Hacking Reaction

This was an amazing documentary. I was blown away that people could figure out how to use tones to dial a phone, and how investing so much time and energy into a hobby could end up as something that is such an integral part of modern life. I wish that there were some similar thing nowadays, or that people would spend more effort trying to "hack" computers; concentrating on that rather than whether or not things will sell could lead to more innovation and faster-improving technology.

I also thought that it was funny how much the world overreacted to Mitnick; how could one man and a payphone cause a nuclear war? I also thought that it was strange that people tried so hard to catch him.

RIP reaction

I loved this documentary! I was really interested that this is the first century that has not been able to legally rip things from other's creations. I wish that the creator had explained why Disney was able to extend the copyright length; if it was a birthday gift to Mickey Mouse, why would they allow it to cover everything created from that time period? and when does that extension end? I was also shocked that Girltalk allows his face to be shown; why is he not sued?

I was a little annoyed by the maker's very childish "us against the world" narration; it would make the documentary a little more mature if he didn't spend so much time building up the "war".

Electronic Music

Response: Contemporary Electronic Music

I really was amazed that the creator of the theremin and the early synthesizer were able to find people that had the skills and imagination to make socially acceptable music with the new instruments. I've actually played a theremin before, and it was amazing to hear classical music coming out of it.
I was also really amused by Kraftwerk; both their robotic "aesthetic" and songs were very fun to hear.
It was interesting that so many of the electronic music groups introduced other forms of art, both visual and tactile, into their work. Besides the pictures embedded in songs, the sculptural aspect of mixing music was very cool.

(kraftwerk wendy carlos)

Synth Brittania

I was impressed by how young Kraftwerk was when they toured internationally, and it was nice how seriously they took themselves. The introduction of the synth into the general public when the price dropped was interesting; I wonder if the quality of synth music dropped?

I really liked Gary Newman, both for his aesthetic and his music. I was glad that the "manly, sweaty, gross" kind of aesthetic was taken over by this smooth, industrial music.

Survival Research Laboratories

I wonder how the people in SRL are satisfied with what they do? Their creations aren't particularly useful in any research, monetary, or aesthetic sense. They remind me of teenage boys who ride around on motorcycles and want to join the army so everyone else will think they're tough. I also don't really consider what they do "art"; it's more like scientific experimentation; throwing random things together just to see what they'll do. I see how social commentary could be taken out of it, but I don't think that's their main goal with the machines. However, I do respect their idea of trying to siphon off some of the talent that goes into the defense industry as to not "destroy us all."

Reaction 4: Fluxus

I'm always kind of shocked at how limited art was early on; how little merging there was between each art form.

I like how participatory Kaprow's happenings were, but I don't really think of them as "art", per se; more like a kind of game due to its unaesthetic and participatory nature. I do think that it's interesting how he mapped out each happening like a score of music; specifically timing each section of his performance, much like John Cage.

I thought it was amusing that the artists went as far to make the "flux pills" and make "flux cooporative housing". In addition with the "flux hall", I feel that the movement was very closed-off and that without the public's influence, flux went off by itself and spiraled into a very weird movement.

I admire their idea of giving the public access to their "art"; especially with the audience-participatory acts, I think it seems very fun.

In some ways, the entire fluxus movement reminds me of something young children would do on their own; send funny things through the mail, record themselves doing weird things, make games, eat jello off of furniture and cars, play with matches, whack a piano.

Reunion Documentary

I thought it was interesting that the man was obviously so involved in his memories and yet the person he talked to had never heard of fluxus.

I don't like how all of the composers and artists dedicate their work towards each other; it adds to the feeling of the fluxus movement being cut-off and a fringe act.

Reaction 3: John Cage

After playing flute classically for 10 years, I have heard a lot about John Cage; mostly about 4:33. However, I never realized that in addition to composing, Cage dabbled in so many other art forms. Having now learned about his work in composition and musical performance, I wonder if his art reflects the same elements; changing the use of something to make a whole new tool. Besides his art, though, I was very impressed by Cage's stoicism during performance. In the Paik tribute, you can literally feel the tension of the people staring at Cage, wondering what in the world he's doing sitting there with the stopwatch and the closed piano lid and asking each other when the music will start. Cage, however, sits there like a statue; seemingly immune to the doubt and skepticism going on around him.

The first thing I noticed about John Cage was how happy he was about what he does. I never realized what he was trying to do via his music; "to begin to like what we dislike makes the world more open". After hearing this, I became much more appreciative of his art. It was shocking that Cage started so early in his life to move away from the conventional approach to music; the music he composed for the dancer, "In the Name of the Holocaust" was already very indicative of what he would later move on to do. However, much of his work does not speak to me. Maybe it's because I have a preconcieved notion of what music is, ingrained by my classical flute playing, but much of his work does not appeal to me as much as his pure intention does. However, John Cage was also classically trained; it makes me wonder how he can separate his instinct from this training apart from his completely unharmonious composition.

Entlastungen Pipilottis Fehler

Entlastungen Pipilottis Fehler

The stop-start kind of imagery taken at such a close-up that it’s impossible to tell what’s going on and what the images actually are in combination with the scales in the background give an interesting effect. The held note in combination with the freeze-frame was also interesting, and was a good leadup to the shocking images and creepy voice on the black screen. I do wish I could understand what she was saying, but I don’t think it’s really necessary to get the full effect of the video. The emotions the girl shows and the way the video warps her face is very strange, but it gives an interesting effect; the rainbow-greenish static crossing the screen in front of the falling girls seems like it has some connection to the voice and music; the timing is very similar. The striped shirts of the mimes also seem like they have some connection with the static. This sort of experimental video isn’t anything I’ve ever seen before, and I still think it’s a very strange concept. Her juxtaposition of unreal and graphic images with the realistic ones are very reminiscent of the sound of the piece; the voice and the strange crashing sounds.