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My Final Assignment: My Manifesto

After reading over the blog entries, I realized that I frequently use the words "motivation" or "inspiration" in them. The main focus of the majority of my blogs is improving and continuing. I gravitate toward topics like these because, in my life, I tend to look for indications that I am doing well and should carry on. I've come to know that I have a lot of self-doubts, and finding new sources of inspiration and motivation helps me understand that I'm doing what I need to be doing and that it's worthwhile. I went back to blog number 4, and I realize this is when I started to draw more attention to inspirational themes. In blog number 4 I stated, “The lovely beaches and waterways that surround us are brought together with the community's values.” This was talking about the “sailing” sculpture I wrote about, even though it does not clearly state that it was inspirational but I remember feeling that way writing about it. I found it to be motivational since having this lovely sculpture in the community demonstrates how pleasurable activities like traveling to the beach brings people together because we all have an appreciation of beaches and the ocean.

The following blog, which will discuss the overall subject, will be blog number 7. This article discusses my musical theme, which is songs that encourage and motivate other people and me. Don't Stop Me Now, Lose Yourself, Livin' On A Prayer, Survivor, It's A Great Day To Be Alive, and Juicy were among the songs I chose. This was a great task for me since I enjoy listening to music. I still use these songs as encouragement and inspiration to keep working hard and to develop myself. The aim of each of the songs I've mentioned is to uplift and motivate listeners. The jazz song "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen was included in my playlist because of the uplifting message of being unstoppable it conveys. "Lose Yourself" is a genuinely upbeat song, it was perfect for my topic. The lyrics therefore only serve to uplift and stimulate listeners. It encourages listeners to live entirely in the present and try to take advantage of the chances that life presents them with. The song "Survivor" was a good fit for the playlist's theme since the performers discuss the criticism they get in the song's first and second verses while comparing it with the current state of affairs. The song "Juicy" was included in my playlist since it was inspired by Notorious Big's belief that success can be achieved regardless of upbringing. The country song "It's A Wonderful Day To Be Alive" by Travis Tritt made him understand that even though individuals may have bad days, they should be thankful for what they have and have hope for better days to come. People should constantly look on the bright side of things and maintain an optimistic view of life, regardless of their background or the obstacles they may face. "Livin' On A Prayer" fits my theme well since it is a working-class motivating song that depicts the economic hardship of the era. The core of the narrative was the fictitious couple Tommy and Gina, who are having financial difficulties. While working on this assignment, I was reminded of times when I used to listen to these songs in the car with my parents, and it brought back memories of how I felt while doing so. I make an effort to comprehend the lyrics and the overall meaning of any music I listen to. By doing this, I've been able to listen to music that just makes me feel better and inspires or motivates me. The eighth blog, "Photographer's Eye," is the last one I'll mention as having discussed my main topic. I discussed in this post how the beauty of sunsets helps my mental health and inspires me. This is one of the ways I am motivated because, for a short period, I feel quiet and peaceful. This gives me the energy to continue and inspires me to be grateful for everything around me. When I don't have that continual reminder to keep going on, I tend to second-guess and overthink things. My blog is, in general, what I would call "Inspirational/Motivational." That, in my opinion, is the ideal way to sum up all of my blog posts in one word and prevent others from encouraging failure-related thinking.

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My Ekphrasis

A beautiful sunny day, filled with laughter and joy. Every day we wake up with a purpose, is it to survive? Life goes on every day, We do as wished to survive is life cruel? Ones may believe

My ekphrasis is about how we have to work every day and many people believe that our everyday routine is unfair. The image of the painting is a beautiful sunny day filled with laughter and joy because every day we wake up with the freedom that we have. These individuals in the painting did not have the freedom we do today. You can see various people working in the painting like the guy with the horse, the man fishing, and the guy with sheep. We all have a similar purpose in life which is to survive. Many people are not as fortunate to wake up in a beautiful place as many take it for granted. In my opinion, this painting shows the hard work and dedication that most people have to stay afloat even if it is not the career they hoped for. I can relate as a college student working as a server, I don’t enjoy it but it is a need to survive. The painting shows that life will be okay and there are better days ahead if we keep up with the positivity life brings even with the will to survive. Life goes on as we experience new things and as we make history.

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Module 13: Not Seen on TV

Pipilotti Rist's Ever Is Over All was my selection for this assignment.  Since it addresses feminism, this piece fascinates me. The woman coming down the street and smashing through car windows with a huge flower is a significant element that caught my attention. While this is going on, a female police officer is strolling next to her and giving her a standing ovation for her bravery. I believe that they are a strong approach to supporting the feminist movement using art, even though I would not support these activities in real life but I relate because sometimes I want to do the same thing when treated poorly. Perhaps the woman in the video is venting her rage because she is sick of being treated unfairly. In this scenario, she uses the flower to vandalize the parked automobiles on the side of the road, contrary to what I believe the flower represents, meaning its vulnerability.  The woman is probably attempting to dispel the notion that women are only delicate tiny flowers. Additionally, the female officer's inaction suggests that she approves of her behavior based on the fact that she is not taking any action. Due to her position, the female officer is also an advocate for gender equality and female empowerment. In the past, jobs in government or law enforcement were considered to be exclusively for men. The piece in question appears to increase not just my understanding of television but also that of those who have watched the video. Every film or television program has a fulfilling conclusion. This indicates that the issue is typically resolved for us. This video does not, however, simply provide the solution. It's up to us to attempt to decipher what it signifies.

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Shakespeare

As you read Act IV Scene 7, you will understand King Claudius' final objective for Hamlet. It appears that Claudius now feels the urge to murder Hamlet as well after the moment when Hamlet subtly suggests that he knows Claudius had assisted in the murder of King Hamlet after the conversation with Hamlet and the ghost. Laertes and King Claudius now talk about the murder of Hamlet in this scene, which becomes the setting for all of their encounters. This plan will be carried out through a fencing duel, where Laertes will carry poisoned foil and a deadly infused liquid for Hamlet, this was all arranged by Claudius. The viewer might easily assume that a violent confrontation is about to occur because the scene has an intense vibe. After seeing the setup, I can confirm that my understanding of the scenario is relatively consistent with how they presented it. As was to be expected, the discourse between Claudius and Laertes maintained a gloomy or nearly awful feeling throughout the whole scene of the performance. For this, I believe that the set design helped me better understand everything happening and gave me a clearer understanding of the overall mood of what was being conveyed. Each character was vividly brought to life in this production, although they were all furious, as was predicted from the reading helped me get a more clear picture of how the scene makes the audience feel. However, King Claudius' blatant manipulation of Laertes throughout their conversation caught my attention during the performance. The fact that Hamlet never acts without thinking things through and is always prepared for anything King Claudius throws at him makes him appear extremely intelligent in this scenario.

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Module 11 Assignment: Anatomy of a Scene

The movie I choose from list A is Casablanca and the movie from list B is Some Like It Hot. Casablanca will be the film I will be analyzing. In the film Casablanca when the Germans invaded Europe during World War II, they fled to America in search of safety. However, to get there, they would first need to travel to Casablanca, where they would then need to apply for departure permits, which are not very common. The most popular place in all of Casablanca right now is Rick's Cafe, managed by American immigrant Rick Blaine, who is also very cynical and for some reason can't go back there. It now appears that the papers two German messengers were transporting were stolen. Ugarte, a frequent customer of Rick's, gives him some letters that he plans to sell, but before he can, he is arrested for the murder of the couriers. Rick is informed by Captain Renault, the Chief of Police, who has no political allegiances, that Victor Laszlo, a leader of the Czechoslovak resistance, is currently in Casablanca and will stop at nothing to obtain an exit visa, but Renault has been told by Major Strasser of the Gestapo to keep Laszlo there. Since Rick was the person Ugarte intended to sell the letters to, Laszlo visits Rick to meet him. However, since Ugarte has been detained, he needs to take a different path. A few of Rick's old scars resurface when he meets Ilsa Lund, who was with him when he was in Paris. The conversation mixes the weary and the cynical; the initial sequences dance with comedy; and it includes wisecracks and epigrams throughout. The movie is one of the most famous and recognizable in cinematic history. It is a fast-paced, emotionally intense relationship set against the troubled background of World War II. The camera builds up again to emphasize the remarkable dialogue after cutting to Captain Renault; the camera was also from the side. At the very last second, Rick is shown as the camera follows up once more. Then the camera switches to a sequence of reverse angle views, starting with a shot from Rick to Ilsa, then back to Rick, then back to Ilsa, then back to Rick, and ultimately back to Ilsa again. Either the other individual or the talker's face came into view as the camera panned. These camera movements carried a subliminal message. It either meant highlighting the discussion or emphasizing the importance of hearing what is being said. I believed this scene was meant to be dramatic considering the camera is going back and forth during a conversation. The dimness of the scene increases the drama that is happening between Rick and Ilsa. In the movie Some Like It Hot there are two Chicago musicians named Joe and Jerry who want to leave the city and get away from the gangster responsible, Spats Colombo after they witness the Saint. Valentine's Day massacre. They need an engagement outside the city, but the only one they can find is in an all-girl band playing in Florida. As the substitute bass and saxophonist, Josephine, and Daphne, arrive at the train station. Except for Sugar Kane Kowalczyk, who sings and plays the ukulele, they undoubtedly appreciate being around the females. While Osgood Fielding III, a billionaire, woos Jerry/Daphne, Joe specifically sets out to charm her.

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Photographer's Eye

For my project I chose to photograph the sunsets in my backyard. I have been doing this for years so now I am able to share the beautiful sunset pictures I take. For me, simply being in the presence of something beautiful improves my mood and helps me feel more in tune with my feelings and those of others. Seeing the beauty of sunsets improves my mental health and gives me inspiration. The sky turns into a display of color for a short period, and then it fades away. When I watch the sunset on a terrible day, I feel calm and peaceful for a limited period, which gives me the strength to carry on and makes me grateful for everything around me, even when it feels like my life is collapsing. My series of photos are in the same place but different days showing the different types of sunsets. It is crazy to think how every sunset is different even the colors and the cloud placement. (Word count 374)

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My Musical Theme

Songs that motivate and inspire others would be the focus of my playlist. Personally, I frequently use music as an outlet for expressing my various different emotions. Even though some of these songs are considerably older, I still use them as inspiration and motivation to keep moving forward and to strengthen myself. This is one of the main reasons I decided on this particular theme for my playlist because the majority of these songs are helpful to me and may be helpful to others. All of the songs I've listed have the same objective in mind: to encourage and inspire listeners. “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen is a jazz song from 1979. The empowering sense of being unstoppable expressed in this song is the reason I added it to my playlist. The 150 beats per minute rapid speed in this song also naturally produces a dopamine rush. The consonance in the holiday-themed lyrics brings back joyful memories, and the major third in the music has a cheerful tone to it that we connect with confidence. The opening verse, pre-chorus, chorus, verse 2, pre-chorus, bridge, guitar solo, and chorus make up the song's structure. Several empowering and self-assured emotions are generated by each structure in this song. In addition to its fast tempo and guitar solo, this song communicates this feeling with its verses and melody altogether.“Lose Yourself” by Eminem is considered a hip-hop/rap song from 2002. This song fits my topic because "Lose Yourself" is genuinely an uplifting song. Because of this, the lyrics only serve to inspire and motivate listeners. It pushes listeners to get fully immersed in the present and make an effort to seize the opportunities that life offers them. With its continuous consonance throughout this song, it encourages others to motivate themselves, keep going, and not 'miss your chance to blow'. The continuous structure is evident in the intro, verse 1, chorus, verse 2, chorus, verse 3, and chorus. This energetic tune motivates listeners to keep going and overcome challenges. Due to the adrenaline it produces, this song's tempo and lyrics effectively convey the impression of motivation.

“Survivor” by Destiny Child group is considered a hip hop/rap song from 2001. This song fits the concept of my playlist because The musicians address the criticism they receive in the first and second verses, contrasting it with the situation as it is now. For instance, Beyonce sings about how she is succeeding while others doubted her and how she is at the top, especially in the music business, despite the predictions of her doubters that she would fail. The song's chorus summarizes its message and assures its target audience that they will succeed despite a valued one's departure. Instead, they will put in more effort, never give up, and succeed in order to disprove all of their critics and stay current in society. Verse 1, chorus, verse 2, chorus, verse 3, chorus, bridge, and chorus make up the song's structure. Since this is a group, different members of the group separate each verse, and in the chorus, they all sing together. Each member of the group promises the critic that they will carry on and succeed in the song's consonance. The lively tempo not only inspires and urges others to keep going despite what others may say, but it is also uplifting and demonstrates their increased strength. “Juicy” by Notorious Big is a song in the hip hop/rap genre released in 1994. The rapper presents himself as someone who used to be "dead broke" and has come from an economically-challenged background. This song matches in my playlist theme because it is inspired like Notorious Big no matter how you were brought up you can still succeed. The song's pattern is consistent, and it describes times in his life when no one had faith in him as well as how he persisted and succeeded. Through the song's constant consonance, it demonstrates to listeners that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. The audience is reached by this steady speed as though a tale is being told. “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” by Travis Tritt is a country song that was released in 2000.

Travis Tritt's country song "It's A Wonderful Day To Be Alive" helped him realize that while people may experience unsuccessful days, they should be grateful for what he has and believe that happier times are yet to come. No matter what their background is, people should always see the positive side of things and have a positive outlook on life no matter what challenges lie ahead. The upbeat lyrics serve as a refreshing reminder that even on the worst days, there are wonderful things to be found. This gentle song uplifts listeners by reassuring them that everything will be alright and that it all will turn out as it should. The structure is ideal since it offers numerous opportunities to express gratitude and see the positive aspects of life. “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi is another inspirational song that is considered rock genre, this song came out in 1986. The fact that "Livin' On A Prayer" is a working-class motivational anthem that captures the time's economic suffering makes it a good fit for my theme. The fictional couple Tommy and Gina, who are struggling to make ends meet, were the story's focus. The optimistic tempo and melodic guitars are assuring people that they can succeed despite their struggles. It emphasizes the idea that no matter what you're going through right now if you keep going, you'll get through it. You can get through adversity. You can triumph against difficulty.

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Plotting

On this specific day, I got up early in the morning because I had an issue that needed to be resolved. I needed a ride to work because my vehicle was unsafe to drive. Normally, my father would have driven me, but his work kept him busy all day. I first asked my boyfriend if he was going to work later and would be able to drive me. Discovering that he could, I carried on with my day knowing that issue was solved. Then, as I was cleaning, I became distracted and realized that if I did not get ready quickly, I would be late. I frantically got ready before rushing out of the house, but I felt I must have left something behind. After ten minutes had passed and I was already in the car, I looked down and noticed I was still wearing my Crocs and that I had forgotten to bring my work shoes as well as my apron. I was not able to go to work without my work shoes so I had my boyfriend turn around and take me back to my house. As I arrived I realized I didn't have a ride due to this mistake. I quickly grabbed my shoes not having enough time to look for my apron, I then went to my grandmother's house begging her to take me to work. She dropped what she was doing and made sure I could still make it to work. Even though I still did not have my apron I went to work hoping someone had an extra one. Thankfully, my coworker keeps two at all times and I was able to use her extra apron for my shift.

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Poetic License

Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem "Spring" celebrates spring while also making connections to sin and the Garden of Eden. The speaker of the poem begins by giving a simple explanation of spring and the wonders it can present.  The image of a thrush flying through the woods while "rinsing and wringing" its surroundings demonstrates this point. Mistakes and sins associated with the winter are washed away. In the second verse, the speaker addresses God directly as the religious imagery grows. In order to save the "innocent" kids from the sin that destroyed the Garden of Eden, he begs Christ to do so. The third line of Hopkins' poem compares thrush eggs to "little heavens" using a metaphor. This is the first time that heaven is mentioned in "Spring." Later, it becomes evident why the speaker considers the similarities between heaven and spring significant. He imagines the thrush, the bird who laid the eggs, singing as it wanders through the forest. The bird's movements are regarded as purifying, and the trees are described as "echoing." The speaker combines the images of the leaves and blossoms with that of "the galloping lamb" in the final lines of this section. The lamb is a familiar image of spring and new life that is also closely related to Christianity. These natural occurrences all "have fair their fling." The speaker poses a question at the opening of "Spring's" second stanza. The structure of the poem is immediately altered by this. Christ is the target audience to whom he is speaking. What are all this juice and all this bliss, he asks. It is obvious that the speaker is describing spring as having aspects of "joy" and things that seem "juicy," or filled with life and possibilities. Another intriguing instance of rhyme results from the combination of these. With the repeating vowel sound, the line also employs assonance.

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Architectural Interiors

The first domestic architecture I chose Is my Living room in my house. When we bought this house we remodeled it about 2 years ago. It gives off a welcoming and soothing environment due to the modern built in fire place. My living room is bright colors which can be known as basic but it also creates a soothing environment since it is calm colors. In my opinion, my living room feels unique with the beautiful stone that goes up our wall for my T.V. and fire place. This space serves as a domestic architecture because it is for relaxation and allows us to unwind and hangout. The space is an open floor plan connected to my kitchen which will be my second space I inhabit regularly. We also remodeled our kitchen and added an eating bar. The space function which is my kitchen is used for cooking, eating, and also as a work place. The interior structure has changed since we took down a wall that was separating it from an extra entertainment area. Now the interior structure has two different area where we can talk and help cook. It is different from my domestic architecture because it is not used for relaxing. It is similar to my domestic architecture because it is used as a hangout spot. The color on the walls in the kitchen are the same as my living room so it does also give off a calming environment. This space feels open because there is no wall isolating it from our relaxing area. The place I prefer the most is the living room. This is because I enjoy the soothing environment of the fire place and the stone wall it helps me relax and enjoy this space.

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Public Art in Cape Coral

My attention has been drawn to a sculpture in my area called "Sailing." It was created by Gus and Lina Ocamposilva, a married couple. This work of art is located on SE 47th Terr, a roundabout within downtown Cape Coral. It took about a year to install and was finished in 2022. The sculpture, which the city spent roughly $50,000 creating, is a part of an ongoing effort by the CRA and the city to improve the South Cape's aesthetic environment. Gus and Lina were chosen by the CRA because they work with a variety of materials, such as resin, cast stone, clay aluminum, and stainless steel. Melissa Mickey, the city communications manager stated, “They are familiar with creating art that can withstand the Florida weather, with wind and rain to the relentless heat we are dealing with right now.” The finished artwork measures 10 feet tall by 5 feet wide. The enormous palm trees that surround "Sailing" in my opinion hide the sculpture's beauty. The artwork's location on the roundabout guarantees that it attracts a lot of attention from people driving past a busy street. The artwork is made to resemble a boat's sail. As a modern design piece that emphasizes Cape Coral's 400 miles of waterways, this artwork captures Cape Coral as a whole. The artwork appears to express to our neighborhood that we are proud to call the City's colorful and diversified culture hometown. According to the sculpture, the lovely beaches and waterways that surround us are brought together with the community's values. The artwork "Sailing," which is freestanding, totally three-dimensional, and can be seen from any angle, is a full round.

Works Cited 

Ballaro -|, Chuck. City Unveils “Sailing” Sculpture in South Cape the “Sailing” Sculpture Created by Gus and Lina Ocamposilva at the Roundabout on Southeast 47th Terrace in South Cape. CHUCK BALLARO. 2022.

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Abstract Images

My attention has been drawn to a work by Lebanese artist Nabil Nahas, titled "Tink Tonk," which dates to the period between 1979 and 1980. It is a piece of geometry with such depth. The various triangle shapes and the inclusion of a few squares in this artwork were two of the first things I noticed. There are fine lines that are vibrantly colored, but it seems very powerful. I have the impression that the lines are perfect on the exterior but weak on the inside because they are so precise and thin. The white closed bold lines, in my opinion, represent a path of light through the gloom, while the orange closed bold lines represent a strong figure. I feel that this aspect of the artwork speaks to me on a deeper level since, despite my best efforts, I am just as frail on the inside. The combination of lively, happy colors with somber, dark hues was another element that caught my attention. Red appears to be in practically every shape, and I have the impression that it is rage. I say this because the red is coated in more vibrant hues that are attempting to overpower the rage. This painting evokes a wide range of emotions in me. The brighter orange and purple tones in this artwork gave me a pleasant feeling, but the darker colors also had a gloomy or eerie vibe to them. The roughness is shown by the textured lines in the black and grey sections. The shapes begin as more wavy lines that grow more distinct as they approach the lighter colors. I was confident that capturing this painting would allow it to speak to me more deeply, and it certainly does.

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This is the piece of art I picked to represent something significant to me. The title of this picture, "Happy Family," was created by the artist Luiza Vizoli. Family is precious to me, and I think this artwork does a great job of reflecting that. With their love and support, spending time with my family has always elevated my mood and made me happier. A family of four birds—two adults and two children—are shown in this picture leaning against one another and taking in the view from the trees. The fact that they are interacting with one another and taking in what is in front of them are the details that I believe matter in the artwork. The flowers on the trees and the message I take from the painting are the aspects that, in my opinion, I find most appealing. This is because the colorful and vibrant flowers generate an uplifting atmosphere that matches how I feel when surrounded by my loved ones. This artwork reminds me that no matter what is happening in the world, being with the people you love the most—like family—will always make things better. I think that this artwork speaks to me in this way because it conveys the idea that no matter what they do throughout the day, they return home to each other and spend quality time together, radiating love. They are hidden in the trees together, gazing out at the world. The themes presented in this work are happiness, love, family, trust, and support. My understanding of the concept is strengthened by the use of color, setting, and bird placement. I get the sense of happiness and love that this family has from the bright colors. Everyone depicts paintings in their unique ways, but from this one, I see a happy family that appreciates each other's company.

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Get To Know Me!

Hi everyone, My name is Aliyah, I don't have a nickname but open to suggestions... This is my second semester at FSW as a full-time student. I take 5 classes a semester hoping to speed up the process of my degree. I plan to get my bachelor's and shortly after attend law school. I believe to think of myself as a hardworking individual. I enjoy spending time with my family. I travel to New York about 2 times a year to see my family and soon I will be moving back for law school. I have always been set on the career I want to pursue since I was little. So actually going through with it feels amazing. I honestly have no clue how to blog so I hope I didn't do too bad. I'm looking forward to getting used to this and sharing my thoughts!!