watching & writing

My name is Kate Harper. I am a 21 year old Strategic Communications major hailing from Tulsa, Okla. I like a lot of things, like dogs, walking masquerading as jogging, Chinese food, zombie movies, and sleeping. When I’m not at work, the vast majority of my time is spent messing around in photoshop, painting my nails, and watching TV. Sometimes, I’ll even manage to do all of them at one time. I love pop culture, from today to over a century ago. I think what people like, what becomes popular vs. what is “high culture” is so interesting, and so important. I love television, it’s probably my favorite medium of entertainment. It can do so much more than a two hour long movie, and while maybe a bit more restricted than books or comics, I adore moving visuals, being able to watch and react in real time. Being able to blog about what I’m watching, how I feel about it, and maybe even geek out a little is going to be so much fun, and I hope you like what I have to say.

[televisionismyfriend]

Mindy and Danny: How The Mindy Project is driving me insane

I'm a sucker for a good romantic, will-they-won't-they plot line. Or, so I thought. On The Mindy Project, Mindy and Danny finally got together. But then they broke up like, three episodes later. I think I actually yelled at my TV when it happened.

This last week's episode had some pretty low points. Danny trying to kiss Mindy only when he knew she was about to go on a date with a different guy, Mindy leaving her and her date's shoes outside of her apartment so Danny can see them, (they are currently living in the same building. Drama.)

Photo courtesy of FOX.

Come on. Just get back to being cute and being sick together and reading Bridget Jones' Diary to each other. Clearly you are super in love with each other. HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO, YOU IDIOTS.

I have a lot of emotions about this show, clearly.

[televisionismyfriend]

Are You The One?: My one true love

I have never loved a reality dating show more than I love than MTV's recent "Are You The One?" It was part puzzle, part game show, and 800 percent unnecessary drama between crazy people.

The show followed 20 singles, 10 girls and 10 guys, who had secretly been match made with each other. They would go on dates and do challenges, and perform 'match ceremonies'. The ceremonies would tell them how many matches they had made, but not who was right. 

As you can probably imagine, it was a complete and utter shit show from the very beginning. As shooting went on, we even learned that one of the contestants was married.

Whoops?

Photo courtesy of MTV

I really loved it. I actually shelled out two bucks per episode on Amazon, so I can watch shitty reruns whenever I want. Technology is great.

[televisionismyfriend]

The 100: or, things go bad pretty much immediately

Recently I've been watching a new show from the teen drama station, the CW. It is called 'The 100', and it is the teen trash I have come to expect, know and love from the station.

One hundred juvenile delinquents who have been in detention in a space station after nuclear war have been sent back to Earth to see if it is survivable. Because all the people on Earth are teenagers, it turns into a power struggle/sex party pretty much immediately. Some people die.

Photo courtesy of The CW

The characters are all pretty one dimensional at this point, but things are getting better. Honestly, I am pretty into it. The entire cast is gorgeous, there is new, unnecessary drama in every episode, and it turns out that there are still people on Earth who seem pretty batshit.

All in all, I'll keep watching it, at least until my favorite character dies and then I'm out.

[televisionismyfriend]

Mythbusters and Me: Sleeping with the TV

This last few weeks, I've been behind on my shows. It's a shock to me, too, because I'm very rarely behind on my favorites, like The Walking Dead. I keep rewatching episodes of Mythbusters instead because it means I don't have to pay too close attention, but I still have some background noise.

I used to watch it all the time to go to sleep to. I still do, sometimes, but I've only realized lately how incredibly weird that is. It is a show that is, usually, about some type of explosion. I put it on, and drift off to cars being blown up.

Courtesy of Discovery Channel

I don't know where I get it. As a kid, I couldn't even fall asleep in a car, never mind one that was loudly catching fire. I'm not sure where all of this came from, but I guess it could be worse.

I could need total silence, like my roommate. (On second thought, how does she sleep with Mythbusters on in the other room?) I guess I'll shoot Mythbusters a letter.

[televisionismyfriend]

Making a Video: What do you like about Stilly?

Making the video wasn't hard, but it wasn't easy, either. The concept was probably the easiest part of it all. We wanted to ask people what they liked most about Stillwater.

Sounds easy, right? Well, kind of. The question part, even the stopping and asking people what they liked most about our town was easy. It took a little nerve to go up and ask random people what they liked, but that wasn't so bad.

The worst part was the wind. Even though it was a nice day, the wind was blowing so hard that it left a lot of our footage unusable. We even had to go back and ask a person to redo their answers for us because the wind had ruined the audio.

Editing and finding music wasn't too difficult, either, the only problem was dealing with the wind sounds in most of the video. Oh well. It taught us we needed to think of potential setbacks when shooting outside.

[televisionismyfriend]

[televisionismyfriend]

Stillwater: Loving the middle of nowhere

For my video project, I want to ask people what they love and where they love to be in Stillwater.

Colbie and I are going to go around campus and town finding the beautiful and unique parts of our beloved college town.

We hope to film tomorrow, which is great because the weather is supposed to be very nice. We have high hopes for this video.

[televisionismyfriend]

Why Does My Internet Never Work: Seriously, Why

This project, much like my last one, was stressful. I had plenty of ideas this time. I was going to make dinner and do a little stream of consciousness thing.

I took all the pictures, even sliced into my hand cutting onions, but once I had it all put together, it was terrible. Just, well, awful. No good. Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars.

That left me panicked, as it was around 8 PM the night before it was due. I decided to just make something up, wing it. The internet was down, I could make that into a very dramatic and stupid little video.

I took all the pictures by setting my phone up as video, then letting it record and doing my movements very slowly. I screen capped what I liked and threw it into iMovie, once again, on my phone. Because my internet wasn’t working, I had to do all my work on my phone, and then get to campus early so I could upload it on their wifi.

Overall, I liked what I did. It ended up shorter than it was supposed to be, due to the fact that I took out a long section of pictures that related to pretty much nothing.

I should really start on this stuff a little earlier. I had fun making it. I thought it was pretty funny, or at least passingly so. I'm ready to move onto other projects, though.

My internet's acting up again, though, so I should probably just post this before it logs me off.

[televisionismyfriend]

[televisionismyfriend]

Making a Podcast: What Did I Do To Deserve This?

I didn't know, I guess that is a good way to start this. I knew we would be making a podcast in class. I knew that was probably what we were working on on the days I missed due to illness.

I did not know that I would have two days to flounder up a sad excuse for a themed show. I love horror and weird things, so I said "oh, yeah, this." I had grand aspirations to make something like Welcome To Night Vale, one of my favorite podcasts. I missed the mark.

At the start, I was worried I would run out of things to say, so I wrote an extensive script. It ended up being too long, clocking in at about 15 minutes. I sucked in air between my teeth and deleted a story. Three topics. Still good! Still two minutes longer than the guideline stated.

Oh geez. 

I recorded it on my cellphone, converting the audio files to mp3 to use in Audacity. Considering the fact that I've dropped my phone down two separate flights of stairs, it was amazing it recorded at all. The quality? Not great.

For the most part, this podcast turned out ugly. The bad was probably just panicking and churning it out in a day. The good? I actually liked reading the story aloud, and I like messing around in Audacity, but it definitely got ugly again when it was played for the rest of the class. I sunk low into my seat and prayed for an aneurysm. 

The only comfort is knowing I probably won't ever have to do it again.

[televisionismyfriend]

Shot In The Dark, a podcast focusing on horror fiction and it's many forms. 

[televisionismyfriend]

Witches and Zombies and Plot Holes, Oh My!: "American Horror Story: Coven"'s Meh Finale

This past Wednesday brought the conclusion to the third season of one of my favorite shows, American Horror Story. While I enjoyed this season, especially more than the lopsided sophomore season, I can't call it all mastercraft. 

Good vs. Evil took it's form in the finale not between the two young leads, Taissa Farmiga and Emma Roberts. It didn't set up anything epic between Angela Bassett and Jessica Lange, or either of the two toe to toe with Kathy Bates. Good vs. Evil ran through the episode in most scenes, but no two people were ever designated the roles. There was really no big conflict at all. It was a contest.

The finale, over all, was a disappointment. It was rushed, as if at the 11th episode, the AHS crew saw it only had two left and muttered "fuck it" under their breath. 

Photo courtesy of FX/Ryan Murphy

Even with the resolution, the new Supreme Witch crowned, young witches pouring into the school in a way they haven't since the 1800s, it still feels unfinished. It raises too many questions.

There is a strong Christian allegory throughout the final episode, a foreign theme untied to the rest of the season. The final supper scene, pictured above, and the episode ends with a metaphorical crucifixion. (Actually a burning at the stake, very 'The Crucible' in it's overwrought dramatics.) It feels out of left field, from nowhere but a gut instinct of the man who also helms 'Glee'.

Overall, I liked it. But not that much.

[televisionismyfriend]

Time Spent with Kerry Washington: Marathon Viewing Scandal

Over the last four days, I've spent a lot of time watching TV. Well, Netflix, but you know that's basically the same thing. What have I been watching? A show recommended to me by one of my best friends, Scandal.

I started hesitantly. A show about a woman who is having an affair with the President of the United States. A show created by the mind behind Grey's Anatomy. Who cares? 

Apparently, I do. 

Photo courtesy of ABC/Craig Sjodin

I have spent the last four days binge watching this show, moving from episode to episode with the fervor of a shark that has smelled fresh blood. I couldn't get enough. Today, before I went to work, I watched three episodes, finishing up the second season. The problem with that is I've hit a wall. There are only two seasons available online.

I'll admit, it's left me a bit helpless. Part of the greatness of Netflix is being able to watch the show on my TV. I could easily find the next episode somewhere online, but I don't necessarily want to watch it on my computer.

I'll probably end up breaking down and doing that, though. I'm too invested to give up, and I keep accidentally reading things that give away plot points.  Once I get to the newest episode, I'll be home free. 

[televisionismyfriend]

My name is Kate Harper. I am a 21 year old Strategic Communications major hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma. I like a lot of things, like dogs, walking masquerading as jogging, Chinese food, zombie movies, and sleeping. When I'm not at work, the vast majority of my time is spent messing around in photoshop, painting my nails, and watching TV. Sometimes, I'll even manage to do all of them at one time.

I love pop culture, from today to over a century ago. I think what people like, what becomes popular vs. what is "high culture" is so interesting, and so important. I love television, it's probably my favorite medium of entertainment. It can do so much more than a two hour long movie, and while maybe a bit more restricted than books or comics, I adore moving visuals, being able to watch and react in real time. Being able to blog about what I'm watching, how I feel about it, and maybe even geek out a little is going to be so much fun, and I hope you like what I have to say.