Real Time Face Tracking & Projection Mapping

Youtube Video of Omote 

(Courtesy: nobumichi asai)

The video attached above features one of the most lifelike body projection I have ever seen. The lighting is so masterfully altered so that the video projection is extremely vivid and transforming. Face tracking technology has made this ever more so possible than just a stationary face. I rather enjoyed the many faces the model had projected onto her. My favorite projection throughout this video was  the robot face that opened up as if the model was an android. There should be a vegas performance based solely on body projections. It is so inviting and enthralling for audiences of all ages. There are endless possibilities with a performance such as this. Overall, I am getting increasingly impressed with the technology and art that transcends the human mind.

2009 Black Eyed Peas Flash Mob

Youtube Video of A Black Eyed Peas Flash Mob

(Courtesy: xxraipxx)

This performance piece hosted by Oprah was interesting to watch. At the time, in 2009, I'm sure this flash mob came close to if not set a record. To orchestrate and coordinate this many people together is outstanding. I personally have never been part of a flash mob before but am sure it is quite difficult to rehearse with so many people. I would imagine that it takes weeks of practice to perfect the choreography and timing. Since this event I am sure there have been larger scale flash mobs that need helicopter coverage just to capture the vast amount of people moving in unison. In order to pull off such a large scale flash mob, each person must be familiar with the live performance by the Black Eyed Peas. This is a feat that not many people can pull off. Oprah is truly a great host who has just about done it all with the goal of pleasing her audience. This performance art is nothing short of Oprah's on camera magic that seems to bring out the best in everyone. Her success can be attributed to her commitment to all. 

Speedy Graphito Painted Amongst His Works
(Courtesy: keskispass.devilles.ca)

Hypebeast Article: Speedy Graphito

The link above directs to Hypebeast.com where readers can learn more about Speedy Graphito. 

Speedy Graphito is an amazing artist who is known for his graffiti infused pop art style. In the image shown above, it is clear that Graphito, holds a consistent style with all of his works. Each visual is as appealing as the last, bringing back fond memories to many audience members. He presents most of his art in an abstract fashion yet still conveys his message and imagery across to the onlooker. He is quite talented and can inspire various emotions from just one of his pieces. As mentioned in my pop art blog post, I would definitely display pop art in my home depending on the artist, quality, and appeal of the piece. Learning of Speedy Graphito, any one of his works would seem to fit those guidelines. I absolutely love his work, and now that I am familiar with it, I would visit a gallery just to see it in person. As a millennial, many of the images depicted in his works have significant value to me in addition to provoking happy thoughts. 

Pop Art

Example of Pop Art (Courtesy: widewalls.ch)

About.com Article: Pop art

The link above directs to About.com where readers can learn more about the history of pop art.

Pop art, is the appreciation towards popular culture expressed in a youthful visual language. It is characterized by large text, bright colors, and recognizable imagery. The example shown above falls under this description as well as Andy Warhol's Campbell Soup art piece. In today's society, both examples are well recognized and identifiable with pop art. Comic's have been standardized with such forms of art. The images and colors instantly draw the attention of its viewers. Nowadays many artists switch between both hand drawn pop art and graphic representations. Personally, I consider this one of the better ways of catching an audiences attention, many graffiti artists have applied this technique to their work with outstanding results. In my opinion, not enough artists use this technique especially in marketing. It would be nice to see a modern cartoon use the pop art style as it was once used at the height of its popularity. I am such a fan in fact that I would display works of pop art in my home depending on the quality and its personal appeal. 

Sid Meier's Civilization

Sid Meier's Civilization (Courtesy: gazettereview.com)

Side Meier's Civilization V

The Civilization franchise is a revered game series in which computer players can build their own civilization and engage in turn based strategy while war's are waged, and history takes its course. Personally I have never played any of the civilization games before, but am familiar with the turn based strategy structure that Age of Empire and Starcraft are based upon. For anyone who is into gaming, these are great games to play that involve critical thinking and tremendous patience to reach certain milestones. The game using history as its frame of reference, infuses many historical events around the graphic design and structure of the civilization franchise. For those who appreciate period based games, this is one to play. From the gameplay posted on the official Civilization website, the graphics are sharp as well as visually appealing. Sid Meier and his team do a great job blending the graphic art with technology for a new Civilization game every few years.

Apple's Blue Busters Ad

Youtube Video of Apple's 1984 Blue Busters Ad 

(Courtesy: Network World)

Wired Article: Bluebusters Ad

The link above directs to Wired.com where readers can learn more about the 1984 Blue Busters ad released by Apple.

Apple's original corporate philosophy was nonconformist and untraditional to the standard set at the time by IBM. This commercial had sent the message to viewers that the new Apple computer would rid away with the suit and tie IBM salesmen promoting their generic computers. What was especially great about this commercial was that it was sung by Ray Parker, Jr., the same guy who voiced the original ghostbusters theme song. At the time ghostbusters was such a hit that anything associated with the film was almost guaranteed to be successful. Watching both the Ghostbusters and this Blue Busters ad, there are plenty of similarities that viewers can pick up on, bringing authenticity to the commercial. Years later, this commercial is just as nostalgic as it was when it was first released. It is truly a blend of both art and technology.

The Dawn of Macintosh Computer

Steve Jobs With Macintosh Computers (Courtesy: pcmag.com)

Wired Article: Dawn of the Mac

The link above directs to wired.com where readers can learn about Apple's introduction of the Mac.

In 1984, Apple had taken a brazen approach at marketing their newest product the Macintosh computer. With IBM was competing heavily against Apple at the time, the marketing team along with Steve Wozniak had launched a TV commercial that would air during the Super Bowl. Thanks to this decision, this commercial has earned the title "Commercial of the Decade". According to the article, the commercial impacted thousands of people despite only being aired once.

Now considered one of the highest performing computers made, the Mac product line offers users the ability to conduct their business with ease and simplicity. For those who have used or own a Mac, can testify to its ease of use paired with fast processing. With Windows computers still being the majority of computers around the world, Macintosh has established itself as expensive, high performance computer that meets all users' needs. By looking back at the origin of the Mac, one can easily identify how far the product line has come and the evolutionary stages it has gone through since its release in 1984. Surely it has done a significant job with marketing as it has won the battle over the IBM's computer line. 

The History of The Telephone

Alexander Graham Bell (Courtesy: amazonaws.com)

PBS Article: Alexander Graham Bell and The Telephone

The link above directs you to pbs.org where readers can learn about the history of the telephone.

After reading this article, I was astonished at how involved Alexander Graham Bell was after inventing the telephone and creating a new industry. I found it interesting that doctors and pharmacists became the early adopters of this new product while it was no surprise to learn that the wealthy were among the first to acquire the telephone as well. History has shown that the wealthy have always tried to stay concurrent with all the newest trends. Even more so today as social status is greatly dictated by the number of assets one has in their possession and how expensive it is. 

The telephone is one of mankind's greatest inventions. It revolutionized the way people communicate across long distances and increased the chances of a recipient receiving a message. Without Alexander Graham Bell's invention, widely successful companies such as AT&T and Verizon may never have existed. I would imagine that a world without cellphones would be less exciting and much more inconvenient. From the perspective of social interaction, people would not be able to communicate as easy throughout the day, talking less frequently than with a phone. From the perspective of commerce, people would lose the option of paying with their phone, restricting the maximum profits made by businesses. Overall, the world should recognize Bell's contribution to society and appreciate his great invention. 

How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Youtube Clip from "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" by Rob Ashford

(Courtesy: CountessKarma)

This blog post is a response to the post made by Ángel at http://angel-stagedoor.blogspot.com.

The cast of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" performs 'Brotherhood of Men' at the 85th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. After watching this clip, I was rather shocked to see Daniel Radcliffe take the lead role for a musical. I am not particularly a fan of Daniel Radcliffe, but this performance was well done and was a great showcase for the Frank Loesser adaptation. Despite being known for his role as Harry Potter in the Harry Potter movie series, he does a good job taking on the role of J Pierrepont Finch. He definitely has talent after working his way into the hearts of audiences with eight movies, and does a fair job with this performance. As adored as he is with fans, his singing needs improvement. As this is his first major musical, I am sure he will fine tune his voice for future performances. Aside from the criticism I believe this is a great opportunity for Radcliffe to put his hidden talents on display.

Having only seen a few Broadway musicals in my lifetime, I am not as qualified as others to fully critique the clip. The last show I saw was Larry David's "A Fish In The Dark" this past summer. What made it enjoyable was the cast, the underlying humor, and well developed plot. It was a show that I have recommended to others before and will continue to do so as I enjoyed it. So long as Ashford's new adaptation of the 1961 musical can meet similar standard, I am sure it can do well. Overall, I wish Radcliffe, Ashford and the rest of the "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" crew the best and hope they can exceed critics expectations.

Source: http://angel-stagedoor.blogspot.com/2016/01/another-opening-another-show-una.html

The Evolution Of Stage Entertainment

Youtube Video Of Various Vaudeville Performances 

(Courtesy: Galloping Alligator's Muck Pond)

After watching the video shown above, it is fascinating to see how Broadway has evolved from vaudeville, burlesque, and cabaret.

I was particularly impressed with the woman who could pick up a chair with her teeth and swing it around effortlessly. This is impressive by today's standards, as many people would usually break their teeth or be sent to the dentist expecting a hefty bill. It certainly holds weight against some acts seen on the television show America's Got Talent. This burlesque dancer could have made quite a living if she were born in the 21st century. 

Surprisingly, I enjoyed the footage and the various acts despite being from 1898 to 1910. The acrobat in particular is worth noting. She was able to fully exercise her talent and skill without any limitations or safety nets, making her performance exquisite and enthralling. Nowadays almost every professional performance artist has a manager who advises against many of the death-defying acts for the purposes of safety. In many cases, some acts do not get clearance and force the performer to limit their routine. This puts a damper on many performers who do not get a chance to fully express themselves. This as opposed to freelance exhibitionists, who seem to hold a reputation for doing whatever they feel inspired by and can pull off to draw a crowd, make headlines, or leave a lasting message.

Broadway is now reserved for large feature productions yet has deeply ingrained roots within vaudeville, burlesque, and cabaret. It is difficult to recognize a Broadway show for its brilliance without paying homage to the three performance styles that it has stemmed from. Today's Broadway shows are so elaborate and feature performance art, digital imaging, and an ensemble. Talent is just as good as it was as the art form developed over the years.

Battery

Various Battery Types (Courtesy: durham.ca)

About.com Article: History Of The Battery 

The link above directs you to About.com where readers can learn about the history of the battery

By reading this article, it becomes clear that the battery was far from a modern day invention. In fact its concept dates back to the 18th century, when Benjamin Franklin coined the term battery. According to the article, he described it as "an array of charged glass plates" . The concept of containing electricity in a confined space for future use may seem like a mediocre explanation of an electrical cell, however, at the birth of this concept was a groundbreaking technology. By the mid 19th century improvements had been made and further revolutionized in 1859 when Gaston Plante, a French inventor made the first rechargeable battery. It was only in 1901 when Alkaline batteries were invented and 1954 when solar cells reached the market. All of which are taken for granted now that almost every small appliance or device requires some form of battery.

With a majority of the world carrying around their own personal rechargeable battery cell in their pockets on the daily basis, it is difficult to forget about its humble beginning. Yet somehow society still manages to overlook this detail integrated into their cell-phone(s). Perhaps it is all the distractions and applications that can be installed on today's smartphones. Consideration towards the battery only occurs when the owner has expended their battery life low enough to where they receive notification. It is during this event that the owner experiences a sense of panic and then urgency to recharge the cell takes precedence in order to remain connected to the digital world. The point of all this being that despite being disposable as well as negligible in many modern day instances, the battery has had a long journey since its introduction to the world, one that if suddenly nonexistent would change the lives of many.

Review of Jean-Jacques Beineix's Film: Diva

Screenshot from Diva, directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix
(Courtesy: www.servimg.com)

The movie Diva by director Jean-Jacques Beineix, was a mystery and a crime film that told the story of a mail carrier obsessed with an opera singer's voice. His obsession turned into a nightmare when one of his recordings of her becomes mistaken for a cassette that would incriminate the police chief on criminal charges.

I found the movie to be a little cheesy as the characters were doing things that seemed unrealistic or unnecessary. The scene where Nadia gets killed off in public seemed unrealistic as not many people reacted to it despite being in broad daylight, and in front of witnesses, two of whom were detectives.
Another scene that seemed unrealistic was when the detective was chasing Jules by car than on foot. Despite being a "track star" it is highly unlikely that the detective would've been able to keep up with Jules on his moped.

Despite these details, I thought that the movie was decent for a movie produced at its time. Preferably I would have liked more action or a more in depth story following the protagonist. The character of Gorodish was perhaps the best of all of them for his ominous background and witty thinking.

The recording device portrayed in the film was sophisticated technology at the time and was used to capture as well as feature the art of opera. The opera singer Cynthia Hawkins was reluctant to have her voice recorded, however, after the threat of bootlegging and meeting Jules, her stance changed to accommodate it. It was also the fact that she was in her 30's and her voice would not always be as it once swayed the change in decision. At the end it can be seen that the once stubborn "diva", embraced innovation and that her legacy would live on far past her existence without being tainted.

In the film it can be seen that the characters often use pay phones and radio transistors, now with mobile phones being so popular these products are now less commonly used. Overall, I saw a variety of uses for technology at the time and how it impacted many of the characters' decisions much like how our decisions are also influenced by modern technology.

Pjotr Sapegin’s Madama Butterfly

Giacomo Puccini's Madame Butterfly (Courtesy: https://i.ytimg.com)

Pjotr Sapegin's Madama Butterfly was a creative spin of Giacomo Puccini's 1905 opera depicting the tragic reality of temporary marriages forged between naval sailors and the indigenous females. The animation was interesting to say the least. I had not seen the original opera so as soon as the video began I was taken for surprise. With the first few minutes elapsed and the story beginning to unravel, it was clear that there was deep meaning behind the initial scene which ultimately turned out to be a devastating ending. The woman was left behind to bear the sailors child only to have him return and be stripped of the child and emotionally scarred eventually pushed to take her own life. The spirit and innocence the woman once had in her physical form was not lost when she took her own life but was carried into the afterlife when her spirit took form as a butterfly. The butterfly resembles the freedom that she had always wanted or deserved while waiting for her lover, which she can now fully achieve after being given wings. Overall, the animation was well choreographed and extremely thorough, however, took a great degree of interpretation to arrive at the exact significance.