The Beats Must Go On (Howl)

I am a writer by nature. Admittedly, I did not discover Allen Ginsberg until a few years ago. I would like to think that I found Ginsberg, but more than likely he found me. As I progressed through my 20’s and began searching for my true self, I developed an interest in Buddhism. I was still in the Navy at the time, but nearing the end of my tour of duty. The military isn’t really big on the individual developing thoughts for themselves, more like a mindless obedience without stray. That is why I am here in college writing this blog. That mentality is good for the military, and it works for what they want to accomplish.

It doesn’t work for me.

While my journey into Buddhism was beginning, I read an article written by Ginsberg regarding his Buddhist beliefs, and his style and flow of life spoke to me. It was then that I dug deeper into Ginsberg and his work, and I discovered “Howl.” Like many people that read it for the first time, it blew my mind. It was considered too obscene. It went against the happy, traditional American suburban “nuclear family” mentality that post war America was in love with. Ginsberg popped the top off the can of the “real” America. Life in America wasn’t always the perfect “Leave it to Beaver” family. There was an entire generation of youth that felt the same way as Ginsberg.

Now they had a voice.

Ginsberg of course led me to Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs and the Beat Generation. I read “Dharma Bums” and “On the Road” by Kerouac and was left speechless. The beat writers and generation went against the “norm” of American society. Their attitude and views were hard to swallow for stuffy, single minded America, who couldn’t deal with the fact that they themselves had given up on their dreams long ago, and that their lives were just shells of who they really were.

As I continue my education here at UT, I hope to integrate the styles and beliefs of artists like Ginsberg, Kerouac, and Burroughs, and apply them to the 21^st century and all of the new technologies that we have at hand. My generation needs a voice.

Why can’t it be mine?

Space Invaders Grid Art

After watching the history of video games documentary in class, I became inspired to build my project around one of the most classic video games of all time. This game typifies the classic arcade games and utilizes an old-school grid due to the year it was produced. It's also one of my favorite games, but it is impossible to beat, regardless of your skill level!

Original Game Image:

The image I designed in Excel:

The Great Watson

Jeopardy

What has the world come to? Now we have robots that are smarter than humans playing Jeopardy? That’s insanity! I am kidding of course, I think that it is pretty awesome. We were talking in class about the history of pretty much everything (media wise) and it is crazy to think how far computer technology has come since its inception. Heck, it’s crazy to think of all the technology that has come out in the past five years, and the stuff that is going to be coming out shortly. (LED TV projected onto your t-shirt? Really?) So Watson being on Jeopardy is indeed a very cool thing, but we need to be careful. First we let computers play Jeopardy and it’s all nice and cute and fun, and next, well…….just watch the video clip

Flip Book Animation

My flip book follows the life of a man in reverse. The book begins as he crawls out of the grave, and his life plays out in front of our eyes. From having children, finding the love of his life, living through a war, and childhood memories, the story of the man in the brown hat is a special one......

War of the Worlds

When Orson Welles produced the radio broadcast “War of the World,” based on the book by H.G. Wells, not even he could have imagined the cultural impact that this event would have on media broadcasting for decades to come. This, of course, was an entertainment piece, broadcast during the show “Mercury Theatre on the Air” on Halloween Eve. It was announced that the broadcast was indeed not real, only an entertaining fiction story. During that time, radio was the main source of communication, and the major source of mass communication. Some listeners turned in to the story part way through, and truly believed that we were being invaded by Martians. The broadcast production at the time was so detailed, so realistic, and so believable, it sent Americans into a state of panic all across the eastern seaboard.

This could not happen in today’s society, as there is an abundance of technology it makes it almost impossible to pull anything off of this magnitude. This was a special time for not only radio, by mass media and entertainment in general. The radio allowed the performers to produce a “theatre of the mind,” allowing the listener to envision their own thoughts and ideas based on the detail of the performance on air.

Welles of course went on to direct and star in what many consider to be the greatest movie of all time, Citizen Kane

Depression Era Radio

The great depression was one of the lowest points in American history. Unemployment rates and poverty were at all-time highs, and people needed something to keep their spirits up. The radio came along and help produce entertainment the likes that may not be seen or mean more to a country than during the depression era. There were no cell phones, no digital cable TV’s or Facebook. All Americans had to hold on to each day was the entertinament they would hear nightly on the radio. Families would gather around the radio in the living room and be entertained by shows such as Chase and Sanborn and Eddie Cantor.

"But the ultimate Depression-era zany was Joe Penner.

A forgotten performer today to most, and little more than a footnote to the average OTR fan, Penner was a national craze in 1933-34.   There is no deep social meaning in his comedy, no shades of subtlety -- just utter slapstick foolishness, delivered in an endearingly simpering style that's the closest thing the 30s had to Pee Wee Herman. An added attraction was Penner's in-character singing each week of a whimsical novelty song, especially written to suit his style. Like Pearl, however, Penner was doomed to early decline by the sheer repetitiveness of his format, even though he remained very popular with children right up to the end of his radio career" (http://www.midcoast.com/~lizmcl/rfy.html)

Experimental Skeleton

I thought that it was a really cool opportunity to learn about the Experimental Skeleton group. I think that the most impressive piece that I will remember is the indoor sand dune project. It’s amazing how much time is put into one work of art. It was also interesting to hear the struggles that local artists have fighting the city government in regards to using abandoned buildings as installation sites. It would be a great way to utilize old buildings around the area and actually bring in more of an art crowd and potentially more business to the area. Tampa and St. Pete both have great art communities, but the problem comes up when conservative old white guys get all high and mighty when someone thinks out of the box.

Speaking if thinking outside of the box….

Experimental Skeleton doesn’t know the meaning of the word box. After reviewing their blog, which is a great idea to display their artworks along with upcoming shows, I found that they follow the beat of their own drummer. In a world where so many people care about what everyone else thinks, or has, or doesn’t have, ES stays true to their creative as hell inner artist. (Much like the Beat Generation, which influenced ES and their giant Dreamachine concept. This idea of course was inspired by Brion Gyson and my man William Burroughs.)

My wife and I went to the Sensory Overload event at the Children’s Museum, and that was an amazing experience. There were so many different types of art, from performance, dance, music, and ES was there as well. We’ll be going back next year!