James Benning's Math Lecture

If I remember correctly, Benning said that everything has a certain structure built off of a formula. Math is all about finding out the formulas to certain structures, for example the circumference of a circle. So with this in mind I began to wonder that if the world is ruled by numbers and everything has certain structure could that mean that there is a formula to end war? Or a formula for love or hate or any other emotion or function? And if we did obtain this knowledge would it help the human race or be the demise of it? I know it sounds very abstract, but who knows. Maybe it isn't necessary for us to know those certain formulas if there are any. I mean, how could we ever go about trying to figure out that formula, where would we begin?
I was also thinking that maybe there is a common formula or a universal formula that could solve any problem. That would then mean everything is alike some way or another, we could all be interconnected somehow. And that could lead to the point that we all come from the same thing whatever that may be. These are all just questions to ponder and I realize their is no answer for them right now, but that doesn't mean we can't start to formulate one.

Table Top Project: Artist Statement

My whole project originated out of Bag's interviews of the college student. I became fascinated with the act of revealing. An interview is just a form of revealing. I wanted to create an act of revealing, but in a different form. So I chose to write a word on an all white background in translucent glue. The viewer wouldn't be able to see the word until I revealed it. So I chose colored sand, because it looked cool, and slowly poured it on the word. The sand would get caught on the glue letters and the word would be slowly revealed. The word I chose, and appropriately fits, is revelation. Merriam-Webster's dictionary states revelation is, "the act of revealing." Which is exactly what I was doing. My whole intention was to reveal something. I believe revealing is a key component for good storytelling. Although, my revealing had nothing to do with a story.
What to say about my masterpiece..(ahh)..well, let me begin by saying that I was overall pleased with the outcome, but there were some problems. I'm in the class film 220 right now and I'm used to silent film because we are making a silent film. After coming from that class straight to this class to do my project I totally forgot that this project wasn't silent so you can hear me whisper to my assistant. That wasn't planned and I wish I could have edited those whispers out. Another problem was the that the sand was resistant to slide down the cardboard, but we adjusted and shook the cardboard. That also wasn't planned, shaking the cardboard that is. Shaking the cardboard cut some of the word out of the frame. In retrospect, I enjoyed the intuitive feeling you get from watching my video(it looks as if we didn't rehearse at all). I mean, when you reveal something about yourself most of the time it's not planned it just comes out. This project, with it's shakiness, out of framing, and whispering, looks as if it is not planned. You get a sense of realness that you can relate to.
Revealing is something that will continue to happen as long as this world lives. It's probably because of this lie-filled world. There are so many lies in this world that it is very hard for one to find the truth, if there is any. It's hard to make friends or to even marry anyone because we can't tell if the other person is telling the truth or not. I don't know what started it, but lies consume this world and all this lieing has lead to secrets. Everyone hides behind their secrets now. No one is them self, they are all just by-products or copies of whatever fad that is going on. As I realized revealing has become an essential part of life now, I wanted to capture the act of revealing itself. And I believe I have accomplished so with my table top project.

Reflection on Bag's Work

Raging Bull ending

I chose this video because I thought it was very similar to the little monologues/interviews Bag has throughout her film(a monologue/interview on each college semester her character has been through). This last scene in Raging Bull has a monologue given by the main character. The monologue is a self-reflection piece on all he has been through in his life up till now. Bag's monologues are only a reflection on her character's college life. The Raging Bull scene is framed a different way too. In Bag's movie the character is sitting down looking directly into the camera which is stationed in place framing her from her waist to her head. In Raging Bull we see the character looking at himself in a mirror and the camera is stationed in place looking at him looking at himself. It also is framed from waist to head. The difference between the two is obviously where the camera is placed, but in both situations we get the same affect. The monologues in both scenes reveal something about the character and in each monologue the character has unraveled something about themselves. Both monologues allow the audience to learn something new about each character's character. We learn about their ups and downs. What they like, what they dislike. And what they could have been, and what they are.