Th3 Math of Me

1. Dignity

2. Consciousness

3. Individuality

It seems like everything spurs from this, at least for me...personally. My entire living character is spawned from these three core principles. Is that okay? I know the whole point of this exercise was to find ourselves and to get a better sense of our artistic direction, but I still feel lost.

Lost.

That would probably have been a better word to use. The thing is, all other emotions stem from these three words. These emotions, like markings on a map, are supposed to lead you to your destination. They are supposed to give you an answer you are looking for. Their purpose is not to propose even more questions than the amount you had started with. According to my calculations:

Individuality + Dignity = Creativity

Dignity + Honor = Respect

Respect + Creativity = Knowledge

Knowledge + Individuality = Originality

Originality + Knowledge - Individuality = Knowing

Knowledge + Consciousness = Answers

Answers - Knowledge + Creativity = Mystery

Mystery + Consciousness = The Greatest Enigma

The Greatest Enigma + Knowledge + Capability = Life

How can an idea as simple as the ones I began with circle all the way back around to the greater meaning of life? Life? Really!? You're telling me that the answers to all my questions are more questions?? This is infuriating.

But maybe this is a good thing. After all, without questions, life would be boring. If we knew everything there is to know, there would be no motivation to learn and we would all eventually shrivel up and die not knowing anything more than what we did the minute we were born. 

-Peter 

BIG Questions (Double Post Yaya!)

I like that..."Double Post Yaya!". I'm pretty sure that's going to become a regular thing.

Anywhösen, my first big week was part hectic, part malarky. At times I felt as if I was trying to do so much that it seemed to me that I was about to one-up Superman in a way, but other times I didn't know what to do. Maybe these questions will help answer some of my own.

1) You've worked on a group film and on your own. In which situation are you most comfortable - group or solo? Which do you work best in?I wish I couldn't say this but I think I work more productively alone as to with a group of people.

2) What did you learn that you expected to learn?
I learned how to manage my time more wisely and precisely, which really helped me towards the end of the week.

3) What did you learn that you didn't expect to learn?  
I was constantly surrounded by others who were also working on their various BigWeek projects, so I guess you could say that I learned more about the others in STAC and their interests, especially during presentation day.

4) What didn't you learn that you expected to learn?
To speak truthfully, I wasn't expecting to learn much, if anything at all when starting this whole shebang. Whatever I did learn was a total, pleasant surprise.
 

5) Praise your amazing achievement and explain your brilliant plan for pulling it off.

My end result was better than I expected, but I sort of saw that coming, being that I'm usually hard on myself and critical about most of my work. I had done things in that recording that I have never tried before (using glassware as an instrument) and was impressed with the first-time results. This coming from myself, a guy who had no idea how he was going to record common kitchenware a week and a half ago.

6) How much time did you spend working?
I spent about three to five hours a day working. So over the course of BigWeek (not counting presentation day) I would say I spent a total of about 18 hours on this project.

7) How much time did you spend thinking about the work - sort of sitting there and staring at it, or listening to it over and over again, etc.?
Probably a quarter of my total work time.At times, it really took a while to figure out what I wanted to put next into the song...almost like creative trial-and-error.

8) How much time did you spend doing other stuff that seems like work to that make you think you're working but you're not?
I would have to say only about an hour...I don't have time for games you know?minecraft

9) How much time did you spend socializing?
I'm not sure exactly how much time, but yes, I was talking to people here and there.

10) How did you use your community?
If I was stumped on a part in the song, or I wanted someone's opinion on a new track I just added etc., I would ask someone to listen to what I had so far. I'm also a part-time charcoal model as it may seem...

11) Rip apart your awful project and how did such a disaster happen?
I hated the fact that I didn't have much time for final mixing/mastering because that's what I usually do with songs I produce and I'm used to their kind of quality. Time was also an issue when I came up with the brilliant idea to create a "music video", per say, to accompany the song. I have it half completed to this day.

12) You've completed a step on your path. What is your next step?

This is a very abstract question. It deserves an abstract answer. Peaches.

As Drew Carey would say: "Don't forget to get your pet spaded or neutered! Have a good night everybody!"

-Peter

Thursday: The Day After Wednesday

Sorry about the lack of writing the past few days...I've been pretty busy. The project is almost complete and, well, most of you know what it is anyway so I might as well just let y'all be informed. Due to lack of motivation and extreme laziness (side effects usually associated with Claritin-D) I will be using my final statement for Luke as my writing for today. Please excuse me if this is sort of scatterbrained.

And now I would like to present to you, a crappy excuse for a blog post!


To Luke,

THIS IS MY FINAL STATEMENT!! DUHDUNNNN!!!

No but really, my project is definitely 100% going to be my own rendition of "Hedwig's Theme", the theme song for the Harry Potter series. It may also possibly be a music video accompanying the song…and by music video I mean a visual representation of what's going on in the song such as the guitar being played in sync with its instrument track etc. I am currently working on the video right now so it's existence all depends on whether or not I'm pleased with it's "birth" by the end of tonight.
By the way, I hope you don't mind that I am using this as my blog post for tonight…life gets pretty hectic as an internet mogul you know?



-Peter

Tuesday: Day Two

Today was a surprise. I was finished early with what I had to do! Granted, the project is still unfinished, but I had completed my self set in-class task today and I was lost...which led me to thinking. 

I was inspired.

I was inspired by the things around me and how they act. A general idea, yes, but a common and almost constantly occurring phenomenon in our world. With a little thought, I found that this can be related and applied to all forms of art. I will keep this in my mind for the weeks to come and try to revel in this idea every time  I look for a source of inspiration for a project. Such a broad theme to work with...the possibilities are infinite.

-Peter

Monday: One Small Step For Stan...

Today was a good day I say. It was a good day, today.

The moment when a sudden realization hits you like a runaway freight train (boy, I've never heard that analogy before). Today I noticed that I may have bitten more than I can chew...at least that's how it seemed at first. I chose my project after deciding to do something fun and unique. Anyone can easily write a song and record/perform it, and I could have easily done the same, but I wanted to do something different. Sure, it's a daunting task, but it turns out, not so difficult when focused. As long as I keep my mind in the appropriate creative state for the duration of this week, this should turn out alright. Now, I put emphasis on the word "alright". I'm not promising anything spectacular so don't go calling Capitol Records (unless you want to, then feel free), there just simply is not enough time to perfect it. Granted, my standards for my music are very high, so you might think it's decent but I'll always know that it could be improved. 

In conclusion: expect acceptable mediocrity!

-Peter

Seven Questions

For the record, I thought the questions needed to be handed in physically during class...a little miscalculation on my part. Anyway, here are the answers to the questions, completed on time, "handed in" one day late:

*---------------------------------------------------------* 

1) What is the first creative moment you remember?

   I can remember going around my old apartment and scouring the various nooks and crannies of my abode for random toys. I would use those toys to try and create an elaborate (at least in a three year old's case) apparatus to complete a simple action, such as eventually toppling an action figure or something like that. Almost like a rube goldberg machine.

2) Was anyone there to witness or appreciate it?

   I'm sure I called my parents over to see them once or twice, but other than them, I was the only one who ever knew about them.

3) What is the best idea you've ever had?

   I never had a best idea, but I've had a few times where I was just thinking about life and developed great questions. For example, have you ever wondered why things are the way they are? Or how about thinking about the universe and how ever-expanding it presumably is? Have you ever wondered what is beyond it?

4) What made it great in your mind?

   It's great to have "ideas" like these that are unanswered because this way there is room for discussion and debate and most of all, creative thought. Since these ideas have no definite answer, you are free to think what you want to think and beautifully never find an answer.

5) What is the dumbest idea?

   I built three coal power plants in the center of one of my metropolises in Sim City 4 because there was no room on the outskirts of the city.

6) What made it stupid?

   The citizens were not happy...

7) Can you connect the dots that led you to this idea?

   I was low on funds, low on land, and my mayor's rating wasn't exactly optimal. The rest is pretty much history.

-Peter

Ghostly Guitar

So I'm just going to quickly post some amazing music on here. First, let it be known that I absolutely hate Bruce Springsteen and I think he is the offspring of the devil and that expired feta cheese in my fridge. But in this case he's playing with Tom Morello (guitar god) so it's acceptable. Tom's solo at around 6:00 is still to this day one of the coolest solo's I have ever heard.

-Peter

Thoughts on STAC: First Day's Journey

I must be honest, when I worked with STAC last year in their fall performance Metamorphoses, I thought the program looked pretty stellar and that there could be no other better way to express the artistic side of me. so I took it upon myself to audition, majoring in music, and fortunately i received my acceptance letter in the mail shortly thereafter. well...

MY ASSUMPTIONS WERE PRETTY SPOT-ON

STAC truly is a great program and a great way for talented and unique students to do what they love doing, whatever it may be. as one of the new students in the program (noobs, as we're infamously called) I was immediately captivated by the wild and creative atmosphere that just the room alone gives off. and being a noob, I naturally had some concerns about things involving the experienced stackies which were swiftly erased from my thoughts because of the great attitude of the other students and the quirky (yet, sort of inspirational) humor given by Luke, the program's director.

Because of a strong storm that moved across the area today the STAC room had no power from 6th period on, so plans for the '12-'13 inaugural classes were thrown for a bit of a curve. instead of a "special surprise presentation" planned for us newbies and, I assume, the rest of the class to enjoy, the class was divided into a few groups to direct and plan a puppet show with each group showcasing different topics involving the program. The end result could only be described as funny, cooperative, chaos. An unusual end to the first day of school, but surely an enjoyable one.

I feel like I'm some sort of restauranteur who visits art program after art program and simply writes boring, heartless reviews about each of them. but this is impossible. because I am sure that there is no other program like STAC out there. I already feel at home and I am looking forward to a spectacular year.

Well, here come the waterworks...

-Peter

STAC!

...so does this sarcasm count as a post on a blog? hmm...well I was told to post what's going on in my mind soooo....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsZRxkQ0EWM....ok well that was creepier than I expected. you can tell that this "blogging" thing that all the young'uns are doing now isn't exactly my fortè.

SARAH! ELLEN! HELP ME!

here's a picture:

Also, that's a link up there and I'm not sure if it works...if it doesn't, well, there will be utter awkwardness!

-Peter