Ari Felsen ART211 blog

The blog, Stage Door , by Angel de Quinta features a plethora of excerpts from various different broadway shows or musical performances. The blog mostly consists of several clips of songs and live performances, and then de Quinta gives some background information and his analysis of all of the sets of videos on the blog. Most of the videos featured on the blog are musical numbers from different broadway shows over a few decades. However, de Quinta often included a couple different variations of the same song on the blog. For example, de Quinta included the song, Fifty Percent into the blog with four different performances of the same song. It is an older song, being performed back in the 70's and 80's, but the fact that artists are still recreating this performance indicates that it is a timeless classic. I found this very interesting because it shows you a direct comparison between the different versions, which ultimately acts as evidence to witness the ways in which the per...

            Operas are shows featuring a story and set to music for singers and instrumentalists to perform as supplementation to the dramatic plot. Although not nearly as prominent as they once were, there are still operas being performed all over the world. A long time ago, before modern pastimes, operas were the prime choice of entertainment among people of earlier centuries. The famous opera, Otello, based off the tragic play by William Shakespeare, was developed and composed by famous Italian composer, Giuseppe Verdi. It took Verdi several years of on-again, off-again writing, but eventually completed the composition on November 1 st 1886 and was then first performed in February 1887.             Watching this opera was the first time that I had ever actually watched an entire opera. My whole life I always thought of operas as merely an old-fashioned genre of Broadway, and could not understan...

The animated short film, Madama Butterfly, created by Pjotr Sapegin and inspired by Puccini's famous opera, Madame Butterfly, was very powerful. I found it to be powerful in a plethora of different ways. Most foremost, the method in which the video was created. Pjotr Sapegin filmed this "animation" through stop-motion, a cinematographic technique in which the camera is repeatedly stopped and started, giving the animated figures the impression of movement. Stop-motion is an extremely difficult and tedious method of filming; however, if done patiently and correctly, the time and effort is worth it as it adds a tremendous effect with the visually appealing and stimulating visuals. The method of filming was supplemental to the great effect of this video; however, there was still much more. The music playing throughout the video was the original opera by Puccini. The opera itself tells a story, without the video's aide. The lyrics of the opera obviously have meaning, many...

Introducing the Baroque Bic Lamp! This lamp was inspired by the beautiful and elegant designs of the Baroque era. Hundreds of years ago back in the Baroque Era, the people still lived without electricity, so they would use candles or other old-fashion methods of bringing light into their homes and architecture. This is how I became inspired to conjoin a lighter to the lamp. Because of their lack of light bulbs, I added the Bic to the lamp because they would each run on a flame. Although there were also no such thing as Bic lighters back in this time period, I chose to add the lighter because it symbolizes both the old traditional traits of the Baroque era, but it also adds the sense of modern age.

The interview with Raul Cuero, a successful inventor, scientist, philospher, and author from Colombia was very interesting. Cuero opened my mind to a much broader and healthier outlook on life. In the interview, he explains how he became so successful, and gives great insight from his experiences he's faced and learned along the way. From his biography to his advice on creativity and living your best life, his words were very moving. There was so much he talked about that seemed very helpful to take into consideration and implement into my own life. There were even instances he brought up that directly involve and influence me in my daily life. For example, his response when asked about the problem with the school system in America; Raul believes the education system in the US is struggling because of our attitudes towards school. Most schools nowadays use many electronics in the classroom as way of learning; however, Cuero believes that people are reading much less now and tryin...

What's up Professor Roundtree and anyone who has discovered my blog. My name is Ari Felsen, and I am a sophomore Digital Arts major at the University of Tampa. First off, I'd like to make it clear in advance, that I am by no means a writer. Not only have I always lacked the talent to write well, but writing is just something that I have always found to be painfully boring and difficult. This is a large reason as to why I have planned to take my life and career in a much different direction. Growing up, I had always found it much more effective to absorb new information through visual or hands-on learning as opposed to learning by jotting down notes or reading. I knew from the beginning that I would never want a career that involves much writing or intense reading; after evaluating my own interests, personal experiences, skills, etc., I came to the realization that I really wanted to learn more and get into the technology/digital arts industry. Ultimately, my goal is t...