It's the end of an era! (ok, maybe just quarter..).

From moment I signed up for this class, to the first day, up until the last day of class, everything has been a surprising and new experience. "Everyday Life", I thought when I signed up for this class, "How hard can it be?" Well turns out everday life is the hardest thing I've ever tried to grasp. I always thought it would be easy thinking about everyday life. When it came to the 20 minutes of nothing, turns out I wasn't doing nothing, I was doing what I wasn't supposed to do. I wasn't supposed to do nothing or something. I've always taken forgranted to little things that happen in my everday life that go unnoticed. This class has kept me on my toes and has kept me thinking. It's like a new way of thinking. Don't think extraordinary, think ordinary.

Impossible project.

Pick a random evergreen tree.

Watch and count every leave that falls,

until it is bare.

Wait until the sun is about to set,

then chase it before it falls.

Art of the unconscious.

Is everything we see in in the everyday life subconsciously art? The video regarding graffiti removal which exemplified art made me think about everyday objects that could also exemplify art in the same way. The graffiti removal was subconsciously art. As they removed it, different colors and sizes of rectangles were used which created a pattern. Subconsciously the remover had no idea they were an artist at work. Some examples I can think of in everyday life are: the way bricks are layered, the half oval window in my bedroom, the way I arrange my pillows after I make my bed, the flashy light shows and displays at concerts, the way the vines/grapes are arranged in rows at vineyards, a Ferris wheel at the local fair, the color arrangement of the fruits and vegetables at the grocery store, etc. We all exemplify and incorporate art in our everyday life even though we don’t realize it. There are plenty of other ways that art is exemplified in everyday life, but its such a part of everyday life it is harder to distinguish than obvious art. It’s unobvious art, art created by the subconscious. Why do we have prestigious artists when we all are artists in our everyday life?

Rain Under Cover.

http://www.archive.org/details/EverydayLife_248
Since I was having trouble embedding my audio, here is a link to listen to it. The audio is coming from outside underneath a metal cover over my patio. The rain is always emphasized when it hits my metal cover which is partly why I chose to do my audio underneath it while it rained in Seattle (surprise surprise).

Frustrated.

Just to let everyone know, I've had my audio ready for the past 45 minutes, but there's one problem...I can't seem to upload it or embed it into my blog. I've followed the instructions Joe gave on the email, but its been nothing but frustration. I hope its not just me...

Leslie's Car Ride Film.

Taking a drive.
Wind blowing hair.
Free to talk.
Free to sing.
Free to think.
Free to be yourself.
Nothing else matters.
Cars honk loudly.
Sound of the road roars.
Sirens shriek.
But in the end,
it’s just a drive.

Cleaners Beware...

Man set fire to his Georgia home Wednesday while cleaning up cobwebs from his ceiling with a blowtorch; finally noticing it wasn't a good idea after he saw smoke filling up his house.

source: The Times-Herald

New Toy of 2009.

A stick from the outside [paired with a cardboard box] lands itself a position in the National Toy Hall of Fame amongst crayons, dolls, and Mr. Potato Head.

source: Seattle P-I

Bar Tab Paid with Gun Wrapper?

28-year-old man tried to pay for $32 bar tab with gum wrappers; he began unfolding the wrappers as if they were dollar bills. Later arrested for disorderly conduct and assult of police officer.

source: Seattle P-I

Soldier Blown up in Irag Survived.

Rory Dunn, blown up in Iraq four years ago; four pieces of shrapnel in his head, a missing eye, a rebuilt forehead, and deaf in one ear. Puts on his uniform.

source: The Seattle Times.

Send-Off for Tuba Man.

Musical memorial for "Tuba Man", Ed McMichael (53), beaten to death at Lower Queen Anne by three 15-year-olds. Nine days later...dead.

source: The Seattle Times

Quotes from Andy Warhol.

When I was reading through The Philosophy of Andy Warhol, I highlighted a few quotes that I felt were powerful to me, my everyday life, and what I go through.

"When I look in the mirror I only know that I don't see myself as others see me...Because I'm looking at myself the way I want to see myself..." (p.7)

We all have our own interpretations of ourselves and the way we look. Although others may see me as thin and decent looking, I never look at myself the way others see me. I'm always criticizing and finding things I need to work on.

"Couples do become like each other when they're together for a long time, because you like the person and you pick up their mannerisms and their little good habits. And you eat the same food." (p.49)

This quote reminded me of me and my boyfriend. We've been together for 2 1/2 years now. It's totally unconscious but we tend to do and act the same way now. Although we still definitely do have our differences, there are some aspects such as food, dress, and ways of speaking that show similarities.

"People should fall in love with their eyes closed. Just close your eyes and don't look." (p.50)

This quote to me was beautiful mainly because it is saying that beauty is beyond the outer layer. You shouldn't necessarily fall in love with someone based on their looks because [as cheesy as it may sound] whats on the inside is what's really going to take a couple far and make being in love that much more pleasant.

"If somebody runs at a 2.2, does that mean that people will be able to do it at 2.1 and 2.0 and 1.9 and so on until they can do it in 0.0? So at what point will they not break a record?" (p.85)

I honestly picked this quote for its wit. I've never thought about this concept. Just thinking about the Olympics this past summer, so many records were broken. People are getting faster and stronger, when WILL they reach the point where they can't break the record anymore?

"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." (p.111)

As time changes; the numbers on your watch change and you calender will need to be flipped over to another month. But to change things, it all depends on yourself. You are in ultimate control of yourself, your body, and your actions. Time can't do anything except move forward to a new day.

The Andy Warhol Bridge on 7th Street in Pittsburgh (Wikipedia image).

The Everyday Life of Shaleen DePano

I was thinking about reality TV the other day and comparing it to everyday life.

Survivor
The Amazing Race
The Mole
The Real World
American Idol
The Bachelor

I had a hard time comparing due to the fact that, everyday life on reality TV shows is so much more spectacular than our everyday lives. Or is it the same? Could I have my own reality TV show? The Everyday Life of Shaleen DePano? Why is it that some people’s everyday lives are so much more interesting than others? I love how we make something such as The Real World so important and spectacular however, we often times hardly ever notice such everyday elements in our own life. If everyday life is so spectacular then why doesn’t everyone form their own shows. Furthermore, I think reality TV shows distort reality. First of all there is more than enough drama, torture, embarrassment, and temptation than there is in everyday life. And secondly, what we may see on a show as complete reality is only a few bit’s and pieces of selected/edited reality. Therefore, to answer my question regarding my own reality TV show, I would most likely have to cut and edit my everyday life, as well as include more drama, torture, embarrassment, and temptation in order to put my show on air.

Big, bold, beautiful?

I open up internet explorer and my homepage happens to be MSN.com. And BAM right below the search bar where all the items such as; Autos, Career and Jobs, City Guides, etc. there sat in big bold red letters Shopping. Such an easy access button; with one click it can take you...shopping! It's funny how they're not only advertising items, but advertising links by making them stand out amongst the rest. Our economy is doing bad, but I didn't know it was that bad...

Warhol and Goldsmith Writings.

Warhol

So, I’m looking here at the front page of one of the great internet “selling” sites amazon.com. It’s amazing how many things you can buy just from your house. I don’t even have to get out of bed. Bring my food to my bed, switch on my TV’s, and purchase life’s necessities all at once. Ah look, rings “fit for a princess”, how nice would that look on her finger. I think she would like the Three-Stone Diamond Ring, seems like the biggest bang for the buck. I wonder how much it is. Eh I don’t care. Why do girls need rings anyways? Maybe to look just like a “princess” as the title says. Oh look, I can protect my phone. Why would I want to protect my phone? It’s worthless anyways. I might as well get a new phone. Or an iPod looks pretty nice. Touch iPod, sounds sexual. Oh good shoes, just what I need. Another pair of shoes to clutter up my closet and be left untouched just like the restof the pointless shoes in there. Although, those Steve Madden pumps are pretty cute. I wonder what people would think if a man wore those Steve Madden pumps? I would think he would look reasonably fashionable considering Steve Madden is a quite fashionable brand. If a man wants to wear pumps, let the man wear pumps,especially if he has good taste. Ok, so I’ve been I’m dire need for a new camera for years now. Just look, its right in front of my face. It’s on the front page of amazon.com! What would I do with my old camera? Throw it out and call it junk? I wonder how much junk is actually reusable.

Final Cut Pro Weather Edition.

Yesterdays weather felt like a version of a completely edited project in Final Cut Pro. First the dark clouds were cued in, then the rain was cued in - a little harder - now even more harder. Then flashes of light were edited into the clouds, along with a few sound bites of thunder. Stop the thunder, bring on the sun. But keep the rain throughout. Ok time to mark the end for the rain. Now cue in one more flash of light into the dark clouds, and a longer stream of sound for the thunder. Now lets end the video with a rainbow against the dark clouds - make that two rainbows.

Fascination.

It's wierd how were attracted to the little not so obvious things. I mean course were attracted to extravagant cars, beautiful people and things. But I'm talking the simplest things. This weekend was my birthday (yeah 22..no longer 21) and I got a card from my brother and sister-in-law, it was a musical card. But instead of being the one you open and it plays a sound, it was one in which there was a turning mechanism on the front of the card - you turn it and it plays a song. Everyone was so fascinated by that card. I passed it around and I swear during the remainder of the evening I heard that card play at LEAST 10 times. Also on the topic of fascination, my five-year-old sister got a little Dora shaved ice machine. After we were done opening presents, everyone was crowded around that ice machine waiting for the first sno-cone to be made. If were so fascinated by the most simple things, then why do we even need to have the extravagant items American's are so fond of (luxury cars, big houses, designer clothes, etc)?

Nadja.

I'm about half way through and so far, I'm a little lost. Nadja wasn't even mentioned (at least I don't think) until at least after the first 60 or so pages. Not only that, but I'm having a hard time following it, it seems quite random. I hope I'm not the only one having a hard time with this?

Greetings from #7.

Surrealism at its finest.

Surrealism [suh-ree-uh-liz-uh m] noun : not the definition you would find at Wikipedia.

What I got from the short film today were completely random happenings of which seemed completely "un"realistic. Ants crawling out of a hole in a mans palm, a man all of a sudden collapsing on his bike while in motion, books turning into pistols, etc. I sure am not an expert on surrealism but I can take a guess. I believe that this short film was a mixture of half realism, and half surrealism. For example:

Realism: After the man fell from his bike he was somehow dead.

Surrealism: The woman set his clothes (which were really woman's clothes) onto her bed and stared at them, in which she looked like she was determined to stare him back to life again.

Realism: The man was forced to stand in the corner by what it seemed another man he wasn't too fond of. He then had books placed on his palms in which he had to hold up.

Surrealism: Those books then turned into pistols and he shot the other man which he wasn't too fond of.

Again, I'm no expert but I thought I would take a stab at it. Afterall, what really defines an expert? Is there a certain "expert" test you need to pass?

Life.

L I F E

The game of Life is structured in a way so that at the beginning of the game you skip your childhood and either go straight to college or start a career. The game is a shorter version of life itself with achievements and downfalls as you go along. In one short hour or two you see your “character” as one might call it, starting in his/her twenties I might assume, and ending in retirement. This game reflects the “real world” by putting some real world issues on the board such as “paying for your kids to go to college”, getting married, buying a house, buying stock, paydays, and having kids (well just sticking the colored pegs onto your car..), and it also puts some real world issues that hardly ever happen only if your so lucky as to land on the square per say. “Everyday life” is in the game of Life. The game of Life just makes “everyday life” seem that much more exciting. Every little square in the game of Life I land on has some sort of monetary value or “LIFE” written on it which almost makes this game of Life much more suspenseful than REAL life. All in all, we can’t finish college in a couple spins, we don’t get to choose our income from either “$20,000, $50,000, or $100,000”, and we don’t retire within two hours. If this game of Life was life, I'd be a doctor, living in a tudor, making $100,000 every payday...

Satisfaction guaranteed?

I have found myself at a wierd point in my life. I still live at my parents house, I don't have much money because of school, and I still don't have my own car, yet I'm completely satisfied. My birthday is even coming up (in 4 days!! Woohoo!) and yet I couldn't think of anything I wanted. Maybe its because I never get anything I want so its hard for me to think of something I actually want? Or maybe at this point in my life I'm satisfied with everything I have at the moment. Or it could be that I'm going on the trip of my lifetime this summer, to Cabo and I don't feel the need to want anything else...However this is strangely odd because I'm always always wanting something I can't have, I mean doesn't everyone at some point?

"Quote" from The Everyday.

“Whatever its other aspects, the everyday has this essential trait: it allows no hold. It escapes…the everyday is what we never see for a first time, but only see again, having always already seen it by an illusion that is, as it happens, constitutive of the everyday.” (p.36)

Reading through this book has been difficult, not only the word choice has been difficult but also the concepts. It was hard for me to find a quote or paragraph that I could understand to even reflect on. So although this may seen like an easy paragraph, I had to start somewhere…

The everyday life “allows no hold” in that time is constantly moving. There is not an instant where time has stopped. You yourself can stop and sit still for minutes, even hours, but everything else in the whole world continues. Even upon the death of a family member, the rest of the world is not in mourning, it keeps on moving; people go to work, walk their dogs, make a meal, etc. After those people have walked their dogs, that time spent walking their dog is gone. You don’t stop to think about how after your done walking your dog, that time you spent with your dog will be gone forever. “It escapes..”(36) states Maurice Blanchot. That everyday moment is no longer with you. “…the everyday is what we never see for a first time, but only see again, having always already seen it by an illusion that is, as it happens, constitutive of the everyday.” This statement means that the everyday is a thing, action, act, etc that we do on a monthly, daily, hourly basis. It is something that is so repetitive and common, we either do it many a times or we’ve seen someone else do it many a times.

When writing my response, my quote I picked reminded me of the movie Pleasantville. That movie to me depicts the definition of "everyday life". Which is why I attached a picture of a scene from Pleasantville.

Grocery directory.

Early for work, I decided to stop at the nearby Top Foods. However, I don't usually ever shop at Top Foods. My domain consists of; Safeway, Albertsons, and Fred Meyers. All I wanted fro Top Foods was a nice cold drink to go with my lunch I brought. You think I could find it? No. I was searching the whole parameter of the store for at least ten minutes. Then in one little corner near the front hiding behind the beers and wine, I found the cold drinks. If they only had a store directory in front as I walked in, it would have probabaly shaved off seven minutes.

House?

No I'm not talking about the television show. I'm talking about a thing with sides and a roof. The thing that most of us take forgranted everyday.

I was about to go somewhere the other day (I forget where) and all of a sudden I stopped at my front door and looked around. I thought to myself, I am incredibly lucky to be living under this thing. I'm sheltered from rain, from the cold, from bugs, and from the coyotes that lurk outside. It might not be the nicest thing, but it protects me. When it comes to shelter, it doesn't matter if you have a mansion or a trailer.

20 Minutes.

What can I do in 20 minutes? I can take a shower, jog on the treatmill, eat a snack, whip out an episode of Sex and the City, etc. Or I can do nothing.

Honestly, I kept pushing off my 20 minutes of nothing because I didn't know how to fit in time to do nothing. I thought of a million other things I could be doing instead. But I gave it a go. I decided to spend my 20 minutes in silence in my room on my bed. There was a multitude of thoughts and "to-do's" going through my head. Then I looked out my window and all I could see were trees of different shapes and sizes. I never took the time to actually look out my window to look at, trees? The colors were warm and fall-like, and I would watch the leaves blow around and trickle down towards the ground. Besides the weather, fall is a beautiful season.

Ten minutes had passed..my eyes started to get droopy. I started to look around my room at all the various collections I had accumulated over the years. It seems each has its own story/meaning; from my palm tree bear my boyfriend brought back for me a couple years ago from Hawaii, to my finalized Sex and the City collection, my corner of volleyball trophy's and metals, and various pictures of loved ones scattered about. My room truely represents me. It has a little of my past, my present, and my future. It's like a time capsule.

Twenty minutes.

Whew. I'm not sure if I want to get out of bed and go do something now...
That was kinda nice!