Inspiration Information - Shuggie Otis

• Overall feel to song?

Upbeat happy, chill, fun, soulful, funky

• Musical element that gives off that vibe?

Bass, guitar, smooth vocals, unique musical sounds

• Identify choices musician had to make to get this feel and why they worked.

The choice to have interesting vocals and make the song upbeat and true to its time. Also the choice to have the strong bass in the song. They worked because it was interesting and fun and it created a complex feel to the song.

Semeadores by Diego Rivera

• SOAPSTone

Subject - slaves/farmers
Occasion - 1950s/1960s
Audience - Hispanic population
Purpose - persuasion
Speaker - Diego Rivera
Tone - sympathetic and sorrowful

• What is the meaning.theme/big idea the artist wanted you to think about? 

Color is dark and light; curved/organic lines, faces hidden. The workers are not incredibly important to society, cheap labor is bad, persevering through the rougher times ,albeit they are stuck in it. Capitalism neglects the "lesser" people.

Writing Process

• Summarize Wilco's approach to creating a song

Have all 5 members present. Start with a natural/basic version of the song and deconstruct it to improve it. Choose where to take the song.

• What is your creative process for writing and explain in detail the steps you go through.

My creative process is separating the points into similar ideas and grouping those that are related together.

1. Gather all ideas
2. Separate and group into similar ideas
3. go with the flow and let the writing begin and come to me as I write

Nostalgia & Music Response

• What is nostalgia?

Nostalgia is a yearning for past memories, experiences, and other things usually associated with good memories. A "better/happier time." Normally the memories are idealized.

• What images come to mind when you hear this music?

A cliche dancing scene from a '60s musical--very Hairspray-esque. Big dresses, huge skirts, flamboyant hair, bright pastels, fast dancing, Then it transitions into slow dancing, like at the end of a dance where only the couples are left. The girl is resting her head on the boy's chest while the chaperones are becoming tiresome and bored. Darker colors than before, with balloons, confetti, and streamers strewn across the gym floor. Later a bonfire or party at a beach with food, dancing, music, and other fun.

• What images pop into your head when you think of your childhood? What smells, sounds, and feelings are associated with these images?

Images that pop into my head are going to school and playing with my friends after school. Feelings are happy and excited. The Cheetah girls, Backstreet Boys, Aaron Carter, Chicago, and Air Supply are the background music of my childhood. Other images that pop into my mind are: the small "woods" directly behind Cassidy, playing "House" and "College", home videos with my friend, my Barbie jeep, playing in the creek by Ecton, the Playground by Henry Clay, the smell of cookies baking in my grandmother's house, Minnie Mouse, and last, but not least, spending recess swinging and playing on the monkey bars.

Poverty Painting

• What are the major contributing factors to poverty?

Things that contribute to poverty are insufficient food and other needs, no home, small income, large yet poor families, single families, substance abuse, mental and/or health issues, and a lack of education.

• How does this artist portray poverty?

The artist portrays poverty in a positive light. Though there are obviously negative aspects, there is a positive aspect. The mother, the baby, and the small boy are representing the negative while the girl with the flowers is representing the positive.

• What is the artist's message about poverty?

Their message is that though it is a difficult and dark time to go through, there is hope that poverty will get better.

• Identify and explain 2 elements of art that enhance this message.

Color - the mother and the two children are dark and gloomy, and the girl with the flowers is shown in somewhat brighter color. The former are wearing black clothes and sitting in darkness while the latter is wearing a slightly brighter outfit, carrying bright yellow flowers, and is standing in a more illuminated space.
Perspective - the young girl is shown as stepping more forward and the others are shown as sitting in the background behind her.

Poverty Reading Response

In "Live Free and Starve," Chitra Divakaruni makes a persuasive argument that though America is technically doing the right thing by no longer permitting the import of goods from factories using child labor, we aren't putting ourselves in their place, rather than thinking about it from our perspective. She states, "if the children themselves were asked whether they would rather work under such harsh conditions or enjoy a leisure that comes without the benefit of food or clothing or shelter, I wonder what their response would be." If an American child were to answer that question, they would surely choose the leisure. On the other hand, a child from a factory that runs with child-labor would probably choose the work.
Her belief is that America's bill is no use unless we provide programs for the newly released children. I believe that it is a valid idea, not bad at all. However, America is setting an effective example for those countries with child labor to quit the practice and set up a better life for the children.

In "The Singer Solution to World Poverty," Peter Singer discusses poverty in interesting imaginary examples. He references the movie Central Station where a Brazilian sells a homeless child to organ peddlers to buy a TV set. He then counteracts that by comparing the situation to an American who already has a decent TV but upgrades to a better one--aware of the fact that the money spent on the new TV could be donated to an organization. He then talks about "Bob," a fictional man who is faced with the decision of saving something from a runaway train: a child who is a stranger, or his precious Bugatti? Ultimately he chooses his Bugatti. Henceforth he is saying that being unwilling to donate to an organization is just as bad as not helping the situation straight-on. He is convincing the audience of their horrible acts of unkindness.
It is a great idea to address to Americans the idea that we can help these children, but the majority choose not to. He says, "I accept that we are unlikely to see, in the near or even medium-term future, a world in which it is normal for wealthy Americans to give the bulk of their wealth to strangers." It is in my opinion that Americans should become more aware of poverty and take steps to help, but not to keep the burden on us and decide that it is wholly our job. Singer had great points but seemed to be more accusatory and not as persuading.

"Round and Round" - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

Today we listened to the song "Round and Round" by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. I had not heard the song before, but my opinion was that it was an interesting song. It's not normally something I myself would listen to, but I did enjoy how intricate it was considering it transitioned through different sounds. It had a very smooth and relaxing feel to it, in my opinion. My facts were that there was bass guitar and keyboard in the song; as well as harmonies being present. The correlation between what my facts were and my opinion seems strong in my mind. I've always had a taste for piano/keyboard in songs, and harmonizing vocals are something I love. I suppose that I could definitely have a bias--I'm incredibly particular when it comes to music and I tend to only like softer songs; and this song fits that requirement.