Buchi Mama

[eyeswithoutaface28-blog]

Do you like to dream?

Checkout my pitch for a futuristic App that allows you to do all things dream-related 

ZzZzzZzzzz....

http://michellekbucci.wix.com/dreamcatcher

[eyeswithoutaface28-blog]

MASH POTATO MASH IT UPPP

So, I found the documentary that we watched the other day in class truly fascinating. I had heard of Girl Talk, but never actually heard any of his music. I honestly thought it was a band...of girls haha. I didn’t think it was a one-man act; an insanely genius mashup DJ dude!! 

I am a huge music lover--I’m actually in an A Cappella group myself and sing and do musicals and stuff. So I LOVE this type of stuff. 

There’s a lot of really great A Cappella groups out there who do amazing Mash Ups. 

Here’s a really amazing group, called the Pentatonix, and they do a really cool mashup of Beyonce songs. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkR4asPMip4

I also really like this mashup of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and Brittney Spears’ “Toxic”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKyb3UXLXJg

This is also a beautiful mashup by my own friends from back home! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBhbKXtPIhY

[eyeswithoutaface28-blog]

The Spider Web of YouTube

We are trapped in a web. The web is incomprehensibly vast. It’s so vast and far-reaching that we can’t see its boundaries; where it quite began or where it may end. Intricate geometric patterns surround us; with strings of webbing weaving around our toes, our fingers, faces, and hearts. This web is the internet. We are the little butterflies and ignorant insects entangled in the abyss. Decades ago, this web was significantly smaller and less intricate. The spiders weren’t quite as intelligent and definitely weren’t as hungry. There has been much growth and many shifts in the internet and the way we use it. One of the most important changes in the way we use the inter-web has been the creation/use of YouTube. Good ol’ YouTube. Nowadays, it is used not only for entertainment, but for educational purposes and social change. An extremely impactful video that comes to mind is the “10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman” video that currently holds 41, 351, 996 views.

Here’s a link to the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1XGPvbWn0A

This video has went viral across the United States and even all over the world. It has sparked huge awareness for street harassment and for feminism. YouTube is now a very powerful thing.

YouTube made its historic beginnings back in 2005. It was founded by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim, who were all early employees of PayPal. YouTube was started as an angel-funded enterprise from a “makeshift” office in a garage. The first YouTube video was titled “Me at the zoo”, and shows co-founder Jawed Karim at the San Diego Zoo.

During the summer of 2006, YouTube was one of the fastest growing sites on the Web, uploading more than 65,000 new videos and delivering 100 million video views per day in July. (Pauwels, Luc, Hellriegel, p. 3).

Since then, YouTube has produced televised presidential debates, and allowed companies to post full-length films and television episodes on the site. On December 21, 2012, Gangnam Style became the first YouTube video to surpass one billion views. It’s also now available with localized versions in numerous countries such as Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan and even Russia (p. 8-13).

The success and immense influence of YouTube is absolutely and undoubtedly a part of all of our lives. We receive information, our news, political debates, music videos, social campaigns and our beloved funny cat videos from the site. It’s used at home, in schools, and TedTalks. As I sit here writing this paper, my three roommates are all sitting around the TV and Chrome Casting the weird little “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” video made famous by YouTube. The ‘Tube is popular, convenient, and very beneficial to society (but it can also be distracting!).

The Catcalling video is one of the most important changes in the internet because that video allowed millions around the world to get an idea of the horrendous street harassment that women experience every single day—especially here in a progressive country such as the United States. Men and antifeminists who may find catcalling not a huge issue or not even existent can stare this video straight in the face (its pixels) and see just how much of a real problem it is. YouTube has the power to capture raw documentary-like footage and share it with the world (especially since it’s a free site and so easy to access). Sadly, sometimes people have to “see” things before they believe it. Or they have to “see” it to help form a real idea of what’s actually going on in the world. The ‘Tube helps us to attempt to see for ourselves (even through video footage) things we can’t or don’t experience.

In A Short History of the Internet, author Bruce Stribling famously tells that, “The Internet is a rare example of a true, modern, functional anarchy. There is no “Internet Inc.” There are no official censors, no bosses, no board of directors, no stockholders. In principle, any node can speak as a peer to any other node, as long as it obeys the rules of the TCP/IP protocols, which are strictly technical, not social or political.” We have created a world where the internet is a vast place of exploration. Anyone can pretty much explore any topic they want online. Research something on Google and you will get thousands of hits. Now, finding credible sources can be challenging because of this information overload. However, like Stribling said, “The Internet belongs to everyone and no one.” He emphasizes how we all deserve to use the freedom, tools, and information that the internet offers.

YouTube is excellent for sharing self-expression of ideas, creativity and knowledge.

However with this being said, Nathaniel Hawthorne would have probably been against fully utilizing these tools. Hawthorne argues that technology can take away from the human experience of having the human interaction we were designed to have. He says that, “In one way or another, here and there, and all around us, the inventions of mankind are fast blotting the picturesque, the poetic, and the beautiful out of human life.” Hawthorne wants to preserve the old ways and in person contact of human interaction. He warns of their possible loss in the new age technologies.  

Many facets of the internet have changed throughout my lifetime. YouTube has been the most prominent. It has the power to entertain but also to spark social action. The catcalling video touched me and many other people because of its rawness and strong ability to capture women’s issues. This video affected the world in more ways than other ideas presented on the internet. It makes us take a deep look at the poor treatment of women and feminist concerns.

The web is only spiraling out of our reach as the internet continues to grow. We are stuck in the core and only just beginning to crawl and explore all of the web. Inventors, mathematicians, scientists, and just your everyday person who likes computers are the spiders continuing to construct the web. There’s only so much we can know…

                                                 References

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “Fire-Worship.” Mosses from an Old Manse, 1854. 1846. Web. 13 Oct.    2015.

Light, Ben, Griffiths, Marie, Lincoln, Sian. “‘Connect and create’: Young people, YouTube and      Graffiti communities.” Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies. Jun2012, Vol. 26  Issue 3, p343-355. 13p. Web.    13 Oct. 2015.

Pauwels, Luc, Hellriegel, Patricia. “A Critical Cultural Analysis of YouTube: Power and Control in             Web 2.0 Interface.” Conference Papers -- International Communication Association.    2009 Annual Meeting, p1-28. 28p. 5 Black and White Photographs, 2 Charts, 1 Graph. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.

Stribling, Bruce. “A Short History of the Internet.” The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, 1 Feb. 1993. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.

[eyeswithoutaface28-blog]

Her.

If you haven’t seen Spike Jonze’s incredibly beautiful and meaningful film, “Her”, go download it on Amazon Prime NOW. Ever since I saw this movie two years ago, I’ve literally been obsessed. I’m in love with good cinema, and when I watched this movie I experienced an amazing roller coaster ride. I laughed, I cried, I felt uncomfortable, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and most of all, it made me think. I thought and I felt. How much better can a movie experience get? I promise you, you will watch the film and you will shed tears over a phone. You will grow attached to a phone. A piece of technology. Well, in the movie’s case, they call it an operating system. 

In IMDB’s words, the film is about “a sensitive and soulful man who earns a living by writing personal letters for other people. Left heartbroken after his marriage ends, Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) becomes fascinated with a new operating system which reportedly develops into an intuitive and unique entity in its own right. He starts the program and meets "Samantha" (Scarlett Johansson), whose bright voice reveals a sensitive, playful personality. Though "friends" initially, the relationship soon deepens into love.” It takes place in a futuristic society...but how futuristic is it actually? The crazy and creepy thing is...I related to this film. I can see things like this actually starting to happen in our own present society. Are we really that different from the characters and synopsis of this film? Aren’t people so attached to their phones and technologies already? Don’t you feel lost when you forget your phone at home and don’t have it for 30 minutes?  It’s like...it’s your baby. 

On a side note, I actually got my phone pick-pocketed when I was studying abroad in Barcelona this past summer. For the first time in a while, I was phoneless. And, being in a different country, I wasn’t getting a new, easily replaceable one anytime soon. I lost my contacts. I lost my pictures, my videos, my funny saved text messages. I couldn’t use Google Maps to get me around. I couldn’t go on the internet with just the simple click of a button. And you know what? It was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I felt like I could breathe again. I was actually a lot less stressed out. Overwhelmed. Confused. Scatterbrained. Cluttered. I discovered what really mattered to me. I was forced to make more interpersonal relationships. I was forced to actually connect with people. 

This masterpiece of cinematic art explores the themes of technology being a “friend or foe.” Throughout my experiences with my phone and technology, I’ve experienced moments where it is my friend. I can look up directions when I’m lost, I can text my twin brother whenever I want, I can capture a photo on top of the mountain I just hiked, or call 911 if  need to. 

But, to tell you the truth, I’ve also experienced a shit ton of moments where technology is a foe. Where it hinders me. Makes me anxious. More stressed out. Overwhelmed; feeling like I always have to respond to people and be in constant communication with others--and it can drive me crazy. I’m an introvert, so I value my personal time. Just ME time. Time to reflect. My phone gets in the way of that. It distracts me. It makes me less social and open. Putting on the “phone persona”--how you are when you text, which emojis you choose to send, etc. 

I have a like (not LOVE) hate relationship with my phone and technology. Mainly just phones. Computers are great and practical and useful. So are other forms of technology--especially in the medical fields, etc. 

But a universal thing I’ve discovered, is that phones especially make us lonely. Disconnected.  We’d rather hide behind our phone at a party when we’re sad or uncomfortable, than actually communicate with people of OUR OWN SPECIES to confide in for comfort...who are supposed to be there to support us! Ugh. 

Anyways, back to “Her”. Watch it. Do you see the complex relationship between Samantha being BOTH a friend AND a foe? How does the film make you feel about technology, relationships, emotion, human condition, and yourself? 

The trailer is attached below. Also, I’m obsessed with the cinematography in this film and the soundtrack. So there’s also a link to the soundtrack, created by Arcade Fire. It’s an instrumental masterpiece. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzV6mXIOVl4 ----> trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiBM7-8vqZ8&list=PLNHuGMVvDhp0FNk8ki2l90oPkDNEflVwj&index=1 --> movie score

[eyeswithoutaface28-blog]

Story Time

Three words: Neo. Freaking. Pets. NEOPETS!!! Come on, I know you played with them in like elementary/middle school...and MAYBE YOU STILL DO AND THAT’S ALRIGHT. No judgements. You do you. 

I was definitely a Neopet gal in Elementary school. My best friend of 16 years, Shaila and I, would always play Neopets online after school. It was such a treat. And I admit... I got addicted. I would rush off of the bus in 5th grade to come home and snag the computer before my twin brother or older sister took it before me. We were always bickering over computer time at that age. Before we discovered these cool games on the interweb, we were fine sharing our Land Before Time floppy disk, taking turns and playing with cute little dinosaurs on one of our most beloved shows. But OHHH when we discovered Neopets we went cray cray!

Anyways, back to my best friend. Shaila and I used to battle each other and try and compare who had the best neopets and little life online. We got competitive. We got freaking protective over that stuff. 

At the same time, AIM was also sooo popular for us. So, we would be playing Neopets AS we were instant messaging! We would talk in between and chat about how our neopet lives were going. 

And then it all changed. We realized how distant AIM is--typing and texting over the computer and NOT in face-to-face. We got a little...carried away. We started fighting over AIM ABOUT our NEOPETS. How mature is that? The maturity of 5th graders, kids. We would literally CUSS EACH OTHER OUT over AIM ABOUT our NEOPETS! And we would NEVERRRR do that in person. I was 11...I didn’t even LIKE cussing out loud in “real life.” Damn the computer for making it so easy to hide behind and to be mean :(. And..it’s just ironic that I said damn haha because I would never say it in class, but hey this assignment is online so it’s ok to cuss, right? Juust kidding. It’s weird noticing the personalities people put on over the internet. The “identity” they create. Creepy stuff. Especially in this day-and-age...but that’s a whole other story...

Point of THIS story is...we cussed each other out because we were so protective over our neopets and were entering tween angst...got into a huge fight about it...didn’t talk for months and our parents had to get involved and remind us why we were friends. 

Hahaha we laugh about it so much now because we took it so seriously and it was so dumb.

[eyeswithoutaface28-blog]

OnLiNe GaMiNg

So, I’ve never really been an “extreme” gamer. Of course, I definitely had my day when I was younger where I whopped some serious ass at City Jumper, Waffle Cone Boy, and Spank the Monkey. But other than that, I’ve never really been much of a computer game nerd. 

I’m definitely more into quality, simplistic games that just take your mind off of the business of the day. Games that draw your attention to something other than that stupid hard test you took earlier, or that argument you had with mom. Hence why most of the online games I chose to play when I was younger were based off of cereal websites (good ol’ Kelloggs!) 

I feel like online gaming in the past was exactly this--a lot more simple. Obviously, we weren’t as advanced technologically speaking, so it had to be. There were only a few goals for each game. You weren’t trying to do 1000 things at once. 

Games now are cray cray! First off, there’s sooo many different types out there! Literally a game for everything you could pretty much think of. *On a side note, how fun would it be to make your own online game?! I remember having to create my own BOARD GAME for projects in school and I loved it and felt so bad ass at the end...I wonder if there’s a website where you can do just that...create your own game!* 

I feel like online games are having competition with APPS though. And video games. I know a lot more people who play apps on their phone, or Xbox than just hanging around on their computer playing games. Maybe kids are the one’s that stick with video games. I don’t know many college aged/adults who play them. Let’s be honest..computer’s now are for Google, Youtube, and Netflix...