Blog Response (Audio): Radiolab

The podcast I chose to listen to was Radiolab's "An Ice-Cold Case." I chose this mainly at random, but the name was also slightly intriguing. It implied a mystery, one that may have laid dormant for years, or perhaps it was literal, and there was some sort of crime committed where temperature was important.
My initial reaction to the podcast was of confusion. I had absolutely no idea about what the format of the show was, or how it was going to be presented. A few minutes after listening, and I still had no idea. People were talking about seemingly nothing, only having a conversation on the phone. There was no explanation as to what they were doing. It took a while for me to understand the premise of the show, but I got it after a while.

This episode talked about a man found frozen under snow on the side of a mountain by a couple of hikers. Initially, the police were called to investigate a recent death. However, when they examined the body closer, they found that the man hadn't died recently, but rather 5000 years ago. The man had been perfectly preserved for thousands of years due to the constant freezing and thawing of snow every year. Researchers examined the man's body to figure out who he was, and why he had died in the spot he did. Eventually, they found that the man had been frantically running away from something before he died. They were able to track his whereabouts throughout this journey from the pollen in his body. Some types of pollen were only found in some areas, and others in other areas. This also gave them a season of the year, as this type of pollen only came out during early summer. Researchers even found that the man had come to a point of peace before his death through the perfectly preserved food in his stomach. He felt safe enough to slow down and cook a meal in the middle of running away. After his meal, it was concluded that he was shot in the back with an arrow and hit in the head with a rock, killing him. He laid in the same spot throughout history until only a few years ago when he was found.

Albeit confusing at times due to its constant back and forth between people's explanations, I found the show to be quite enjoyable. Not only was it an interesting thing to listen to, but it was produced very well. The sounds in the background sneakily mimicked the story that was being told. The sounds felt frigid, a though the listener should think they are on the same mountain as the frozen man. I say these sounds were sneaky because they felt extremely natural. I was somehow aware they were there without realizing that I was listening to them. It was a great way to experience this podcast.

Music Video

Blog Response (Narrative): Parks and Recreation

Having already seen a few of the later seasons of Parks and Recreations, I thought that it would be a good idea to take a look at how the show started, and the subsequent development of the characters. I chose the pilot episode of this show to watch because pilots are notoriously raw and unrefined, giving me better insight on what I wanted to find out.

The first ten minutes or so of the episode gives the viewer a very clear idea of what the show is about. An overenthusiastic government worker in the Parks Department, Leslie Knope, sets out to please the idiotic citizens of Pawnee, Indiana by doing the small scale tasks they ask for. She takes great pride in this, too much so for the jobs she has to do, comparing herself to the most powerful women in the government. Her coworkers and boss are more characters who seem out of place in their job. Her boss, Ron Swanson, says outright that he does not like government, and wishes for it to be abolished. The other workers seem to not take their job seriously, and are generally lazy.
The plot of this episode started with a public forum where citizens could talk about the problems of their town in hopes of getting them fixed. A question is brought up about a giant hole next to someones house where their boyfriend fell in, breaking both of his legs. Leslie promises to fix the hole, but needs permission from her boss. As explained before, Ron doesn't like the government and doesn't want anything to get done. He denies Leslie the job. After a few very vague exchanges between a few characters, Ron eventually gives in.

This show has taken a huge leap since it began. It has been running for 5 seasons and has refined its style of comedy immensely. The characters now have their own personality that is easily identifiable, and the overall feeling of the show is much more upbeat. The pilot episode, like so many others in the past, was very dry. There were a few funny moments, but altogether it wouldn't seem like a very interesting show. The pacing was way too slow, with conversations lasting way too long with only a very subtle hint of humor being exchanged. However, this is very understandable. Pilot episodes are meant to explain the show, and don't really have a chance to show its true potential. Had I started watching the series from the first season, I honestly don't know if I would have continued. The comedy was too bland and was much too slow for my taste.

Blog Response (Documentary): Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Jiro Ono is the owner of a small shushi restaurant stationed on the bottom floor of an office building. He works tirelessly from morning until late at night, when he goes home to sleep and prepare for work the next day. Jiro is unlike many business owners of today. He is old, at 85 years, and still works his fingers to the bone, trying harder each day to improve his craft. He doesn't work for the money he makes, only for the pleasure of serving the finest sushi.
The film is separated into a few parts starting with an overview of the restaurant and how Jiro runs it. The viewer gets an excellent example of Jiro's work ethic here as it is described in the film as ceaseless, yet pleasurable. Jiro works with his sons and a few apprentices as the meticulously select and prepare fish to be made into sushi for customers. In this section, the viewer finds out how great this restaurant is from a writer who tells about how Michelin awarded the restaurant three stars for its quality, something unheard of for such a small business. There is also a short segment where a man comes in to find out about reservations to eat there. He is told that reservations must be made at least a month in advance, and that the price would start at about 30,000 yen (roughly $200). The price may be steep, but each interviewee explains that it is worth every cent. Jiro takes his craft seriously, and does not cut any corners.
Quality is a big concern for this restaurant. In the next section the viewer gets to see how each piece of food is selected. The only vendors they trust to find them quality food are ones that are experts in their field, selling only one specific item. This ensures that they know enough to select only quality cuts. Many of the vendors explain that they select the item for sale based on how they feel Jiro would like it. If it is not up to his standards, they won't sell it to anyone.
The next section shows a meal being served. Jiro works quickly, yet delicately to prepare each piece of sushi for everyone seated around his workstation. Altogether, he creates twenty pieces per person. It is explained that he has refined his craft so much that he has a specific order for serving his food. As one man explains it, it is like a symphony, with different movements for your pallet. After the dinner service is over, Jiro has a short talk with the customers and tells them how he decided to prepare and place his food. For women, he makes smaller portions so that everyone can finish at the same time. He even takes note of the customers dominant hand so that he can place the sushi down closer to it.
The last section explains the future of the restaurant. While Jiro has no inclination to retire any time soon, should anything happen to him, he feels that the restaurant is in good hands. He has taught his son for many years, and feels that he would be an excellent person to take over the restaurant. The final shots of the film show how his son manages the kitchen already, showing that he has a very skilled demeanor and a great work ethic, much like his father. The viewer is left feeling the same as Jiro, as though the restaurants quality will be preserved for the future.

Overall, this film was fantastic. The creators did a great job finding the personality in everyone in the film, and expressing that to the viewer. Throughout the film, it is explained that Jiro has changed very little since he was younger, and that is easily viewable. Although he is very disciplined in his work, and takes it very seriously, he has a very playful attitude, making jokes, and laughing at things he finds funny.
Another thing the viewer is able to experience is a slight tension because they are unsure of what will happen to the restaurant in the future. Jiro is old, as explained before, and he is said to be the best at what he does. One man who was interviewed said that even if his sons take over, and if they are just as skilled as Jiro was, that the business might not succeed. Jiro was so respected that others might not want to eat sushi that wasn't created by him. However, this tension is relieved at the very end where, as explained, the viewer is comforted by how well the son seems to be taking care of the restaurant already.

This was a seriously excellent film. Although documentaries are not something I typically watch, and I have no interest in sushi, I would recommend this film to anyone. I was entertained the entire time, forgetting that I had no previous interest in any of the topics. This proves how good of a film this was.

Final Project from Matt Prussin on Vimeo.

Final Projetct Rough from Matt Prussin on Vimeo.

Audio Project

Re edit 2 from Matt Prussin on Vimeo.

Late from Matt Prussin on Vimeo.

One Shot Video from Matt Prussin on Vimeo.

Rough Cut from Matt Prussin on Vimeo.

Photo Re-edits

I edited each photo two times to show an addition of color in two different ways. The first of each photo has color, but is very desaturated. To me, it does not convey the original meaning, but still retains similar qualities. The second of each photo has very saturated color. I feel this completely destroys the original meanings of each photo, and adds a much different mood to each photo.

Diptych

Laura Poitras and Edward Snowden Article Response

This article talked about Laura Poitras and her life through the spying of the American government. It is shocking that the government would go to such lengths to harass a person about a crime they did not commit. Poitras was held in airports on multiple occasions, being questioned for hours. If this wasn't bad enough, at one point they told her she wasn't allowed to take notes for fear of her using the pen as a weapon. I see this as a blatant disregard for her right as an American. She was breaking no laws by taking notes, and was actually doing the most appropriate thing for the situation she was in. I find this appalling. I realize that it is necessary for the government to do something to keep our country safe, but what was done to Laura Poitras was a step too far. In her 40+ encounters with airport security, there was absolutely no evidence found for crimes against America, yet she was being wrongfully detained due to assumptions.
I also find it strange that we have to take such massive precautions when dealing with government surveillance. Poitras had to stop using cell phones, and uses specialized computers to do her work. Everything she does regarding her work has to stay a secret for fear of the government becoming involved. Edward Snowden had to leave the country and can only communicate his important findings through encrypted messages over the internet. I find it very hard to believe that the government's work is for our protection when people need to flee the country to talk about how the they are trying to keep us safe. The information coming from this article is mind boggling, and will keep me questioning the government for the near future.

The Art of Peeping Response

The first part of this article gave information on an artist who took candid photos of people in their homes, and using the photos in art exhibits without the people's consent. I feel that this was a terrible thing to do on the artists part. Personal privacy is something we expect from a home. It is where we feel the safest and most comfortable. By taking this away, the artist is not creating art, but rather violating a personal right. Legally, however, the artist had every right to do what he did. Artistic expression is a specific right we have under the Constitution. It is perfectly legal to take pictures of people in their homes (so long as it is solely for art purposes) and display them such as the artist did. This does not detract from the fact that it was morally wrong. As stated before, a person should have the right to their privacy, especially in their own home.
Another part of the article talked about a less artistic approach to the same type of "peeping" called "Mass Observation." This was done in the same way as the artist, but done so in order to gain information on various topics. I feel a little less disgust at this project. The only thing put on display was information. There was no personal information, and nobody's face was shown. However I feel that this is only acceptable for things that are meaningless, and not personal. Seeing how many people drive around a certain area in a day is absolutely fine, but once the information turns to why specific people are driving in this area the entire project becomes foul. Again, this has to do with privacy. To gain adequate information, the specifics of people's lives does not need to be involved.

Surveil Yourself: Specific Topic

Topic: Ending the usage of a computer.

- "Ending" usage refers to taking ones self away from the device in order to do something else.
- Laptop does not have to close for usage to end


Monday, September 2

2:11 am:
- End use of Computer

11:34 am:
- End use of computer

12:51 pm:
- End use of computer

3:17 pm:
- End use of computer

3:28 pm:
- End use of computer

5:12 pm:
- End use of computer

6:01 pm:
- End use of computer

7:27 pm:
- End use of computer

7:34 pm:
- End use of computer

8:24 pm:
- End use of computer

12:37 am:
- End use of computer

"The Medium is the Massage"

The first part of the text make a point that shows the type of media we interact with changes how we involve ourselves with the world. It states that electric media, such as the television or radio, causes our society to act more as a whole than does written or print media. Print media, as the book states, encourages a sort of seclusion among those who use it.
Seeing as this book is from a time before the internet and cell phones, it surprises me how accurate this statement is. Even from a time when electronic media was in its youth, the author was able to see where the world was heading: a smaller, more connected society.

The next section I read talked about jobs, and how they are being threatened by the technology around us. McLuhan's statement, "'When this circuit learns your job, what are you going to do?'" shows that we are expendable in the business world. Computers and machinery may some day be a better choice for our jobs than we are.
It is very strange that the author would include this section in his book. The rest of the work seems to illustrate that our world changes due to the medium in which we confront it, but this section says nothing about that. It does say that our lives could change due to technology, but not in the way stated previously. The only reasoning I can see for this section is that the author wanted to give an example of how technology changes us.

The book later goes on to explain how our media evolved, from times before language, to the creation of spoken word, to the act of writing our speech. With this, the author states how our means of acquiring the truth changed from hearing speech to seeing words. Writing completely changed our world. Things that were written down became solid and concrete. Written word gave us a more modern society, filled with things such as roads, buildings, and government. By writing down thoughts, people were able to reach a larger market, giving more people similar ideas. Written ideas could be copied exactly, not changed through speech. Speech alone can be misinterpreted and spoken differently from one person to the next. Text does not change.
This section of the book seems to differ in ideals from the initial section. This section states that written word brought people closer and more connected. The initial section of the book states that written word brings seclusion and fragmented societies, while electronic media brings the world closer and more connected. If this was the authors intended argument, I do not see why he would state the opposite. 

Surveil Yourself

Sunday, September 1

12:02 am:
- Close laptop
- Get into bed (fall asleep)

11:30 am:
- Wake up
- Get out of bed
-Yawn/Stretch
- Sit in chair

11:34 am:
- Get out of chair
- Grab towel, shower goods
- Put on flip flops
- Leave, lock door

11:56 am:
- Unlock door
- Enter room
- Get dressed

12:10 pm:
- Put on shoes
- Leave room
- Lock door
- Get on elevator

12:11 pm
- Get off elevator
- leave building

12:13 pm:
- Enter dining hall
- Swipe card
- Pick up food

12:15 pm:
- Sit at table
- Eat

12:26 pm:
- Finish food
- Put tray and utensils away
- Leave

12:29 pm:
- Enter dorm building (swipe card)
- Show person at desk the card
- Enter elevator

12:30 pm:
- Exit elevator
- Walk to room
- Unlock door, enter
- Take off shoes, sit at desk
- Open laptop
  - Browse various sites
  - Watch various videos

2:52 pm:
- Close laptop
- Put on shoes
- Leave room
- Walk to bathroom

2:54 pm
- Leave bathroom
- Walk to dorm room
- Unlock door, enter
- Take off shoes, sit at desk
- Open laptop
  - Browse various sites
  - Watch various videos

3:42 pm:
- Close laptop
- Pick up guitar
- Play guitar

4:37 pm:
- Put guitar in stand
- Open laptop
- Check email
- Close laptop

4:38 pm:
- Put laptop in backpack
- Put on shoes
- Leave room, lock door
- Walk to elevator, enter

4:40 pm:
- Exit elevator
- Walk to library

4:57 pm:
- Enter library
- Walk downstairs
- Find a table
- Take out laptop
- Sit down, open laptop
- Read articles

5:14 pm:
- Close laptop
- Put laptop in backpack
- Walk upstairs

5:17 pm:
- Check out book
- Walk downstairs
- Sit at table
- Take out, open laptop
- Read book, take notes

7:07 pm:
- Finish book and notes
- Close laptop, put away
- Walk upstaris
- Return book
- Leave library
- Walk back to dorm

7:26 pm:
- Enter dorm building (swipe card)
- Show person at desk the card
- Enter elevator

7:27 pm:
- Exit elevator
- Walk to room
- Unlock door, enter
- Take off shoes
- Sit at desk
- Take out laptop, open
  - Plug in charger
  - Browse various websites
  - Watch various videos

9:02 pm:
- Close laptop
- Put on shoes
- Leave room
- Walk to bathroom
- Enter bathroom

9:04 pm:
- Leave bathroom
- Walk to dorm room
- Enter dorm room
- Take off shoes
- Sit at desk
- Open laptop
  - Browse, watch videos

11:34 pm:
- Look out window
- Watch thunderstorm

11:46 pm:
- Take video of thunderstorm

11:50 pm:
- Close laptop
- Put on shoes
- Leave room
- Walk to other dorm room, enter
- Sit down

2:11 am:
- Leave room
- Walk to own room
- Open door
- Take off shoes
- Turn off lights
- Open laptop
  - Check email
-Close laptop
- Get in bed
  - Sleep

Matt

My name has no real story. My parents deliberates on dozens of names based on how they sounded when paired with my last name before deciding on the final product. The frontrunner for a while was Brett, but on a whim my mother changed it to Matthew.