kaitlynsweeklyblogs

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                                    The Equality Manifesto

     Don’t get me wrong, I believe everyone deserves equality. But if we were all equal, we would not need movements like feminism. Feminism was created to strive for equality between all of the sexes. Whatever you believe in, no matter how evil someone is, a human being should be treated the same as everyone else; no matter one’s personal belief or political belief. 

     An oil painting I wrote my recent blog about is a great example of why we need feminism. As quoted from my own blog, “I picked this piece because the lady in this oil painting is beautifully captured. As well as the body of water behind her. Her long, blonde locs; contrasting with the bright reds and oranges are stunning” (Edwards, 2021). In the painting, Flaming June’s breast is exposed. During the Renaissance times, the human body was meant to be flaunted. It was common to strut around naked and/or be painted naked; it was encouraged. However, the medieval times came around and completely changed this point of view. They labeled women as sex obsessed beings and men as innocent creatures who were not even looking for a sexual relationship. I find this hard to believe due to the fact most people who commit acts of sexual assault are mainly men. It seems that humans were once praised but then someone decided to label women as less than men; along with being predators. 

     Next, comes a blog post I wrote at the very beginning of the year. As quoted from my own blog, “This spin-off of ‘Rosie the Riveter’ was made by a black artist named Tim Okamura.---- After my interpretation, I concluded it is a painting to lift up women of color. I can infer this by looking at the most obvious feature, the painted woman showing us her muscles. Also, she has her hair up which leads me to believe that she is going to accomplish something very important and perfectly, polished hair is not her main focus. I can assume what she strives to accomplish is equality by protesting and social media tactics to gain attention on the matter” (Edwards, 2021). You see, the original Rosie (1943) was made to encourage female participation in the workforce. However, to this day women are still not paid the same as their male coworkers in certain jobs. My point is, paintings like these encourage movements and followers. We can only better the world and fight for equal treatment if we gain recognition but progress moves slowly as Rosie was made all the way back in 1943.  

     Lastly, a movie I wrote a blog post on really opened my eyes to past and current world problems. As quoted from my own blog, the movie was about “Soon to be detective, Ron Stallworth, applies to be an officer but is later transferred to narcotics and intelligence. He meets Flip who plays the white version of him in the presence of the Klu Klux Klan.. ahem… I mean “The Organization” members. They infiltrate the group while taking them down from the inside. Ron meets Patrice, a student activist, during his first mission which was getting information about the Black Panthers motives” (Edwards, 2021). A scene that stuck out the most to me was abuse on a certain character in this movie named Patrice. Patrice was driving home after an activist meeting when she and her friends were stopped. The cops did not explain the reason for this traffic stop; they only demanded they get out of the car or they will shoot. Now here comes the worse part. Patrice demanded to be told why they were being stopped as it is her legal right. The cop responded with a slur and degrading comment along the lines of her being black and a woman who does not know anymore better “keep your mouth shut, idiot women”. Although this may have just been a movie, this still happened. Although this may have happened to a black woman, this can still happen to a woman of any race. If we were all equal, why did the cops illegally stop activists and degrade a woman exercising her rights?

     Feminism was created to provide equality between the sexes, not superiority. That’s why I meant every word when I said, don’t get me wrong, I believe everyone deserves equality. But if we were all equal, we would not need movements like feminism. Feminism was created to strive for equality between all of the sexes. Whatever you believe in, no matter how evil someone is, a human being should be treated the same as everyone else; no matter one’s personal belief or political belief. Lastly, my feelings on these examples of art and how it communicates about, or connects to, my world 

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                                                 Flaming June

                                        By: Frederic Leighton (1895)

Twas a warm, humid day.

She laid there, In the bright, 

June Sun. In the Summer,

My crops long for rain.

I will have to wait, till

flaming June wakes. 

As her dress fades

From radiant orange.

                                                       Analysis 

     The oil painting I have decided to do an ekphrasis on is called ‘Flaming June’ by Frederic Leighton (1895).  I must admit, I picked this piece because the lady in this oil painting is beautifully captured. As well as the body of water behind her. Her long, blonde locs; contrasting with the bright reds and oranges are stunning. 

     Upon observation, the picture contains ‘happy’ colors; bright scenery along with vibrant colors which makes it happy. However, ‘June’ can be pictured sleeping. I took this message as she is tired and/or the season is about to change and she will wake in during the next season (summer). I can infer that ‘June’ is a metaphor for summer due to the colors used and the scenery like plants and warm blue waters.

     I attempted to capture the meaning of this poem by talking in the third person as a farmer in my ekphrasis. I gave the reader a good description of the scenery (how it is bright and currently summer); as well as what she is wearing in this warm weather.

     I tried to write the poem by stepping foot into the painting. After this, I decided to plant myself as a person but not as June herself since we are looking at June in third person. Eventually, I made the tie between crops and the seasons as I do enjoy a bit of gardening and planting myself. I felt a farmer would be a smart way to base this poem off of due to weather conditions being so vital and present in their career. 

*page 69 in textbook*

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                                        BlacKkKlansman

  The comedy of my choice, list B, was BlacKkKlansman (2018) by Spike Lee. Honestly, what caught my eye was the name of it. I am half black so I felt obligated to watch this one. I was curious about how the Klu Klux Klan could be turned into a comedy after all the absurd things they’ve done. However, this was a very interesting movie. I did not stop watching the whole two hour film. It had everything you could want in a movie: laughs (stereotypical/offensive jokes), the forbidden love story (between a Black Panther member and detective), and the bad guys (the Organization members) being defeated by the good guys (the main character and other detectives); in that order. 

     Soon to be detective, Ron Stallworth, applies to be an officer but is later transferred to narcotics and intelligence. He meets Flip who plays the white version of him in the presence of the Klu Klux Klan.. ahem… I mean “The Organization” members. They infiltrate the group while taking them down from the inside. Ron meets Patrice, a student activist, during his first mission which was getting information about the Black Panthers motives. 

     The movie was medium paced considering you can not rush an investigation; but you can’t make humans sit still for that long at the same time. Lastly, the movie contained a lot of jump-cuts which contributed to all the scenes the movie took place; it was a chaotic movie therefore also funny.

                                                     Arrival 

     The Arrival movie, by Denis Villeneuve, is a movie that leaves you saying “ahhhh” or “ohhh” because you put together the last remaining pieces at the end. We are introduced to two linguist by the names of Ian and Louise. Louise and Ian will have a daughter, Hannah, who dies in her teens of a incurable disease. Louise learns this from the aliens who gifted her their language; their language alters the way humans perceive time. Time is now nonlinear to Louise who can see the future since she has taken the time to learn their language. 

     Throughout the whole movie, it is a race between countries to find out what these aliens want and why they are here. It is revealed that in due time, the aliens will need a favor so they present their gift, their language, now for a trade. It is later revealed that Ian starts to see Hannah less and less because Louise has told him that she will die at a young age. It also causes their divorce. 

     The director, Villeneuve, used many techniques to make this film dramatic. For starters, he used constant gloomy lighting to keep the unsure feeling of the aliens purpose on Earth. Villeneuve used the tracking technique to really engage the viewers. Tracking is described as a camera motion in which moves forward, backwards or sideways. Also, the room allowed for POV shots which made you feel like you were in the room with the aliens. Lastly, the director withholds information of the heptapods until the ending. We finally get to see their size, without the gloomy fog, when Louise visits the alien one on one. 

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My project, for a Photographers Eye, is going to be based on the digital age and how it has impacted the way society functions as a whole.

-Family Time ft. Phones (Picture #1)

     I am sure we can all agree that teenagers are obsessed with social media. Picture number one, as seen above, is actually my cousin and I at a family dinner. We were eating dinner with family who visit, from up North, only in the summer because we are first generation Floridians. The entire time we were eating dinner as a family, since that is what families do, he was on his phone. I took this picture of him in action (action equaling him playing on his stupid phone). 

-Up To ‘Date’ (Picture #2)

     I was studying at the library, as most students looking for a quiet place do, and ran across this boy who had every new device imaginable! With his permission, I asked if I could take a picture of him. You can see he has high-tech headphones, a brand new phone with accessories to match, a fancy touchscreen watch, and a good quality computer. He could’ve invested that money. 

-No More Barbies (Picture #3) 

     I was over at my dad’s house, enjoying time with family. I brought over some coloring books and crayons for my little sister because at her age, three years old, that is what I enjoyed to do. We colored for a maximum of five minutes before she turned on the TV all by herself! I was amazed that a child could already figure out complicated technology. The rest of the day, it was hard getting my sisters attention due to the more interesting pictures on the screen. 

-Hey! Watch Where You’re Going! (Picture #4)

     Most car accidents are caused by driver’s using their phones while accelerating. Well, imagine you mixed this with a completely absent pedestrian. After a nice outing with a friend, we walked by to our cars. I said something to her and did not get a response. I was already safely next to my car. But my friend.. not so much. She was walking very slowly while texting! Completely unaware of the cars in this busy parking lot! Do not fret, I quickly took this picture and then advised her to look up!

-Are You Even Listening?? (Picture #5)

     Pictured above are members from my group project I was recently assigned for another course. The person speaking was giving his input on how we can collaborate efficiently as a group. We were all gathered around listening very intently but, one group member was not interested as you can see. At the end, we asked him what we just discussed and he had no idea we were even talking!

     I picked this topic because I knew it was a universal experience for all viewers. I can 100% guarantee that the reader could relate to at least one scenario I also experienced. Here is some food for thought: several years ago, technology was not even made yet. I bet the conversations they had built stronger relationships. We can all agree that technology has made a huge impact on how we live life and what we consider is more important. 

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     Above, you will find the poem I picked on the Poetry Foundation website. When reading the instructions for this assignment, I automatically knew I wanted to do a poem on cats. 

     The poem, The Tyger by William Blake, begins talking about how the Tiger stands out, even in the complete darkness of the light. It later goes on to question who would make such a vicious beast. I feel that the point they are trying to make is the creator is powerful. This quote, “What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?” (Blake, lines 23-24), is implying the creator must be more powerful than the beast they created. 

     We can assume the speaker is implying the only person more powerful than what they create is God. But in line 20, it says “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” (Blake); the speaker implies there can be multiple creators making different species. Maybe the speaker believes each creator focuses on a certain level of evilness. 

     The poem has a speaker who is not identified. We can infer that the Tiger is the central image due to the repetition of the word “tyger” throughout the whole poem, from start to finish. Upon observation, every 2 lines, the speaker rhymes their words at the end of each line. However, the whole poem itself is composed of six stanzas. I believe multiple stanzas allow the reader to analyze the poem easily and find a good pausing point to interpret what has just been read.

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Rain Playlist HUM2020

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzxu5aTMuFrjbXyd3axJ36WurTkQyU_yY

Above, you will find my YouTube playlist for the module six assignment (Your Musical Theme). The theme I have chosen is “rain”. I chose rain because it’s my favorite weather type. I love rain so much that I actually play it to fall asleep. Rain is so beneficial to our Earth, which we humans are so lucky to inhabit. I look forward to seeing everyone else’s playlist. But for now, enjoy mine!

Singin’ In The Rain, by Authur Freed, was written in the 1920s. This song is very unique and known for it’s 32 bar chorus. This is abnormal considering a normal song contains of 8 bars before transitioning into a verse. I would describe it’s tempo as andante, a walking pace, considering I am able to keep up with the beat. I would say that this song is upbeat and the singer portrays this vibe continuously. The presence of brass instruments is very noticeable upon listening. 

Stormy Weather, by Billie Holiday, was written in 1952. After careful observation, one can infer this song’s theme is about despair and longing for someone who has left them. The artist had a huge impact on jazz and pop. The tempo is obviously in the largo/lento category because it is very slow. It is complemented by a string of jazz instruments. 

I Wish It Would Rain, by The Temptations, was written in 1968. This one is my personal favorite because of it’s overall melody. It is very catchy and soothing upon listening. About midway through, the theme is introduced as the beat picks up. I would say the temp goes from Allegro to Presto (at the midway mark)

Umbrella, by Rhianna ft. Jay z, was written in 2008; 6 years after I was born. I can hear symbols and drums. The tempo could be described as Allegro considering this song can be played in a club setting. It is very upbeat. The story behind this is saying no matter the weather/situation, Rhianna and her boyfriend will be okay. 

Rain, by SWV, was written in 1997. The melody is very catching and gives me relaxing vibes upon listening. I would describe the melody as largo/lento because it has an extremely slow tempo. This song is explaining how love is like rain. Rain is like love because it comes in many shapes and forms

November Rain, by Guns N’ Roses, was written in 1991. This songs overtone could be described as symphonic, thanks to it’s background music being string instruments. This song tells a story, for a whopping eight minutes, about the main characters romantic relationship with his lifelong partner. The tempo is definitely at Moderato throughout the whole song, with a beautiful piano in the background. 

*all of my songs are in a degree of consonance*

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     The pictures above are of my house currently. I actually kept the original furniture and appliances as they came with the house. I could not, and can not, afford to purchase new ones, neither renovations. My room and bathroom are completely separated by doors and walls which allows it to remain private when guests arrive. This is very important to me considering I believe one’s room should be their sanctuary. My kitchen has some coverage upon entering, but the small window placement allows it to remain open and breezy. This feature is great for airflow and to overlook the guests I am entertaining while cooking for them. The dining room and living room are completely open which, in my opinion, satisfies me. I enjoy watching TV when eating dinner alone. Also, the openness is perfect for times I host to watch sports games, my guests want to tune in to the game while enjoying food.      After all of these careful considerations, my home is very bright due to it being so open and very homey. Even though it’s not furniture I purchased, my guests and I treat it like a home and make great memories here which I believe what gives a home its personality. It is also very obvious that I have made myself feel welcome and added pictures of my family to include a piece of my life inside my own home. 

     One space I inhabit frequently would have to be my current job. When I compare it to my home, I can sense the lack of personalized belongings in the space. It it not domesticated because several people walk in and out of there constantly; those people being strangers to me. I do not enjoy it because I would never invite a stranger into my home. However, one space I enjoy visiting is my aunt’s house. I dog sit frequently for my aunt and sense I love animals as well as my family, I feel safe in this space. I know my way around her home. Also, it has pictures I recognize and furniture I feel comfortable sitting on just like my apartment.

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The sculptures attached are called the “Moai” sculptures. These sculptures can be found on Eastern Island, or as the natives call it: ‘Rapa Nui’. This island, Isla de Pascua, is located in Chile. These massive statues were believed to be built around 1400-1650 A.D. by the people of Rapa Nui. Researchers have come to the conclusion that these gigantic statues were carved by hand! Also, they are made out of volcanic rock from the one of the two thousand volcanoes in Chile. That volcano is Rano Raraku. 

     These statues were built to honor the tribes chieftain and other important tribe figures who unfortunately passed away. The photo shown above is of the statues that are mainly located by Rano Raraku. However, there are over five hundred other statues scattered around Rapa Nui. Upon simple observation, you can see that all of the statues have different heights, body types, and facial features. If we remember that these statues were made to honor memorable tribe members, we can conclude the people of Rapa Nui put their best effort into really capturing creativity and personality into each sculpture for their people. 

     This culture caught my eye with it’s size. Then, after reading the background of why it was made, I admired how much this tribe honored their people. In my culture, we bury our loved ones and remember them through pictures. However, the people of Rapa Nui must’ve spent a great deal of time sculpting these. This means even after their loved one passed on, they continued to make this statue out of memory and genuine respect. On the aesthetic level of these sculptures, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In my culture, these sculptures are completely different from “normal” beauty standards. However, we already know that these sculptures were not meant to attract someone; they were made to honor people in a way that met their societies needs. 

    The size of these sculptures is a blessing and a curse. Currently, all the tourism has caused some of the statues to erode away. What brings in all of these tourists one may ask? Well, it’s none other than it’s size and the fact it was hand made. I think at the time, the size and location was perfect until tourist discovered it and ruined a very, great thing. 

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This piece is called “Interrogation” by Ali Banisadr. Banisadr worked on, and finished,  this painting as a child in Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. This picture is illustrated to represent the sounds he heard during this battle. At first glance, it reminded me of Alice in Wonderland; which is why I was drawn to it considering it’s one of my favorite movies. It reminded me of Alice in Wonderland because of the “chaos” vibes. Chaos is how anyone with a reasonable mindset would describe a war happening outside their front door. 

     I would describe the spacing between the figures and embodiment of war sounds as claustrophobic. The artist hit it on the nail with this one because for example, in war you do not have privacy. Soldiers sleep in a crowded room, they eat shoulder to shoulder, they hide together in trenches, and sometimes may have to shower with a small wall between you and your fellow soldiers. The point is, war does not include luxurious and spacious quarters. Also, maybe Banisadr felt claustrophobic in his house since he had to stay inside due to what was happening outside; so he drew his feelings with paint. 

     The colors used are very dull. The artist did not use neon colors. The artist most likely used dull colors because if someone looked outside their window during a war, there would be an abundance of dust, debris, and overall negative feelings in the air upon glancing outside. The lines in this piece seem to be very delicate. I believe the artist would hear these sounds and replay them in their head over and over so they could perfect what they were hearing. Although at first glance this looks like nothing, our opinion is nothing until you truly put yourself into the shoes of a young child hearing rapid fire and constant background noise outside. The brain works in mysterious ways. 

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This spin-off of ‘Rosie the Riveter’ was made by a black artist named Tim Okamura. However, the messages both paintings spread are portrayed from two semi-different backgrounds. Rosie was created to encourage women to work in factory jobs after the well-known World War ll. After my interpretation, I concluded it is a painting to lift up women of color. I can infer this by looking at the most obvious feature, the painted woman showing us her muscles. Also, she has her hair up which leads me to believe that she is going to accomplish something very important and perfectly, polished hair is not her main focus. I can assume what she strives to accomplish is equality by protesting and social media tactics to gain attention on the matter. As someone with an Afro, when I put my hair up it is because I need it out of my way so I can focus without my voluminous hair in the way. 

The thing that stood out the most to me would have to be her eyes and facial expression. If this picture could talk it would tell me the woman in this picture is determined and that she has faced hardship throughout her life. If this picture could talk, I would probably be able to relate to her hardships as we both are black women in America. The detail this artist put into her hair scarf is phenomenal. A hair scarf is very important for black women’s hair as it protects the hair from becoming too dry. Also, the artist portrayed her ethnic facial features beautifully. Her full lips and wide, flat nose almost makes her look like she is going to reach out at you. The only detail preventing her from looking too realistic is the drip effect the talented author used. 

The dripping paint gives it an edgy, rugged look which I believe compliments the message this picture is trying to express: strength in female minorities. As for the point made in the beginning, this painting is only semi different from the original. Fortunately, America has made positive progress towards fighting for gender equality. But, it has not completely reached it’s fullest potential for all women; and in my personal opinion it has only slowly progressed for women of color. I believe this picture brought unity between all women, no matter their background and should inspire gender equality to progress until women feel they are equal.