Blog 2: A Whole New Mind

“Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” (Buddha). The future of communications is expanding; it is evolving into a market of well proper opportunities. The industry is sculpting into statue of different forms. Each form testes each individual to learn a new technique continue on to complete the job. As I’m coming closer to graduating the University part of my life I need to look real hard of where I’m heading. Some questions arose from me thinking about my future.  

1.       Where is the company heading? Is it outsourcing to foreign country?

2.       Is the company up to date with the latest media tools?

3.       What kind of technology/software do I need to become fluent in?

There are six essential key elements that will help me improve the industry and land me the dream job I always wanted. In the media business it takes a lot of Design. This means I need to be imaginative, innovative and creative. Employers seek one who is sees things others do not, that special thing. It takes a slick design to launch off attention that creates business look at the apple products.

Story is important if not the most important part of engaging into the media world. What does your idea say? It has to say a story, is your movie going to see big s or is it just going straight to DVD. That’s what makes the difference between something great and something not even worth mentioning. The story in my work is my weakest point but it is also my one attribute that is getting more developed.

In the Communication field it takes a lot of symphony to get ahead. Symphony creates inventions and thinks about the bigger picture. Who would have thought of a phone that can also play music and go on the web? It took symphony to create an idea that shook the world.

If I want to succeed in the real world then I need to create an empathy state of mind. Empathy is going beyond the logical state of mind and entering the emotional part of it. I have always been called the nice guy (don’t know if it’s a good thing) however I use that to my advantage to keep relationships, have a trusting aura and keep a positive attitude. With that I can create friendships that will help me seek those who “know” the industry. Just knowing someone can help you land the job.

Playing, playing is what we many of us have been doing since birth. It is also beneficial to our creativity and the way we learn in the industry. I have often just played with a program or a camera when shooting and it turns out that I learn more effetely. Communications can be fun; in fact I find it fun which is why I want to do it for the rest of my life.

In the end what does it all mean? The meaning of our work is what it all comes down to. It is the purpose of the journey, the purpose of our work. When I create something in Photoshop or in After Effects or a video it has a meaning; a reason to be presented. The meaning of my work is what I what believe is my best work.

The futures is bold and unknown, but with what I learned and will learn from school, experience and creativity it already looks bright. Uncertainty is in my present but hope is in my future.

 sources:

:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/future.html#ixzz1knHSOH5F

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Whole_New_Mind

Graphical Videos

In the Superbad intro it shows two silhouette's dancing in a colorful background that constantly changes color. the background colors go from bright yellow to green,blue, red and purple while the silhouette's are changing with the background. They change with a complementary color such as dark blue background with a bright yellow silhouette. The video utilizes the colors as  happy, silly and outgoing. The intro's color goes well with how the movie is about. The movement and the music also add to the movie's style. I believe even if the video was muted and without all the slick dance moves it still comes across as a sill funny type of motion graphic. 

In the intro's they both show similar styles of color in the videos. In the Mad Men intro it shows a silhouette of a man in a suit who jobs off a building. The major colors in the video are black and red. Black is a misunderstood color, for one black is not a color but the absence of color. Black is often associated with death but in this intro it has more meaning. Black is also the color of elegance and class. Which is what the show's fashion is about: class. Black in this video can also be associated with mystery and inconspicuous; which is also a major theme of the show and the main character. The other color that the designer have utilized was the color red. Red in this video is used with black to make it stand out. Red is the symbol of power, in the show it's every man for himself. With the era of marketing, rising in power is very appropriate. The video's color gives off a deep and serious type of vibe. The designer definitely used the appropriate color scheme for the show.   

A higher learning

A liberal education is at the heart of a civil society, and at the heart of a liberal education is the act of teaching.  A. Bartlett Giamatti  

Education is the heart of this nation, without it we as a society will not thrive well.  In the past ten to eleven years the United States undergo the plan of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). In 2005 the Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP) took off. LEAP helps students improve on their educational experience. On aacu.org they say LEAP is a national initiative that champions the importance of a twenty first century liberal education. The two may have similar and different ways to improve the educational system.

 The NCLB was meant to improve the educational system by providing extra funds to school and better teachers. The plan was to improve schools and the students that inhibit them. The funding was determined by a standardized test that students need to take. Depending on how well or how bad the overall school scores is the school will receive its fund. If the school does not do well then the school needs to change its curriculum. The worst cases scenario is that the school may be closed and replaced by a whole new teaching staff. While LEAP is to improve liberal art studies not just the main courses such as math, reading and writing. LEAP tries to promote different techniques such as the Essential learning outcomes which are a guiding vision for liberal education.  

Though both have different ways to change the educational system it really takes a lot of hard work to improve the way we teach and learn. In my experience, I always tried to do my best in school and achieve what I could. The NCLB never really affected me in terms of education. Schools did put much effort in Math and English subjects.  It is said the education is the future but how can it be when it is such rough area to improve on.  Our future really depends on those teachers that will strive to teach their students to the best of their abilities.

I read Shakespeare and the Bible, and I can shoot dice. That's what I call a liberal education.
Tallulah Bankhead

Sources:
:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_education2.html#ixzz1jUwi8pRn

http://www.nea.org/home/NoChildLeftBehindAct.html

http://www.aacu.org/leap/