Dan, Dan I Am

To be asked who you think you are is rather more comforting than being asked who you are. The former allows me to be right; the latter virtually guarantees that I'll be wrong. As much as I wish it weren't the case, I have a problem with being wrong, which prompts me to keep my mouth shut. Recently, however, I've come to the conclusion that it is better to be vocally stupid than silently stupid, because there is always the chance that someone will be kind or irritated enough to point me in the right direction. I look forward to (hopefully) being corrected many times throughout this course.

My name is Daniel Pease. I'm a pretty decent person. I'm more or less obsessed with music. I'm never without my headphones, and I spend hours each day playing, writing, discovering, and listening. Around the same time that I realized that it was better to be stupid aloud, I realized that the terms 'good' and 'bad' do not apply to music, or to taste in music. Simply put, there is music that one likes, and music that one doesn't. This seems obvious now, but prior to thinking this way, I was quite snobbish about music. Having the perspective that I do now lets me appreciate music that I would have dismissed out of hand in the past, and, more importantly, enables me to talk to anyone at all about any kind of music. This might sound odd - but I used to spend a fair amount of time on Omegle, the anonymous chat website, asking people to recommend songs that were, for whatever reason, very special to them. While they were few and far between, I did have a good number of protracted, exciting conversations with people who gave me quite a lot to listen to.

I decided to include this in my introductory post because perhaps more than anything else, this is who I think I am. I want desperately to learn, and to grow, and I believe I do so by interacting with anyone and everyone. I don't want to be wrong, but I accept that perfection does not exist, and I understand that for me to be wrong less often requires a degree of humility and openness to criticism on my part. Music played a huge role in helping me understand these things.

Most of my media consumption is, and has been for some time, through the internet. Compared to most of the people I know, I was something of a late-bloomer in this regard; I was using AOL 9.0 until about 2006, if memory serves, which prevented me from actually enjoying the internet. When I got broadband, it wasn't long before I was devouring news articles, posting on forums, and looking up tutorials on everything from 'how to shave' to 'how to repair a machine head.' Although I spend less time on the internet these days, I still find the time to make the rounds, which include a few blogs, a bunch of subreddits, xkcd, news websites, the random button on Wikipedia (which after some clicking brought me here this morning) and the odd episode of QI. It's something of a relief that I don't have a smartphone, because if I had one, I don't think I'd ever take my eyes off it. I'm looking forward to seeing how new technology will influence the media and how we interact with it, even though things like Google Glass terrify me. Our generation is incredibly fortunate - we're the first to have our identities shaped by the internet, and we will have experienced the 'freedom' of its youth.

Also, our 'Back-In-My-Days' will include things like the dial-up tone, horrific image macros, and actual, physical, computers. Which is funny to think about.

In a panic through a forest of eyes

source

Writing which requires self-description is a daunting task. I don’t believe a list of adjectives would capture the full scope of my personality, especially as I often think I do not know myself that well. According to testimonials from friends and family, I am aloof (a friend), capable (my dad), amusing (most everyone I come in contact with; sometimes I don’t even try. Maybe it’s my face?). I don’t know if it’s a good idea to rely on other people’s opinions of me, for they see me in a forced perspective, so to speak. On to facts: I am a first generation American and the child and sister of Jewish Soviet working class immigrants. I have attended seven schools (not counting Hunter) in my life, not because I moved addresses. (In fact, the biggest move I made was at the tender age of a few months to another building in my apartment complex.) I was never fully satisfied at any of these institutions and it occurred to me that the problem was not necessarily with me but with the overall public education system in the U.S. The idea that everyone is expected to perform and compete on equal footing when students have different abilities and learning methods baffles me. My overall outlook could be described as anti authoritarian, but I rarely confront people who hold power over me because I have too much anxiety in these situations (and in general). I am critical of hierarchical structures. I believe that media and art have a responsibility to represent people and experiences in a diverse and humanistic way.

My earliest memories of media consumption are watching and rewatching Mel Brooks’ filmography and reading the works of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket. I am drawn to absurdism, surrealism, whimsy, and sometimes a certain sense of bleakness in art and media. Media is a form of escapism, education, and entertainment (alliteration accidental) for me. I am intrigued by film noir – the snappy dialogue and urban settings excite me. Additionally, I enjoy the works of Ingmar Bergman, Agnès Varda, Buster Keaton, and Bette Davis. Most of the movies I have watched are part of the Western canon, however, I actively try to watch movies of different eras, genres, and nations. And like most people in my generation, I watch a lot of cat videos online. I enjoy music too, particularly post-punk, Britpop, New Wave, and anything with synthesizers. Self presentation is also very important to me. I wish my aesthetic sensibilities reflected more in my appearance, but financial limitations and neurotic thoughts get in the way, possibly because I prefer an androgynous style. I often ponder, “Why can’t I have the wit and wardrobe of Jarvis Cocker?”

my curated art & culture blog / Twitter

a photo I took of the remnants of an "old" Coney Island

I am Evolving

Sweaty Palms and a steadily increasing heart beat; common sensations which consume me when I am asked to give what I insist must be a clever and witty introduction in to who I believe Natasha Marie is. These vibrations which pulse through me are hardly because I am bursting with excitement, eager to exaggerate a lengthy list of my accomplishments and my untapped plan to save the world.



Truthfully, I am terrified of these sorts of things; terrified to the say the wrong thing, terrified to say the right thing, terrified to open my mouth only to have some conglomeration of words come out that only resemble english. In reality I am a modest girl living in a giant world. I come from humble beginnings. The daughter of a teenage mother who struggled her way to the prestigious position of Directorship for Media Technology Applications at NBC Universal; whose career in the Media industry ignites my passions and aspirations to become involved with media in some, still unknown, form more and more everyday. And a modest Arkansan boy, deprived of the chance to go to High School let alone College. A father who placed an emphasis on the importance of knowledge and self-education more than some of his college educated peers ever did for their children, who makes an honest living as a Superintendent/ Project Manager for construction. However, in full disclosure my life has been consumed by circumstance and necessity, I have rarely had everything I wanted but I have always had what I needed.



Sure I could tell you I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt to two beautiful little girls, one who was born this very morning 9/06 at 1:31 am. I could tell you I am a student, a perhaps too dedicated assistant manager of a small Frozen Yogurt shop, and my responsibilities often trump my social life. I am no budding artist or musician, I have a lot to say but shouldnt always express those things aloud, my thoughts keep me awake most nights, and I would lift weights any day of the week over getting on the dreadmill. Some might claim that this is Natasha Marie "in a nutshell" and that is true, but these descriptions only capture me in this moment in time, excluding all the things I wish for and am striving to be.



I am evolving. This to me is far more important than who I am. I strive to live everyday better; to smile a little more, to work a little smarter, to reflect on my weaknesses and capitalize on my strengths, to treat others kindly, to cherish the little things which are the pieces the bigger picture is comprised of, to be passionate, to be a creator and not just a consumer, to be rich with experience and most importantly to continue striving toward a life which is no longer only defined by necessity.



Please come and --->> https://twitter.com/Ev0lveWithMe


Media worth consuming--->> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rlFr2lu0IY

Who do I think I am?

created using www.wordle.net

Hello there. My name is Darya (or Dasha) and I graduate in less than 5 months, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time but is going to be great! (right?)

I took the summer off and am now transitioning into an active job search, which, I must say, has gotten much better after the Labor day (for those of you currently looking and being frustrated by the lack of response earlier in August, the vacations’ month). I am interested in digital media, marketing, and advertising.

Besides work and school, there are, of course, love and play :) I am happily married and enjoy my free time with the hubby. Running, biking, hiking, traveling, and snowboarding are some of my favorite activities. I also enjoy reading, watching (good!) movies, cooking (and eating!), and wine… Visual examples of all of the above can be seen on my instagram account @daskin_ig.

My relationship with media is a love-hate kind of thing. I love consuming it but at the same time I hate when it turns me into a procrastinator. I love making it, although I often criticize the results.  Nevertheless, it is a big part of my life and that of many-many others. Our world is bursting at the seams with media content that is created for us and by us. Sifting and navigating through it is a skill to be learned. Have you ever googled your own name? Try it, if you haven’t yet. It is fascinating how much can be learned about anybody once you know his or her name. For example, you can find this short film from 3 years ago:

That being said, I think this pretty much sums up the attributes that make me who I think I am and shape my life and character on a daily basis. The question of who I really am remains yet to be answered and I doubt that it can or should be. Isn’t that what makes life interesting – learning new things about yourself and the world around you? I guess I am a learner.

I Express, therefore I am.

I knew who I thought I was going to become at the age of 10. I knew that I had the full potential to become whatever I put my mind to. Hence early on in my childhood I progressed as spy; a Detective; an Archeologist and even a General of my own army of 5... :) Growing up in a decaying urban environment, I believe it lead me into this world of the imagination to pick up those broken pieces of my surroundings. Although the immediate world around me was in turmoil, I set forth on my daily journeys, recruiting a friend or two to for full those fantasies of escape.  


 This formulation in my mind as a child gave me the will not hold back my own developmental abilities. I was blessed with a household that seldom restricted me intellectually. A South Bronx girl transformed by her childhood adventures, gave presence to the woman I am today. I see the world through the lens of the ever changing I, and formulate it back through my eyes in the form of Art.

 

 But what do I consider art? And who do I think I am? These questions go hand in hand, for me. I never thought I would achieve formulating my own Band, nor did I ever think I would have success as a Model acquiring two book covers.  Blah, Blah Blah…. I tend to shy away from speaking about myself, for I find it a bit superficial because for me, with all due respect, who I am I is more than just words written on this Blog. We live in a technological world of over saturation, and frankly I am not only a victim of this saturation but also a perpetrator.

 

And as that perpetrator I have several websites where I mediate my art form and ideas of expression. It all started with MySpace and its amazing idea to connect individual across the world. I met some of my closest friend on that site. I told stories in the form of photos and word play. Unfortunately this is no longer, not because of Facebook or the other innovative networking sites, but because they took on a whole new interface which chose to delete and erase all my media and not even tell me. This is where things can get very frustrating as an artist who is at the beckon mercy of sites such as these. We do not own anything that is not physical tangible. So as a result I am in the process of becoming independent of these sites that have become our portals into mindless time consumption of this virtual surreal life.

 





 
http://sinistercreations.carbonmade.com/
 

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/bella-rodriguez.html

https://twitter.com/bellasoulsTruth
 

 

 

 

The Elephant Man

My name is Michael Chu-A-Kong.

How I got here, I have no idea. Where I’m going, I have no idea.

It’s a bittersweet thing – this thing called life.

When we’re alive, we think life pays so much attention to us. We spend all of our time with people we enjoy being around. We invest our ‘years’ of life into an education and career path that we believe grants us a better lifestyle.

Then we die. And the time we thought we were spending…we realize that time was buying the future at the cost of our lives. And generations will replace us as future generations will replace them. And the people that were so amazing and impactful on our lives wither away to dust, forever forgotten, lost in time.

And so I must ask myself, “What is my life’s real purpose? Why does my existence even matter?”

In my first and last media class I took at Hunter, Media 180, I had a very peculiar professor by the name of Stuart Ewen. Towards the end of the semester I had a private talk with him regarding the same questions above.

And I think he really solidified what we humans do here on earth. He left me with, “You have to give your life purpose, Michael.” I learned not to give up living just because I’m going to die. Just because I won’t get to see the end, doesn’t mean I can’t start something somewhere.

And now here I am. J

First off, I really despise labels. Labels limit people psychologically as well as the environments that we place ourselves in.

Just because I’m a college student doesn’t mean a seldom wisdom can’t exist.

Just because I work for $9/hr in retail at Aeropostale in Herald Square doesn’t make me a fool or a poor person.

Just because I work construction 25hrs/week doesn’t make me a birdbrain who’s only capable of manual labor.

Just because I model and act doesn’t make me a pretty boy who thinks he deserves an easier life based on physical features.

Just because I’m a guy doesn’t mean I don’t know how women feel and think.

Just because I perform poetry doesn’t mean that I shit cupcakes and rainbows.

Just because I hit the gym six days a week, doesn’t make me a gym head.

With these examples, I comfortably call myself a Renaissance man. I’m at a point in my life where balance seems to be essential.

I was born in Richmond, Virginia. I moved to New York City ten years ago and I couldn’t be happier. I come from a family of a mother and two sisters, similar in age; my father, a distant figure. I grew up in Catholic School, not by choice, but by privilege. I had a full academic scholarship to Holy Cross High School. Again, I found a balance between going to an all-boys testosterone-pumped catholic school and coming home to an estrogen-enraged home.

I’ve created a life for myself. I’m continuously constructing a frame of mind independent of all of my surroundings. I have given everything I do sincere meaning. From the things I say to the clothes I wear, I'm a self-promoter by existing. Brand name clothing is parallel to mainstream tv and news - a croc of shit that I don't spend much time on. I create my on media through several mediums in which I try to explain my complex little mind. I'm an advocate of positive energy, good vibes, and thinking very little of negative things. "I think, therefore I am" -Descartes. I don't want to be molding myself as a negative person.

I’m a nerd. I’m a jock. I’m serious. I’m a clown. And now…I’m rambling.

To ask someone to write about themselves is almost pointless. We’re no different. Sure there are some variations along the way, but we’re all in a system called society. We’re in the same boat.

But the one label I do love the most is that of an artist. Being an artist I constantly hunger to create, to manifest. I don’t question it. I embrace it.

And my best quality is appreciation. I guess it comes with being a poet. I appreciate the little things. I’m the weird guy that stands in the middle of the busy sidewalk to admire bums helping bums. I’m the annoying guy in the train early in the morning singing his heart out. I’m the guy that sits back and smiles at life beautifully unraveling. I aspire to change the world. If we all leave the world a better place than we found it, then we all win!

Now for show and tell!

This is an example of my livelihood:

https://www.cia.gov/careers/student-opportunities

(The CIA gig I did last September)

This is one of my first performances almost 4 years ago when I was a very angry person aha:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNFN5fsgNj0

And lastly, a sketch from my pad titled “Life is not a race. It’s a journey.”

"It is never too late to be what you might have been" -George Eliot

 Who do I think I am? Truth is, I don't really know...or rather I never really thought about it until now. I know who I am; where I come from, who my parents are, my friends, my home, etc. But now that I'm trying to formulate a sophisticated yet somewhat witty response, I can't help but find myself drawing blanks. I like to think that I am a lot of things; a smorgasbord of ideas, goals and aspirations, if you will. I am a student; a waitress; an activist; an environmentalist; a writer; a musician; a singer; a very poor dancer; a creator; a consumer; a sister; a daughter; and a friend. I am a block of clay waiting to be chipped at revealing the masterpiece encased within. I am Rachael.

Growing up in Long Island, a mere twenty-five miles away from Manhattan, I have the luxury of opting to hop on a train and flee the huge crowds and endless billboards for a more suburban setting (and vice versa). The city is overwhelming and overflowing with advertisements and various forms of visual communication, just waiting to infiltrate the minds of the passerby's. Transforming the way they perceive others as well as themselves; most people, including myself, do not even realize that we are constantly being altered and reshaped by media influence. Who we think we are and how the public perceives us as individuals, may be two very different things. As a student at Hunter College, I am currently a media major and an anthropology minor. This strange and reciprocated relationship between media circulation and personal/public identity fascinates me, and serves as my main source of inspiration. I find myself most intrigued when the manifested identity or persona of one (or many) directly challenges/ breaks conformity with the original intent/ message presented and released through media. Some of my biggest role models include; Nicholas Roeg, the Cohen brothers, Tarantino, and Marlene Dietrich.
 Ideally, my goal in life would be to work with film doing audio work. This summer I had the awesome opportunity to intern at a post production company in Soho, called Post Factory. There I got to witness first hand the final stages of creating major projects that would eventually be made available to the public, including; film, television shows, and commercials. Prior to this experience, the only role I had in the film industry was sitting in the theatre eagerly waiting for the film to dance across the silver screen. So, watching these professionals finesse and finalize various feature films that haven't even began advertising yet, was incredibly surreal and helped me realize just how many different facets of media involvement are incorporated into and necessary for a single project. Almost (if not every) form of media communication is involved in the film practice; print, television, broadcast, and internet. All of these outlets come together to persuade us, the audience, that this film is worth watching, and will potentially influence us some how in our lives after the last credit has rolled off-screen.

      http://www.juxtapoz.com/ - a link to my favorite magazine