Jonathan Safran Foer Lectures on Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Unfortunately, my computer could not connect at the Foer event. I was jealous of everyone else, happily tweeting away. Because of this, I feel like I didn’t really get the live-blogging experience. Instead, I wrote my tweets in word and added them later. Either way, Andrea and I bought Foer’s book afterwards and told him about the tweeting. Maybe he’s read it since then…

I definitely enjoyed the lecture and Foer’s humor, although I was most interested when Foer talked about writing and art.

When Foer said that he didn’t have a moral, ideas, or a certain voice that he was trying to convey when he wrote the book, I thought that was weird. I guess I have the idea in my head that most writers know exactly what they want to say or have a general idea of what sort of theme they want to share when writing. I mean, why just sit down and write a book?

However, then Foer said, “Through the process of writing, I come to these things. After I wrote the book, I realized things about myself. Writing has been the most powerful corrective tool. Writing is a vehicle for expression, discovery, urges that can’t seem to be relieved in other ways in life, or for communication.”

It seems like Foer just wrote and got out what he felt, which in turn showed him who he was. Foer also talked about how his book was like a boat that had gone on a long journey. Throughout the journey, the boards and what made up the boat were all replaced, just as his story has changed.

My question is, when does art become art? Did Foer sit down and write, and from there, the story contained symbolism and meaning that made the book a work of art? Or, through this process of “replacing the boards” has his writing become art?

This question was brought to my attention in my post-tonal theory class. We were talking about a Debussy piece that was absolutely gorgeous (it’s called La Cathedrale Engloutie). Was the music written out of inspiration and on a creative whim, and because of that, contained symbolism and meaning? Or, was the symbolism planned? Carefully articulated? When did it become art? Foer seemed to allude that he had written the story, and the symbolism had sort of just happened, but he didn’t take it out. This question of art still baffles me.

“I find writing can be excruciating,” said Foer. I really enjoyed this. I completely agree. I like already having things written, that’s nice. But the process of writing is complicated, with a lot of editing. Also, once I have written, I find myself never really completely satisfied with it. Something can always be changed to make better.

Along those excruciating lines, however, Foer said that “relationships can be like that; it’s much easier to be unattached in the world, but at the end of the day, I don’t think it ever is.” Relationships can be excruciating and complicated. Although, without those conflicts, you are, at the end of the day, alone (besides friends and family of course). It seems like it’s so much easier to be independent, detached, and “your own person” as they say, but is it really? It’s definitely easier to go home to someone rather than alone, even if you are having a fight with a loved one.

At the end of the lecture, I was satisfied. Foer got me thinking a lot about my life and things that have happened. I think art is supposed to make you do that. Art is put forth in a way that everyone can connect to it somehow, sometimes in very different ways. It pulls on every emotion and thought.

As Foer said, “We are almost taught that art is inappropriately life-like.” It’s because of this sometimes uncomfortable relation and connection to art in our own ways that it is so beautiful.

The Music Box

For a fun post of the day, I decided I wanted to just give out this cool website I stumbled upon. I love music, and I thought that this website was a different way to play around with pitches. The Music Box

Links: Knowing is a Good Thing

While reading the Foust book again, I came across the topic of how linking can actually lead readers away from your story. Sad day. But, I guess that's the risk we take when we, for one thing, put our work out there for everyone to read and critique, and then include links.

Readers can just pick up from where the link went and keep going until they are nowhere near your story. However, they will probably remember that it all started with your story, your topic. That's one advantage of when the back button doesn't work on your browser; you have to remember where you started and go back to that point. And that's where your story comes in. Bam.

My favorite type of links are the ones in stories that will define an unfamiliar word or association. I love that! Out pops a window with a dictionary.com definition. Lovely. So, if you don't know what supercilious means, or are confused about why the WWF isn't wrestling, you can check out what everthing's all about. (Sigh) A breath of fresh understanding.

A Little Something I found on Sarah Palin

While looking through facebook as any normal college student would, I came across a note that a friend of mine had posted. It was something that Eve Ensler, feminist and writer of The Vagina Monologues, had written on Sarah Palin. It thought it was interesting that she had chosen to write about Palin, being a feminist and going against a woman with a chance at the presidency. Either way, I thought Ensler had valid points. Anyways, that's just my opinion.

If you don't comment on this in the next 2 days, 45 hours, 54 minutes, and 29.87 seconds, you will die a slow, painful death.

EMAIL. Gotta love it. It's so quick and easy, and you can even keep in touch with friends across the world. Well, after reading Scott Brodeur's post on Internet Re-Runs, I began thinking about funny stories and emails I've come across while looking around online.

Instead, however, of thinking of a good one to talk about, I thought about those lovely little emails that everyone hates. They usually start off saying something like...

Hi Friend!!

I just wanted to let you know that you make the world a better place and I hope this message brightened your day! (Insert annoying graphics and photos of kittens that take your computer forever to load here)

>>> <3 <<< By the way, if you don't forward this email to at least 6 people in the next 3 hours, you will have the worst luck! Your crush will reject you and you will never find true love! Please send to everyone you consider a friend! xoxoxoxo

Yeah. I don't get it. Any real friend would know enough to save you the email space and just say in person, "hey, thanks for being awesome." Or, "much love, bro."

Similarities and Differences Between Huff Post and Drudge Report

I am new to blogging. Let's just start there. So, I have never seen either of these websites before. However, I did see some things that related.

The websites seemed relatively the same, with politics being their main focus. However, Drudge Report had a huge list of bloggers, whereas Huff had a good amount, but they were all about politics. Drudge had bloggers from all different topics. However, the names weren't organized, so you couldn't tell what one person's blog would be about. Huff Post seemed more organized, with more pictures and generally an easier flow through the page.

To be honest, to me, Huff just looks nicer. The set up is well-designed and clear. How Drudge organizes links in just black and white is a little overwhelming since there are so many links. Although, I really like how Drudge has a space to send them anonymous news tips; it seems like a good way to give people exactly what they want. Also, with Huff Post, you can read the topic in a color-coded box before you get to the story, whereas at Drudge, you're just dealing with random headlines.

Online Newspapers: Tricked-Out Versions of the Classic

While I was reading Chapter 3 of Online Journalism by James C. Foust, I came across a quote that got me thinking.

"The backbone of the content for many online journalism sites, of course,
comes from the legacy media organization-the printed newspaper or the
television newscast, for example."

When I thought about the newspaper and the transfer of information to the web, I started to feel bad for the little papers. The small-town newspapers that print family stories and high school football news. After reading the chapter on authoring and managing websites, it made me think about how easy it must be for media organizations like the New York Times to publish all of that information online and pimp it with bells and whistles. The little papers, however, that have small staffs and fewer stories, are faced with a big job putting everything online. True, the transfer of the stories, pictures, and addition of audio/video is pretty easy, but big papers have entire staffs of people just doing the online stuff. If you look at the New York Times' website, there are videos, tons of links, and lists of any topic you can think of. I imagine the little paper, after a hard day's work, maybe having one staff member with the task of putting everything online. But, then again, people probably don't go to their hometown paper's website for the latest updates in news. More likely, they're going to the site for the photos of their children or the in-town classifieds.

Pimped MacBook Pro photo from Lussorian Luxury Homes and Accessories

Besides all this, online journalism seems to be the pimped version of print. There are so many cool things to see online that you could never get in print. And, everything is two seconds away with a click of your mouse. I don't see why people fear the end of print journalism. Advances in technology are getting more and more frequent with better and faster opportunities. That just means journalists will get to tell more stories, faster, to a bigger audience around the world. Is that so bad?

UMass Marching Band: Building a New Home

For over a decade, the Power and Class of New England, the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band has not had a home. By home, I mean we have do not have one specific place that the band can meet, have our offices, and store our uniforms, equipment, and instruments. By we, I mean that I am a member of the band and play the alto saxophone.

Without one centralized location, putting together a marching band and a show can be difficult. However, you haven't met the band. Together, we can do anything. We can wake up at 7 a.m. on a Saturday and walk with our instruments, uniforms, and shako boxes across campus to the fields we rehearse on for a 3-hour practice session. This, of course, all in preparation for a home football game.

But for the band, all of that and much, much more, is worth it. Our work and sweat earned us a standing ovation at the Holy Cross football game from the audience that had booed us before we had taken the field.

This weekend, I called a list of UMass band alumni about a new building that the band is developing. If you think about it, 380 band members and all those alumni, that's a lot of people on the phone this weekend. UMass Amherst has pledged $4.5 million for the new building, but the band must now raise between $1 and $3 million to keep the project alive. Can we do it? The band has until October 31, 2008.

George N. Parks, the director of the band, words this much better than I can. (Just scroll down a little and click on 'Hear Mr.Parks' request for assistance..')

Movie Theater Etiquette

So, this may be more like a rant, but it's necessary. I was thinking about what to write and drew a blank. However, when I thought about watching the movie Superman yesterday, movies in general came to mind. And then, from there, movie theaters.

I feel very strongly about movie theater etiquette. When I pay for a movie, I expect the movie in its entirety, and nothing less.

(Photo from New York Magazine)

Personally, when I watch a movie, I go into "movie mode". If the movie is one that I haven't seen before, I am focused and do not talk to the people next to me. I guess I like getting into the story. Either way, my question is, why are people disruptive in movie theaters? They paid to sit and watch a movie, but instead, just make everyone else upset.

Why do people make out in movie theaters? Why, why, why, are movie theaters the best place to do that? Honestly, I do not pay to see that when I go to the movies, and no, it is not a bonus. Take it outside lovebirds!

Also included in less-than-proper movie etiquette are boisterous audience members that throw food and yell things at the screen. I do not see how this enhances the movie-watching experience. It's definitely not in my interests to know what you are thinking at all times. And, I really don't need any gummy bears in my hair.

I could go on about this for days. Instead, I included a site I found that gives tips for proper movie theater etiquette. Use them well.

StumbleUpon

I love surfing the web. There are multitudes of information just waiting to be found. One of my favorite things to do is randomly search things, or look for odd pages that spark my interest. Finding a good article or a weird video are in my top favorites.

Last year I was introduced to a toolbar that has been very helpful when I feel like procrastinating homework and finding random stuff on the Internet. StumbleUpon is a toolbar that when added, can lead you to many sites that may be of interest to you. After signing up (for free, of course) you first look through pages of topics and check off the ones that you have an interest in.

After doing this, you download the toolbar. The toolbar includes a StumbleUpon icon that you can freely click to bring you to a site picked out at random from your list of interests. Also included are two other icons of a thumbs up and a thumbs down. By clicking on either of these, you can let StumbleUpon know which kind of sites you want to continue seeing or not.

This feature has been incredibly useful for me. I have found many articles related to my interests and even just websites of cool pictures that I like. I have found fun music tools, free books by the greats, and a way to type in what few things you have in your fridge and get a recipe ready for the making. Awesome. I would recommend trying it, though beware, this can be pretty addicting.

For fun, I am including the recipe website. Yes, even you can cook something with only dried apricot, chocolate, and baked beans!

MIDI Files

After reading the Online Journalism book, I found some cool information on MIDI files. I knew how they sounded, after listening to them for marching band in high school and later, but I never really knew what they were. Here are some helpful details on MIDI files from Online Journalism, Principles and Practices of News for the Web:

"A final audio format worth noting is musical instrument digital interface (MIDI). Originally designed for computer control of electronic instruments such as synthesizers and drum machines, MIDI can also be used to play music in HTML. Rather than storing actual sounds, MIDI stores information about note pitch, duration and other characteristics that an instrument can then play."

Have you ever heard a MIDI file? I was introduced to them in high school, when my band director gave us MIDI files to listen to of our marching show. Electronic and almost annoying, the sounds were not of great quality. What it provided, however, was the opportunity to hear all of the different parts at the same time. Then, music in hand, one could listen to how their own part fit into the big picture.

After having read the aforementioned paragraph, I was amazed that the files do not store sounds. Instead, they hold information about which pitches play at what time and for how long. It doesn't make for a very moving recording, but the idea that the file can interpret the musical information and spit out a song is pretty cool.

Follow up on Campus Safety

I am posting this response to the previous one about campus and the security needed. First things first, here is the article that UMass Police sent to the campus after the crime was investigated:

Update on Unarmed Robbery Crime Alert
On September 4, 2008 the University of Massachusetts Police Department Amherst issued a Crime Alert regarding a reported unarmed robbery on campus. Further investigation has revealed this crime did not occur; the reporting party has retracted the allegation that she had been robbed. There is no reason for members of the community to be concerned for their safety. Please remember that the filing of a false police report is a criminal offense. The Police Department takes the filing of a false police report seriously and will review this matter fully with the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

So, someone made up the crime. For what reason, we may never know. Regardless, there are still issues on campus dealing with security. For example, the dorm that a friend of mine lives in had no security at night for the two nights that I visited her. One could say that maybe there just wasn't anyone there when I walked by, but I was there for a few hours and saw no one. This means that anyone that opens the door for someone standing outside could just come in, and do...who knows what. I may sound paranoid, but these are students' homes. They deserve a safe environment.

In response to Scott's comment on the last post, I think the local media has done a decent job covering campus safety. I have seen articles in the Collegian, the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and the Republican about violence, drinking, and just general crimes on campus. I have seen few news stories, however, on local TV.

Even though the media has covered these stories, I think there is something missing. These publications do not have the students' point view. Yes, just getting the information out to the public is helpful, but without the students' input, no one is getting the real stuff. What's really going on in the dorms and on campus. There is so much that the public does not know about. Students are experiencing the lack of security and crimes on campus and need to say and do something about it.

Campus Safety

Like I mentioned in my last post, I am a music major and therefore spend my entire day at the Fine Arts Center (FAC) on campus. When I heard that a student was robbed right outside of the FAC early this morning, it hit close to home.

Around 1:30 a.m., a female UMass student was walking on the sidewalk next to the FAC when a tall white male grabbed her purse. The woman naturally ran from the area. Now campus police are asking for any information regarding the incident.

Music students are in and out of the FAC night and day. Practicing is a huge part of our days, and we have to do it- no matter what time. Many of us practice at night when the halls of FAC are quieter and all of the practice rooms aren't taken. Hearing of this robbery has since not motivated many to go to the FAC at night.

After reading an article on the robbery, I started thinking of all of the attacks and break-ins on campus. This being my third year, I have heard about many incidents occuring that make me apprehensive. A break-in and assault in North Apartments, robberies in Southwest and Orchard Hill, and attacks on students at night are just a few of a plethora of events that have taken place.

With such a large campus, it is naive to think that things like this don't happen. However, I think I am entitled to wanting to feel safe on campus. I don't like that fact that campus is equated to a city, meaning that I must take all the necessary precautions to make sure that I don't end up in one of the crime alerts.

What I want to know is, where were the campus police during all these events? I am grateful that UMass has its own police system, and I am glad that cops are out patrolling in their cars. However, what about security on campus in areas such as the dorms and the populated buildings? Campus police stated that there would be increased security because of the robbery. Does that mean once the culprit is found, all increased security will stop? I would like to feel safe in my dorm and where I do my work.

Giant Steps

For my first blog post outside of class, I decided I would bring up a youtube video that astonished me. I am a saxophone performance major, as well as journalism, so I figured that bringing up the sax would be a good starting point. This youtube video is showing a Japanese robot that was designed to play the saxophone. The robot plays "Giant Steps" by John Coltrane, a very famous jazz tune.



Like I said, I don't know how to do this very well, so I'm not sure how to include just the video instead of the link.

Regardless, the video is just amazing. The fact that this Japanese company (Takashima R&C Laboratory) built a robot that can do what a human does while playing the saxophone, is absolutely unreal, and very weird to us saxophone players. Besides pressing the right keys at the right times, the air flow, mouth position on the mouthpiece, reed, everything has to be just right to get out a good sound. Though the sound produced is slightly mechanical, it is still unbelievable that pieces of metal and circuit board could be strewn together to make art.

Or is it art? It's sad that John Coltrane's music could be duplicated by something without any emotions. Music was named so after the muses, whose pursuit was for truth and beauty. All seems lost when a machine can play what someone once poured his soul into.

And, for the musicians, this seems like a threat. In the future, will humans not be needed and instead, only metal replicas used to save money, time, and energy? Maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Either way, it's incredible that this company created a musician out of metal.

More Info on Scott Brodeur

Scott Paul Brodeur was born in Groton, CT, on a submarine base. He grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ, outside of Philadeplphia, and lived in New York City for 10 years before moving to Northampton, MA. He did his undergrad in Journalism at Syracuse University.

Brodeur wrote a book on Jazz for young adults called Rap, Rags, Hip Hop, the Story of Jazz. Miles Davis is his favorite artist at this time. Brodeur said he likes Davis because "he dared to try new things all the time."

Brodeur decided to go into journalism because he likes telling stories. "I knew it would be a way to have work be interesting every day," he said, "and it turned out I was right." Brodeur likes to write about different things at different times, and the fact that you can switch topics.

Some fun facts about Scott Brodeur: His wife's name is Barbara and his three children are Johnathon, 10, Gabriel, 7, and Elizabeth, 4. He likes dogs, has a cat named Coco, and his band Storybox opened for Amy Rigbee at the Ironhorse in Northampton, MA. His favorite actor is Steve Buscemi, favorite color is red, and he wears a "Striking Out Cancer Jon Lester" bracelet.

Who is Scott Brodeur?

Scott Brodeur is a journalist and a teacher. He has taught at the University of Massachusetts for a number of years, lecturing on Writing for the Web, Feedback Journalism and Convergence Journlaism. Brodeur is the Executive Editor at Advance Internet, which is a group of websites in the U.S. that focuses on the news and publications in that specific area. Some of the websites include NJ.com, NOLA.com, OregonLive.com, cleveland.com, MassLive.com, and more.

Brodeur became interested in journalism in college, writing a sports section for the school's newspaper. He next began writing for a magazine, and eventually started working at Prodigy, in New York City, where he learned that online journalism was more to his liking.

Brodeur has been a critic, editor, and a writer in the past at many different media sources. The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Source, and Billboard are some outlets that have published his works. Brodeur has written about music for Paste, No Depression, Details, Guitar World, and others.

Brodeur lives in Northampton, Massachusetts with his wife and three children. He also sings and plays guitar in a Western Massachusetts-based band called Storybox, which released its first album in spring 2007. Brodeur's favorite movies include Wings of Desire, The Conformist, The Godfather, and Annie Hall, among others. Brodeur is a fan of Van Morrison and the books The Great Gatsby and The Hours.

Online Journalism

My definition of online journalism would have to be fast-paced, up to date news and the latest information on everything imaginable. Also of note is articles written by journalists that give the public the opportunity to comment on them. Blogging is sort of the same thing, where people can freely comment if the author allows. When I think of online journalism, I think of short, to the point news that was updated in the last five minutes and a wealth of articles that the public can share their opinions on.