marywardmedia

Digital Acting

2011-01-06T06:53:00.000-08:00

Blog Entry #5

Recently, my cousin showed me the official trailer for Assasin's Creed: Brotherhood. At first, I thought, "WOW! They got real actors to do this thing!" I soon found out, that what I thought was a live action scene being played out before me, was in fact, an animation! The figures, from afar, moved with convincing human-like grace. It was only during close-ups that the animated reality became apparent to me.

We don't have to look very far to see evidence of animated characters starring side-by-side with human counterparts. In Avatar, the use of "performance capture" is one step towards the fusion of animation and real-life actors. Read the following article, entitled <a href="http://www.digitalacting.com/2010/02/26/do-the-avatar-actors-deserve-recognition/">Do the ‘Avatar’ actors deserve recognition?</a> and respond to the following questions:
1. Is this acting or is this animation?
2. Do you think that animated character should be eligible for acting awards?
3. Do you think that human actors will ever become obsolete? Why or why not?

Are you a boy band??

2007-05-30T22:28:00.000-07:00

Unit 11 Journal Entry Question for students who missed the trip. Grade 10 Media Arts/Comm Tech

On the trip to Vtape, students saw the video art piece entitled "I am a boy band." This piece was created by Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay, who satirizes the different personalities of a prefabricated boy band. Ramsay shows how boy bands are often constructed using male stereotypes (the "sporty guy", "the cute one", "the bad boy"). Musical sensations are rarely discovered in today's market-driven music industry, but are constructed for a very specific audience and purpose.

Think of one example of a prefabricated music group/act and discuss the following:
-their image
-their target market (who is their audience and how do you know)
-their message
-their purpose

2007-04-13T01:14:00.001-07:00

Hello Budding Artist and other Creative People,

Art show admission is $3 and EVERYONE must pay - participating art students included

What?! I've got to pay for my own art show?!

you may say. Yes. There are two good reasons: 1. Art students constitute a large part of the school population (about 70%?) If art students don't pay, then it practically becomes a free show and the art department won't be able to break even and will go into debt. 2. If or when you become practicing artists, you will spend much more than $3 for your own work. Sure, public galleries who claim to "support" emerging artists will offer you small grants, even pay for your gas to go to Montreal, but they will never pay for materials, which I can tell you from personal experience, will exponentially exceed $3. Trust me, $3 (6 caf cookies=3 cans of pop =2 Jamaican patties) for your own show is a small price to pay.

During scheduled days, you are expected to continue working on projects for the art show:
Grade 10s: Illustrator Vectorized masterpieces (you can sign-up for heat stamping)
Grade 11s: Suitcase of Souvenirs project: Edit all movie - export and quicktime movie (extension .mov) and drop into desktop folder entitled ASM/TGJ 301. See Josh for help in my absence.
Grade 12s: ISPs, if not already completed. ALL projects need to be completed by April 20th to make it into the show.
Journalism: Work on articles for the next issue of MW Planet. Also sign-up for art show jobs like Planet Cafe and tour guides.

"Art is NOT easy"

Keep it real and keep creating,
Ms. Largo

Web 2.0 is YOU!

2007-03-25T23:30:00.000-07:00

Journal Entry Question # 6 for Grade 12 Comm Tech

In mid-April we are going to see a play called "edentity", a stage performance that incorporates new media and web into a live performance. It examines how human interactions and identity are challenged and changed by emerging forms of web communication technology. The following video also explores these themes.

Write about how you think Web 2.0 is challenging us to "rethink ourselves".

Web as Art

2007-03-25T22:53:00.000-07:00

image taken from http://www.alzado.net/eintro.html
Journal Entry Question #6 for Grade 11 Media Arts/Comm Tech

The web can be considered the largest art space with the most potential to create new forms of expression. Many new media artists are exploring the possibilities of this new environment to not only share their work, but use elements such as hypertext, time, sound, and interactivity in their art. Review the different Web art projects on the following site. www.ylem.org/artists/ayoungs/links.html#web
Choose one and discuss:
What is this piece about? Please describe it.
Why does the artist use the web?
What are the elements of this work that are unique to web art?
What do you like/dislike about the project?

Reporters in the line of fire

2007-02-14T22:33:00.000-08:00

Journal Entry Question #10 for Journalism

In one recent J-Talk, we discussed the Reporters Without Borders 2006 report on Press Freedom. The report reveals the harsh realities that journalists are facing around the world for the sake of bearing witness to the truth. Some pay the ultimate price. This begs the question: Why do journalists struggle so hard, sometimes even risking their own lives, to get the story? We don't need to look very far for recent examples of this. Journalists in our own city are compromising their safety to bring a little justice to citizens' lives. Check out Peter Silverman's (from City TV's Silverman Helps) brush with a crooked business man with a temper:

VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED

Is it worth endangering ones' life to get the scoop?

Are Wii the Children of the Revolution?

2006-12-01T08:16:00.000-08:00

Journal Entry question for EVERYONE!

There has been quite a bit of hype surrounding the new Ninetendo Wii gaming system. Some say that the Wii's ability to "democratize" gaming for people of all ages and abilities is revolutionary. Do you think this is a true technological revolution or just hype? Please defend your opinion.

Advisory: This Ain't Disney!

2006-11-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

Grade 11 & 12 Media Arts & Comm Tech Journal Entry Question #4

As many of you who watch South Park, Japanese anime, or Family Guy will know, animations are not always for young children. Animations, just like film, come in all genres, including horror! Watch the trailers of "Blood Tea and Red String " or "The Cat with Hands" which are some very technically sophisticated - and creepy - examples of stop-motion animation. Review one trailer and discuss how the creator disrupts your expectations of animation.

Grade 11 & 12 Media Arts & Comm Tech Journal Entry Question #5
Some animation purists say that computer animation, like that of Pixar, is cold and too rendered. Some modern animators believe that hand animation is dead because it is too time-consuming and labour-intensive. Compare and contrast traditional hand animation to computer animation using examples that you are familiar with. What do you prefer and why?

The Taste of Success

2006-11-12T08:46:00.000-08:00

Journalism 11/12 Journal Entry Question #8
Time for some creative writing, J-Students! In the style of a cooking recipe, you will concoct a recipe for "Success as a Mary Ward Student." Supporting artwork encouraged. The tastiest recipes will be published in the Mary Ward Planet. Due November 17th.

Journalism 11/12 Journal Entry Question #9
On Nov. 16th , Journalism will be hosting 2 guest speakers from the Globe and Mail. Attend the J-talks and listen to their stories. Using their experiences as examples, think and write about what is needed to "make it big" in journalism professions.

Photocopied Politics

2006-11-12T08:11:00.000-08:00

Grade 11/12 Journalism Journal Entry Question #7

"Putting out a zine, any zine, is a political act. Whether it's the high school kid who does a zine about Sloan, or the collective's newsletter advocating environmental awareness, both are reclaiming what was essentially theirs to begin with."
- Hilary Clark

Reflect and Comment.

Reading in Cyberspace ?!?

2006-11-12T07:58:00.000-08:00

Grade 10 Journal Entry Question #5

Google Book Search is a tool from Google that searches the full text of books that Google scans and stores in its digital database. The service formerly known as Google Print has caused some contraversy.
View the following video on YouTube(the newest addition to google), read about it and try it out for yourself at http://books.google.com/

View the video: Is Google Book Search "fair use"?
Read about it: http://books.google.com/googleprint/library.html

In your journal answer the following questions:
1. What effect will this library-based digitization have on Google’s relationships with publishers?
2. How have Google’s competitors, such as Yahoo! or Microsoft, respond to this challenge?
3. What impact could this project have on the access to information?
4.Will librarians be threatened by the new development?
5. What do you think?

What Makes YOU special?

2006-11-12T07:53:00.000-08:00

The Genographic Project
Grade 10 Journal Entry Question #4

In the space of just a few thousand generations, the linguistic, cultural and genetic diversity of the human race has exploded. Scientists agree that all humans share a common ancestry in Africa. Much less well understood is how the human race migrated out of Africa and became so diverse. To discover more about this ancestral journey, IBM and National Geographic have launched the Genographic Project, a landmark five-year study which will collect a massive sample of human DNA to put together a map of how humans populated the planet.

Explore the Genographic Project Site
Explore the IBM Site

View the videos, listen to the podcasts, read the articles and write an entry considering the following:

· consider the scientific and technological advancements that make the project possible;
· consider the impact of our highly mobile, global society on migration;
· describe the importance of the Genographic Project;
· project future migration patterns;

Some questions to help you:
What are the scientific and technological advances necessary to accomplish the Genographic Project?
Could researchers have accomplished this project 100 years ago? 50? 25?
Why is the timing of the Genographic Project important?
How important are the indigenious groups to the project?

When War meets Video Games

2006-10-14T06:33:00.000-07:00

Grade 10 Journal Entry Question #3

Read this article from Wired News War Games Come Marching in and answer the following questions:

1. Why are war video games so popular now?
2. "If it's not realistic, it's not worth playing," is a quote in the article. Do you think realistic war games desensitive people to the horror of war or is it just fun?
3. What do you personally think of war video games?

300 words.

Your time to shine!

2006-10-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

Grade 11 & 12 Journalism
Journal Entry Question #5 &6 (this one is worth 2 blogs)
Okay, J-students! If you want to write for the Mary Ward Planet, now is your chance. And, at the same time, you can work towards the completion of your blog unit. Here are some story ideas:

1. The Jeffery Reodica story: Jeffery Redoica was a 15 year old boy who went to Jean Vanier. He was shot 3 times in the back by an under-cover police officer. The Coroner's Inquest, which refused to acknowledge the role of racial profiling in this case, concluded on Oct. 6th, clearing the police officer of any wrong-doing. Write a hard news story with editorializing (your opinion). 600 words.

2. Bono's "Red Campaign" with the Gap, Motorola, Armani, Converse, etc. How does buying a red cell phone help a child in Africa suffering from AIDS? Consumerism=Humanitarianism? 600 words.

3. Free Choice (Get approval from me). 600 words.

Strong, well written articles will be published in the 1st issue of the Mary Ward Planet. Due in early November.

Pep Talk

2006-10-05T21:08:00.000-07:00

Hi Media/Comm Tech/J-Guys,
I am seeing some great design work on the blogs, however the content is lacking with the majority. The blog unit is a special opportunity where you can progressively complete a unit little by little, thus avoiding last-minute work. I would like to see at least ONE journal entry on EVERYONE's blog by the end of next week. Also, if there are any problems with links, let me know ASAP. There are still a few URLs that are not working and several of students who have yet to create a blog. Please work on that and leave me a comment with up-to-date info. Let the work of other students inspire you to create your own high-quality work. Start thinking and typing! NOW! Before it's too late.
Ms. Largo

Media Mashup

2006-10-01T03:13:00.000-07:00

Journal Entry Question #3, Gr. 11 & 12 Media Arts & Comm Tech

Napoleon Dynamite's "Liger": A superb example of a hybrid.
In unit 2, we've begun to explore the concept of "hybridity". The meaning of "hybridity" has changed a lot within the last decade. It is a term which originated from the field of biology referring to the breeding of two similar species. In media arts, hybridity or hybridization is the degree to which a technique or process is a product of two or more techniques or processes. Hybridity is a predominate theme in our "postmodern era" (remember seminar #1?) in which we experience an intermingling of influences, styles, and techniques in all the media we create and consume. For example, OutKast is not just a hip hop group, since it is a vibrant mix of R&B,

rock, spoken word, electronica, funk, jazz, blues, poetry, and etc. Such hybrid mashups are not only seen in the music world, but in all dimensions of our contemporary lives. Just look in your backpacks. How many of you have cell phone-MP3-blender-foot massager-digital cameras? ;) For this journal entry, discuss how you experience hybridity in your daily lives.

Requirements: 300 words in well-constructed sentences which make up paragraphs and supporting artwork.

Fraud, Lies & PhotoShop

2006-09-27T20:20:00.000-07:00

Grade 11 & 12 Journalism

The photograph, because of its close resemblance to reality, is thought to hold the essence of “truth” and is often treated as evidence. However, with the rise of photo-editing software, such as PhotoShop, a photograph’s objectivity comes into question. A recent and salient example of this is a Reuter's photograph of bombing in Lebanon. A keen blogger from "Little Green Footballs" noticed the obvious use of the "clone tool" in the billowing smoke over Beirut. Check out the first report of the fraud at Little Green Footballs.

You may answer one, several, or all of the following journal questions based on this story:

Journal Entry Question #2
In photojournalism, when is it appropriate to use PhotoShop? When is it not appropriate? Does altering the photograph mean altering the truth?

Journal Entry Question #3
What do you think were the photographer's intentions in changing the photograph in such a dramatic way?

Journal Entry Question #4
Reuters is an international, mainstream news provider. What does such an incident do for Reuters' reputation? What do you think about the fact that a blogger (an independent journalist) was the first to uncover the story? How does this change your view of mainstream media vs. independent media?

Each entry must be 300 words long. Include your images were appropriate.

An iPod Classroom?

2006-09-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

Grade 10 Journal Entry Question #2

What if you didn't have to go to seminars at all and you could do all your learning using your iPod? Read the following article and answer these questions:

iPod Classroom

1. The article suggests that iPod video lectures are effective for '"kinesthetic learners", who tend to be hands-on, active, and require frequent breaks." Do you think that you would learn well using an iPod? Why or why not?

2. An advocate for "v-casting" through the iPod says that: "It's more interactive and more self-directed." Do you think that Mary Ward, with its commitment to self-directed learning, should embrace such technology for education? What are some advantages or disadvantages?

Have FUN!

Technology+Art=?

2006-09-13T20:39:00.000-07:00

Nam June Paik

Journal Questions for Grade 11/12 Media Arts and Comm Tech.

You may answer one or both questions. Entries must be around 300 words each. Please review guidelines.

1. In the introductory seminar, we looked at Catts and Zurr's BioArt, like their "Victimless Meat". What are some ethical and moral concerns of this work that you can think of? What do you think about biotechnology as art?

2. "Contemporary artists use the technology of their time to communicate and express their ideas". Use an example of a media artist that we talked about in the introductory seminar to explain this quote.

Word Up!

2006-09-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

Journal Entry Question for Grade 11/12 Journalism #1

The voices of youth are vital to the field of journalism. As young journalists, you have an important role in "representing" the diverse attitudes, opinions, and beliefs of your generation. Visit YPP, Young Peoples' Press (link found on the side of this blog) and read one of the featured articles and answer the following:
1. 5Ws - note: These are "soft stories", meaning they do not have leads, but instead are more literary. You will have to search for the 5Ws within the body of the article.
2. What is the "thesis", or main point of the writer in this article?
3. What is your opinion on the topic?
4. How might the opinions of youth on this subject differ from those of adults? (point of view)

Your entry must be 300 words. You may include your own images to support your response.

With the GOOD, comes the BAD

2006-09-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

Journal Entry Question for Grade 10 #1

In seminar one, we looked at advancements in communication technology and the benefits and shortcomings that come along with them. For this first journal entry, think and write about how an example of modern-day communication technology has a good side and a bad side.
For example:
Cell phone cameras: Positive = Can take a photo anywhere! Negative=Loss of privacy
Portable Video Games: Positive = Portable fun! Negative=Addictive/distracting
Text Messaging: Positive = Fast contact with friends Negative=Loss of riting scillz!
Blogging : Positive = Sharing thoughts and feelings Negative=Safety/privacy concerns

Entries should be around 300 words long.

Reminders for you Media/Tech Lovers

2006-09-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

Great work today starting up your class blogs!
I have a few important reminders:

1. These are STRICTLY class-related blogs, meaning I don't want to read comments about your "extra-curriculars", ie: going to Pacific Mall for bubble tea. Only include postings which respond to the media/tech journal questions

2. Offensive material (racist, sexist, stereotypical comments) are NOT welcomed! :( There will be consequences. Please be thoughful and respectful :)

3. I've noticed that some of the blogs are not loading up. Remember to Save and Publish changes.

4. Do not publish any personal information, such as your address, phone #, etc. Remember: the web is a PUBLIC SPACE. You wouldn't advertise your personal info on the street, so don't do it here either.

5. You will write your responses in EXCELLENT ENGLISH, meaning no text messaging lingo, no "lol", "l8r", "btw"...

Okay! That's it for now. Stay tuned for upcoming journal questions. Make sure that you are responding to the correct questions. (Grade 10s respond to Gr10 questions, Journalism students respond to journalism questions, etc.)

Peace out.

Happy September!

2006-09-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to school, everyone! For some of us, like me, this will be our first year at Mary Ward. I am anticipating an exciting year full of great ideas, amazing work, and stimulating discussion. Most of all, I am looking forward to getting to know and appreciate all of you!

You will be required to create a blog, SPECIFICALLY for this course. This blog will be a journal which will contain your thoughtful responses to questions relating to course content, such as themes in media arts, advancements in communication technology, or special topics.

I will post journal entry questions at certain points throughout the year. You will be required to complete 6 entries, consisting of around 300 words each and appropriate supporting visuals. Your work on the blog will fulfill one unit for Media Arts/Communication Technology.

This unit intends to explore "the weblog" as an emerging form of communication and expression. I invite all of you to share and create knowledge and meaning through this unit and course. Happy blogging!