NND1D Spring 2016

NND1D Spring 2016 Kamilah Udomsap

[nndomsap-blog]

Snapchat

Available in red, white, and blue, this Discover story on Snapchat lays out the current political election in a clear and easy manner, highlighting the Iowa caucuses and the current trends in political forecasting. There is an air of entertainment in the story; funnier and more offhandish than watching a news channel on TV, with less complicated wording that young voters may not yet be familiar with. All in all, I think this is a good idea.

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The beauty of New York's polluted Gowanus Canal – in pictures

The Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, New York, is one of the dirtiest stretches of water in the US. Photographer Steven Hirsch has been capturing a bizarre, abstract beauty in the pollution

The Guardian uses photojournalism to portray Gowns Canal’s pollution in a mystifying, visually stimulating way. The beauty of the canal is twisted and mesmerizing at the same time, drawing in readers to the mash of color presented in the photos. The article displays the strength of art and color to convey a message to an audience, as well as the reader’s desire to seek the beautiful unknown. Without even reading the headline the photo alone could draw me in as a reader. 

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Kim and Kanye Are the Met Gala’s Best-Dressed Couple

Little can compare to the fashion moment the couple pulled off at the Met Gala.

Vogue naming the celebrity couple of our time the best dressed at the Met gala only goes to prove, in my mind, their disintegration of proper fashion critiquing. Instead, their material is working to appease the likes of pop culture today, and in turn, young readers looking for material to understand, relate to, and agree with. I think this article is a disgrace to Vogue magazine, honestly; “..nothing short of dazzling.” What a joke. 

[lostcat420]

Famous Logos Merged with Classical Paintings

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good design

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Radical Revision of 1st Flash Draft

College Student Finds Himself $500 Poorer

An overheard phone conversation went a little something like this: a check bounced and the young man can’t get home to his mother. “They” took all the money he had, and he asks for money to be wired to him, if it there isn’t a cost for it. He hangs up. Holding a brown, wrinkled parcel in one hand and bagged tobacco in the other, he stands in the one small patch of sun shining on the southwest side of Union Square. While he is enjoying the first few drags of his hand-rolled cigarette, he rubs the short stubble under his chin. “I just got expelled from my university for smoking weed in my dorm. They said I was selling to other students, and I wasn’t. They wouldn’t listen.” A lawyer represented Alex in court, but things didn’t go as planned. “He had contacted the wrong department. Can you believe that?” He seemed rather distraught, probably because he had spent a handful of savings on a lawyer who didn’t do as he was paid to. For a full-time, working college student, this blow can have long-term effects.

Born at Beth Israel Medical Center in Union Square, Alex was destined to be a second generation college student. His mother, born in Hazmiyah, Beirut, went to Parsons to study Design, and his father is a Russian and Jewish Soviet refugee. After attending high school in Queens, he went on to study Economics at SUNY Purchase. His aura conveyed an air of self-deprecation as he told me that he was a junior this year. “I was so close,” he mumbles to no one in particular. In lieu of leaving his SUNY campus, he applied to work at the Guild of Exceptional Children. He would apply to a few schools in the meanwhile in hopes of continuing his education in the fall.

When asked if he loves New York enough to live here forever, and he shook his head with a smile. He wants to move to Beirut, Lebanon, where he would be able to re-establish ties with his family, who he hasn’t seen in years.

Once clouds roll upon the sun and a cold wind begins to blow, Alex tells me the pickle he’s in--that he’s stranded until he finds a free ride home. I don’t mention that I overheard his phone conversation and offer to swipe him into the subway. Who wants to hear that a stranger is listening in on your phone calls?

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6 April Article Notes

52, and Still...

While there was not legal problem with the story, journalists have to be careful with ethical issues dealing with the sex industry. Although the subject is willing and wanting the publicity, no one can predict the consequences of the spotlight--police, nearby shops in the photo, bystanders--all can complain about the article. The journalist can attempt to be objective, but in giving a voice to Ms. Terry is to humanize her (she, as the subject, wants to be heard and understood), which leads to the ethical issues about publicity and glamorization. 

A City Too Hot...

Event piece that builds characters within. The story dips into a profile on Mr. Heath. Drama is set in the scene and Mr. Heath is crowned as a modest hero. The end (calling mom) is the payoff.

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The Purple Planet Finds a Galaxy to Call Home

The Purple Planet played their debut gig on Saturday night at Looking Glass in Bushwick. The long-awaited performance brought together Brooklynites looking to support both local artists as well as this particular group of groovy guys.

The three piece band successfully promoted their homemade recordings both on their Facebook and in person, locally. Often times when the trio sets up their rehearsal at a friend’s apartment at Broadway and Halsey, passersby have been known to stop and listen on the street outside of the building. Neighbors have passed along their compliments to the band as well.

A free show on a Saturday night was enough to convince a good deal of locals to attend the performance. The show ran from 10PM until around 11:30. However,  instead of ending with a clichéd “goodnight everybody, and thanks for coming”, the singer/lead guitarist Jake Garrison (20) signed of with mention of a short break before playing more songs. As it turns out, the band had already played every song that they rehearsed. Aaron Peart (20), hopes to focus on drawing out the improvised jams weaved into each of the songs for future shows. Regardless of the lack of remaining material they had to play, Garrison’s ambiguous last words kept the crowd wanting more, and it wasn’t until about 1AM that the band began to bid adieu. Only then did the surrounding crowd seem to realize that there wasn’t any more songs to be sung that night.

A few days later, Garrison received an email from the bar owner asking to return to perform at the venue on a monthly basis.

[nndomsap-blog]

A Wednesday A Ride

Riding the A train on a Wednesday afternoon sounds much more bleak than the actuality of it all. Take a common occurrence of miscommunication between conductors, a passenger emergency, and a handful of people in a rush to get where they’re going, and you’ve got yourself a scene that’s better than broadway.

The A train heading uptown sat at 14th Street station for at least a dozen minutes, drawing restless sighs from the few passengers aboard. The conductor announced that a “passenger emergency” had taken place in the preceding train. A few riders aboard sucked in polluted, underground air into their nostrils, huffing it out like some crazed bulls about to charge towards their taunting matadors. This may come as a shock to some, as few looked at their counterparts to exchange worried glances, or to mutter expressions of shock and hope (“gee, hope they’re alright up there”). In fact, almost nobody was traveling in groups that day, or even in pairs. The only company each passenger kept was their own, and perhaps it sufficed to roll their eyes at their conscience’s bad habit of rushing “passenger emergencies”. As if waiting for orders from a drill sergeant, everyone leapt to their feet when they heard the boom of the telecom announce the arrival of an uptown A train on the opposite side of the platform.

As we pulled into 53rd Street, we were once again told to switch to the train across the platform. We obliged and attempted to enter the train that was just moments ago carrying a “passenger emergency”. The conductor of that train, however, seemed to have other plans, and closed the train doors just as the first passenger reached them. Many tried to pry the doors open, and few succeeded. A conductor up ahead stuck her head out of the car to shout at those attempting to board the train, only to receive harsh feedback to her orders. “Open the fucking door!” shouted the woman next to me. The conductor shook her head and triggered more angry commentary from this woman, whose leg was stuck in the door. “Open the fucking door, stupid fucking bitch!” The doors rattled, opened a slight bit then closed again maybe twenty or so times. The woman got her leg out of the door and proceeded to shout nasty things at the conductor. Passengers went back to the train that we had gotten off of, and the doors quickly shut after most of us had boarded. Some got left behind, left in packs like confused vultures whose meat had disappeared by the time they reached the ground.

Meanwhile, the woman whose day had obviously been spoiled by this mishap, continued yelling to everyone who would listen. She reminded me of my mother, only more loud and adamant about being heard. 

[nndomsap-blog]

Musicians React to George Martin’s Death on Twitter

Thank you for all your love and kindness George peace and love xx😎✌️🌟💖 pic.twitter.com/um2hRFB7qF

— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic)

March 9, 2016

George Martin was a gentleman above all. May he rest in peace. Our thoughts are with Judy & the family at this sad time. -Olivia and Dhani

— George Harrison (@GeorgeHarrison)

March 9, 2016

Goodbye George Martin . One of the first guys to make "Producing" a real art. I can't listen to Revolver everyday and still hear new things

— diplo (@diplo)

March 11, 2016

Goodbye George Martin, thanks for producing the music that changed my world and everyone else's.… https://t.co/So1VjRkWNv

— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams)

March 9, 2016

Rest in peace George Martin. You helped new sounds come out of hiding-and dreamt up some of my favorite arrangements and recordings… Love!

— regina spektor (@respektor)

March 9, 2016

The legends are really going home! Visionary producer of #TheBeatles, George Martin (1926-2016). pic.twitter.com/X8sVf9iNQ7

— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz)

March 9, 2016

So sad to hear about Sir George. It is the end of a wonderful era. He was a delightful, brilliant man. #RIP #GeorgeMartin

— Elton John (@eltonofficial)

March 9, 2016

Sir George Martin. Gentleman and legend. R.I.P.

— Boy George (@BoyGeorge)

March 9, 2016

George Martin, my hero. So sad. The definitive record producer.. such a gentleman and was so kind to me. He did it all first.. and best.

— nigel godrich (@nigelgod)

March 9, 2016

Every time I record at abbey road I geek out and play with the mics sir George Martin used. What an ear, what a life, what a legacy.

— josh groban (@joshgroban)

March 9, 2016

Interesting to see the array of artists commenting on the passing of George Martin. Known as the best producer and the fifth Beatle, classic and contemporary musicians alike had thoughts to share on his legacy.

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I got together some blankets, some guac, and paint supplies (acrylic and watercolor) and sat myself in the Lang courtyard to hopefully get passersby to come and create something of their own. First to join were friends that I had invited beforehand. Before handing out materials, I asked those wishing to join these questions and received the following answers:

What should you like to see more of in TNS community?

- Couches

- Spaces deemed “community space” that aren’t centered on studying/researching etc. The spaces we have now are not comfortable and are spread out between campuses around the cite and, in turn, the community is spread out

- Apparel

- Platforms for community building i.e. art space

What do you think of using art to connect people?

- Great because relaxing and encourages conversation

- Condones a safe space where people can be respectful and share energy

Meeting strangers by offering free art supplies in exchange for their thoughts on community was gratifying, and I found that younger students (Sophomores, Juniors) had more to say about prospective improvements at TNS than older students (Seniors, Grad Students). Juniors, seniors and grad students mostly commented that they had a solid sense of community at TNS, and the varying majors allowed for a well-rounded environment. One participant shared that there was a deeper level of community that most people don’t know about. Another shared that Lang (particularly, the courtyard) is a great place to take refuge from the craziness of the city. Most shared that their favorite space to meet with friends and relax was the Lang courtyard.

[nndomsap-blog]

McPhee on the Lede

If a sentence has more than one meaning, it’s not a good lede. A lede needs to convey the idea of the rest of the story. Hooking a reader is possibly the most important part of writing an piece.

I’m guilty of writing ledes that do not convey the main concept of the story. I tend to opt for a nice-sounding sentence that feels good to me, but leaves the reader out of touch. 

Blind ledes- leaving out parts of a story, possibly for the sake of conciseness. 

[newyorker]

Justin Peck began as a dancer for New York City Ballet. Now its resident choreographer, he has produced twenty-eight ballets, and made one for an iPad app. In this week’s issue, Joan Acocella writes about his professional ascent.

Photograph by Andreas Laszlo Konrath

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A beautifully written article that commits to unveiling differences between traditional ballet scheme and modern ballet. For example the recurring theme of the non-dominating pas de deux in contemporary choreography versus the dominating male in classical ballet choreography is emphasized, giving the reader useable information for if and when they go and see a ballet.

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The statistics are unequivocal: Women and minorities are vastly underrepresented in front of and behind the camera. Here, 27 industry players reveal the stories behind the numbers.

I’m overwhelmed by the number of images that are immediately in view when the page is first opened. I don’t feel like I can properly address all the faces in view, and I then feel as though I’m excluding some of the individuals in a way similar to how Hollywood is excluding them. I feel guilty for not being able to spend enough time on each of their blurbs. 

However, I do enjoy the focus on the individuals’ personal stories without any input from another author or editor. It makes their accounts more personal and raw, which I strive to find as a reader of news. The amount of space the article is given is tiresome, though. I got halfway through and I’m determined to finish it another time...

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Instagram poets society: selfie age breeds life into verse and has a new following

Skepticism is expected, but these social media astute authors are causing a phenomenon and tapping into internet’s appetite for minimal language

Introducing poets whose claims to fame have been social media postings may be an uncomfortable thought for individuals who inadvertently oppose the idea of reading on kindles and nooks. But the article proves worthy to me through its analyzation of a few instagram famous poets, each with their own defining traits. What I got from this article: 

- thoughts on the abstract relationship between minimalism in poetry and the fragility of one’s follower count

- vulnerability that poetry conveys put onto an abstract platform = the abstract nature of social media 

"As I read hundreds of poems, I began to wonder if there was something more like an algorithm than a person behind them.” The same can be said about scrolling through hundreds of Twitter, instagram, and Facebook posts in daily routine. Rather than raw content, the information is heavily edited and scripted, so as to appear a certain way to the viewer/follower. Or so I see it.

[nndomsap-blog]

How Obama gave us Donald Trump | Matt Laslo

Just as Barack Obama was the reaction to George W Bush in 2008, Donald Trump is looking more and more like a reaction to Obama’s presidency

Littered with misspellings, this article seems to be a hazy jab at Obama’s inability to reinstall the American peoples’ trust in political regimes. To claim that Trump is the “anti-Obama” is to assume his taking presidential office. Not only do I pray that this doesn't happen, I find it unlikely that it will happen because of the underlying tensions that are becoming visible during this presidential race. While Laslo makes some interesting, and logical, comparisons between Obama and Trump, I do not think that it is safe to say that Trump is part of, and doing decently in, this year’s presidential candidacy because of Obama’s presidency.

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Retraction: This American Life Audio

Last month, Tell Me More used audio of storyteller Mike Daisey, who had been featured in a public radio story on the show This American Life. Last Friday, This American Life host Ira Glass retracted the story, saying it "contained numerous fabrications." Host Michel Martin notes the use of part of the retracted story on Tell Me More.

What kind of impact does a retracted story have on its audience? While I don’t believe that the numbers of NPR’s audience would dramatically dwindle, this account poses a question of whether or not legitimacy is what draws a journalist to a story. Mike Daisey, an American monologist, presented a piece on NPR: “The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs”. The piece was written as a theatrical monologue. I believe that This American Life host Ira Glass was drawn to it for its theatrical dramatization of a believable story, not for its reliability or legitimacy. How did Daisey get away with presenting falsifications on a national news source? He was not properly pressed to fact check, and he gave the excuse that he lost contact with his translator while in China. I don’t see how an actor unwilling to conduct a proper fact check wasn’t seen as a red flag to Glass. The unprofessional nature of this story is mystifying, 

[nndomsap-blog]

1. http://www.booooooom.com/2010/12/01/haunted-mirrors-by-allison-diaz/

Mirror collage pieced together from faces of many New School students. A constant experience; can include more that 15 people if placed somewhere public.

2. http://www.earthandwaterdance.com/contact-improvisation.html

Contact improv to engage with others kinetically, with no time for dance criticism or hesitation. The experience would be guided--move freely while always touching your partner, imagine that you and your partner are mortal enemies from the renaissance period and you have just encountered each other at random, imagine yourselves as politicians, etc. Would appeal more to the dance community--one time experience.

3. Free art supplies in exchange for answers to “What would you like to see more of in The New School community?” Participants are only able to use the art supplies when there are eventually 15 people, preferably strangers. Each person that joins helps me in bringing more people.