Mrs. Picasso?

Francoise Gilot is Pablo Picasso's ex-wife. She, herself has always been an artist since the age of five. Currently, she is 90 years old. She soon will be putting up an artwork showing of her work, as well as, Pablo Picasso's original artwork that they had done together. Gilot met Picasso when she was 21 years old and he was 61 years old. They met during time of war, and she saw her relationship as a "catastrophe I didn't want to avoid" (Vogue   March 2012 pg 554). In time, Gilot had written a book of her life with Picasso, and books about art in general too. I personally had know idea of such a book nor Gilot's role in his life. Being a design and fine art artist, this article caught my attention. 


The book she wrote about Pablo was actually written while he was alive, but Gilot was told to release it after he died in order to understand Picasso better after he is gone. I personally think that if it came out while he was alive, it could have given insight to how he thought as an artist when he was literally making art. She wrote such a book once she was seperated from Picasso so it wasn't while they were together, but they couldn't ever marry because his first wife refused to give him a divorce. She left France to come to the United States because she thought the people would understand her better. She saw it as "When I left Picasso, I know I would have a lot of enemies" (Vogue March 2012 pg 555).


The article continued, but I just noticed how media changes artwork too. Media in France broke her down, but media here in the US opened their arms to her and her work. I think because both artists were directly from France, that France took it more personal. However, just being Picasso's significant other (of sorts) and an artist herself is so amazing to share that there has to be a showing (in the US). Being as they often painted together, they share similar styles, so some may not like that idea or simply exclude her work. She was fortunate enough to finally show who she is here though. I would absolutely love to see her showing, even though Im not a huge fan of Picasso. I would prefer Monet or Van Gogh, but I still appreciate Picasso as an artist. 





Here is the link to a picture of Francoise Gilot to date...


http://nyclovesnyc.blogspot.com/2011/10/evening-with-francoise-gilot-vernissage.html

---Sarah W

Students Making a Change on the Internet and Media World

I came across another article in Vogue oddly enough that touched on a variety of topics: media, education, lost/striving art programs in schools, online gaming, inspiration, creative-driven students, and more. The article was called "Nuvana Lily Kwong; Inspiring Students Through Online Games that Teach Everything from Art to Science."


Lily Kwong and her brother created a place in their father's educational game-design company, Nuvana, where people of all kinds can come together and create their own world of creativity. They enact change in their world when they don't have the ability previously, or its another place to grow (as a person and artist). The form they use is "socially networked online games." These games aren't just ordinary game though, they give others the opportunity to involve themselves and have control over decisions, they teach them through having fun, and is a positive atmosphere in general. The games cover a large range of topics, from Art to Science. They all also happen to be free! 


This place of gaming is a safe-home to those who lost their art programs in their own schools. It's an outlet for them by different means. They can continue their abilities, creativity, and imagination in a place where they can be heard. Lily even mentioned how the games were used to stop bullying. That to me is impressive. Especially because we always hear terrible stories about cyber-bullying. Its more common than we may think. This site is just another way that there are people out there doing good with the internet's abilities. I think more people should be publicizing this gaming company, hands down! 


NIKE!
Another fact that makes their business outstanding is that NIKE Foundation and Grameen America both support projects they do! They must be doing something good for people if they have a partnership with those big name, powerful, and wealthy companies. 


I wish there was some way I could myself tell newspapers or someone with ability to share their information to larger mass of people. I wonder if it would be a good research project too........


Here is their website, check it out!
http://nuvana.org/


---Sarah W

Social Media - An expanding company and Twitter combine...

Twitter is a social media site that a large amount of teens use regularly. Even older adults have Twitter accounts. Companies have accounts on Twitter! 


Vogue has a Social Media section in there magazine. I just picked one up to read and I came across an article that referenced a company combining Twitter values. I had to get it because it reminded me of this class. The article name is "Fast Company. As Twitter reshapes news and entertainment, Jacob Weisberg tours its headquarters to find a team dedicated to openness, spontaneity-and relentless expansion." They talked about how celebrities use Twitter as a new way to interact with their fans. 


They stated that Twitter was "like the dialogue on an Aaron Sorkin show: Ideas are tested;banter is exchanged; cultural references fly by at 60 mph. When the meeting ends, it is unclear what exactly has been accomplished, but a lot has been commented upon in a clever, pithy way. Being at Twitter is, in fact, a lot like being on Twitter." They suggest that experiencing a "Twitter-like" meeting is just like conversations go on Twitter itself. In the article, they continue to agree that base qualities of those conversations are liked by some companies. "Twitter prides itself on openness and egalitarianism..." Those qualities right there are what some companies look for when hiring people. That's the kind of atmosphere they want the company to achieve. To them, it's a way they can grow in this economy. 


Katie Jacobs Stanton was listed as 56th on the world's most powerful women. She worked for Google, but then was offered a job by Twitter. She ended up working on President Obama's campaign, which while there she got the White House up on Twitter. Her focus was "on integrating technology, especial social media, into American foreign policy." Even the government is on social network sites like Twitter. Twitter and other social media sites  are trying to involve everyone around the world. A global interaction through new media. 


Twitter has been there for those who don't have free press or freedom of expression for individuals. 


There is a lot more to the article but that is just some information. I will try to blog about the rest later. The "Twitterati" is a growing global phenomenon nowadays. It's apparently grabbing attention of all sorts of people - Vogue included.


---Sarah

Electrical Big Brother Bill....

Big Brother has always been a topic of debate. In high school I read the book 1984, which was all about Big Brother controlling a society. The new thing is the Electrical Big Brother nowadays. The government controlling our internet, and in extension, us. This greatly impacts us because so much of our lives today is on the computer. Right now, I'm doing work for a college course talking about a common problem seen in the world, online. Online.
Do I think the Electrical Big Brother is such a thing?
I don't have trouble believing in it. Its possible, and bills trying to be passes like SOPA are perfect examples of it trying to be accepted. Some people may not fully understand it or see that being an outcome, but it's not so far-fetched. SOPA is just the beginning of it. I'm not trying to be a paranoid extremest or anything, but if you think about it realistically all of the precursors are there.
Government controlling internet history...
The idea of the government looking through people's internet history to find those who can be a threat to children & such is a respectable reason to monitor search history. But controlling it to just control it is exactly like Big Brother. That's where I become concerned. I don't think I need someone looking after every single minute action of mine by someone else. I have parents for that. I don't stay in the US to be controlled by our government. That is why we are a free country, run by the people and for the people. I don't believe the government should have that kind of control. There should be restrictions to protect us people, but in a reasonable way.

Later,
Sarah

Facebook for kids?

Is Facebook for kids under 13 years of age?
It shouldn't be...I don't think kids under 13 should be worried about wanting a public profile out on the internet across the world. WHY do they need one? I bet most young kids couldn't give a legitimate reason why they should. I got one when I was in high school so I can keep in touch with friends that I had in junior high (that had gone to different high schools), and then to keep in touch with high school friends that I wouldn't be seeing once in college. Keeping contacts is a valid reason, I believe. At 10 or 12 years old, you don't have that problem more than not. The only way I can possibly see one having a Facebook is if it is ONLY controlled by a parent/guardian. Facebook can get inappropriate for young kids and if they aren't careful, bad things can happen in result (like witnessing things parents wouldn't want them to see/hear or if they pick up things to say/do that are not age appropriate). Its just not necessary.

Games?
Kids love games, without a doubt. But where those games are played matter. Why do they need to be on Facebook to play games? There are numbers after numbers of other ways to play all sorts of games than on the internet. Even college students can admit that Facebook is highly distracting and not the most educational website out there, so I don't see why a 10-13 year old should have that on their plate too. They should be outside plying, making up imaginary scenes for a fairy tale, or playing a game with the family/siblings. I just think there are other ways out there to entertain a young kid than the incredibly mature internet.

~Sarah W

Google!

Google is part of most people’s daily lives. It’s even in our verbal conversations with our friends.

Google it! I’m not sure what it is, wait, I’ll Google it!

Addiction? Maybe? 

I personally am addicted to Google on some level. It very much can be addicting. When you want to make a simple search for something, Google is there to help you! Even if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for, it gives you an endless amount of options. Its fantastic.

I think Google made the right move when they made their own browser: Google Chrome. They already have so much power on the Internet, it just makes sense to do the best they can with it. If you think about it, if this whole SOPA/PIPA thing goes through though, it’s going to affect the people who use that browser (among many many other things). Go figure.

The Internet Controls Me…

The only thing I fear is the amount companies can have on the Internet and the affect it has on EVERYBODY’S lives. You notice how many problems everyone is having (or the amount of anger) over the SOPA & PIPA issue. If these kinds of things continue, I wonder what the future will hold for us if Internet companies gain a lot more power. Don’t get me wrong, they must be doing something good as a company if they are so popular, but I don’t want my life to revolve around the Internet/an Internet company to be honest. Its also another thing the government can control like the SOPA act that’s trying to be passed. It’s all gotten a bit out of hand.

Personal Information Taken?

Touching on the privacy problems you can run into when doing business on the Internet, I think it can easily be problematic. Part of my job is about getting payment information from customers (for the Box Office) and for the most part, people are okay with giving us their information over the phone. I did get one lady who felt more comfortable with giving her information over the Internet than with an actual person…I think there is something wrong with that. You trust technology (which is often faulty) more than a living person? Not to mention that after I type in those numbers, I will never be able to access them again. It is personal preference of course, but I found that interesting. Do you really know where that information goes after you hit the button “Send” or “Purchase”? 

Be back soon!

Sarah W

"Dooced" - Fired for Blogging?!

This is my first real blog for Intro To New Media.

I chose to blog about Heather Armstrong’s blog and her history behind blogging. This whole thing is new for me so I’m not entirely sure how this will go...

“Dooced”

Heather Armstrong was the first person to be fired for blogging. The catch was that she was blogging about her co-workers. That didn’t obviously sit well with her boss. Nor was it a smart idea in general. I personally found the term given to those being fired for blogging quite funny though: being “Dooced.” I wonder how they came up with that.

Photoshop = Daily Life

Personally, being in the graphic arts track here at NCC, I found it interesting that she worked as a Web designer. That was partially why I chose her blog to read. Working on Photoshop for hours on end everyday is something we definitely have in common, haha. Something she talked about caught my attention…it was her drive to make designs that came standard and that was it. No clients making changes. Just doing your own thing and if someone likes it enough to buy the rights, use, etc. then it was fare-game. I have done design projects for people I know, and I’ve found that from that experience it can get tense with a “client.” You individually have an idea for the look of the design (whither web, graphics, logo, etc.), but the client wants something repeatedly changed. For some, that can be hard to work with. I think it’s a way to grow as a designer by working with other’s ideas too, but that’s just my opinion.

I had a situation where I was asked to design an invitation for someone close to me. I made a couple mock-ups and showed her. She is very indecisive like myself, which I was keeping in mind. It was going great until her other friends and family members were giving her a million different advise tips. It soon turned into ciaos. She wanted to use everyone’s advice, which was sweet. However, it wouldn’t work well as a final design. So I can see why Heather liked to make things more around her original ideas. On the other hand, it does limit one’s number of clients and growth technically.

Photoshop Picture that is pretty cool :) ------

http://bestphotoshoptutorials.net/2008/12/17/50-spectacular-3d-photoshop-tutorials/

10 Minutes?!

Writing a blog in 10 minutes is way faster than I thought possible for a decent sized blog. I was really surprised when Heather said she could write one between 10 & 30 minutes on average. Maybe it’s because I don’t know much about blogging or I’m a really slow writer but that’s fast! Yiks. 

Think that's it for now...Be back for next week

Sarah W