MEDIA, I believe that one day Parov Stelar will receive the recognition he deserves for his innovative and artistic style of expression.

Media Meditation: BEATS ANTIQUE

BEATS ANTIQUE: A Wild and Crazy Media Experience!

Over the past couple years I have been to a countless amount of concerts. I love live music and enjoy the concert experience. Since coming to school in Burlington, I found myself spending many nights at Higher Ground. Higher Ground is a music venue in the heart of Burlington. What makes it so special is the HUGE turnout of college kids at every show. They pay for the BEST artists to come, and most shows sell out.

That is the back ground on my concerting life in Vermont.

In the summer, my friend introduced me to a band I had never heard of, Beats Antique. My friend did a quick youtube search and pulled up this video:

After watching/listening, I was in love. Not only was the video a media masterpiece, but I could not stop thinking about how genius the music was. The growing popular trend in music is electronic, rave, and dubstep. It is obvious that Beats Antique combines these emerging genres with Middle Eastern culture to produce one of the more unique and innovative forms of music I have come across.

Searching the Higher Ground website for upcoming shows, I see Beats Antique listed and purchase tickets immediately. On Sunday, October 24th, I saw the beauty of Beats Antique for myself. Posted by Beats Antique, this video summarizes the show at Higher Ground with LIVE footage, and band interviews.

This show ranks in the top 3 concerts I have ever been too. The energy in this sold out venue was incredible. The band members played different kinds of drums, violins, and banjos to accompany the electronic rave atmosphere and dubstep background music. To top it all off, Zoe Jakes makes the whole show sexy as she belly dances to the music. The band made the crowd crazy. At the encore, the band put on animal masks, ran around the stage, and jumped into the wild crowd for some crowd surfing. The audience was going wild the whole show, and the band was feeding off of their energy.

Now that I've settled down, I can reflect on this unique MEDIA EXPERIENCE. From the power tools we see the use of...

Production Techniques: A big part of their success is due to production techniques. The rave lighting, fog machines, and other disorienting effects is all part of the experience. Instead of sitting and playing music in front of an audience seated in chairs, the band uses production techniques to have the entire venue jumping, screaming, and dancing like animals.

Pacing: At times, the show is overwhelming. The flashing strobe lights and lazers make it hard to see at times and the fast pace of the entire show makes it difficult to slow down and take a break. It is just too crazy.

Symbols: Zoe, the belly dancer, is certainly a symbol for the group. She is the connection they have to Middle Eastern heritage and is a huge part of the Beats Antique experience.

Humor: There is some humor in their performance. The guitarist frequently gave shout outs to his mom, who was in the audience. Also, wearing the animal masks at the end was a comical way to let loose and go wild.

Timing: Timing is very important to this production. At times they slow down the music, progressively getting faster and louder to make the crowd anxious. Then the beat will drop and all at once the bass will shake your insides, the banjo will break it down, Zoe will begin an impressive dance, and the crowd will be out of control.

Limbic Brain: Flashing lights, dancing acts, and the actual musical performance will create a one-of-a-kind limbic experience.

(pictures from beatsantique.com)

Beats Antique is a new, up-and-coming, band who's popularity is growing exponentially. The combination of many genres, energetic performance, and incredible musical talent will continue to attract new listeners.

GQ Magazine Presentation

GQ Magazine

THESIS:

GQ is the authority on men. For over 50 years GQ has been the premier men's magazine, providing definitive coverage of men's style and culture. With its unique and powerful design, the best photographers, and a well of award-winning writers, GQ reaches millions of leading men each month. GQ is the only publication that speaks to all sides of the male equation. GQ is simply sharper and smarter.

http://www.gq.com/

FIVE FACTS:

1) GQ has two main sections; intelligence and fashion.

2) The majority of the magazine is clothing advertisements.

3) Appeals only to men.

4) Driven by advertising.

5) Claims to be a “complete guide to men’s style”

http://www.condenastmediakit.com/gq/index.cfm

BRAIN:

GQ contains mainly limbic and neocortex content. There are many articles that make you think, but the first ¼ of the magazine is all pictures, and throughout the rest of the magazine there are scattered full-page ads for men’s style clothing.

TRENDS:

Epistemological: from word to image.

Economic shift: hyper commercialism and corporate consolidation.

PRINCIPLES:

Trade-offs: how accurate is it. On page 133 there is an article about the 12 most important things that matter this month. There is a trade-off for determining what matters. The 12 important things they list are interesting, but may not exactly be the most important dude to subjectivity.

Production techniques: camera angles, lighting, editing, symbols

Ownership: GQ publishes ads from designer brands. By advertising in GQ, the clothing is considered to be “in style.”

Emotional Transfer: pg234. Sad story that draws emotion from the reader.

TECHNIQUES:

Symbol: Terrell Owens on pg 82, Usher on page 147, Jersey Shore on pg222

Flattery: pg139. “Inspired by You” section is saying that YOU deserve a better lifestyle. It says you can afford to gain weight, be in style, eat nice food, drink good wine, go on vacation, go shopping etc.

Bandwagon: pg94. “The Suiting World Just Got Younger.” Article claiming that more and more young people are wearing nice clothes everyday.

Simple solution: pg132. Claims that you will be a better runner by buying this shoe.

Testimonial: pg155. Uses popular DJ group, MSTRKRFT, to sell new media platform.

Plain Folks: pg92. “Mr. Outdoorsy Adventure Man Finally Loses the Backpack.” Selling designer brands to outdoorsy everyday people.

Beautiful people: GQ is full of models.

Humor: pg 200. There is a political cartoon that has an important message, but is humorous in the way it is presented.

MIDTERM REFLECTION - #CCM120

1. After studying 21st century media for eight weeks in this class, what have you learned?

I have learned that all forms of media incorporate, and can be analyzed by, certain recurring trends, principles, and techniques.

2. What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself as a critical reader, a writer, and a thinker in this class so far?

I have learned that a simple commercial is doing more than providing information. Every little detail in all forms of media is intentional, serves an important purpose, and can be identified when thinking critically.

3. What's one thing you would do differently this first half of the semester is you were to take this class again?

I would have studied the power tools intensely from the beginning instead of letting them grow on me and memorizing what's left for the midterm. I know now that they are most useful when they can be recalled easily.

4. What's one thing you would like me to do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

I honestly can't think of anything. I am learning a lot and I enjoy the in-class discussions. Maybe it would be a good idea to give us a fill in the blank test on the power tools from the beginning. That would make analyzing media every class easier.

5. Please comment on the usefulness of the power tools, our course blog, your personal blog, our in-class quizzes, our films, and our book as learning tools.

Power tools: These tools took a while to fully memorize, but now that I know them well I see how useful they are for analyzing media.

Course blog: The course blog is easier to follow than angel. It pops up in my RSS feed that I read daily and it's easy to stay on top of the work.

Personal blog: I see our personal blog as a creative way to submit assignments and to become familiar with blogging if not already. However, my followers are only from this class and I can't see myself becoming passionate about marketing this blog to outsiders.

In-class quizzes: These make us review material before each class which is important to learning, but might not happen if there weren't quizzes everyday.

Films: I like the variety of films that we watch. They are about very different things, but help us realize that regardless of content, media uses the same power tools.

Books: I like the reading, pictures, and media examples in the text. The chapter blogging assignments help us to retain information we see as being important.

Camp Champ Radio Spot: Team Rodram

Champlain College Radio Commercial

Team Rodram

Ricky, Sean, James, Jacob

Ricky: Audeamus. Who doesn’t want to go to college?

Sean: We want to go to college!

James: Don’t you want to sit in class all day?

Jacob: Do homework?

Ricky: Take tests?

Sean: Get educated?

James: I go to Champlain and I love being in class all day and doing hours of homework!

Jacob: Sounds like 6 flags of fun to us!

Ricky: Champlain is located in the best town, with all of the best teachers!

Sean: Since beginning school at Champlain, my teachers are my best friends!

James: Do you like women?

Jacob: Pizza?

Ricky: The freezing cold?

Sean: Apply to Champlain now!

Jacob: I applied to Champlain and now I eat pizza with women in the freezing cold!

James: These students don’t lie; they love all of the benefits they get from Chaplain

Ricky: You can come to Champlain too for only 3 low payments of $9060.

Jacob: Now that’s an unbeatable price! Everyone should apply.