Assignment 2: Option 2 My Tag

This tag was inspired by the film Style Wars. While creating this piece, I had a playlist of break dancing songs playing on my DJ headphones for even more inspiration. I used a Wacom Tablet and Adobe Photoshop to design and create the tag. Following the steps displayed in Style Wars, such as to outline your design first, I constructed my tag. I chose the name Sammich due to it already being a nickname of mine given to me by my childhood friends for my love of sammiches. The design itself is a mouth eating a sammich, with the top of the mouth forming into an urban city environment. As seen in Style Wars, graffiti and tagging are both of the urban culture, thus the decision for the city nightscape. I posted a second photoshopped photo of what my tag would look like on a brick wall in an urban environment. I felt it was necessary to do so to display the tag in its truest and most real form.

May 27th Walk 4: Cocooned vs. Engaged

Cocooned

For this walk, I chose to walk down High St., a very crowded, high foot traffic street on the campus of the Ohio State University. Using my Ipod to "cocoon" myself, I walked for a bit over an hour; for the first half listening to a "Music I Love" playlist and for the second half, listening to a "Music I Hate" playlist, documenting my observations, thoughts, etc... on a notepad as the batteries for my voice recorder ran out.

The music for my playlist was chosen very specifically to see what changes in observation were made from changing songs; whether positive or negative.



"Music I Love" Playlist:

1. Ohio - Modest Mouse
2. Kinky Afro - Happy Mondays
3. Get Up Sex Machine - James Brown
4. Changes - Blind Melon
5. The Thrill Is Gone - B.B. King
6. Mannish Boy - Muddy Waters
7. Cut My Wings - Seasick Steve
8. The Crystal Ship - The Doors
9. Black Door - The Black Keys
10. Purple Rain - Prince

Having experienced this type of walk before, just being a college student with an Ipod, I had expectations of what was going to happen. My "Music I Love" playlist affected my mood positively and the "Music I Hate" playlist pissed me off. What I noticed most when listening to the music that I actually liked was that I was more intune with myself, ignoring the outside world, focusing on my own emotion. Modest Mouse always makes me feel settled, and comfortable with my state of mind, no matter what it is that day, as I feel there is a hint of psychosis to their music that is comforting. I chose them first for this reason; to set the mood for a good half of the walk and chose the song Ohio, well, because I am in Ohio. Next up was Happy Mondays, another group I associate with psychosis, yet a little more funky and dancey. My foot pace increased when this came on and a smile took over my face. I had a new rhythm that was not previously there. Continuing with the funky feeling, the Godfather of Soul, James Brown took over. At this point, I was completely zoned out, focusing solely on the music, the groove, the beat, the bass; closing my eyes often, becoming enthralled in the funk. Keeping the uplifting theme, I moved to one of my favorite songs of all time, "Changes" by Blind Melon. This song makes me shutter every time it comes on, and it did not fail to do so this time. The lyrics of the song are simple, essentially saying, don't be depressed. If you don't like what is going on, change it; a lesson that seems simple but was very hard for myself to learn. So, as the song ended, I ended up feeling a little sentimental. Thus, I transitioned to the blues; my heart and soul. For some reason, the Blues and Matt Shifrin go hand in hand. I feel I relate to these 70 year old black men more than my own age group and peers. "The Thrill is Gone" is a classic B.B. King hit, filled with emotion, giving me the chills every time B.B. hit a string. Next was Muddy Waters, essentially the same happenings as B.B. The blues always make me feel like it is me against the world, so at this point, I opened my eyes and started to observe the people a little more, but still ignoring them as I passed by with my blues. I had a "fuck you, I'm dealing with my own shit" kind of feeling; very empowering. Next was "Cut My Wings" by Seasick Steve, a not very known older White blues artist, who happens to sound like an older Black man. The simplicity of his music had me zoning out again, focusing on the rhythm, the beat, the tone, the emotion. After Seasick, I moved onto my favorite band and another one of my favorite songs of all time, "The Crystal Ship" by The Doors. Jim Morrison is a poet, thus emotion is assumed in all of The Door's music. This song makes me sway a certain way as I walk, it is hard to describe. It has its own flow and haunting weirdness that just gets to me. I can't say I was in a happy mood while listening to this song, as it isn't that type of song. It isn't meant to be. This returned me to the psychosis mood, but obviously a little more psychedelic, bringing me back to memories of psychedelic trips I've had my own self. You can't help it with Jim. He'll turn anyone crazy. Next, I brought it back to the Ohio theme with "Black Door" by The Black Keys, a newer blues rock group from Akron. This song just made me feel happy to be home finally. It was a settling point and realization that I was no longer in Arizona, and that summer was actually here. It put a big smile on my face and had me rocking the fuck out. To end this playlist, but to continue with the epic rocking out, I chose "Purple Rain" by Prince, one of the greatest songs of all time, hands down. With this song playing, there is no outer world, there is only Prince and there is only Purple Rain. My eyes were closed, luckily walking in an area with no stop lights at this point and a straight side walk. I went into a meditative state and had my own personal super rock out, not caring who the fuck was watching, or what was going on around me. When this song ended, I became very sad, as I knew what was too come... My "Music I Hate" playlist...




"Music I Hate" Playlist:

1. What Hurts The Most - Rascal Flatts
2. Baby Hold On - The Dixie Chicks
3. Nemo - Nightwish
4. Temporary Home - Carrie Underwood
5. I Will Do Anything For Love - Meatloaf
6. The Electric Slide - Wildlife
7. We Built This City - Jefferson Starship
8. Jack and Diane - John Mellencamp

To get this playlist, I went through my families Itunes and picked the most horrific songs I could find. It is not that I hate my family, it is just that I know they listen to some shitty music and also often download some random shit; especially my sister with her Ohioan love for country music (random fact: this did not develop until we moved to Ohio, as my family is originally from Chicago). With this playlist, I was thoroughly annoyed the entire time, often skipping songs, but then having to come back, so I could walk the rest of the time. My emotions did not change throughout the playlist, as each song is just as bad as the next. I felt bored and pissed off walking, looking down at my feet, embarrassed that I was listening to this shit. It was hard to focus on anything other than I wanted the walk to be done. I didn't pay attention to anyone but definitely for different reasons than the first playlist. After taking off my headphones, I felt a sense of relief, entered my car, and drove home, blasting songs from the first playlist to put me in a better mood.

Sounding Out The City Analysis

This article was an interesting read but I felt it diverged too deeply into the world of personal audio, at least relating back to my own use of an Ipod. I am a concert-goer and prefer music live, number one. After that, I love a good stereo system, vinyl preferred. I am a purist when it comes to music, or as some like to say, an asshole. I like music to effect the entire environment I am in, whether alone or not. When listening to music, and not using a personal player, I do chose music specific for my mood or music specific for changing my mood. I know music can be used as a tool, effecting behavior and mood. But again…

My Ipod retains little use in my own life. I find myself often forgetting it, or I guess, just not wanting to bring it along. But when I do have it, it is often used to distract. As in, kill time. When I do use my Ipod, it is for walking around campus, getting from class to class, making the walk go by a little more quickly. If not for this purpose, I use it for the gym, when I am not too lazy to go, again to lose track of time and distract. It does not necessarily make the event more enjoyable or less enjoyable. It doesn’t change the fact that I hate walking across campus to get from class to class or the fact that I hate running on a treadmill for 45 minutes, feeling like a hamster in a wheel. I truly could live without it, as I didn’t even purchase it for myself. It was a gift.

As far as specific music goes… I don’t have playlists on my Ipod for different purposes. In fact, I don’t have playlists on the thing what so ever. If I am using it, I often just put it on random, not really caring what is playing, as I have a very eccentric collection of music from all eras and all parts of the world. So, again, personally, this “personal space” that is talked about in the article is not relative to my own use, but I do understand how one could use a personal audio device to create this; to evade the real world, creating your own, as I do this with my other music listening habits. I have friends that use their Ipods in this way; for meditation, escapism, etc… So I am not saying this isn’t legitimate. They have playlists for different occasions, moods, and events; All relative to the article.

As far as the gaze being affected by it, I personally don’t really notice it. I have to admit, I’m not the most self-confident of fellow, so I am often looking at the ground when walking, whether I have an Ipod or not. I shelter myself from the real world as much as I can in all circumstances as I am an introvert, using my own mind as the main tool of escapism.

So again, an interesting read ,but not really relative to my life personally. I know people who would relate more to this article more than myself.

May 25th Walk 3: WhiteSuburban Middle America [Gahanna, Ohio]

For this walk, I chose to map White Suburban Middle America. Included in my documentation is audio commentary and a powerpoint presentation. Symbols, or mapping items, I found were commonality in houses, the image of the American flag, Ohio State propaganda, common aesthetic, green grass, safety, families, parks, sense of history, feelings of community, etc... All these items are documented in the audio and visual presentation.

Walk 3

View more presentations from Matt Shifrin.

Style Wars Analysis

The movie in discussion is that of Style Wars, a film documenting the hip-hop culture of the 1970’s and 1980’s. The film gives us the perspectives of both sides of the fence; that being video time of the young urban youth and that of the politicians of which whom they are fighting against. In question is the art form known as graffiti. Developing in New York City, first just being name tagging, graffiti has expanded into a worldwide accepted art form. Below are my responses to the discussion questions at hand.
By exploring these old tunnels, they are bringing them back to life with their art work. These graffiti artists are making people examine parts of the city they never have with a new perspective. These kids do not feel they are defacing the city with their art, but exploring it and beautifying it; adding new color and new life.
Hip-hop culture of this era found ways to express themselves, and by doing so, they empowered themselves. . By “bombing” the city with not just graffiti, but with their entire culture, these kids were able to finally bring their ideals to the public. Through their dancing, their tagging, and their music, the hip-hop scene was able to finally be seen; legitimizing them more and more. Each art was a form used in its own way to express, helping to push this new ideal; style; way of life. They were a subculture and obviously felt outcasted by society. Diverging into a unique culture, and finding others who want to do so, allow these youth to expand; power in numbers. Eventually the public had to respond.
I think graffiti for these people was a way of breaking out; showing that there were no boundaries and they were not afraid. The demographic associated with this scene has something to do with the culture, but I do not agree that it was born for the reason that this demographic owned close to nothing historically. I feel the psychological purpose of bombing was to make sure that your name was seen; so that people knew you existed; not necessarily to take ownership of something, even though that is mentioned in the movie. But by ownership of certain trains or certain areas, I feel these kids meant that is just where they could be seen. They obviously do not have physical ownership of anything, including their paintings, as they would get written over or cleaned. There would be no Bansky without the starting of this culture during this era. Bansky is banking on an ease of times, as graffiti is not historically accepted. Banksy still understands the original motive of the movement, thus for his choosing of locations that seem to be political. Once finally accepted by society, graffiti could now not just get your name out there, but your message. And if you are good enough at what you do, like Bansky, people will listen.
To determine if tagging is a form vandalism, one must look at the individual piece of work. If the work is profane, or destructive, then yes it is vandalism. But, there were and are artists that respect that these works are in public, and also, because of this, make works with more meaning than just having their name written somewhere. Graffiti will always question power, it is in its nature; There will always be people who enjoy it and others who do not. It is the same as any other art form. By ownership, again, weren’t talking about physical ownership. It Is ownership of a visual space because that is where their work is being displayed. I do not feel they were putting their names on the A train and then saying “I own the A train” in the sense that now if someone wants the A train, they must purchase from them. Again, it is an ownership of visual space.
The urban youth are always under attack by society, yet they always seem to be the trend setters. Because a scene is started by a less fortunate urban youth, then yes, this means society will stereotype that scene with ethnic urban youth and the values attached. White kids become interested because it is cool. They are rebelling against their own culture and try find comfort in a new subculture. You can see this in America today, for example, with the flat-brim baseball hat; a trend started by ethnic urban youth, stolen by white middle class America.
The best way to get your message out there is to speak it and the hip-hop culture found its own voice in what is now called rap. By having their own music genre, this scene can articulate to the masses, convey morals, inform, etc… especially if this music is beat driven, aggressive and loud. And always with music, comes dance. Breakdancing is used to empower hip-hop music and the culture even more; to solidify it more; to help justify it more; and again to spread the idea more.
His point is that the trains are the only place he feels where he can express himself and this expression can be seen and appreciated (at least by those who appreciate it). It allows be displaying and talking about, whether positive or negative. There is no such thing as bad press.
As far as Artist vs. Bomber, each have their own intentions for graffiti. The artist finds comfort in it and uses it as a form of self expression. They do not have the intentions of harming public space, where as the Bomber does. The bomber’s intentions is to get their name up in as many places as possible just so that their name is known. The artist wants to be known for name as well as their style, as well as their art. And in discussion of these terms, and in the terms of More Vs. Quality, obviously quality is more important, especially when trying to legitimize a subculture that is automatically outcasted and looked down upon. The artist wants to have a say because they have something to say. The bomber wants recognition for celebrity of name and that is all. In terms of other art movements, the rarer the work, the more monetary and social value it has. Limited editions in all realms of society hold higher value.
When graffiti is removed from the public space, I feel it is no longer graffiti; at least not as legitimate. When this style of work is being taken into the galleries, this is a result of graffiti and the culture. It is a representation in a different setting. I do not feel it is actual graffiti defined by its truest definition. What the gallery does allow is for the visual aesthetic of this culture to become more known and accepted; maybe making the actual culture, out there on the streets, a little more acceptable. But, it only allows for a glimpse. To truly know and understand this culture, one must be of it.
Those whom are in power are still just human beings; as are the graffiti artists. The societal laws are defined by society and society is a product of us. So in this sense, we do have a say in the aesthetic of a city/space. For example, our own homes, a space, can be decorated however we want. It is when public space enters the picture that we run into problems. These kids feel they are of the streets, utilize the streets, and understand the streets; the streets being a public space. Thus, they have the right to interpret the streets for the rest of us. Bureaucratic America does not understand this culture because they are in the tall buildings looking down on the streets. It is the same as any subculture. If you are different, you are going to be feared, mistreated, and questioned.