Art?

Is there still a human hand in art anymore? Even photographs generated by computers looks as if they were just taken by a camera. This past semester in college I did a computer graphics class and the art created by programs such as Arudino and Processing 1.0 look like as if they could have been done by hand. In the end, they were just a series of formulas plugged into a computer program. The line between art done by human hand and computers is diminishing. Although some do not categorize computer-generated images as art, the word art itself is very vague. People can categorize art as just the fine arts category, but others claim it to be what you make it to be. San Base used computers to do his art, does that mean his works aren’t art? He created a whole realm of dynamic painting, taking computer formulas and manipulating them into masterpieces. Photographers use programs such as Photoshop to enhance their photos does that mean that by using a computer program, that it isn’t art?

NOBODY is going to rain on my parade!

I have ambitions in life, but lately I have been thinking of the reality of them 99.9% coming true. With this recession I don’t ever see myself being able to go and be a star on Broadway. Those that knows me has an understanding that that is my #1 goal in life. I am even willing to settle by being able to sing / perform at the Tony Awards for the whole world to see. I want to be a star, or at least try to be one. I have sang and danced my whole life, but it seems I can’t catch a break. I have won awards for many areas when I was younger, and still the proudest moment I have of myself was when I won 2^nd place Grand Champion in New York for singing a song from the Sound of Music. But now being the age that I am it seems that the dream I had growing up is moving further and further away. I haven’t had a voice lesson in over 2 years, and I just do a hiphop class here at college, but it is so hard with college work, etc. It isn’t fair, I understand life isn’t fair, but shouldn’t there be a glimmer of hope for the future? As of right now I see myself as either being a working mom with kids, or being a business woman, which I would be with either, but that would not make me happy. Happiness I have found in my life ever since I learned all the music and lyrics of Les Miserables was Broadway! I remember in elementary school while everyone else was busy with weekend plans I would be at Dance/ signing competitions doing the activities I loved! Nevertheless Broadway is a dying form of entertainment it seems with this recession and this increasing amount of movies based upon BDWY shows. Examples are: The Producers, Mamma Mia, Hairspray, Fame, Rent, and rumors have it that Wicked may come out within the next few years, which is ridiculous. I love all of these shows, but the movie business is ruining Broadway!!! All of these movies caused these shows to close within a year after the movie premiere. Sorry for that little rant, but it has been bugging me and it seems like the only people considered about it are those, like me, that want to be on Broadway in the future. However, if there is no Broadway in the future, that poses an extreme problem.

I want to be a star, and even in college it seems way too hard. But nobody is ever going to rain on my parade of being a star someday!

“Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter
Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade
Don't tell me not to fly, I simply got to
If someone takes a spill, it's me and not you
Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade
I'll march my band out, I'll beat my drum” – Hello Dolly

Somewhere out there

If any of you have watched NCIS/ CSI/ Law & Order it can really change your views on life. Prior to this year I never really was interested in these series, but trust me when you watch it with a good group of friends they are fun. However, if you view these programs they can really alter your views or look upon certain situations. I never used to leave my apartment and been afraid before, but now I cannot even walk the ½ mile from my dorm without thinking I could be kidnapped/ shot/ murdered etc. I don’t know about any of you, but my neighborhood in CT is very quiet and conservative so these scenarios are not as prevalent as they are in bigger cities like New York/ Baltimore/ LA etc. Overall I consider myself lucky and unlucky at the same time from living a sheltered childhood and not being conscious of very real situations that happen daily in the US.

These television shows like Law & Order especially their SVU (Special Victims Unit) series make us aware of daily issues. Although some people oppose to the violence or crudity shown in the episodes, they are an asset of society. If people have a problem with them, then they should watch the news at 11pm there is more talk of shooting and drug crimes especially in Baltimore in an one hour episode then I have ever wanted to hear in my life! I know this maybe repetitive, nothing truly new, but these things are real and its scary. I'm not a coward about leaving my dorm building, but people need to be knowledgeable about all the tribulations out there.

Other Stats:

- 800,000 children go missing each year

- like a child goes missing every 40 seconds in the U.S., over 2,100 per day

- 90% are juveniles

- 50% are 4 to 11 years old

- Strangers commit 53% of child abductions that end tragically