The Influence of the Wealthy

Last week, I found an interesting article about Mark Zuckerberg. As the creator and CEO of Facebook, he is one of the richest people in the world. Yet despite this, he rarely splurges on what we would think he would- mega-mansions, yachts, fancy cars. Rather, most of his money is given away to various charities and organizations. In 2010 Zuckerberg signed Giving the Pledge, in which he vowed to give away more than half of his money. He also has given almost $100 million to Newark public schools.

One particularly interesting project Zuckerberg is involved in is Code.org  This project serves as a beginning platform to encourage learning about coding and understand how it works. People of all ages can participate in the "Hour of Code" in which they go through various exercises that teach more about coding and how to do it.  The set up of the coding is quite similar to that of Scratch.  Upon completing the Hour of Code, participants are told various ways to continue to learn about coding. Resources given include an Intro to Computer Science Course, Tynker,  Scratch, Lightbot, and App Inventor.

And Zuckerberg is just one of many influential people involved in this project. The founder of Dropbox has donated money and various celebrities appear in their videos. But Zuckerberg in particular is listed as a founding donor of Code.org. And while the exact amount he has given is unknown, it it can be sure that with the support of the founder of Facebook, Code.org is having quite a bit of success. 

Alongside Code.org, he has also invested in other educational programs through school-improvement effort known as Startup: Education. With a $100 million donation, the effort has assisted a Massachusetts-based startup that analyzes data from teachers, parents and students to better advance schools. Also, last December,the effort also gave support to EducationSuperhighway,which is a nonprofit to help bring faster online connections to schools. 

While it certainly is extremely generous of Zuckerberg to say the least, what I find particularly interesting is the role of wealthy individuals providing supports for education. Bill Gates is another excellent example- one of the primary goals of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is to expand educational opportunities and give better access to information technology. Donations have ranged anywhere from $3.5 million to $1.5 billion. 

Scribble Machines!

A scribble or a drawing Machine is "a motorized contraption that moves in unusual ways and leaves a mark to trace its path". Something interesting about these machines is that they can easily be made from simple, everyday materials and anyone has the ability to make one. The idea of a scribble machine is not just about the marks that can be made but also the process of making it. Figuring out how the machine works to create specific marks requires experimentation and an open mind.  It also allows for people to learn the general set up of an electric current and creating a motor from that set up.  

Scribbling machines can range from relatively simple designs…

… to more elaborate and complex ones.

Scribble machines of all variations can be created as tools of experimentation and creating pieces of fine art. Students are able to learn the dynamics of how different components come together to create their very own personalized scribble machines. It also involves a lot of trial and error in figuring out where to place the mark making objects and the motor.  Every little detail can make all the difference in the making of the machine and this kind of project creates an experimental and learning experience. 

Diorama with a Twist

A diorama is defined as being "a model representing a scene with three-dimensional figures, either in miniature or as a large-scale museum exhibit." since elementary school I have made numerous dioramas for different classes but with this project, it was nice to add the element of including a circuit and a working LED light. 


As for the subject of my diorama, I decided to do a scene from the first Harry Potter book focusing on the Mirror of Erised. The Mirror is actually a magical object that has the ability to show someone their deepest desire. Each person sees something different in the mirror- Harry Potter sees himself happily with the parents he never knew, Ronald Weasley sees himself as Head Boy and Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, while Professor Dumbledore sees himself holding a pair of socks. 

Learning what one wants or desires is an important part of a person's development. Having desire is not necessarily a bad thing but there is line between desire and greed. Too much desire can be dangerous dangerous and can make someone lose themselves to obtain what they want most. Rowling uses the dark lord Voldemort as such an example. In his desire for power and eternal life, he ultimately gives up his own humanity and any good in himself. The Mirror of Erised serves as an important plot device that help's teach Harry, and the reader, the difference between such desires. 

Something particularly interesting about Rowling's creation of the mirror is the the inscription on the top of it. Though at first is seems indecipherable, it is actually mirror writing, symbolizing how everything is a mirror reflection is flipped. Read reversed, it says I show not your face but your heart's desire. 

Because this is such an important object in the Harry Potter series, it was important to emphasize that in the making of the diorama.  I made it so that when the door is opened, the light positioned under the mirror will light up the mirror and emphasize the importance of this one object in the room. There is much more to it than meets the eye.

History of Pong

     Almost everyone know about the video game, Pong. Released in 1972, it was one of the first video games created and its design and graphics were quite simple. Yet there is something almost addicting about it and quickly became one of the most most popular arcade games. It was based on the back and forth action of a tennis ball between two players.

     Pong was developed by Atari, the first video game/console maker. After seeing how popular Pong was as an arcade game, it also got its own console in 1975 to allow people to play at home. It was a great success and even in limited release, almost 150,000 units sold. This was the beginning of video games becoming something to not only play in the arcade, but at home. 

     Since its release in 1972, there have been numerous copies, rip-offs, and parodies of Pong. It is a game that almost everyone has played at some point.  Pong is a game that is easy enough for small children to understand and complex enough for older people to get lost in the game. It also inspired French artist Pierre Huyghe to create an installation in which people play on an illuminated ceiling. 

Programming Made (Frustratingly) Easy

With the increase of using technology in the classroom environment, programming is just one of many digital platforms being explored as a way of art-making. Through the MIT Media Lab, young learners can access the website, Scratch. Created in 2006, Scratch allows anyone the opportunity to program and create their own stories, animation, and games.  

Pros:

It is a great and interesting way to incorporate technology in art-making, and gives students a new perspective. Art is not just drawing or painting, but can also be made on the computer, requiring a completely different way of thinking.

Scratch also offers different options in what you can make. Aside from creating an animation, you can also create games and stories. With so many options, children are encouraged in thinking of new ideas and how they can portray them using programming.

The way the Scratch website is set up allows for it to be a community of creators to share their work and get ideas from others. It is a great way to gain feedback and brainstorm new ideas. 

Cons:

Despite it being a fairly easy concept, the actual programming in Scratch can be overwhelming for someone unfamiliar with it. I have also experienced numerous glitches, from being unable to program a number to being unable to save properly. For this reason, I have found myself quite frustrated in using the program and even when following direct instructions, my animations won't come out as I would like it.

This is a sight I became quite familiar with. 

Below is my progress of using Scratch.

Attempt #1- Dino

Attempt #2- Friendly Ghost

Attempt #3- Cat Dance Party

Attempts #4, 5, & 6- Remix the Pong Game

I had come up with the idea of remixing the classic pong game to allow the play to be in outer space and protect their space station from a persistent asteroid. Unfortunately, it didn't go as well as I hoped. The most common problem was that after less than two seconds, the asteroid-sprite would stop completely.

Eventually I was able to get a working pong game, but the Save failed to keep it. 

Final Thoughts:

I honestly have very mixed opinions on Scratch. It really is a great way of introducing children to programming and informing them of different ways  programming can be used for artistic purposes. It is a new medium that they may very well grow into, with today's emphasis of digital technology incorporated in the arts. Yet despite it having so much potential, it also has its flaws. The glitches I mentioned before play a major part in my distaste towards Scratch. The constant interruption from creating and unreliableness quickly wears on you. I am sure one day, Scratch's creators will have fixed these types of problems from occurring as often as they do, but until then, I think that I will appreciate Scratch from afar. 

The Japanese Phenomena of Purikura

プリクラ, or purikura, are pictures made in a sticker photo booth and is very popular in Japan. More often than not, you will see friends taking pictures and decorating them together. Purikura is a very important part of the Japanese youth's social life. After a long hard day at school, there is nothing better then going to the arcade with your friends and taking purikura together to decorate ones phone with.

Just last year while I was abroad in Japan, I did purikura almost 2-3 times a week. It's a fun and cheap activity. Many places have also began to have "cosplay purikura" in which you can pay 100 yen (around $1.50) to choose any outfit or costume of your choice and wear it for your photo session. Along with adding revenue to the arcade, it allows the customers to feel like a true model with their very own photo shoot.

 

As you can see in the above images, there are a fair amount of additional decorations and writings that are added to the images.  This is the second step to purikura, and probably the most fun part.  You can also choose to have the images printed on regular paper, sticker paper, or email it to yourself.   

While many pictures in purikura can be cute, there are also plenty of odd looking pictures that can come out of it.

Here is a video about just how much editing is involved in purikura. 

**This is an edited repost of February 16's post. The pictures are now visible** 

Understanding "The Remix"

The Remix, as I understand it, is the combing of different things together to create something "new". When most people hear the word remix, they automatically associate it with music and DJs. But this can go far beyond just music- it can also include combining ideas and images. One group that focus on visual remixes is Adbusters.

Adbusters focuses primarily on parodying popular culture and bringing awareness to modern issues while bringing some humor to otherwise serious issues. Along with being a magazine, they also create visual images or "spoofs". Many of these spoofs focuses on corporations and negatives aspects to them (ex: their control of politics, poor treatment of workers, etc).

2 images of Adbuster's spoof, "Unswooshing"

One series in particular that I found myself drawn to were entitled "Big Mac Attack". The title alone tells the viewer it will be about McDonalds.  Many of the images created in "Big Mac Attack" focus on the concept of obesity and effects on children. 

While the series as a whole is a powerful, the image with the babies was probably the image that affected me the most. Everyone is familiar with Ronald McDonald, the friendly clown character that serves as McDonalds' primary mascot. The use of a clown as a mascot is a clever marketing strategy to appeal more to kids. The baby in the picture is not a regular baby but a Ronald McDonald baby. There are many parents that do not see the negative effects of fast food and start to feed their children from a very young age this food.  

The image itself is a commentary on the increasing obesity rate in children, which has more than doubled in children in the past 30 years. McDonalds, while not the only fast food chain, is often seen as a major contributor to obesity in individuals.  And while in recent years, McDonalds has attempted to make healthier meals, there are many that question just how healthy they really are.