The Corporation Questions

1 ) What is the principal purpose of this documentary?

The purpose of this movie is to make you ask questions about Corporations. It is also to show the development of a "living" business corporation from a legal thing that started as a government-chartered institution, to the rise of the modern commercial institution entitled to the legal rights of an actual person, that it is now. One theme is its assessment of corporations as people, the result of a Supreme Court case in 1886 which led to corporations having the same rights as human beings.

2) What does the film critique? How do you know that?

This movie critiques how all corporations only have "The Bottom Line". How much money can they make? They are to put "The Bottom Line" above everything, including the public good. It's not a law of nature. It's a decision. They care only for the short-term profit. A corporation's only obligation is to themselves. I know this because everyone seems to believe it and it says so in the film.

3) What methods did the filmmaker use to increase public awareness about Corporate responsibility and affect people’s beliefs and behavior?

They interviewed multiple people, some from corporations, and even regular people that were passing by. Through vignettes and interviews, The Corporation examines and criticizes corporate business practices.

4) Which methods of theirs did you think were most effective in supporting their position on corporate responsibility. Why?

I think the interviews are effective enough to support their position on corporate responsibility. I think this because if the people are honest (and why wouldn't they be?), then what they say is really how things are.

5) Did you have any issues with this documentary? What were some parts that you did not agree with, or question. Why?

I did not have any issues with this documentary. I am not interested in any documentaries, and this was no exception. Therefore I did not raise any questions.

6) Describe another film you have watched that had an impact on your values. How and why did that happen?

Honestly, How to Train Your Dragon. It teaches that no one should judge others based on appearance and and rumors. Instead, think positive of others, or don't think about them at all. You also should never underestimate someone. Just because they may seem cold or dark, doesn't mean they an't be kind and caring, and vice-versa.

Ball Bounce Animation

I used Photoshop to create my background and animation. I used a provided sound effect at the end.
I decided to do a ball with a simple "X" design on it, bouncing in a park. It bounces off the ground, then the tree, and then the ground again before exploding like a firework. I did not have an influence for this work, although now I feel like I could've done something darker to go along with my chosen animator (Tim Burton)'s work. In this work, the viewer easily follows the ball as it bounces and "sticks" to the ground and tree to add a realistic effect to it. I thought this project was cool because even though I don't have the best drawing skills, I have always wanted to animate something, and with this I was able to. I think this went very well. I was surprised by how well this turned out. With additional time, I likely would've made the background slightly darker and gothic to match the theme Tim Burton is known for.

Tim Burton

Tim Burton is an American Film director, producer, artist, writer, and animator. He was born in Burbank, California on August 25, 1958. He began as an animator for Walt Disney Pictures, but soon moved on making his own kinds of movies and projects. He is known for his dark, gothic, macabre, and quirky horror and fantasy films. He is most known for:

• Peewee's Big Adventure
• Beetlejuice
• Batman
• Edward Scissorhands
• Batman Returns
• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Cabin Boy
• Ed Wood
• Batman Forever
• James and the Giant Peach
• Mars Attacks!
• Superman Lives
• Sleepy Hollow
• Planet of the Apes
• Big Fish
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Corpse Bride
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
• 9
• Alice in Wonderland
• Dark Shadows
• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
• Frankenweenie
• Big Eyes
• And the upcoming film: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

He was the animator on "The Fox and the Hound" (1981) and "Tron" (1982)

Corpse Bride Analysis

The setting of the movie is in a small town, with a forest nearby. It is shabby and dark, solemn and reeks of despair, much like most Tim Burton movies. The characters are Victor Van Dort, Corpse Bride, Victoria and Barkis Bittern as the main characters. Their makeup is tired looking, with purple shadows under their eyes, with Victorian-era fashion.

The movie is a stop-motion animation, and most of the scenes are at night, and very dark colours are used in this movie. Tim Burton has used many varieties of shots, and because of the small characters like the worm and the spider, there were a lot of big close-ups. However, they were a lot of zoom ins to signify the shocking factor, like when Barkis Bittern swallowed the laced drink and was dead.

They were mostly shot to shot, straight cuts. The black and white contrast is very high, and ala Tim Burton he used many stripes on his character’s costumes. The camera angles that were mostly used in this movie was also from low angle. The transitions are commonly the continuity shots. This movie is also a sort of musical, because there were several songs played, and the songs composed were very much fitting, as it was haunting, while some are a bit cheeky and contain some dark humour. As usual, his main voice actors are Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.

There is also montage shots to signify that the character is very laden down with the stress from his parents and his peers. As the scenes are beautiful, there were a lot of establishing shots or long shots that show the character and its surroundings.

Overall, the movie gives a very gothic feel, the stop-motion was flawless, the colour schemes albeit dark goes very well with each other, and paired with the music altogether forms a perfect jigsaw piece of a great movie.

The storyline is where Victor has to be wed with Victoria, who is the only daughter of Lord and Lady Everglot, who decides to marry beneath their status because they are close to being in poverty. Overall the plot is going around one of the seven sins: Greed. Victor, who was nervous about his vows one day before his marriage, practiced on what he thought was a branch, but ended up being the bony finger of a corpse, whom then takes him underground. The corpse bride, Emily was killed before uniting with her lover, who turned out to be Lord Barkiss, who was a greedy and cold man. He stepped in before Victor could take Victoria’s hand in marriage just because he assumed that the Everglotts, being Lords are rich and powerful, but that was not the case.

After marriage, when Lord Barkiss found out that Victoria was not filthy rich, he threw a big tantrum and swore to get something out of the marriage, but then was interrupted by the underground residents, who came up to celebrate the wedding of Victor and Emily, whom Victor has decided to marry because Victoria was already married to Lord Barkiss.

From there we can deduce that Victor has given up hope that he would find anyone like Victoria, and would rather live without his life, and at least make someone happy rather than no one.

In the scene where the underground residents came above the ground, when they approached the people, at first the people were scared. However, it showed a boy, who due to his innocence, can ignore other elements and recognize his grandfather despite the bones and haggardness, and it is thanks to this this boy that the others began to look at the underground residents properly and recognize their loved ones, re-united once again.

This movie symbolizes that love can go beyond the grave, and that karma will come to those who deserves it. It also shows that love is not about status and money, and that true love will find its own way to shine. Although it is quite the typical love concept, Tim Burton put the element of dark fantasy in it that we are blinded to the fact that it is yet another love story.

The clay-like stop animation is very smooth and very symmetrical. The lightings are very “concert”-like, as it shows spot lights of various colours come from all directions; top, bottom left and right, which can be clearly seen in the scene where the bartenders are explaining about Emily’s death to Victor when he was just brought down to the underground. However, this kind of lighting can be seen in various parts of the movie, and it actually used quite often.

Spirited Away Questions

Spirited Away incorporates many elements from classical Western literature and folklore: people who magically turn into pigs (the Odyssey); the hero’s quest; the prohibition against eating the food of the Faerie (Irish folkore); a girl who goes to Grandma’s house (“Red Riding Hood”); the need to solve riddles. Do these familiar elements make the story easier to understand, or does their appearance in a Japanese film make them too alien to be helpful?

• I'm not sure. I didn't notice any references to classical Western fairy tales, so I guess that means it may be too alien.

Does it make sense to think of bodies of water as possessing spirit? Have you ever had a relationship with a river, a pond, an ocean, or the rain that prompted you to speak to water? Have you ever been rescued by a body of water? Have you ever cleaned a body of water?

• I think it could be believable that bodies of water are possessing spirits. I have (I guess) had a close relationship to a lake by my grandma's house, but not close enough I would talk to it. I have never been saved by a body of water. I also don't remember having cleaned a body of water.

Video Game Art Brainstorming and Reflection

STEP ONE: (On your BLOG...)
You will need to brainstorm some possible THEMES for your piece of art that focuses
on a social/political/environmental/school/family situation that you would like to talk to
your viewer about, through your game. For example, you could think about world
events that you are passionate about, OR, think about an object and then think about
the environmental and social impacts of that object. What could be problematic with a
bottle of water? A gold chain? A cotton shirt made in China?
a. Please BRAINSTORM at least THREE different political/environmental/social
problems that you think you could address through a video game.
b. For each of the ideas above, please write down one object that could represent this
problem, and then at least three ways that it affects our world.
ex. A Pineapple- the problems that this object can represent are the clearing of the
rainforest for plantation, unfair labour practices, transportation, mining to extract tin for
cans, forestry for paper label, natural resources for manufacturing such as water,
electricity, waste, processing, shipping, etc.
ASM3M Video Game Art
c. Choose your favourite theme from above and explain why you are most interested in
turning this into a video game.
d. Please write descriptions of your plans on how you will re-create the following:
#1 for Flappy Bird
1) The instruction screen background 2) The game background
3) The flappy bird/jovia bird graphic 4) The pipes
5) Fonts/game description/messages 6) The Lose Screen, messages
OR
#2 for the Memory Game
1) The instruction screen background 2) The game background
3) The question side of the cards 4) The picture side of the cards
5) Fonts/game description/messages 6) The Lose Screen, messages

A)

• The world never seems to be at peace (i.e Always fighting/always at war)
• Country stereotypes
• Homophobia

B)

• Two swords clashing
• There is always 30-40 wars going on at any given time
• People must fight to survive everyday
• People lose their lives everyday due to wars
• A globe
• Country stereotypes causes prejudice
• It prevents people from learning more about different countries
• People automatically assume everyone from a country will be the same
• A rainbow 
• Homosexual stereotypes causes prejudice and bullying
• People who are gay/lesbian are treated as inferior to "superior" straight people
• Gays and lesbians have rights taken away just because some see their sexuality as "wrong"

C) I am most interested in the Country Stereotypes idea with the Memory Game. I can easily imagine an idea for the game. I also hope that by showing people the country stereotypes, they will understand that not everyone in that country is like the stereotype and may instead be the opposite.

D)

1. The instruction screen background - I used the same background for all the screens. I changed the font and size of the text.
2. The game background - I took a picture of the world with a yin-yang form and put that over top of a picture of many, many country flags.
3. The question side of cards - For the question sides of the cards I used a picture of the world with a questions mark int he middle.
4. The picture sides of cards - For the picture sides of the cards I took seven flags and put something symbolizing that country's stereotype in the middle: Canada - A beaver, U.S - A hamburger, Japan - Anime, Italy - Pasta, Russia - Alcohol, France - A baguette, Brazil - A soccer ball.
5. Fonts/game description/messages - I changed the fonts and sizes to keep it interesting, but kept the text mostly the same as before. The message is that even though there is a stereotype, it doesn't mean that the countries are like that.
6. The Lose Screen/Win Screen messages - I used the same background as the game. I also used the same font, size, and colour for the text on both screens to keep a pattern.

Danielle MacDonald

Country Stereotypes

Flash CC and Photoshop

April 23rd, 2015

TECHNICAL

I used an already existing memory game on Flash CC to edit and become my own. 

I edited reusable pictures from the internet on Photoshop, and created my own cards and backgrounds. I also used Flash CC to change the text font and size.

IDEA OR CONCEPT

My idea was to make a memory game about country stereotypes. I was thinking that by showing different country stereotypes, people will realize it's only a game and not believe everyone from that country is like the stereotype.

Originally, I was thinking of making a Flappy Bird style game about how the world is never at peace and is always fighting. But I decided on a memory game of Country Stereotypes.

INFLUENCES

I did not really have any influences for this piece, although, the anime Hetalia where the countries of the world are represented as people who behave very stereotypical for that country helped with the idea.

COMPOSITION

Because my background has many colours, I had a more limited colour choice for my text on some of the pages, such as the main page, the win page, and the lose page. I feel though that I was able to choice colours that are clearly visible. On the back of the cards, I feel that my picture goes nicely and that the front pictures are clearly visible, making it easy to play.

MOTIVATION

I thought that making a game, even as simple as a memory card game, would be fun. I really liked being able to make my own images for the game and making the whole game my own.

I had the idea of a globe in my head to symbolize the numerous countries around the world. I was happy when I was able to work this into a couple of my images.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

I think the background and the back of the cards looks the best. I think the background of the world with country flags behind is cool. The earth with a questions mark for the cards looks cool too.

No parts surprised me too much. I've never used Flash CC before so some of the things surprised me, but nothing else really did.

I would likely work on the fronts of that cards (the countries and stereotypes) a little more. They seem a bit too basic and don't show my true potential.

Facebook Profile

The Barbiesaur Reflection Questions

1. If you were to box and sell this, what would you market it as? (What is the purpose?)

If I were to box and sell this, I would market it as a "Barbiesaur". The "Barbiesaur" is for all ages and for either gender. Its purpose is to show that no matter what you look like, whether you have cool clothes, or are even part dinosaur, you are cool, and you are you.

2. What do you like the most? Least? What would you do if you could re-do it?

I like how I was able to figure out how to get the head to move so it's not always staring downwards. I also like the eyes on the Barbiesaur's head so it looks like it's looking at you even when it's not. I also think the cape/coat on it is cool.
I don't like the way the bow is painted. Also the nails. Both could have been done a bit better. I also think something could have been done with the tail.
If I could re-do this project, I would have painted on fangs. I would have also maybe figured out something interesting I could do with the tail, either replace it or change it in some way. If I could find things that interested  me, I would have also likely changed the coat or body in some way.

My Art Movie: On That Day

Danielle MacDonald
"My Art Movie: On That Day"
Adobe Premiere Pro
April 2nd, 2015

TECHNICAL
For this, I added my videos into the media folder in Adobe Premiere Pro and went from there. I selected small clips from them and my story took form.

IDEA OR CONCEPT
For this work, I thought of a story where a man could be investigating a tragic past event. In a flashback what happened is revealed and cuts off right before the baby tips over. This may or may not represent someone the man new and/or had known. At first, my story was way too basic. It had no interesting elements to it. I changed this by adding flashes of the barbed wire and the creepy dolls, because who doesn't like creepy dolls?

INFLUENCES
There were no influences for me. I came up with this all on my own.

COMPOSITION
I think that the clips go together easily. Whether they cut to another clip, or fade in with a transition, I feel like I did a good job connecting them together. I also think that the flashes of the creepy dolls and the "fire rain" improve it by adding a mysterious element to it. It makes you wonder, just what exactly happened, and why is affecting this man? Was he involved with it somehow?

MOTIVATION
I at first had no idea what I was going to do, but then my story came to me. I put it together in a basic manner, before adding some more interesting elements. I make my own videos at home, but instead with Windows Movie Maker (which I think is fine and easy to use) so I didn't have much trouble using this program to make an interesting video.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT
I found the layer blending pretty cool, since that's not possible in Windows Movie Maker. I think it added "spunk" to my video. I wasn't too surprised with anything in particular since I;m used to making videos and adding music to them. I do/did have more time, but I don't know what else I would do or add. I can't think of anything.

My Art Movie Brainstorming

My favourite part of Metropolis is when the building (thing) seemingly becomes a robot or monster and the man is blown away before looking in what seems to be excitement.

My favourite part of Battleship Potemkin is the baby rolling down the stairs.

My favourite part of Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid is the man is checking the list in the locker/safe.

My Idea: 
It starts off with the man getting out of the car and entering the building. He unlocks the locker/safe and looks at the list of (I think) names. (Flashback) The temperature keeps rising and rising until it hits the "Danger Zone". People look in horror and prepare to escape. The factory then explodes, blasting people away and knocking them back down. People try to get up and retreat. Most are lucky enough to escape. Others though...are not as fortunate. Among the helpless is a baby, stuck in its carriage as it rolls freely down some stairs. People look in disbelief. If anyone is to be saved, it should  be the baby. The carriage hits the bottom. It returns to the man, who then leaves. THE END

"Hero" Is An Art Movie Because...

1. By looking at the explanation of an art movie, please describe at least three ways (three sentences) that you think Hero could be considered, at least in part, an art movie.
The movie "Hero" is a very serious movie with very little, if any, jokes. It doesn't focus on a chronological plot, instead it  goes through sometimes two different versions of the same fight. It can be very confusing and strange, such as the battle on the lake where Nameless and Broken Sword were unrealistically flying over and running on water.

2. How does the director also make this movie for everybody, so that it's not too artistic or alienating for the average viewer? Please explain in at least three sentences.
The director made this film for everyone by keeping it fairly innocent. It wasn't overshadowed by violence and gore, and also didn't have (too many) random scenes that make absolutely no sense like in some other art movies. It follows a main story and although some may got lost, overall it is easy to follow along.

3. Did you like this movie? Why or why not? Please explain in at least four sentences.
I did not enjoy this movie very much. I don't think this should have had an impact but I personally like Japanese production better. Other than that, the fighting scenes were strange and unusual, I know that their actions were likely to exaggerate the fight, but the flying and unnecessary movement took away from this film. It also was slightly confusing, but not too much. I was able to follow along with Nameless' story, then the king's version, and the flashback of Snow and Broken Sword's attempt on the king's life and then finally Nameless' murder.

4. Sequences in the film are 'colour coated', enabling Zhang Yimou to offer his audience ravishing and memorable images which enhances his action sequences. Write three sentences about how Zhang Yimou has used colour to emphasize or enhance aspects of the narrartive.
Select one of these sequences
-the fight in the rain
-the Golden Forest
-the attack on the calligraphy school at Zhao
-the Library
-the combat at the lake
-Broken Sword and Flying Snow's attack on the king

Zhang Yimou used colour coating effectively in the fight in the Golden Forest because the colours popped. The red against the golden yellow easily stood out and was almost too easy to stick inside my mind. Afterwards when Moon was killed, the Golden Forest turned red, as if symbolizing blood and/or her death, that was another moment easy to remember thanks to the colouring.

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Photo Editing

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Memories In My Skin: Meeting My International Friend

Meeting My International Friend

It was the early morning of January 3rd, 2015. It was still Christmas holidays, so I had no problem staying up until three in the morning pretty much everyday. It was about one-thirty in the morning on this day that I was playing on my favourite MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game), Elsword. I entered a 1vs1 PVP (Player Versus Player) match, confident my level nineteen Little Specter would be unbeatable. I was wrong.

My opponent was a level fifty Sakra Devanam, an annoying opponent if they trap you in a corner, due to their continuous attack combos. Our duel started off with me saying how I was basically dead, and that my opponent will definitely win. Unlike others, my opponent encouraged me to try my best. We began and I did try my best. In the end I lost anyways, but with a smile on my face instead of a scowl. 

I decided to switch characters afterwards and changed to my level forty Void Princess. I entered more PVPs where I won a couple and lost a couple. Shortly before two, I entered another. I went wide-eyed and smiled when I saw who my opponent was. The same Sakra Devanam from half an hour before. 

I mentioned this, but I don't think it sunk in at first. We battled again, and again I lost, but I still had fun. Afterwards, I befriended them. My private chat box popped up. Guess who. 

We started talking, and I found out my new friend was a seventeen year old boy from Mexico, which I thought was super cool, considering I live in Canada and have left my province once for only ten days. We partied up with each other and became unstoppable in the arena, but I must admit we may (or may not) have lost a couple because of me. Before I knew it, it was three in the morning for me, and two in the morning for him. We said good night to each other, but not before adding each other on Facebook. Over the next month, I talked to him everyday, except two, and got to know him a lot better, with him also learning a lot about me too.
Shortly after we met, we made our first Facebook call. Even though it was awkward at some times, we ended up talking for two whole hours. I have never talked that much with anyone, not even my friends or family. He played me a couple songs on his guitar, and told me next time I have to sing along. At first I was unsure because I am very shy and can not even sing in front of my family, but now I think I could easily sing in front of him, as long as he sings with me of course.
Shortly after our call, he went back to school after his holidays. I talked to him after school with a smile at first, but it quickly faded. He told me how he had a horrible day, he was bullied so much, even by his own brother, that he was actually crying. I did my best, and actually cheered him up, which was a surprise to me because I never know the right thing to say, yet I was able to make someone who was sad, happy. How did I do this?
I told him how I thought it would be cool to meet in person sometime in the future. He thought that was a wonderful idea. Ever since, we have mentioned so many time that we can not wait until that opportunity arrives. It makes me happy just thinking about meeting him in person. It definitely will not happen for at least a good year or two, but until then, we always have Facebook messenger and Elsword.

Reflection:

Danielle MacDonald
Memories In My Skin
Photographs were used
February 20th, 2015

TECHNICAL
For multiple images, I blended them in with the background layer, resulting in a more attractive piece, including things like bursts of colour and pictures that work together better. For other images, I simply changed the opacity. I attempted to feather some images, but I'm not entirely sure if  it worked.

IDEA OR CONCEPT
At first, all my images were the same size and all seemed to be the same opacity and colour. I was eventually able to see how more faded and different sized images looked better after playing around with them. Originally, I also had close to fifteen images, but deleted some for they stood out in a bad way, and made the piece (to me) seem too busy. In the end, I was left with different sized images with some more faded than others, and the important images bigger and more opaque.

INFLUENCES
Unfortunately no artist influenced my piece. I created my piece by experimenting and going off my own ideas, with some help from others who shared their opinions and observations with me.

COMPOSITION
I think it is more asymmetrical, but at the same time I feel like both sides are balanced. I used multiple curved lines to help people's eyes move around my piece. I do have a straight line (i.e the Iphone) but I unfortunately was unable to find anything more curved to fit there. I believe my work makes you move around it by the different lines, curved and straight, that appear. A couple corners have curved lines to keep your eyes moving in a circular way.
Meanwhile, a few straight lines also lead the eyes around. The emphasis and movement help a person start at one point and follow the picture around. By looking at the image that is more emphasized, it makes one look closer at the image, and as they move around the piece, they look even closer at each image, which then makes the piece as a whole more understood.

MOTIVATION
My personal motivation for making this piece was meeting my absolutely awesome friend from Mexico. Because of him, I know what it's like in other places other than Canada, and he is also the reason I have been so happy since the beginning of January. Had I not met him, I would have no ideas on what to have done this project on. For visual ideas, I wanted to explore changing opacity and blending layers. They look so cool afterwards.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT
I feel like my piece allows you to focus on the main point, and smoothly follow the images around. I also think that fading the images and blending them with other layers was interesting and made my piece more appealing to the eye. It doesn't look as busy as it had when I had first begun. I was surprised by how well blending the layers looked. I didn't actually expect them to look as good as I think they do.
Another was changing the sizes. I felt like the sizes were different, but I didn't realize how much changing the size drastically changes the look of the piece. If I had a bit more time I would have liked to find a more organic picture to replace the phone, which looks to geometrical. Otherwise, I likely would have liked to experiment more with opacity and layer blending.

Yuki Kaji 3x3

Blended

Stamps