Day 8

The class viewed a film called Powers of 10. The filmed was produced in 1968 by Ray Eames and her husband Charles. Both of these two made significant contributions to the field of design. The film depicted the universe scaled in factors of ten. We also watched "Why Man Creates" by Saul Bass (Bass & Associates). I found this film much more appealing and interesting. It focused on the creative process and different approaches taken to that process in many different areas of life. I found it very tasteful and innovating for its time. Shortly after, we presented our homework. Our task was to find three 8x11 pictures and to make a story out of those images. I could have done better with my selection of images, but I think the class, overall, did much better.

Adjectives:
- Efficacy
- Restrictionsim
- Autonomously
-

Day 7

The class split up in two groups to expediate the process of presenting our homework. It was closely related to our work of last week's when we needed to find ten phrases that shifted the meaning of a particular simple image. The objective of our homework this week was inversely related as we were to choose some sort of phrase and then find ten different pictures to shift its meaning.
Afterwards, we formed several small groups to develop a short story. We were all given about 10-15 minutes to create this story, but it had to include random items in our personal possesion. In my recollection, my group pulled out a cell phone, wallet, Pepsi bottle, backpack, some mints, and other things of that nature. In the end, we couldn't make out much of a story (a good one at least). However, we at least showed that we were capable of reaching a deadline.

Adjectives:

-Purview
-Purulent
-Pursy

Day 6

Just like the previous class session, we performed the same concept development task. We were to individually select a simple image and change its meaning and interpret it differently ten different times for homework. Once class had begun, we all individually presented our interpretations of a simple image.

Afterwards, we watched a live taping of Sir Ken Robinson, a British author, giving a speech at UCLA.  I believe that taping was presented to us because of his ability to reach out and academically entertain his audience. His words are motivating and more importantly a reinforcement to those of us who have already discovered our career path. His speech was about how finding our passion can change everything. His words were encouraging, but I didn't really find them innovating or new. Just about everything he touched on was told to me by someone else at some point in time. I think I would have appreciated this particular speech even more had I heard it several years ago as I was preparing to go to college. Nontheless, a great delivery.

Adjectives:

-Clause

-Entity

-Pseudonym

Day 5

The class formed several groups of about five people each. The class lecture related to the practice of concept development. The objective of each group was to choose one simple image (plain, without text) out of several pictures and collectively change the meaning of that simple image ten different times . For example, if we were to choose an image of an apple we wouldn't be able to call it sweet or round. If we were successful with our terms, we were praised. Those of us who could not correctly carry out the task were asked to think further outside the box.

Adjectives:
Insulating - A method of entrapping warmth

Dysplasia - a term that refers to an abnormality in maturation of cells within a tissue

Neuropsychology - studies the structure and function of the brain related to specific psychological processes and overt behaviors

Day 4

Mr. Jimmy Moss presented to us a film called "Dreams." The film was directed by Akira Kurosawa, a prominent Japanese film producer who is regarded as one of the most important figures in film making history. I believe this film was shown to us for its conceptual relevance to our class. Kurosawa displayed various segments of visual communication that may highly influence us to strengthen our foundation for critical thinking in the field of graphic design. 
Each segment, or dream, of the film provided significant themes and imagery. The second dream, "The Peach Orchard," stood out more to me due to its story. It had a theme that had don't mess with mother nature written all over it. It was about a doll festival that occurs annually in the spring time as peach blossoms are blooming to the fullest. This time around, a boy's family has cut down these peach trees, which are metaphoric representations of the trees that are supposed to be displayed. The boy is led to the orchard by an unfamiliar face to learn of the negative repercussions his family has caused. Here he runs into lively dolls where the trees would be. They end up  criticizing and verbally attacking him for what he's done, bringing about a sorrowful revelation in which he realizes how much he had loved the trees. The dolls bestow sympathy upon the boy by blessing him with a dance from the doll festival.
The dream reminded me of our present day environment in which deforestation is occurring globally. I am not a proactive go green activist, but i am an enthusiast. I like seeing nature in its healthiest form as I do find smog and decapitated wood to be an unpleasant sight. I guess it hits home to me coming from the 32nd state where the grass is definitely greener and the air is cleaner. 


Adjectives:
Melancholic - sign of depression
Abated - to reduce in amount or diminish
Platoon - a military unit consisting of two or more squads

Day 3

On Monday, the class focused on "mind mapping." Mr. Jimmy Moss showed us thorough examples through a slideshow of how others have used plans to create a process in which preparations are needed for specific events such as how to prepare for college and things of that nature. It can most certainly be referred to as a blueprint that can help us explore all aspects of a particular matter utilizing our minds as part of the creative thought process. I believe almost every mind mapping process can succeed as long as one knows what s/he wants, what is necessary to make it happen, and what can be achieved by all this.

Mind mapping can be very useful as we proceed to explore every facet of ART 220 and our remaining tenure on campus. Although we don't put it down on paper, we all venture in performing some kind of mind mapping daily and regularly without even realizing it. It's all part of planning and scheduling.

-Sidereal time: a way for astronomers to keep track of the direction in which their telescopes need to be pointed to view any given star in the night sky

-Cache: a collection of data duplicating original values stored elsewhere or computed earlier, where the original data is expensive to find

-HTML: Hyper Text Mark-up Language

9/30: 2nd Day of Instruction

We talked about concepts, ideas, and inventions. They all imply the same meaning: A thought that can apply to reality to benefit the everyday needs of mankind such as time. The 24 hour concept of time has immensely contributed to our efficiency of getting us where we need to be and when we need to be there - like getting to class on time. Additionally, time also lets my instructor know when I am late to class, utilizing time as a reference point as part of a class agenda.

We briefly discussed iphones. Mr. Moss concluded that they're terrible phones. I agree! I've always been a Blackberry user to my benefit. Phones, more precisely "smartphones," today provide very convenient applications that help us get around. Another brief topic of discussion included the great Albert Einstein. I knew he was German and I knew he was a scientist. But, I didn't know he was autistic. After all the contributions he made, it makes me feel like I am only using 10% of his 10% brainpower, probably less.

Mr. Moss talked about a position he used to hold as a creative director. He sucked playing ball, but he was great at inhibiting creativity from his team of designers. However, he got bored of that and now seems happily geared toward his teaching profession here at CSULA as he guides us in our experiential journey.

Notes:

-Colors are mood changers

-Mr. Moss was the only one in our classroom to watch the movie "Twilight"

-Visual evidence differs from interpretation