The more popular of singer Bruno Mars' songs have very creative lyrics that are easy to relate to. Take his newest single, "The Lazy Song," for example. This song is about taking a day off, and doing nothing. Laziness is concept relatable to probably the majority of people anywhere in the world.
The music video for this song goes very well with the lyrics, I think. Its a simple video that looks like whoever came up with the idea was actually kind of lazy at the time. But that's a good thing. In order for some message to be effective, people have to be able to relate to something in the way its preseneted. In this song, it is the lyrics and the visual presentation of Bruno Mars' laziness. Watching this video, I do believe that all he wants to do that day is to just relax. It is not too over-the-top, but just the right amount of effort and "who cares?" put into the video.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Embarrassment for the Sake of Romance?
Marriage proposals fall into many different categories: epic fail, mediocre, just right,super sweet and romantic among some of them. But then there are the public proposals -- those are in a league all their own. And in that league, the following proposal could top them all.
It takes a lot of planning to be able to pull something like that off. Possibly even more time and work that to propose at another sort of public event. This enormous amount of effort that is put into a proposal reflects not only how much the couple love each other, but how well they know their future partner.
I could imagine how a person may think this type of proposal too over-the-top or embarrassing. If the couple knew each other well enough, their engagement would most likely not be (as) public. On the other hand, public proposals take expressing love for another to a higher level. Everyone in the world (or atleast in the vicinity, if it is not captured on film / video and put on television / YouTube) will know of the love the two people feel for each other.
There are pros and cons. Benefits and embarrassments. But that's just like everything involving love and life.
It takes a lot of planning to be able to pull something like that off. Possibly even more time and work that to propose at another sort of public event. This enormous amount of effort that is put into a proposal reflects not only how much the couple love each other, but how well they know their future partner.
I could imagine how a person may think this type of proposal too over-the-top or embarrassing. If the couple knew each other well enough, their engagement would most likely not be (as) public. On the other hand, public proposals take expressing love for another to a higher level. Everyone in the world (or atleast in the vicinity, if it is not captured on film / video and put on television / YouTube) will know of the love the two people feel for each other.
There are pros and cons. Benefits and embarrassments. But that's just like everything involving love and life.
Friday, May 13, 2011
The Unfortunate Truth
The graphs on graphjam.com are meant to be funny. Like this:
Unfortunately, as a student, this is something that happens way more often than necessary. But I guess the truthfulness of this occurrence, as well as the truthfulness to some of the other graphs on their website, is what makes the graphs so effective. It is funny and relatable the first time you see the graph, but as you think about it, it is actually quite depressing. To see the probability of the outcome of your test, or the accuracy of your report in an actual graph makes you realize how annoying and often it occurs compared to possible outcomes.
How sad.
Unfortunately, as a student, this is something that happens way more often than necessary. But I guess the truthfulness of this occurrence, as well as the truthfulness to some of the other graphs on their website, is what makes the graphs so effective. It is funny and relatable the first time you see the graph, but as you think about it, it is actually quite depressing. To see the probability of the outcome of your test, or the accuracy of your report in an actual graph makes you realize how annoying and often it occurs compared to possible outcomes.
How sad.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Our Windows to the World
Many of us take our eyes for granted. We do not think much about our vision until something happens to it, such as when a person starts to wear glasses for the first time, or looses their vision altogether. We also see the colours that make up the iris (the coloured part of your eye) as beautiful and one of the most interesting part of anyone's eye.
However, not all is as it seems. Armenian photographer Suren Manvelyan can show you how:
Kind of different, isn't it? This series of photographs, titled "Your Beautiful Eyes," show that although the makeup of an eye is not exactly what many others would think, it is still beautiful in its own way. Once I got past the initial shock seeing the texture of an eye, I could appreciate the millions of years evolution took to make our eye what it is today. But I still feel creeped out that this is a part of my body.
This series of photographs show that there are many types of photography a person can pursue. Those who enjoy photography but worry that they will not be successful in that artistic field can realize that such types of photography such as still lifes and portraits are not the only way to go. The scientific field, for example, needs photographers to visually record the breakthroughs and/or trials of their research. Police and such other investigators need photographers who have a strong stomach to be able to take pictures of a crime scene. These photos do not need to be as artistic, so they are great for those who are unsure about going after a career is forms of artistic photography.
It also goes to say that photography teaches others about the world, and that photos are just as great a learning tool as books.
However, not all is as it seems. Armenian photographer Suren Manvelyan can show you how:
Kind of different, isn't it? This series of photographs, titled "Your Beautiful Eyes," show that although the makeup of an eye is not exactly what many others would think, it is still beautiful in its own way. Once I got past the initial shock seeing the texture of an eye, I could appreciate the millions of years evolution took to make our eye what it is today. But I still feel creeped out that this is a part of my body.
This series of photographs show that there are many types of photography a person can pursue. Those who enjoy photography but worry that they will not be successful in that artistic field can realize that such types of photography such as still lifes and portraits are not the only way to go. The scientific field, for example, needs photographers to visually record the breakthroughs and/or trials of their research. Police and such other investigators need photographers who have a strong stomach to be able to take pictures of a crime scene. These photos do not need to be as artistic, so they are great for those who are unsure about going after a career is forms of artistic photography.
It also goes to say that photography teaches others about the world, and that photos are just as great a learning tool as books.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Good Luck? Or Pro Skill?
It either takes some amazing skill for someone to be able to pull this off, or amazing luck. Whichever it is, it makes for a very interesting and very cool video.
Imagine what life would be like if even just one of your friends - most preferably yourself - were able to do that. Oh, how our lives would change. The trick I most especially like is when one of the two people in the video throws a ball from his bed and successfully turns off the light. I personally hate getting out of bed after I am so comfortable to turn off the light to go to sleep. Or attempting to throw something out into a garbage bin from far away, and then missing.
There are so many talented people out there - we just don't know about them. YouTube is a great way for these people to get recognized and make their talents known. We, the viewers, appreciate that as well.
Imagine what life would be like if even just one of your friends - most preferably yourself - were able to do that. Oh, how our lives would change. The trick I most especially like is when one of the two people in the video throws a ball from his bed and successfully turns off the light. I personally hate getting out of bed after I am so comfortable to turn off the light to go to sleep. Or attempting to throw something out into a garbage bin from far away, and then missing.
There are so many talented people out there - we just don't know about them. YouTube is a great way for these people to get recognized and make their talents known. We, the viewers, appreciate that as well.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
A Different Kind of Conditioner
A recent article on msn.ca left me amazed. But not in the way one would probably think.
An article titled "9 Bizarre Beauty Treatments from Around the World" does in fact include truly bizarre beauty treatments. The one I found the weirdest? A Bull - Semen Facial.
Previously offered in London at Hari's Salon, a mixture of bull semen and Katera root would be applied to a client's hair. It worked as a conditioner, providing much need protein to frizzy hair.
Although it does seemkinda gross, the fact that there are people out there who want to and are able to invent new products that are natural invites a big sigh of relief. So many items (not just hair products) available on the market today consists entirely of man-made chemicals and such other un-natural substances. It is not only hazardous to human health, but to the environment as well. To human health, our bodies could get accustomed to the chemicals used in whatever product we use, making the product less effective. Scientists would then have to create stronger, possibly more dangerous chemicals or substitutes to keep up with the demand of a newer consumer good. Also, these artificial creations take a toll on an environment that is not used to having something so weird in it, so one never knows the impact a substance can have on nature.
Au naturel is the way to go. Why make the world a more dangerous place?
An article titled "9 Bizarre Beauty Treatments from Around the World" does in fact include truly bizarre beauty treatments. The one I found the weirdest? A Bull - Semen Facial.
Previously offered in London at Hari's Salon, a mixture of bull semen and Katera root would be applied to a client's hair. It worked as a conditioner, providing much need protein to frizzy hair.
Although it does seem
Au naturel is the way to go. Why make the world a more dangerous place?
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Back To The Beginning
Looking through other artists' portfolio always fills me with inspiration and just a little bit of jealousy. Looking through German photographer Christian Plochacki did just that, but also made me feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia and peacefulness.
It may be the lighting, colour tones and focus that make the feelings of nostalgia and peacefulness that much stronger for me. The lighting is muted - neither too bright nor overly dark - and give me a sense of remembrance. The colours are also muted, the right shade for the audience to recognize the subject, and not too bright as to be so obvious. Having the background blur and not as emphasized puts more focus on the subject that Christian really wants his audience to acknowledge.
These three things are probably the main reasons for my sense of nostalgia and peace. When I think about my past, it is not very clear. There are those blurry events that I would not be able to play back in vivid detail and colour. However when I do think about the past, I remember happier, simpler times. These two photos no not have a lot going on, but they are beautiful nonetheless.
So many more of Christian's photos evoke emotion, which is awesome. I believe the best art and artists make their audience feel something, so I have great respect for this photographer, Christian Plochacki.
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| This Weight On My Shoulders http://www.flickr.com/photos/heist_mine/5271676430/in/photostream |
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| Picture Perfect http://www.flickr.com/photos/heist_mine/5158258671/in/photostream/ |
These three things are probably the main reasons for my sense of nostalgia and peace. When I think about my past, it is not very clear. There are those blurry events that I would not be able to play back in vivid detail and colour. However when I do think about the past, I remember happier, simpler times. These two photos no not have a lot going on, but they are beautiful nonetheless.
So many more of Christian's photos evoke emotion, which is awesome. I believe the best art and artists make their audience feel something, so I have great respect for this photographer, Christian Plochacki.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Rescue
Few songs are able to evoke different emotions when heard, depending on what you were feeling at the time. Besides this, there are so many talented people out of the spotlight that create (usually) even better music than those who are more popular / famous artists. Tyler Ward is one of them:
When I first watched this video, I focused more on the clips of the people rather than the music - a first for me. But I think it was a great idea for Tyler to choose this method as a platform this song. Allowing people to express and share their weaknessess and insecurities helps everyone, including them, come to accept their situation, learn that others are dealing with the same things as them, and hopefully find a solution.
After watching the video's clips, I closed my eyes and concentrated on the music and lyrics. I thought the clips were already pretty inspirational, but I imagine just listening to the song would probably make me feel a whole lot better if I were in a bad mood.
Inspirational songs are hard to come by. So many songs now have no emotion, written by others for an artist that may or may not have gone through the same situation, and therefore not have experienced the same emotion as the song requires to make it effective. Even if the emotion is there, sometimes after watching the video, the song becomes less of an inspiration for me. It's sad.
However, there are exceptions. This, for one, rescued me from accepting this sterotype to be fact.
When I first watched this video, I focused more on the clips of the people rather than the music - a first for me. But I think it was a great idea for Tyler to choose this method as a platform this song. Allowing people to express and share their weaknessess and insecurities helps everyone, including them, come to accept their situation, learn that others are dealing with the same things as them, and hopefully find a solution.
After watching the video's clips, I closed my eyes and concentrated on the music and lyrics. I thought the clips were already pretty inspirational, but I imagine just listening to the song would probably make me feel a whole lot better if I were in a bad mood.
Inspirational songs are hard to come by. So many songs now have no emotion, written by others for an artist that may or may not have gone through the same situation, and therefore not have experienced the same emotion as the song requires to make it effective. Even if the emotion is there, sometimes after watching the video, the song becomes less of an inspiration for me. It's sad.
However, there are exceptions. This, for one, rescued me from accepting this sterotype to be fact.
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