The Reality of The American Dream pt2

  Werner Herzog's film Stroszek is indeed an incredible documentary/film that adds to all the other famous and daring films he has to his credit. After watching the ending to Stroszek, I couldn't differ but to agree with Dan Schneider's review, A voice in the wilderness describing Herzog's extraordinary approach to film-making.

   Not only did Herzog leave his viewers/ audiences in suspense, he gave them the chance to read into the ending scene as they deems right. The irony of the whole ending scenes where Bruno S ends up in a native American neighborhood carrying with him a frozen turkey. Or leaving his truck running in circles with a fully dressed Native American right at the scene without but still isolated like nothing odd is going on around him.

   One big connection I made with the "professional" dancing chicken, pianist chicken, and the fire rabbit were their environment and how that might have been in relation to Stroszek's personal experiences leaving in institutions. Even though Stroszek felt a sense freedom after his release from jail and new life in the United States which was the best either, his past experiences were constantly at play in his now life which lead to emotional flashbacks which I believe lead to suicide. But then again why would he come all the way to and animal recreational center to end his life? Did he feel like he has been treated like an animal all this while? Perhaps, he felt that way or maybe it was time for him to move on with his life hereafter with hope of finding a safer haven elsewhere. Hopes that were from "TheAmerican Dream".

The Reality of The American Dream

Coming from a different country to America makes a person realize the importance to appreciates ones own culture and lifestyle to and extent and to let go the illusion of a safe haven or " The American Dream". One most important question that people fail to ask themselves before pursuing such dream is What really is the America Dream? How many Americans are living this dream? And what is the actual cost of living this dream?

Most a times, people get talked into believing that America is the place to be and that all is rosy and smooth running. We all know that is definitely not the case. Just like any other country in the world, America for that matter has its own flaws and forces to reckon with. Technology has and indeed to a greater deal created a global monster that is gradually eating us all up. As much as we are learning more about other parts of the world, we are actually not not receiving the right information.

In Bruno S case, he taught and believed strongly along with his friends that America was the safest and more free place to live. Initially this might have seemed like the case because they had jobs and were able to safe up something to buy a mobile house and all the little things that came with it that made it looked as if their illusions were becoming a reality but after a while when one gets to fully understand how things work in the "free country" then the reality sets in.
Yes America has wonderful things to offer but its actually not the best of place to be when you have a somethings else to compare with. There are the hidden truth that you only find out when you finally gets in. And due to preconceived notions about this place and the idea of the American Dream it is very difficult to prove otherwise to others on the fence. Maybe some day people on the other side would accept that there is nothing really like a free American Dream for all.

Final Project: The Missing Link

All too soon the term has ended our aim has been achieved. This video is our final project. Our aim for this project was to make a video that would in a critize the media about how Africa is portrayed in the West and vice versa. Our main resource was interviews of African Student studyind on Lawrence University campus and specifically American students who have had the opportunity to either visit or study in any west African country.

The our mission was to explore how their perception and expectations have changed after visiting these countries in relation what they thought off prior to their visit. For many years, the media have fed us with informations that have created in our minds a blurry way of viewing the world around us.

Interestingly, opinions and comments varied from one interviewee to the other even though they both share same experience. That is the difference between these people were not just what they media has fed them with but also how an individual decides to dive into the media believing very thing he or she is fed with. To enable a fair level palying ground, they media should learn to portray the all of a country or a continent for that matter. As one of the interviewee said " the media should show the good side of life". Yes there are poor people dying in Ghana, Sudan or Kenya and yes there homeless people leaving on the streets here in America but the best information to show is the balance.
This project has not only thought me how to gather information but also how to create and educational forum for people to decide how much and what to take form the media.
We have a choice to seek information but we also have and obligation tell the truth of situations as it is.

The Radicant: "Cultural Rain"

Well, thinking of the cultural rain one thing came to my mine. That is the ideal of sharing of cultures in a mutual way.Just as Picaso found inspiration in African art back then, so has our world today. We are all seeking to do a collaboration of some sort. Either as means of learning, sharing or even both.

In this video, students from University of Colorado did justice to taking devoting time and practice to making other culture their own. Nicholas Bourriaud did good in addressing the cultural globalization that exist in our time today. Not only did these student practice the song, they learned the lyric but also made it their own.
I believe it is time to let go the old way of thinking and seeing art.And embrass what our world offers as well as interacting with other works from other parts of the globe.

James Danky: Comics

It is very interesting to know how people take advantage of what we all disregard. James Danky journeyed a long way to making a name for himself. It also shows that our Librarian are important to us not only because they are a resourceful but also for reserving history.

I was not entirely, pleased with Danky's presentation. I was hoping he would have shown more of his work rather than the paintings he showed. Least to say that massages in the presentation was not entirely clear to me. But I found the few comics he show very interesting and controversial in it won way.
I thing that interesting to know from him, was the idea of learning and seeking inspiration from other artists work. From his slide one can tell he has a wide range of artist he adnires from different generations and movements.

The Radicant: "No Fixed Form"

The second part of this book talks alot about philosophy and way art has to seen. Nicolas Bourriaud's The Radicant deals with concepts and further with an increase in discussion of philosophy and influential thinkers as well as the controversy it raises.

What is art? and who decides what art should be or look like? Bourriaud begins by elaboratiing on some famous artist like Joseph Cornell's surrealistis boxes and Marcel Duchamp's fountain. The idea of challenging traditional art is to prove that Art is dynamique. It changes with time and taste. Many art forms came about as the quest fo rseeing news things grow even stronger in people.
Bourriaud argues Marceld Duchamp's ready made art to show the evolution in art and what used to be acceptable and creative in the art world centuries ago.
Today the Computer has even taken art to the extreme. How would we see art inthe next tweenty years?

Mentor/ Muse

Lindsey and I had not thought of a mentor prior to starting our project but somehow it all fell in place when our questions sparked answers that evolved about mostly Western media perspective about the rest of the world especially in Africa.
We hope to include this video clip in our final project to give our audience a better sense of media criticism.

Michael Jackson was a victim of the media. Just like many other celebraties, Micheal many public disgrace,rejections and many unanswered question about him through the media. This video is a good example of reactions to the media. Many misconceptions pass through to people from all angles and such is this video. We also chose this video because of its aesthetic beauty.
During our presentation, we had a lot of great suggestions and comments which we are paying much attention to make our video great in terms of th einformation we are trying to put across and the idea of technological advancement.