Rock & Roll

         In discussing rock and roll, we talked a lot about the "model of authenticity" that categorized different rock styles in time according to their level of authenticity. According to the model, teen idol rock, 70's disco, and 80's big hair and metal rock are at the bottom of the model while Elvis, the Beatles, 70's punk rock, and early 90's alternative rock are at the top of the authenticity scale. I think it is interesting to try and classify rock this way because within each movement and especially within a certain artist or groups career we can see differing levels of "authenticity". To define authenticity here, it seems that the quality of lyrics seems to be the overreaching principle behind whether a group or movement gets deemed worthy of being authentic or not. I think there are definitely other factors, but the substance of the lyrics would have to be the most important.
         For example, I can't think of a type of music who's lyrics sound more ridiculous than the teen idol bubble gum pop age. No substance whatsoever. Same with the Disco, I personally don't think it belongs within the realm of rock. Not that I hate it or anything, I just think it should be included among another music genre. Although the 80's big hair and metal movement brings the sounds of the songs back to what we would generally think rock should be like, the lyrics are equally stupid.
         In contrast, the more authentic types of rock and roll combine musical talent with lyrics that share a message or challenge existing cultural systems as in the case of punk rock (which I detest). So in the end, it's the combination of thought provoking lyrics with musical talent that makes a song authentic and memorable.
         As I said before though, I think the Beatles have many songs with little or no substance to their lyrics, so  does Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll himself. For this reason I believe the model is flawed, although it does provide us with some valuable comparisons and information. One things for sure, the 3 movements on the bottom of the authenticity totem pole deserve to stay there, I'm not a fan of any of them.

Architecture

            I find it incredible that art movements are found withing architecture. I believe that it takes an incredible amount of talent to be able to combine functionality and style, especially in modern style architecture. Modern architecture celebrates a "tradition of the new" approach in which architecture is made for the sake of architecture. It is very experimental and incorporates many different styles. It's sad that throughout time it devolved into a corporate/socialist style with everything the same and different defined class distinctions. Despite this, I find modern architecture to be one of the most interesting subjects we've covered this semester.

             I love this building and pool in Cancun Mexico that incorporates modern styling while adding the culture through the use of the pyramid style building. I think that it is a beautiful example of what modern architecture can accomplish when it is executed well. It creates a sleek non ornamented building. I think the simplicity of modern architecture is where the beauty is found.
On the left we see an example of modern art in the United States. Modern style generally rules the skys of intercity America with skyscrapers dominating the overall style of the city. I think modern architecture in this form comes across as powerul, once again accentuated by the simplicity and non ornamental nature of the art movement that causes one to focus on the overall size of the building rather than on individual parts.

           Postmodern architecture brings back the ornamentation that is absent in modern style architecture. It moves away from the austere and searches for a more aesthetically pleasing approach. Postmodern style combines many different styles that add up to some very interesting buildings. One thing I appreciate about postmodern style architecture is its attempt to bring back old styles and cultural roots in the formation of a building's style.

        These are two buildings that we discussed in class that incorporate postmodern styling in the choice of material as well as the ornamentation used in the building as a whole.

Art Within Differing Cultures

           Marcela Toledo and I did a power-point project about the differences in modern art and architecture in the United States and Mexico. We also discussed how Latin rhythms have influenced music in America, particularly through Carlos Santana’s rendition of “Oye Como Va”. Carlos Santana is an immigrant to the United States from Mexico. His father was an accomplished vocalist and Carlos began learning to play the guitar at age eight. Later he would practice his skills playing in clubs where he would mimic the musical style of many early American blues and rock artists like Little Richard and Ray Charles. Later he and his family moved to San Francisco where Santana was exposed to Jazz and other types of folk music common to the hippie movement centered in San Francisco. Santana decided to make music his professional career and formed the Santana Blues Band with some of his fellow musicians.

            I would say that Carlos Santana’s music has had a big impact on the style of music listened to in the United States. As far as pushing the envelope and changing the style and face of popular music in America, I think Santana played a huge roll. Music has a lot to do with culture obviously, so I would say that he played a big roll. He wasn’t an artist who really pushed social norms or fought against established social injustices or anything, but in his own way he affected the face of music in America.

            “Oye Como Va” is a prime example of the Latin/Rock fused style that defined Santana’s blues band. Latin beats were relatively unused within popular American music of the time, but Santana found a way to introduce them to the public through the use of the electric guitar. By using an instrument that was familiar to American ears, he successfully exposed Americans to Latin style music without them really knowing they were being exposed to it probably. From there we see the influence this song had on other popular rock and roll songs of the time like War’s “Spill the Wine” for example. I think this is really significant for Latin artists in the United States especially when we consider Santana’s routes in Mexico, the country with more immigrants in the United States than any other country by far.

            The bigger part of our slide show had to do with modern architecture and art, which in addition to the music is a topic of great interest to me. I personally love the Latin culture because I served my mission among people mostly from Mexico. As I searched for modern style architecture in Mexico and the U. S. I was able to see parts of their culture and ways of thinking come out in their art. It was interesting to see how within a specific art movement, there is room for differences in culture and also for similarities between cultures. I loved to see how Carlos Santana was able to help bring Latin music into the United States through his song “Oye Como Va”. Before doing this project I didn’t really like modernist art and architecture that much. But after searching through different pictures of modern style buildings trying to find the right ones for our slide show I have a heightened respect for the level of talent it must take to create and design modern style buildings. 

America's Music

          The first song I chose to write about is “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix. I had heard this song many times without having the slightest clue about what the lyrics were even referring to. I had always liked it because of the use of the electric guitar and my general interest in classic rock. After listening to the commentary I now know that it is not really necessary to understand the meaning of the lyrics. The song is based on a dream that Hendrix had after reading a science fiction novel. In learning about Jimi Hendrix’s musical history, the seemingly strange and unorthodox nature of the lyrics in “Purple Haze” makes more sense to me. Hendrix was a self-taught guitarist who restrung his guitar and flipped it upside down to accommodate his being left handed. After feeling frustrated as a side artist in a rock band, he left for England where he started his first makeshift band. “Purple Haze,” which was first played in London, was Hendrix’s first big hit and it became a clear representation of Hendrix’s musical style as well as his freestyle approach to life in general.

            “Purple Haze” breaks the classic blues structure mold in its use of the electric guitar and faster tempo. Jimi Hendrix, although undoubtedly inspired by the early blues and “Muddy Water” music, was able to fuse rock and roll with the blues as well as revolutionize the use of the electric guitar in his short four-year career. Hendrix died of a drug overdose only years after writing and singing “Purple Haze.”

            I personally have always loved this song mostly because of the sounds produced by the electric guitar. Hendrix often turned up the sound of his amplifier in order to produce different sounds from his instrument. When I listen to the song, I feel like the guitar almost sounds like a second person that responds to Hendrix’s words. I am a big fan of classic rock and have always considered this song as one of the most important and influential songs of the genre. I believe that this song not only captures the feeling and mindset of the sixties, but that it also paved the way for much of the popular music made during and after this time period. “Purple Haze” is a great representation of Jimi Hendrix’s pure talent as a musician as well as his daringness to try new sounds and techniques.

            The second song I chose is “Oye Como Va,” originally by Tito Puente and remade by Carlos Santana. In listening to the commentary on this song I learned various details about how Carlos Santana took an already great song and made it more accessible to a broader audience. Tito Puente originally produced the song using Cuban rhythms and Latin based instruments. Seven years later Carlos Santana, an immigrant to the United States from Tijuana, Mexico, reproduced the song using different rock instruments while keeping the same Cuban rhythm and Latin style. Santana’s fusion of rock and Latin music in this song caught the attention of American listeners who had previously never really been exposed to Latin style music and rhythms. I believe that the use of the electric guitar really helped make “Oye Como Va” so influential because it gave the song a different feel that allowed listeners from the United States to relate in some way to the sounds, while introducing them at the same time to a musical genre they had not experienced.

            I personally love this song mostly because of the interest I have in Latin culture and music. I served my mission Spanish speaking and have developed a deep love for the people and their way of life. The fact that this song helped introduce Latin music style in the United States makes it a very important song to me personally. I love that people appreciate and like this song without having to understand what the lyrics are saying. This says much about both Santana and Puente’s musical genius as well as the effect Latin music has had and continues to have on American culture and music. Many songs such as the 1970 hit “Spill the Wine” have been influenced by the rhythms and use of instruments in “Oye Como Va.” This song is well labeled as one of the hundred most influential songs in America.

            Lastly, I chose to listen and write about James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain.” Listening to the commentary helped me learn the meaning of the song, and to more fully appreciate the artist James Taylor’s musical talent. The song has three verses that communicate Taylor’s feelings about three different subjects. The first has to do with the suicide of one of his close friends. In the second Taylor sings of his struggle with Heroine and possibly other hard drugs. The third and final verse is about a mental hospital and a band Taylor played in during the earlier stages of his career. I had always understood that the song had to do with the death of someone, but I had never realized the meanings of the second and third verses. My appreciation grew for the power of music in communicating feelings that are somewhat difficult to communicate or express. In writing this song Taylor was able to relieve many feelings of tension that these events had caused for him in his life, and I feel that listeners can in return release feelings of sadness or distress through his lyrics.

            I personally love listening to this song because I think the way the guitar is used goes so well with the lyrics and message of the song. A tone of sadness is expressed by the words, yet to me there is also a feeling of hope created by the way Taylor plays his guitar and uses the piano in the background. What I most appreciate about this song however is that has to do with real events in a real persons life. To me it is powerful when a person can express himself or herself in such a way through music. I think the popularity and effect of the song is enhanced by the reality of the events in the song because Taylor was able to really communicate what actually happened to him.

The Great Depression Captured

Most of the time the word art brings to the mind images of beautiful vast landscapes, or perhaps a stunning family portrait. Generally speaking, the aesthetic qualities of a piece of art have more to do with whether it makes itself on the wall of a person’s home than anything else. There is another type, however, that has the capacity to capture the emotion of an entire nation. A truly special work of art is one that is aesthetically pleasing while conveying a powerful message to its viewers. The Forgotten Man by Maynard Dixon employs characteristics of the social realism art movement, the artist’s actual life experiences, and unique aesthetic qualities to capture the downtrodden emotional state of America during the Great Depression.

            The Social Realism movement is characterized by its realistic portrayal of difficult economic circumstances created by a corrupt social structure. It is most often depicted through the eyes of the working class since they almost always suffer most in the wake of problems caused by such systems. The Forgotten Man draws heavily from this movement as it connects with the injustices and hardships of the Great Depression felt by the unnamed subject of the painting. The title of the work is representative of how a person such as the man in the painting must have felt during this time period. Just from hearing the title one easily adopts a social realists point of view, deriving that the man has been forgotten by the government or upper class society. Dixon’s choice to make one person the subject of his work allows the viewer to more personally sympathize with the helpless mindset of the man, therefore further reinforcing social realism ideals. Dixon’s focus on one single individual to express the feelings of an entire social economic class is also indicative of his own personal life experiences leading up to, and during the time when he painted The Forgotten Man.

            Maynard Dixon was born in Fresno, California to aristocratic ex-confederate parents who had recently relocated from Virginia after the Civil War. From a young age he was taught by his mother to appreciate the arts. Later in his youth he studied briefly at the California School of Design where he learned to love painting western theme landscapes (Stremmel). His favorable upbringing provided Dixon with a reference point from which to contrast his life experiences during the Great Depression.

            After his first marriage failed, Dixon married Dorothea Lange in 1920. A famed photographer, Dorothea dedicated her work to depicting the difficulties experienced by migrant workers in America as well as maritime workers strikes in San Francisco. Her work undoubtedly influenced Dixon’s art style as his paintings switched from impressionist style western landscapes to social realism inspired depictions of people of the day (Stremmel).

            The Forgotten Man, painted in 1934 takes on a new meaning when one considers the personal economic struggles faced by Dixon and his family. Gaining commission from their art was nearly impossible for both Dixon and his wife during a time when most were more worried about providing the bare necessities for their families. Eventually the artists were forced to give up their home, board their children, and live in their art studios (Sublette). When contrasted with his previous lifestyle, these events placed him in a position to intimately understand the emotions experienced by the subject of his painting. Dixon combines this understanding with unique and carefully planned aesthetic qualities to produce a compelling piece of art.

            As one examines The Forgotten Man, much of the meaning behind the painting can be attributed to the way in which Dixon uses shading, color and other aesthetic characteristics to capture the emotion of both the man and the painting as a whole. The unnamed subject is hunched over, sitting on a busy street curb with his left leg stretched out in a dejected manner. His eyes which are unseen to the viewer, are sadly staring downward into his dirty, limp hands. His exhausted facial expression coupled with his unkempt blond hair conveys a sense of utter hopelessness, undoubtedly felt by many working class men of the day. The scene surrounding the man as well as the colors used also contributes greatly to the overall feeling of the painting.

            Behind the subject we see a crowd of people hurrying off to their various destinations. One would assume by the fancy appearance of the shoes and pants that these people are headed to work. This serves to tie in the title once again as the “forgotten” subject seems to be the only one without work. Only the legs of the people are shown, making the subject appear to be smaller and even more ignored by those passing by who are obviously not paying any attention to him. Along the base of the curb on either side of the man are small dirty street puddles that appear to be creeping toward him. This places him yet again in a lower, more insignificant place than the clean businessmen and women who are walking on the raised curb. Extensive shadowing is used in this oil painting to emphasize the desired emotion. The fact that the sun is placed at the man’s back leaving him in the dark shadows effectively accentuates the sadness of the man’s facial expressions and hunched body posture. The dreary blue tone of the man’s coat as well as the top of the nearby fire hydrant coupled with brown and tan tones of the pants and street curb also add to the depressed feeling of the painting. Overall, these aesthetic qualities successfully portray the emotions felt by not only Dixon, but also all American working class men and women of the Great Depression.

            The period of time in which this painting was made was one of the most difficult in all of American history. Anytime economic and social situations are unfavorable, social realism serves to expose injustices and capture the unpleasant reality of those most affected by such circumstances. Maynard Dixon’s The Forgotten Man draws upon the economic hardships experienced by him and his family as well as his incredible use of well-planned aesthetic qualities to create a painting that most definitely fits within the scope of social realism. The emotions of an entire nation rocked by the Great Depression are beautifully captured within this Maynard Dixon masterpiece. 

Technology

            Never in the history of the world was there a society so advanced. Never a people so connected, so in touch. Technological discovery is increasing at an incomprehensible rate, enriching the lives of the entire human race. Inventions such as the Internet with its seemingly endless supply of answers and knowledge are available to the vast majority. Want to know the temperature in Hong Kong? Or how your stocks are doing? Or perhaps you would like to know the average number of stripes a zebra has on its right rear leg. It’s all just a click away, and at any time. Even while sipping your favorite coffee beverage from the plush comfort of those green couches at the local Starbucks. Anywhere you go, it’s right there, and at incredible speed. And keeping track of your friends, or just about anyone, is just as simple. Just take your pick between the myriad of online sites like facebook, myspace, or twitter. Forty-five minutes ago John was about to go to the gym to get a workout in, but now he’s enjoying a five-dollar pizza from Little Caesars. Amy’s relationship status has now been switched to “it’s complicated”, and Hillary now has 1,367 “facebook friends”. These are just a few examples of the types of detailed gems available to the public through such sites. Communication is so rapid, and we haven’t even begun to talk about the cell phone.

            All across the face of America teens and adults alike can be found doing just about anything from the screens of their high-tech cell phones. Gone are the days of only being able to use them for talking. With unlimited text plans you can send a super fast message to anyone while driving, surfing the web, or even eating. If you buy the newest touch screen phones you can access the Internet, take pictures, listen to your favorite music, play games, watch movies, and much more. All designed to allow you to do more with the limited amount of time in each day. Endless information is always at your fingertips, twenty-four hours a day.

            It used to be that you just watched football on the weekends. Fantasy football, once again through the Internet, now allows you to create your own team and track its success throughout the season. Before, recreational activities and hobbies were used to improve the quality of life. Today, even these have been improved and expanded through the use of modern technology. There are even entire television stations devoted solely to the world of sports. With up to date live scores and stats, you can know the very second your team seals the victory against your buddies team, and send him a text or email from your cell phone to rub it in. There are also music stations, news stations, food stations, and even stations designed to inform you about all the other stations. You can be assured that for any mood you happen to be in, there is a television station to match it.

Aside from computers, television, and cell phones, technology has improved other factors contributing to the quality of life. Pharmacies all across the globe are filled with customers and their prescriptions calling for one or more of the thousands of medicines produced to preserve health. Grant, for example, comes to pick up his four different diabetes medications, as well as the pills he will need to make sure there are no adverse affects from taking them all at one time. He also needs to grab his anxiety medications and the fever reducing pills necessary to suppress the fever brought on by his high anxiety. Grant organizes these pills into a handy plastic pill organizer designed to tell him exactly what day to take each pill and at what time. Just in case he forgets to check it though, he uses his new “medications” application on his iphone to remind him when to take his pills. Not only has technology enhanced the mental and social state of our society, but it has also helped improve the physical quality of life for many.

            It is because of these many technological advancements that thousands have gathered in great Hillford banquet hall of Los Angeles, California to celebrate the life of the late Bill Gates, founder of one of many companies responsible for the life changing advancements discussed above. All arrayed in their finest dresses and suits, those attending await speeches prepared by many of the nations cutting age computer experts, all aimed at commemorating the impact of technology in today’s world. As a more personal touch however, the three-hour event closes with a speech by one of the Gate’s family friends Carl Ravenscroft. The old wizened man slowly makes his way to the podium, his wrinkled face showing the effects of a long adventurous life. Expecting a typical old man story filled speech; the audience waits, as Carl appears deep in thought in front of the microphone.

            “I suppose you have all gathered here today for various reasons. Some have come because of the free dinner, others like I, are close friends of the Gates. But at the center of it all is the technology produced by the man whose accomplishments we remember today. I know you’re expecting my speech to be much like those previously heard today, but if that’s your expectation, you are absolutely wrong.

The world is constantly in search of happiness, which is our natural drive as human beings. In that search there are many detours that can eventually lead us back to where we need to be to obtain the true happiness and fulfillment we desire. There are also many detours that lead us to a false sense of happiness. The unfortunate thing about many of these erroneous paths is that the further we travel, the more detached we become from reality. Technology, and the affect she has had on this society, is a prime example. Sure it all starts out innocent enough. The Internet, what an amazing tool it can be. So much information can be shared amongst so many people, in so many places. The same could be said for the television. The cell phone when used for its original purpose of making calls can provide protection and incredible convenience. Unfortunately mankind doesn’t know when to stop “improving”, and that has led to the unbelievable abuse of such tools.

It is believed that Internet sites such as myspace serve to tie us together and keep us in touch with one another. Unfortunately that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The problem with these sites is that the only details portrayed are those that have been hand picked and edited by the owner. So one only sees what someone wants them to see, not the reality of their lives or the emotion of everyday encounters. If used too heavily we begin to substitute our natural born human emotions for the easiness of Internet communication. Our youth are wasting countless hours tagging photos, looking at others’ messages, and updating their “status” when they should be creating the types of real life relationships that will truly cause them to grow socially.

The same can be said for the cell phone. It is exciting to be able to surf the web, take pictures, play games, and text at the same time. Excitement however, should not be confused with happiness. If a person does not limit their usage of these tools, they begin to consume all their time. The very tools we have created to save us time and provide convenience easily become the central focus of our daily interactions with the world. At this very moment I cant even count the number of you who have your eyeballs glued to your small cell phone screens. Undoubtedly you are checking your facebook page or texting someone. So you see, it rules your lives. You may not realize it, but it’s always in the back of your mind, and you must keep feeding your hungry little gadgets because they never stop vibrating and beeping.

One of the greatest problems of technology is that, like the human mind, it doesn’t know when or where to stop. Our phones will never stop getting better, our computers will never stop getting faster, with more options, more stuff to call our attention and waste our time. With these improvements comes the desire to have them, and as soon as possible. Pretty soon we believe that we cannot live without them. We convince ourselves that we are wasting our time with outdated technology while the rest of the world is jumping at every new thing available. Believe me, the world got along fine 50 years ago without ipods and wireless Internet. People were more content, more in touch with their surroundings, and far less distracted.

All this brings me to the two great fears I have for the rising generation and those to follow. First is the need that society has developed for instant gratification. We don’t wait for anything these days. Fast food, instant messaging, online banking, fast cars, and the list never ends. It even translates into the way we treat our minor sicknesses and pains. There’s a pill for everything simply because we need to feel better, and now. Can you see the problem with this attitude? We are packing so many things into our day that we lose the focus of where we are actually going. In the end I fear that all the little activities we are involved in will add up to a lot of nothing, and then what will we have to pass on to our children and grandchildren.

Secondly, I fear that the line between reality and virtual reality is growing so thin that soon it will become indistinguishable. It is already possible for someone to have second life online, and where will it stop. I fear that if we don’t change our ways, it won’t anytime soon. The further we travel down the tunnel of technological improvements, the more difficult it will become to turn around and see the light of real life reality.

That is what I see. That is the flip side to the coin of technology. When you ask for these advancements you ask for all that comes with it.”

The crowd gave their applause, however between the distractions created by the thousands of texts sent, there wasn’t a soul in the building who could remember what Carl Ravenscroft had said.