Category: Posts

American artist Jessica Houston demonstrates the significance of the human privilege over the earth with her series titled The Call of Things. In this series Houston uses many different mediums to convey her message. Part of this series shows photographs of the North and South Poles. These photographs are all covered with vibrant felt that completely dominate the image. 

One of the photographs in the series shows an abandoned police post. At first glance, the eye is attracted to the vibrant color covering the scenes, Houston did this to prove a point. She shows how easily something can be lost and completely covered up. The lighting of the photograph is medium to light. The sky in the photograph is a strong blue that contrasts well with the orange police post. The felt covering over the image is extremely bright and strong. The use of light in the photograph is diminished by the neon pink. The image features no characters, but rather a building that is abandoned and isolated. The building is in the bottom half of the image, and can be seen in its entirety. The eye is first drawn up to the neon pink, but the police post is away from the pigment and is positioned for the viewer to look down at it. The dominate color in this image is neon pink. This color is very vibrant and other worldly. This color was used to represent the toxic effects humans have on the earth. The impact humans have is extremely strong similarly to the pink in the image. The subsidiary image in the scene is the abandoned police post. In the original photograph this building would be the dominant feature, but the overbearing color draws the eye away. There is not a lot of visuals in this image, but there is a lot of information being displayed. The photograph shows a landscape and it shows the consequences of human waste and pollution. The image is stark and simple. The police post is positioned very close to the pink, and it is very close to being almost completely covered. The ground around the police post looks as if it is decaying, it looks like it hasn’t been cared for in a long time.  

            Visual artists and filmmakers have a lot in common. One thing is time. Both types of artists put a lot of time and though into their work. Both visual art and film have a lot of hidden messages and images that aren’t always seen at first glance. Both artists have a story and a reason behind the work. They are trying to teach a lesson, get a point across, or just share what they have with the world. One image can hold so much information and meaning that can only be unlocked through close examination and through deep thought. 

            This gallery image has a very strong and important message. It draws awareness to climate change, and calls to people to make a difference. Houston shows how toxic humans can be to the world and how easily beautiful landscapes can be wiped away and completely dominated. This image catches your eye due to its strong pigment, and the message is almost missed, unless you take a second glance. Houston work is so simple yet there is so much behind it. 

Dazed and Confused is a film by Richard Linklater known for its soundtrack. It takes place in Texas during the summer of 1978. The music used in the film is strictly 70’s rock music, which pairs perfectly with this American coming of age film. Dazed and Confused follows storylines of different groups of high school students and the start of their summer. The songs used by Linklater help to develop the characters and help bring the audience back into the nostalgia of the 70’s.  Linklater sent out a letter to the cast explaining how each character has their own “favorite album”. There are many songs throughout the movie that are used for specific characters and to help aid their development and give the audience more insight into the character.

An iconic character in Dazed and Confused is David Wooderson played by Mathew McConaughey. Wooderson is a 20-year-old, stuck hanging out with the high schoolers. He is a laid-back smooth talker always looking for a girl and a party to go to. When we are first introduced to Wooderson the song “Low Rider” by War is playing in his car.  During this scene an incoming freshman gets into the car.  As soon as he gets in the car Wooderson asks him if he has a joint. The freshman doesn’t have a joint and Wooderson replies with, “it would be a lot cooler if you did.”  This song perfectly represents Wooderson. It is all about cursing and moving slowly through life. Wooderson is just cursing through life having a great time, unaffected, with not a care in the world. This song is Wooderson’s “favorite” because he is striving to always be a low rider. The song repeats the words “take a little trip,” Wooderson is always looking for someone to take a trip with him. He is always looking for a friend, weather that be a girl or someone to party with. Wooderson is always looking to enjoy himself and that is exactly what the low rider described in the song is doing.  At the end of the movie we hear a line from Wooderson that perfectly describes him: “you just gotta keep livin’ man. L-I-V-I-N.” Wooderson is just trying to keep living, he is just letting life take him on a ride, he is not worried about the consequences or what is to come, all he cares about is having fun and living life. Linklater strategically placed these songs for the characters and Wooderson is a perfect example. 

American Graffiti is a coming of age film form the early 1970’s. The soundtrack and sound mixing are a key part of the movie and the plot. The music in Graffiti connects all of the different character’s and storylines together. The music was mixed by Walter Murch, and his mixing skills prove to be very effective. Throughout the movie we hear songs move through different spaces, from different car radios, and even into a high school dance. An important character in American Graffiti is Wolfman, the disk jockey that is controlling the music throughout the movie. The characters of American Graffiti all listen to his radio station and his music and we hear Wolfman’s radio station through everyone’s car radios.

An example of this is when the song Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry is played. Before the song starts we hear someone calling in on Wolfman’s Telephone. The movie cuts to the different characters in their cars listening to the Wolfman radio station. We first cut to Steve and Laurie, and then to John and Carol, then we see Toad and Debbie all in their cars. Lastly, the film cuts to Curt in the car with the Pharaoh’s. Each group of characters is on their own journey and in different locations, yet they are still all connected. In the Pharaoh’s car “Johnny B. Goode” begins to play on the station. The song plays quietly on the radio as the Pharaoh’s discuss Wolfman. The scene cuts to John and Carol in the car and the music transitions seamlessly. John and Carol are sitting in the car driving and listening to the same song. The song continues to play as the two approach a car full of girls. Once John and Carol leave the car to mess with the girls, the music grows louder. The music changes from diegetic to nondiegetic. We watch John and Carol trash the girl’s car as Chuck Berry plays in the background. There are many different plots and story lines throughout the movie and the one thing that connects them is the music. Wolfman is the backbone of the movie, almost controlling the characters and what’s going on around them. American Graffiti shows how important and powerful music can be in movies.

Opening with a black screen and waking from a disturbing dream, Scorsese reveals Charlie’s conflicted conscience. The first lines of the film say, “you don’t make up for sins in church. You do it in the streets. You do it at home.” Throughout the film he is torn between living an honorable life in the eyes of God and being a successful gangster. Understanding the importance of repentance, Charlie tends to think about his sins often and in his eyes the only way God will forgive the bad is if he cares for Johnny Boy.  Living by his own words Charlie is making up his sins in the home. Not only does he love him but, in his eyes, by helping him he his saving himself. Mean Street’s opening song is “Be My Baby” by The Ronnettes. The songs first verse is about complete commitment and affection. This verse is about Charlie’s love for Johnny Boy. The lyrics, “The night we met I needed you so.” Charlie needs Johnny Boy in his life and is completely committed to him. His strong commitment to Johnny Boy shines through, when Charlie is unable to be with Theresa. People try to convince Charlie throughout the film to stay away from Johnny Boy but he doesn’t listen.  The second verse of the song we see images of Charlie with a persist and after a baptism. The second verse of the song is exploring Charlie’s pledge of love to the church. He is committed to the church, and his strong catholic faith. Charlie is almost consumed by his faith and need to do his own penance. 

In the film there are two barroom scenes that are accompanied by Rolling Stone songs. The first scene includes the song, “Tell Me (You’re Coming Back).” This scene shows women dancing and Charlie making his way up to dance with them. Charlie is infatuated with the dancers. In this scene Charlie is sinning, dancing with almost naked girls. The scene also shows Charlie holding a lighter up to his hand. This song and this scene emphasize the tough side of Charlie. Charlie acts very relaxed in this scene and seems to be really enjoying himself. We hear Charlie’s inner monologue almost instantly regretting his actions and releasing his sins. The lighting during this scene is dark and is tinted red. This is used to emphasize the hostile nature in the scene and the sinning going on by and around Charlie. The second scene includes the song, “Jumpin Jack Flash.” This song plays as Johnny Boy enters the bar. He enters with a girl on each arm. As Charlie sees Johnny Boy enter he sees his opportunity to help Johnny Boy and repent his sins. This song is used to define Johnny Boy and his attitude, and also how it effects Charlie. The song emphasizes Johnny Boy’s cockiness and ignorance. Johnny Boy’s character is hated by many throughout the film, and Charlie is constantly warned by people to stop helping Johnny Boy.  The lighting once again is very dark and red. This lighting is used to represents sin and wrong doings.

The musical comedy “The Girl Can’t Help It” contains many different shot scales throughout the film. These different types of shot scales can drastically change a scene and add emotion. These shot scales can also emphasize a picture or character on the screen. The character of Jerri Jordan is seen in many different types of shot scales throughout the movie. Jerri Jordan, played by Jayne Mansfield, is a very important character in the film.

The first time we see Jerri Jordan on screen is in a long shot. A long shot includes the full body of the actor. In this scene we see Jerri Jordan appear from behind a door. She is dressed in a long white gown and a large white fur stole. This shot is used to emphasize not only her body but her beauty. Her overpowering beauty is a common theme throughout the film and this first shot is used to emphasize this and introduce the audience to Jerri Jordan.

Later in the film Jerri Jordan is taken to a night club, to help her “build-up” to stardom. She is told by her new agent to walk to the powder room to receive attention from the owner of the club. We watch Jerri Jordan walk past the owner in a medium long shot. A medium long shot shows about five feet of the characters, so we see from Jerri’s knees and up. This shot shows not only Jerri Jordan in her tight red gown, but it also shows the owners reaction as she struts past. This medium long shot was used to emphasize the effect Jerri Jordan can have on men. This shot also shows how perfectly Jerri Jordan fits in the environment. Jerri doesn’t look out of place at all in this fancy night club. This shot emphasizes how Jerri Jordan’s look would thrive in the spotlight.

Towards the close of the movie Jerri Jordan has to perform on stage for a crowd. Before entering the stage, she has to say goodbye to the man she loves. While she is on stage singing, there is a medium close up on her. A medium close up is a shot from the chest up. This was used to show the extreme emotions Jerri is feeling at this time. This scale shot was used to emphasize her emotions and the pain she is experiencing from saying goodbye. This shot was not used to emphasize her body, but her face. In this shot we are focusing on Jerri’s vulnerability and thoughts rather than her body. All of these shots help develop the film’s narrative and characters.