Ron Burgundy

You Stay Classy

[jschutz3]

Blog Post #5

I definitely enjoyed blogging this semester. It was a nice change of pace from typical essay writing, and really got me to focus on writing in a concise format. Even though the actual writing didn't take up much time, the thought process of how to put my ideas to words was often fairly time consuming. I preferred this method of writing, because it felt more like problem-solving, and that I had to find the best way to put my ideas to writing in a short, effective manner. The most helpful blog post was definitely the second one, which really helped me gather my ideas for the close reading paper. The least helpful was the most recent research blog post, which felt more like I was just transferring information from other sites and not actually analyzing my particular topic. Overall, blogging was a great writing alternative for an English class

[jschutz3]

Research Blog Post: Musical Nostalgia

It's happened to all of us at some point in our life. You and your friends are driving around, and all of the sudden "that" song comes on the radio. "That" song you used to love 'back in the day' but haven't heard in what seems like forever. In a matter of seconds your mind is flooded with past memories of how glorious life used to be. Whether its how great high school, middle school, or college was, to how much fun you had your senior year prom, we have all heard "that" song which instantly draws us back in time to when we were young and happy. While "that" song may be different for everyone, what stays consistent is the emotional impact of the song on the listener. While this emotional impact is indisputable, does this mean "that" song was powerful enough to give us these happy memories, or are we blinded by our own experiences to evaluate the impact of the art?

Chabon, Michael. "Sailing by Ear." Web log post. Michael Chabon Sailing by Ear Comments. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.

Chabon gives a detailed story about his old vinyl setup given to him by an old father-figure of his. While listening to a digital copy of Fragile by Yes, he is reminded of how impactful it once was when that same record was played from his old turntable.

  Hyman, Ira. "Music-Evoked Nostalgia." Psychology Today. Psychology Today, 6 May 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.

Hyman’s article discusses a study done by three researchers (Schulkind, Hennis, and Rubin) searching to find which songs sparked emotional response out of college students and older adults. Songs tend to bring back recollection of happy memories of their youth, meaning that the older the subject, the further back the song needed to be in order to get a nostalgic response. Most cases didn’t recall specific moments, but instead general events or people such as a past love, or just high school in general.

  Klosterman, Chuck. "Nostalgia on Repeat." Grantland. 6 Oct. 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.

Klosterman argues the connotation of nostalgia and whether or not it should be viewed as a good or bad thing. He connects both familiarity and a connection in time to specific music, arguing that songs from one's youth could bring back positive emotions by remembering a past great experience, as well that familiarity with a song allows the listener to get more out of the song then on an initial listen. Klosterman also demonstrates the impact of the technology age on nostalgia, arguing that connectivity will replace repetition. Instead of someone doing something over and over again, nostalgia will replaced by a large group of people all listening to the same song and discussing it together.

  The Menzingers. On the Impossible Past. Rec. 21 Feb. 2012. Matt Allison, 2012. MP3.

The Menzingers are a Pennsylvania punk-rock band that create very powerful and emotional songs, but also come off as dated and often bring up feelings of nostalgia. The Americana style to their music makes the band sound familiar, even though they are still a relatively new group. Does this make their art less impactful if its draw is to dig up past emotions?

  N Sync. Bye Bye Bye. Kristian Lundin, 2000. MP3.

N sync’s 2000 smash hit “Bye Bye Bye” is a classic case of a song that has very little substance, and was adored by the youth of the time period. This has led the track to be one of the first tracks that comes to mind of the boy bands of the early 2000’s including 98 degrees, Backstreet Boys, and N Sync. This is one of those blemish of musical nostalgia in which many (though not all) who once enjoyed the song in their youth, now feel regretful that they ever appreciated such a simple, emotionless pop song.

  Stern, Mark J. "Neural Nostalgia." Slate Magazine. The Slate Group, 12 Aug. 2014. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.

Stern gives a scientific angle to the idea of nostalgia, and explains how music impacts the brain. He details the strength of our memories as pubescent youth, and shows how the rapid growth of our brains allows for the songs we listen make stronger neural connections than other songs.

[jschutz3]

Anaconda: What You See is What You Get

In her post connecting Nicki Minaj’s Anaconda with the recent hacked photos, Dr. Melissa Sexton persuades readers to consider the power attached to the female body. In her article, she writes “Women’s bodies can become symbols of the power and desire of men,but they can never have an independent existence” (Sexton) demonstrating how society has cast women’s bodies as a prize for men, and not a luxury of women. This power dynamic gives men power over the female body, as women can be either subservient or victimized, but never in control. If women use their body for their own personal benefit they are “dismissed as talentless sellouts or failed role models” (Sexton). These accusations are nothing but an attempt to hold back women from using their bodies as an asset to gain the power their bodies hold.

This ties directly into Nicki Minaj’s video for “Anaconda” as Nicki fully embodies the role of a woman who uses her body for her own advantage. “Anaconda” plays on ideal male fantasies, including a sexy workout routine and Nicki messing around with a banana, only to stomp all over them at the same time, and put her in charge. Nicki raps about getting all the sex, drugs, and jewelry she could want by manipulating men with her body with lines like "Bought me Alexander McQueen, he was keeping me stylish" (Minaj) only to demonstrate her power when she "hit 'em with the jab" (Minaj). Even the sample courtesy of 90’s hit “Baby Got Back” urges you to “Look at her butt”, because that only gives Nicki more power and control as she hooks men on her sexy body. The outrage sparked from this video has nothing to do with the desensitization of an already desensitized society, but instead a negative reaction to Minaj’s undeniable power. Minaj not only displays her own power, but invites women everywhere (with the exception of ‘skinny bitches’) to join her and use their bodies for their own benefit.

[wildthornberry34]

Authenticity. In the market of the modern world, each genre of music has its own real, authentic brand. Producers, singers, and songwriters strive to keep their brand as pure and true as possible. Biggie, one of the great rappers of the 1990s once said, “How real can your music be if you wake up...

[jschutz3]

Great post! Your analysis is great and you support that analysis with excellent points to the subject material. I personally think that the general public does recognize even mainstream hip hop as art, just not at the caliber of the likes of Picasso, Warhol, or DaVinci. But you are correct in saying that there is a deep meaning behind these lyrics, in the same way that there is deep meaning behind a famous painting. Do you think that rap should be considered high art? If so, why does it deserve to be?

[jkspark-blog-deactivated2022112]

Biggie’s point is you can only rap about being “gansta” and coming from a tough community if you actually experienced it, and continue to emerge yourself in this type of lifestyle. If you live a life of wealth and disconnect yourself from the community you express yourself as, then your work will...

[jschutz3]

I completely agree with your analysis, and I think you make some very good points. I agree that Biggie really took authenticity to heart when he rapped and only spoke the truth. Do you think he was able to stay authentic even after his success, and if so how did he do it?  

[andrew-j-wallace-deactivated201]

“While Jay Z’s performance invites more enjoyment from the audience and clearly exhibits his star power, in contrast to the performative violence of the previously mentioned art works, there is still the recurring theme of “authentic blackness” that artists of color are supposed to embody....

[jschutz3]

I agree with your points made having read the article, but I think you need to expand on your points a little. There isn't much proof given to back up your points, and if I hadn't read the article, or had a different opinion I'd have definitely been asking ask myself "How does she argue that?" a fair amount.

[jschutz3]

Though Biggie and Tupac were both prominent and influential rappers of the early to mid 90’s, each had their own distinct image. The two VIBE magazine covers are very different. Tupac’s cover is very dark and emotional. His troubled, close up stare into the camera and the lack of color show…

[wildthornberry34]

I really like how you began describing Tupac’s cover with an analysis of what caught your eye first: the color scheme. It’s a great way to start off general and then delve deeper in to the specifics of the cover. However, when you spoke of how Tupac’s glasses display his intellectual ability, not only his gift for rapping, you mentioned that his glasses also displayed how he had “a focus on making rhymes with a purpose”. How do glasses correlate to making rhymes with a purpose? I’m not sure how glasses even relate to his lyrics. Does he mention his eyesight issues in a few songs?  You might want to be more clear on this comment next time, otherwise, nice critique of the magazine covers.

[jschutz3]

Haha I guess I wasn't very clear at all if my argument about Tupac's glasses came off that way. I should have expanded a little more. The glasses represent his intelligence, and by making his "image" intellectually focused, he is clearly trying to reflect on how his lyrics are thought provoking, clever, and well thought out. This image he has created of himself gives us, the public, an insight to Pac's purpose behind his songs, and how Pac views himself as an intellectual, crafting rhymes to express the troubled world around him. Hopefully that clears things up a little

[jschutz3]

The Next Picasso?

In Jay-Z's song "Picasso Baby" Jay makes his claim as the most prominent and influential artist in just rap, but art in general. Janell Hobson argues that Jay-Z does embody the qualities and work of a high caliber performance artist. Even though she recognizes that most of his audience won't see him as a prominent performance artist, he still embodies "the recurring theme of 'authentic blackness' that artists of color are supposed to embody" (Hobson). Hobson sees Jay's biggest obstacle in gaining the respect of the artistic community is his star power, which differs greatly from the "performative violence of the previously mentioned art works (Two Undiscovered Amerindians', 'Painful Cake')" (Hobson). While Jay may be the next Picasso he claims to be, only time will tell if the artistic community see's him as the same caliber of an artist.

[jschutz3]

Tupac Vs Biggie: Cover Comparison

Though Biggie and Tupac were both prominent and influential rappers of the early to mid 90's, each had their own distinct image. The two VIBE magazine covers are very different. Tupac's cover is very dark and emotional. His troubled, close up stare into the camera and the lack of color show reflect this dark emotional tone well. His glasses represent his intellectual ability, as well as his focus on creating rhymes with a purpose. On the other hand, Biggie's cover evokes the very essence of cool. Whether it's Biggie's jewelry, his girl leaning on him, his luxurious ride, or his all black outfit, Biggie embodies the cool attitude of his music.

[jschutz3]

Run this World Shot List + Thesis Statement

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y84eDo8nWZl15oNeZ8puEqrQPOjcTj0onUX_4ll02Vk/edit?usp=sharing

[jschutz3]

Paparazzi - All that glitters...

By carefully editing specific moments, and displaying the proper environment, Lady Gaga is able to tell us her perspective on the lack of substance in the entertainment business. Throughout the entire opening section of Paparazzi, the viewer is shown only the most luxurious, and extravagant mansion one could possibly imagine. This is consistent inside the mansion, as hundred dollar bills and jewelry are scattered throughout the mansion. This then shifts to a scene of what appears to be a passionate showcase of Gaga and her supposed "lover", until it is brought to light that this is nothing but a fabrication of the media's will. This done through very clever editing by jumping between close up shots, and shots from a distance that look as if we are looking through a camera. This can easily be connected to how Gaga views her own new found fame and wealth. While everything may appear to be nothing short of a "dream come true", there lacks any genuine emotion, as showcased by Gaga's "lover" merely putting on a show for the cameras. Gaga gets across the message that the rich and famous are nothing more than a product for the media to sell to the public.    

[jschutz3]

The video for Smooth Criminal combines a bar setting, with standard gangster outfits, to create a cool, tough, and sexually charged video. The instant Michael Jackson walks into the bar, the silence takes over, and suddenly everyone directs their attention to the “King of Pop”. Michael is…

[brianl743]

I like that you brought up how the color contrast of Michael’s clothing and the dark and dull background helps create a sense of tension within the club, but I couldn’t help but feel that “sexually charged” did not really fit into this video’s description.

[jschutz3]

"Sexually charged" certainly was the least focused argument of my post. My opinion on it is that the video is trying to cast Michael as the cool and slick criminal, and I would argue is portrayed as the most "desirable" man in the bar. Obviously not at the beginning, but from the six minute mark to the six and a half minute mark, it seems pretty apparent the sexual energy in the bar as risen.

[jschutz3]

The video for Smooth Criminal combines a bar setting, with standard gangster outfits, to create a cool, tough, and sexually charged video. The instant Michael Jackson walks into the bar, the silence takes over, and suddenly everyone directs their attention to the “King of Pop”. Michael is…

[theycallmedanny-blog]

I enjoyed your take on MJ as the “man in white” symbolizing that he is portrayed as somewhat a god among devils. Do you think there are any other viewpoints someone could take from the beginning of Smooth Criminal?

[jschutz3]

Since music videos are a form of art, I would say there are countless amounts of potential interpretations, based on every's own opinion. I believe there isn't any wrong interpretations, as long as you can back up your own claims.

[ksmith383]

Blog Post #1

  The opening sequence of Bad uses the setting to set up the story and mood for the video through colors, camera angles, and conversations with other actors. The black and white color scheme in the beginning gives viewers the feeling of being out of place due to colored videos having been around at that time. This harmonizes with the Darrel’s feelings after the thirty second mark, feeling out of place with his old friends. The lack of color also give you almost a feeling of sadness or anticipation, both of which Darrel feels on the bus ride back home after all of his classmates have gotten off. The camera angles show you what’s going on. They show you different angles of the school in the beginning, showing off how big and prestigious it is. By doing this, they are indirectly saying that Darrel is getting a great education. The scene of all of the kids running down the stairs lets you know that school has just been released for a break, meaning everyone gets to go home. For Darrel, that meant going back to his old friends and home. The director, showing the conversation between Darrel and the other student, shows you that he’s happy that someone is proud of what he’s trying to do. This explains why he’s so disappointed that his friends weren’t too impressed with his schooling. If you bring all of these elements from the first thirty seconds together, you realize Darrel is proud of his education and is worried to go back home, afraid of what his friends with think of him.

Read More

[jschutz3]

Great job using the opening sequence to explain the story. You use a lot of small details such as the size of the school to emphasize your point, and make it very hard to argue against it. You've got a small typo on the third sentence, but otherwise a very well written post.

[davidmedrizzle-blog]

Opening sequences in music videos are generally skipped, primarily because of the lack of music. What’s a music video without music? ”Beat it” by Michael Jackson, however, is one that shouldn’t be glossed over as it contains very crucial details that introduce the audience to the mood and...

[jschutz3]

I really liked your analysis of the "calm before the storm". I never really thought of it like that until you brought it up, and it made perfect sense. One thing I think could have been improved on is your introduction to your points. After talking up the importance of the intro to the music video, your first point is "For example, the characters wear greaser clothing." This left a little more to be desired to kick off your analysis, but you followed up with more insightful analysis.

[penguinsflyin]

Smooth Criminal

The opening sequence of Smooth Criminal combines minimal (dark) lighting and an obscure atmosphere that draw the viewer’s attention to an intriguing setting. Through the establishing shot, we can see that the empty streets are occupied with Michael Jackson alone. The dark...

[jschutz3]

Great job using cinematography and mise-en scene directly to show the details and significance of the scene. If there was anything you may be missing, it would be a direct wording of the overall mood or tone. I personally believe the very beginning of the video (before he enters the bar) has a much different tone from when he enters the bar. What do you think of that?

[jkspark-blog-deactivated2022112]

In the first 40- 50 seconds of Beat It by Michael Jackson, the elements of the scene and the costumes of the characters set up the tone and mood of the music video for Michael to later sing about anti-gang violence. The music video opens up with a scene in a diner, and a guy grabs his buddy to head out back. This sets up the viewer thinking that something is about to go down. The costumes the two guys are wearing makes them look like street fighters or members of a gang. Then the music starts to play, in a dark back alley, where the gang members start to run around and yelling getting ready to go fight. The style of music is a little more rock style than Jackson’s other songs, which sets a tone of bad guys and gang violence. Then there are more shots of gang members rallying up their brothers to go fight between the rival gangs. The gang members are wearing leather jackets, sunglasses, tattoos, piercing, etc. which set the tone that these are tough guys. One scene shows a guy kissing his girlfriend before leaving for the fight, depicting that he is fighting for what he cares about. Clearly the audience can tell who the two rival gang leaders are, one being a black guy with a white jacket, and the other a white guy with a black jacket. This sets up the contrasting images of the two rival gangs. This tone that is created in the first minute, before Michael even starts singing Beat It, sets up the viewpoint and mood for the song to have a lyrical message of anti-gang violence.

[jschutz3]

I liked how you clearly outlined the beginning of the video, and pointed to each significant moment and analyzed it. However, I do think that certain areas could have been analyzed more than they were. One in particular being the two gang leaders. You state how this contrasts the image of the two gangs, but I think it goes deeper than that. Do you have any thoughts about the significance of their apparel?