abramstalks

[abramstalks]

The Art of Beauty

Wake up! Wake up! The sunrise is happening right now. As we all simply progress through life, we are all met with the most beautiful of visions. Whether it is watching a sunrise/sunset on the boat or looking over a massive mountain to be met with the most spectacular view. We all travel through these visions, sometimes unnoted. Therefore, as I look through my past Tumblr posts I am presented with a variety of different types of photographs and visualizing speech about beautiful views and the effect of these particular things, further creating a sense of this being my overall theme.

For example, in my “Photographer’s Eye” assignments you are met with a variety of different arts, including mountains, sunsets, hikes, and other beautiful scenes. The feelings these exact pictures make one feel is truly amazing. Upon viewing sunsets, in particular, you can feel a sort of out-of-body wrath upon your soul when met with this kind of beauty. In short, Beauty is all around us, if only we take the time to look. From the way the sun sets over the horizon, to the vibrant colors of a blooming flower, there is magic in every scene. Take the time to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you, and let it fill your heart with joy. Whether you're walking through a park, taking a hike in the mountains, or simply sitting on your porch, there is beauty to be found. So, take a deep breath, look around, and let the beauty of the world fill you with wonder.

Another one of my recent Tumblr posts that also have a similar theme is titled “My Favorite Work of Art”. a canvas of colors, a breathtaking masterpiece that is constantly changing. As the sun rises and sets, the colors of the sky shift and blend together, creating a stunning display of light and color. In the early morning, the sky is often painted in shades of pink and orange, as the sun begins to rise over the horizon. The colors are soft and gentle as if the sky is still waking up from a peaceful slumber. As the sun climbs higher in the sky, the colors become more vibrant, with shades of yellow and gold mixing with pastel pinks and oranges. As the day wears on, the sky becomes a brilliant blue, a perfect backdrop for the world below. The blue is so rich and deep, it seems to go on forever, stretching out into infinity. It's a color that can make you feel calm and serene as if everything in the world is right. As the sun begins to set, the sky once again becomes a canvas of colors. The pinks and oranges return, but this time they are joined by deep purples and fiery reds. The colors are so intense, so vibrant, that it feels as if the sky is on fire. It's a moment of pure magic, watch in awe. And as the sun disappears below the horizon, the colors slowly fade away, leaving behind a deep, dark blue. It's a peaceful color, a color that makes you feel as if everything is going to be okay. It's a reminder that even in the darkest of moments, there is beauty to be found if only you take the time to look.

Lastly, in another blog titled “Module 14 Assignment: Ekphrasis,” I talked heavily about how the production of art can make one feel a sense of direction and also how the particular piece of art allowed their readers to truly understand all hidden messages conveyed in each art piece (when art is truly dissected of its meaning). Art truly has a way of touching our souls, stirring up emotions we didn't even know we had. From the vibrant colors to the intricate details, there is something about a piece of art that can leave us feeling breathless. When we look at a piece of art, we are transported to another world, a world where anything is possible. We are free to explore our emotions and feel whatever it is we need to feel in that moment. Some art may make us feel happy and carefree, while others may evoke feelings of sadness or longing. Whatever the emotion, art has a way of making us feel deeply, of connecting us to something greater than ourselves. Art can also inspire us, pushing us to be better, to do more, and to create something of our own. It can be a catalyst for change, a way of sparking our imaginations and our passions. When we look at a piece of art, we are reminded of the beauty of the world, of the limitless possibilities that exist all around us. And while art can be deeply personal, it is also something that can bring people together. It can be a way of fostering connections, of building bridges between people who may have nothing else in common. Art can be a universal language, a way of communicating ideas and emotions that transcend borders and boundaries. In short, art is a powerful force in our lives, one that can move us, inspire us, and connect us to something greater than ourselves. So the next time you look at a piece of art, take a moment to really feel it, to let it wash over you and remind you of the beauty and wonder of the world.

[abramstalks]

Module 14 Assignment: Ekphrasis

A woman swings with grace

In the heart of the jungle

As she sways and plays

With the wind in a tangle

Her swing is an escape

From the chaos of the wild

A moment to contemplate

As the world becomes mild

The stone angels watch

As she glides through the trees

Their eyes never botch

The beauty of this scene

With each push she soars

Higher into the sky

And as she swings, she roars

With laughter and a sigh

This moment is pure

A moment to be free

A moment to secure

A memory that will be

After close contemplation for this assignment I felt it most fitting to use the attached picture. In this beautiful piece of art you find a multitude of different things including: a majestic woman, a tree-swing, stoned angels, surrounding individuals, and a forest. In my eyes one of the essential details that truly make this art just so beautiful is the setting and how it takes place in the middle of an everlasting forest. Another key detail is the fact that there appears to be a multitude of stoned angels watching over the main scene of this magical woman swinging. First off, I believe I started my poem wonderfully by listing and explaining the key aspects of the setting that is taking place. I feel this will help my reader in visualizing everything that follows in the remainder of the poem. I also believe I correctly inferred what this picture truly meant in the following paragraphs of my poem. For example, I used words like soaring, grace, and beauty, which I feel are key feelings meant to be felt at first glance. To capture the mood I chose to insert lines five-eight, where I talked about how the swing seemed to be an escape from all distractions and other negative feelings, portraying only pure joy and happiness in the art. Due to the art having an older connotation or feeling, I chose to use an aged vocab while also attempting to mimic various other older styles of poems. I feel as if all of this combined made my ekphrasis a lot of help to all readers when it comes to further understanding the picture in its true form.

[abramstalks]

Module 13: As Seen On Tv

I have chosen the video titled Devo, Jocko Homo, for a variety of key aspects that I will explain thoroughly below. At first glance, you witness a few younger gentlemen in a music-video kind of setting. Throughout the video you are met with a number of different phrases like, “Are we not men?”, and several others that all seem dim and sudden due to them not being obvious in what exactly they are talking about. This is true, but only until you actually dig deep in the true meaning of what is being said and the untypical setting that is portrayed. Like I said, the phrase above was steadily incorporated in the video which was actually used to portray the message that we are all men (or female), and that's all that we should be worrying about. We are all currently living/breathing on the planet, therefore we shouldn’t drive ourselves crazy over how we got to this point. Also incorporated into the video was a heavy usage of moving images that helped (when fully understood) to realize what exactly was meant by the creation of this art. This video takes a hard stance on the cultural issue, regarding people assuming outrageously that we certainly evolved from apes. Devo takes the opposite position throughout the video, while stating that no matter what you believe and how crazy you drive yourself about the various possibilities of our existence, you should always remember we are just men (and women). I personally, now believe in this as well due to there really not being any thorough proof involved that suggests we are the product of apes due to evolution, or anything in this matter. Therefore, we should just live life and excel without thinking of the never-ending possibilities of our past, but instead the excitement of our future. This piece was very different from any previous form that I have ever seen, due to the emphasis of crazy moving images and the limited usage of words throughout the video. It amazes me that with a limited usage of phrases this film still portrayed the message perfectly, with no confusion.

[abramstalks]

Module 12 Assignment

As you proceed in the reading of act IV scene VII you closely realize what King Claudius’ end goal is for Hamlet. Following the scene where Hamlet hiddenly implies that he knows Claudius was involved in the killing of King Hamlet (following the interaction with Hamlet and the ghost) it has seemed Claudius now has the need for Hamlet to be murdered as well. Therefore, leaving this scene to be the home of all interactions between now King Claudius and Laertes where they now discuss the planned execution of Hamlet. (All organized by Claudius) This plan is to be executed via fencing match where Laertes will have a poisoned foil as well as a lethally injected drink for Hamlet. This scene maintains a very intense feeling throughout the entirety and allows the audience to easily believe that a clash of violence is imminent. Upon the viewing of the staging I can confirm that my interpretation of the scene is quite similar to the way they acted it out. Throughout the scene in the staging, much like expected, there upheld a dim or almost frightening feeling during the conversation between Claudius and Laertes. For this, I feel as if the staging better allowed me to get a total grasp on what was occurring, while also giving me a better perspective on the tone of what everything was being said in. (Allowed me to grasp a feeling of the scene) Each character was totally brought to life in this staging, but to be exactly what was expected from the reading, each was very angry. Though, King Claudius stood out to me in the staging for his extremely manipulative behavior when talking to Laertes. While in this scene Hamlet did seem extremely clever due to him never not thinking an action through, instead being ready for anything King Claudius throws his way.

[abramstalks]

The Godfather and La Jetée

The Godfather is truly a cinematic masterpiece and undoubtedly deserves the title of being one of the greatest films ever established. Between its beautiful sequences and heavy worded quotes it truly was touching to any viewer. This film depicted  thoroughly the importance of family, honor, and loyalty, which we all have taken for granted at least once in our lives. The craziest part of this piece of cinema is that you can see the heavy influence it has had on other pieces of art, like movies and television shows. For this, I feel it is safe to say that this movie has to be one of the greatest and influential movies ever created. 

Chris Marker’s Scientific-fiction film, La Jette, was an extremely popular black and white film created in 1962. This short movie is all in French, meaning the average American couldn’t understand anything that was being said, but yet could understand what was occurring throughout the entire film due to its use of imagery and still photos. La Jette was entirely surrounded by the idea of time travel and how the desired characters would travel back in time to stop a nuclear weapon from crumbling Earth’s surface, like shown in the still-photos of this film. Due to these dramatic and frightening still pictures it gave the entire film an extremely eerie and suspenseful mood. The sequence of eerie still-photos and voice-over narration greatly affected me and any viewer of this short film.

[abramstalks]

Photographer's Eye

While you’re at a park, pictures are actively being taken. When working out at the gym, photos are being taken. During a breathtaking sunset, unsurprisingly pictures are being taken. Throughout the span of a lifetime one may take millions of photos that just happen to have a totally different theme or meaning then one would infer at first glance. Each of these pictures hold a memory, while also secretly telling their own story. In this assignment, the theme that I chose to write about is how love can take you to unimaginable places. For this, I am choosing the following pictures with loved ones that truly solidify my theme above.

This picture isn’t of photographer standard, yet holds a lot of meaning and signifies a big step for my girlfriend and I. This was our first trip taken together and will forever be represented by this picture. Also, the frozen over run off from the creek was a very cool thing to see.

This picture represents love tremendously due to us being together, at a wedding, catching the sunset at just the perfect time. Without love this picture would have never been produced, therefore I feel as if it shows how love can take you to the most beautiful of places. 

This picture is of my girlfriend and I where we are riding on the boat to watch the sunset, while being accompanied by other loved ones as well. The fact that you can’t see these other listed loved ones prove that a picture can resurrect memories within someone that were previously forgotten. Love alone is beautiful, but having the opportunity to be on this boat with loved ones while watching nature's beauty is unmatched. 

The next picture is very different from the rest in appearance, but solidifies the same theme. This picture shows myself running the football in possibly my last ever football game with the overall goal of advancing to the next round of playoffs with my best friends, or also known as teammates. My love for football has roots going back to when I was the age of 6 and this picture alone proves to my 6 year old self that anything is possible with hard work and determination. Therefore, proving that while carrying the love of something or someone you can make it to places that you couldn’t even have dreamed of. 

In my last photo it shows my mom and I on vacation soaking in the beautiful view that we were able to witness due to love and family. My family and I have been on a variety of different vacations throughout my lifetime, but only one thing was the same each trip, it was powered by love. 

The pictures above truly prove the theme of love bringing you to extraordinary places with great ease. Each of these pictures had one thing in common, which was they were all possible due to the love shared with my family, girlfriend, and teammates. Each picture shared a memorable and beautiful moment or sight, whether it was apparent from the photo or not. 

[abramstalks]

Module 8: Your Musical Theme

As you can see above my corresponding song titles all have a common theme. This being in all six of the song titles the word November is found. Although these six songs have share "November" in the title they all differ dramatically in the way they are structured and sang. First off, I chose this theme due to me having the prior knowledge of knowing a few songs that fit the criteria. Also, my birthday month in actually in the month of November, therefore allowing this specific month to stick out more than others.

November Rain - Guns N' Roses / Rock

November Rain clearly ties itself to the theme due to its name portraying the word “November”. This piece strongly separates itself from other songs due to its dramatic feeling of sadness and heartbreak that it portrays. The tone it creates is unmatched and allows for its listeners to feel every ounce of what is being said. This piece is written on a true story where the writer’s girlfriend actually died, due to suicide. In this piece you can find Consonance throughout the 9- minute song when the two different tones combine and make a pretty amazing final product. 

November Air - Zach Bryan / Country

Much like November Rain, November Air also ties itself into the theme due to its title also using the word “November”. This song begins with a slower tempo where it then quickens, before again slowing down to end the song. This song draws a certain level of emotion due to it being about the singer and the loss of his mother. This musical piece shows a degree of consonance throughout its entirety, but no dissonance. 

November Boogie - Sonny Boy Williamson / Blues

November Boogie, also uses the word November in its title, therefore making it follow the theme very well. This song has its differences than the others due to it being played on the harmonica, rather than being sung by people. Sonny Boy Williamson used both degrees of Consonance and dissonance in this piece. Due to Sonny playing this hymn on the Harmonica the style differs tremendously from other songs listed. 

Late November - Sandy Denny / Folk

Much like the prior songs, Late November follows the same theme due to the word “November" being a part of the song title. This song has a very unfamiliar structure and style when compared to others listed, due to it being a Folk song being played on the piano. Sandy Denny, was a very skilled pianist who used the degree of consonance to perfection in this specific piece. The tone in this piece was very depressing due to usage of a slow tempo and very dramatic song lyrics. 

Gone Till November - Rod Wave / Rap

Gone Till November, follows the theme perfectly due to it also naming “November” in the song title. This song is structured a little differently than the prior songs talked about, due to it being a rap/hip hop. This piece has more of a happier tone due to the singer talking about how he has begun to excel in his career. In this piece the singer uses both a degree of consonance and dissonance throughout the song, in a multitude of ways. 

November - PatrickReza / Electronic

Lastly, In the song November by Patrick Reza it follows the theme due to the name of the song using the word, “November” like all the other songs do. In this song there is heavy usage of the degree of dissonance throughout the entirety of the song. This piece is structured completely different from the others, due to it following a slower pace for almost the whole song. The tone of voice used by the singer is also glaringly different when compared to the previous songs. 

[abramstalks]

Module 7: Plotting

While almost everyone tells stories at some point in time, not many know that each one of their stories align with the format of Rudimentary Plot. All stories that you hear throughout the entirety of life all share the same key elements, which are the elements of having a situation A, change, and a situation B. Today, I am choosing to speak about an extremely simple story that has occurred recently in my life. Recently, I have been visiting the gym daily with the common goal of gaining muscle and living a healthier lifestyle. Until one day I unfortunately ran into a less than ideal circumstance where I injured myself. During one of my late night workouts last week I was performing a clean and jerk with an excessive amount of weight on the Barbell when my grip haplessly failed in the middle of a rep, which allowed all of the weight to land on my shoulders. The downward force created by the hefty amount of weight resulted in myself falling onto the ground, while also dislocating my shoulder. This story, like every other, inhabits the key elements of a Rudimentary Plot. In this case the situation A happens to be the fact that I’m working out with excessive amounts of weight on the barbell. Which leads me to the next key element, the change, which happens to be when my grip unfortunately failed. The last key element, situation b, was when the weight forcefully fell on my person, resulting in injury. With this being said, I feel as if this story proves to significantly address the three main elements of a Rudimentary Plot.

Word Count: 274

[abramstalks]

Poetic License

After viewing this poem at first glance I first quickly inferred that this is in the point of view of a star-eyed son talking about his big dreamed dad. In the first sections of the poem the narrator, the son, talked about the talent of the father and how he is unstoppable. In the following sections he chose about how his dad woke up one day and achieved his dreams of playing at Ohio State University. After reading the entirety of the poem for the second time I have inferred that there is a bigger meaning behind the poem. I feel the poem is conveying the message that if you give something (a dream) your all, the possibilities are endless , despite any personal characteristics. The “Terms To Remember” that I am choosing to use are Narrative, Protagonist, Image. The narrative of this piece, like I said, was of the kid watching his dad succeed in all of his dreams that he set forth for himself. While the Protagonist of this poem would be the dad due to him being no-doubtedly the main character throughout the entirety of the writing. Lastly, there was an image created in the poem when it said, “Coaches were watching the way he moved, his easy stride, his long arms reaching up, snatching the ball from its soft pockets of air.” In this piece there was no repetition of a similar sound, therefore there was no active consonance found in the poem. This poem meant a lot to me due to it sharing the same love that I have, which is Football.

[abramstalks]

My Domestic Architecture

The piece of domestic architecture I chose is my house for a variety of different reasons. I believe my house is extremely open, meaning not separated by too many walls between each room, therefore bringing a sense of closeness and safety. As you walk into the house (through the front door) you are greeted with the kitchen where many family memories can be created due to the openness it shares with the living room. In my opinion, I love this lack of division between rooms due to it allowing a particular space to feel uncluttered and spacious. In this area, there are also a variety of big windows that allow sunrays to peek into the house, which allows a very good vibe to thrive throughout the house. I feel as if this space brings a very welcoming message to all guests of the household for the previous reasons stated. In my house there are stairs that direct you into the second story where you begin to feel a sense of privacy due to the higher amounts of walls that stand in this area. For this reason, I believe my house is a good example of domestic space. My house has been recently renovated or transformed; therefore, I don't believe there is to be any changes or updating to be done. Due to these renovations, I can't say I've ever seen any house quite like it, meaning it is very unique and different from any space I have ever witnessed. For example, another space I regularly inhabit is my boss's office quarters where it isn't so heavily renovated, but still holds a special place in my heart. The main function of this quarters is to maintain a peaceful work environment for my fellow employees and I. This space holds more of a condensed structuring plan, but yet still not too congested, like my home. I couldn't choose which space I like to inhabit more due to them both having a sense of happiness within me, and them both having very unordinary designs.

[abramstalks]

Public Art: IWO Jima Monument

Right beside a busy road lies a heavy, extremely meaningful monument that thousands look past each day. I, myself, have driven past this monument a variety of different times without acknowledging the heart throbbing details it holds. Therefore, for this assignment I knew I had to include this beautiful work of art. This sculpture that is planted in cape coral just off Midpoint bridge is called IWO Jima Memorial, or also known as  the U.S Marine Corps War Memorial. The memorial stands around 20-foot-tall, modeled after the same sculpture in Arlington, Virginia (nearly 60-foot-tall), honors all marines who have passed away in attempting to defend our great nation, The United States of America. The very well-known sculptor who is said to have sculpted this statue is named Felix de Weldon. This sculpture has bounced around the cities of Cape Coral and Fort Myers in the previous years due to damage via harsh hurricanes, but was rededicated to the Cape Coral location in 1997. This sculpture, and the two others, commemorate the five Marines and a Navy hospital corpsman raising an American flag on 560-foot Mount Suribachi, the highest point on Iwo Jima, a small island located 660 miles south of Tokyo, four days after the beginning of what turned out to be one of the costliest battles in the World War II era. I believe the purpose of this sculpture is to give gratitude and thanks to the many men and women who died attempting to keep our nation safe and away from danger. Like me, I believe a wide-range of my community pass this large statue daily and thank both the alive and dead U.S troops who have fought for our safety day-in and day-out. This statue also represents how my community, and communities all around the country, shall be thankful for every day that we are granted. This statue is a beautiful example of full-round, due to being able to see every side of the piece, at every angle.

[abramstalks]

My Abstract Image

The abstract image I chose to use for this assignment is named Tink Tonk, which is painted by the well-known artist, Nabil Nahas. Nabil Nahas has produced a variety of different pieces throughout his long career which mostly all share the same structural scheme; usually having a mixture of enthusiastic colors and different shapes throughout the different pieces. In this specific painting there are both long and short lines varying in width, some being very thick while others being sickly thin. This piece is also filled with an abundance of different colors including red, different variations of blue, yellow, gray, and black. With there being more blue throughout this piece of art it sparks a sense of patience and understanding, easily making one feel comfortable and satisfied. Therefore, after viewing this piece it became apparent to me that it was attempting to tell me something, this being that even though there may be some disappointing or angering factors (The color red) throughout life there will always be a much richer abundance of happiness (The color Blue) somewhere to be found. I would tag this piece as a 3-dimensional project due to their seeming to be layer upon layer of different triangles and shapes. After reading into Nahas he follows a trend of mixing different substances with paint like: Pumice, volcanic rock, and different powders, to deepen the textures in his paintings. Sadly, the one disadvantage about this painting is that towards the center of the work it seems to be heavily worked upon, creating a sense of claustrophobic energy throughout the entire piece. Despite that, what really drew me to this painting would have to be the pure beauty created by the variety of different colors and shapes that were used throughout the entirety of the piece.

[abramstalks]

My Favorite Work of Art

Sunrise, sunset, both draw the same amount of attention and are loved by many. When looking at a sunset the inspiration and dreams unlocked due to the captivating beauty that this individual sight can present, can change one’s life. In the art above it is a beautiful scene provided to us by a very talented artist who caught the perfect glimpse of what many call to be an afterglow. An afterglow is a very sporadic occurrence that takes place only when dust pervades the stratosphere and catches various hues of the twilight arch. You can see a variety of different people awed by the sight in this artwork. Some fine details that this piece of art displays are the vibrant colors, pure joy, peace, and of course just the pure natural beauty that can't be recreated. The detail that most vividly becomes evident to me following first glance is the beautiful colors and feeling of peace that this work of art thoroughly shows. Sunset’s have always spoken to me through the communications of its distinct beauty. When the time comes to witness a sunset it seems nothing else matters, meaning if you have had the worst day one can imagine for the 20 seconds that you witness the sun fall deep into the ocean it can leave you feeling a sense of light upon your atrocious day. This picture told me that no matter what has occurred in the previous day it can always be reversed or undone; a sunset proves to be a reset button on your day.  I believe this picture of the sunset speaks not only to me but also about me in a variety of ways. One being much like how the sun sets every living day, I will always be a dependable person to whom peers can count on to get them through a struggle. Some themes that this work provides is a sense of warmth and hope that sunsets bring many, including myself. It shows that no matter what, if you can make it to your favorite sun viewing destination, be ready for your worries and insecurities to fade away amongst the sun. 

Word Count: 359

[abramstalks]

Get to know me!

Hello! My name is Tyler Abrams, and this is my blog for humanities. I'm supposed to be a senior at Riverdale high school but chose to go full-time dual enrollment at Florida Southwestern University. I plan to pursue by two-year degree at FSW, then transferring over to Florida Gulf Coast University to gather a four-year degree in Business Management. Some of my favorite hobbies include fishing, playing football, and driving. In this particular class I would like to learn the aspects of our human society that we as students have never been taught. Another crucial thing to know about me is that I love the gym and working out. I feel by me attending in the morning while others are still asleep it puts me in a great headspace, while also preparing me for the day. With that being said I am very excited to be in this class and learn everything that it has to offer.