sense of place

sense of place, a set on Flickr.

significant others

significant others, a set on Flickr.

What the Bleep Response

I thought this film was interesting but there were some things that I did not agree with and that somewhat angered me. I thought it was really interesting how the documentary started. It definitely grabbed my attention: "In the beginning was the void..." It grabbed my attention because it sounded very similar to John 1:1 in the bible: "In the beginning was the Word..." One part in particular that bothered me was when one of the people interviewed mentioned something in regards to people creating God in their own image. That actually really angered me because we are made in GOD'S image, not the other way around.

I was intrigued by the idea of our brains being like cameras and pondering the mystery of whether or not our eyes actually see more than what our brains can consciously process.

Eugene Smith Documentary

I thought the work of Eugene Smith was very moving. The stories from his work in Japan really hit home the way he was able to capture the victims as part of a human race, not the enemy. I also thought the way they narrated it with some of his writing really provided a deeper insight into his life and point of view throughout his work, in particular his frustrations with LIFE magazine. It was really great to hear first hand from his second wife. I was surprised to hear they were 30 years apart and how they met. I think the way he constantly worried about his bills and money especially while in the psych ward even though his expenses were paid by LIFE was just simple proof of his mental issues. I was also fascinated watching how crafty he was in developing his photos in the middle of the night while in Spain.

Cultural Event 3-Lamont Faculty Jazz Concert

On Wednesday Evening May 11th I attended the DU Jazz Faculty Combo concert. Overall I was extremely impressed and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The event was held in the Hamilton Recital Hall, a beautiful facility with fantastic acoustics. I was amazed to discover that each of the pieces played was actually composed by a student from DU. I could not fathom how to even begin composing a piece for a single instrument, let alone an entire jazz ensemble.

I thought it was very interesting how in each of the pieces, certain instruments were highlighted with solos. I was also surprised to hear the audience clap after each solo, right in the middle of the piece. I would have thought that to be disrupting and disrespectful.

The two pieces I enjoyed most were Drifting Toward You by Amy Darling and Upstairs, First Door on the Left by Adam Gang. These compositions were a bit slower and more romantic, the soft smooth jazz I would expect.

The faculty’s dynamics were spot on and their sound quality was rich. I could not help but wonder how long it took them to learn the pieces for the concert because the fingering and notes sounded extremely complicated. I was so impressed with Eric Gunnison’s work on the piano. I loved watching how quickly his fingers moved.

Although I enjoyed the concert, after about five songs the music all sounded very similar, but I think I should start listening to jazz music and learn to appreciate it more than I do.

Cultural Event 2-ArtRAGEous

On Wednesday evening I had the privilege of attending an art showing dedicated to the awareness of sexual assault and rape. It was so sad to hear the testimonies of both men and women who had encountered sexual violence in their lives, but encouraging to know that they have been able to come to terms with it enough to share their own stories in hopes of reaching out to others who need someone to turn to.

There were several different forms of art displayed from paintings and drawings to photographs. I thought the images were really moving, I'm sure largely in part due to the topic they conveyed. Several of the people who spoke at the ArtRAGEous event were displayed in the photographs. Some chose to remain anonymous. Each image showed parts of the person's body with a statement written on their skin like, "No longer a victim" or "Caress my chaos". Some were even photographed without their clothes on which could not have been easy for them to do. Overall the sensitive subject matter was presented in a very raw yet tasteful and respectful way. The entire evening was very powerful.

Cultural Event 1-Soldiers from the War

I was fascinated by the project of the soldiers that were in Iraq and how they were changed from the experience. The individual testimonies that had the greatest impact on me were the stories of the man and the exploding tires, the man who gets scared every time he hears garbage trucks, the man who hates stairwells and hallways now, and the man who was stuck under debris in enemy territory for several hours.

I appreciated the fact that the photographer was very respectful in making sure that her subjects were comfortable with the idea. It was nice to hear she never forced anything on them, but completely respected their feelings and wishes about the subject matter. It was interesting to hear all the planning and work that went into the setups, in particular how the garbage truck had to be there before the soldier arrived, and leave after him. I was also amazed at how much work went into thinking about the lighting and even the different people she would have to contact to gain cooperation with, such as the mayor in order to block off streets.

I think the project was very successful in bringing a greater awareness to Americans about what kinds of things really go on overseas, and how much we have to be thankful for, like the people who fight to protect us. Rarely do we stop and think also about the fact that once the soldiers come home, they are forever affected by their experiences.