Course Conclusion:

This course has helped me better understand the other schools of art here at UNCSA. Even when Chancellor Bierman came and talked to us about his work in architecture, it helped me see into a new world of art where one's composition can be used to help people. When Joe Mills came and talked to us about his poetry, I almost felt enlightened, peering into this new world of poetry that I could never really understand before. Listening to him talk about how he composed his poetry was a lot of fun, and I especially liked some of the things he said about his poems (like when he read a poem with a long list of eloquent words and after reading them said that he put those words there mostly because he thought they sounded pretty). It helped me remember that sometimes art is just doing what you love, and that sometimes you just have to have fun with it. The unit on performing was really interesting. It gave me insight on how one's portrayal of him or herself can alter an audiences perception. All in all, it was a blast learning about how to understand all of the different schools throughout the year, and how everything is composition. 

Composing in Movement and Performance

Introduction:

In this unit we studied the way a performer moves and creates art with their performance. We dabbled in the idea of what it is to perform.

Starting Points:

As a music major I've been a part of countless performances. Just the other day I had three performances in one day. Although, in my studies I've always been taught how to play music and not how to perform. I had always felt that performing was something that one was born with or was something one had to learn through the experience of performing.

What I Learned:

I guess what I've learned is that I am always performing. Although I don't necessarily agree with this idea, it is interesting to think about how I am always going to be subconsciously judged by those around me. In the performance video I created, all that I wanted to do was surprise someone with a nice "hi, how are you," yet also make the audience member uncomfortable. It was a way to make casual conversation seem very strange, and I think it's interesting that even though I was being polite, the way I performed my actions may have shocked the audience member. 

Things I Want to Learn More Of:

All I want to do is learn more about the art of performing. As someone who will (hopefully) perform for a living, I think it's important to really dive into the different ways of playing with an audience's emotions through one's actions and portrayal. Honestly, I do believe that the only way of doing this is by simply getting up on stage and doing it.

Conclusion:

This unit was exciting because it does have a lot to do with my career choices and I found it very interesting. The performance video was a lot of fun to make and it helped me understand a lot about performance art. 

Composing in Film, Video, and New-Media

Introduction:In this unit we studied three different types of media that have had an effect on the new generation of art that has emerged in the last century. We had two incredibly talented and experienced guests that spoke to us about the topics. In this unit we also discussed how it is not only important to observe the three topics separately but it is also important to study them together. 

Starting Points:Honestly I have no clue when it comes to film. I'm a music student so anything about film that I hear about at this school goes completely over my head. It was exciting to participate in conversations that happen daily outside of my school and in the school of film.

What I Learned:I've learned a lot about film. I think what I've learned most about film is it's different ways of affecting people. When we were assigned to make the video constructed out of archival footage I thought it was neat to try and create a video whose sole purpose is to confuse people and make them scratch there head. My video makes no sense but it's fun to show it to people and have them look at me and say "why?" I always look at them and respond "Why not?" 


A link to my archival footage video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc9jhDWRt50

What I Want to Learn More About:
Honestly I just want to learn more about film as a whole. I'd like to expand my vocabulary in film and watch more great films that I always hear my friends talk about. I feel as if film tells a story in a way that most forms of media can't.

Conclusion:
All in all I'm glad we went over this unit because it's given me a new perspective on an art form that I've never and still don't understand. It will be fun watching movies with this new way of dissecting and understanding what the director or the cinematographer is trying to say. 

A Post about Composing in Language, Sound, and Music

Joe Collins

November 9, 2014

The idea of composing in language, sound, and music can really broaden the horizon of an artist's abilities, especially by adding a wide array of new media for an artist to explore. Things like poetry and music and even just sound can invoke a feeling inside a listener in a many different ways.

From experience, I didn't know much about how to understand poetry because personally I was never really able to figure out what was inside a poet's head.

Basically what I've learned is that music is in a dire need of another shift in major genre. A new sound or way of writing music needs to be established but right now the people exploring those options seem to be exploring without a cause. For example Shostakovich has a composing style that had never been seen before when he began writing music, but he did so because he was trying to express his pain and strife; but when someone like John Cage writes a piece that can only be played by and "electrified cactus" and "other amplified dried plants" just for the sake of emulating nature, I think it gets a little ridiculous. For poetry I got better insight on how a poet writes his or her poetry and it helped me understand how to interpret poetry better.

Honestly all that I would like to learn more about is poetry. Now that I understand it better I think I should take another look at the poems that they tried to have us study in high school.

In conclusion, I think it is always a good idea to, after a period of composing art, to step back and take a look at other options in composing, even if it's something avant-garde to your time, like Debussy or Shostakovich.

Composing in Context

Composing in Context

Composing in context is the revolutionary new way of approaching the creation of art backed by the idea that Composing is Making.

Starting Points

I've started my artistic journey in the high school grade of Tenth. Cello lessons combined with an overall passion of music and art drove me to the desire and need of becoming a cellist. 

What I've Learned

Everything that I know about digital media has been taught to me by the incredulous Bob King. I've learned about the interesting passive-sexism of the now infamous Hello Kitty franchise that has swept the nation with its mouth-less misogyny.  

Things I would like to learn more about

I'm currently on the edge of my seat waiting for every Tuesday morning so that I may be gifted with Professor Bob King's teachings.

Conclusion

I love art.