Picture Altering.

 

I chose to alter a picture that was taken early on this semester. The angle at which the picture was taken is by mistake. From a glance it seems like it was a self portrait gone wrong. No one would ever guess it was actually supposed to be a picture of me and my friend Alex. The original picture was taken after a fundraiser my sorority was sponsoring. In the original picture I have make up on which can lead the viewer to believe that I was dressed up for the occasion.The quality of the original picture also looks very dull. The original picture would not receive as much attention as the second one. I remember looking at the original picture after it was taken and saved it because I thought the angle was pretty cool. When editing the picture with Picnik I already had an idea that I wanted the picture to look vintage. I wanted to make myself stand out in the picture and draw attention to my body instead of the background. To do this I whitened my teeth to make my smile glow. I put a shine around me and made everything else dark so that the focus could be one me. I put a border to make the picture look artistic and deep. I chose the kiss design because I wanted to make this picture about how the guy that I am seeing makes me feel. I altered the picture so that when it was viewed people could notice that I glow at the thought of my current relationship status. I wanted my emotions and feelings to pop out of the picture and I think I did a great job with that. 

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - The Beatles

The song that I chose to analyze is one made by The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. This song was made while psychedelic drugs such as LSD and acid were becoming very popular. If you notice the title of the song spells out LSD. This has made the title of a very controversial topic. The Beatles deny that there is no connection between LSD and the title. They claim that the song was named after a painting that one of their sons drew at school, and coincidentally enough he named it Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. The song is part of their album Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band which was released in 1967. It was never denied that the song was made under the influence of acid however, it was explained that song’s title was a mere coincidence.  The video made for this song has a very psychedelic feeling to it. The first verse in itself has brings about images that would only make sense if you are having an acid trip. The line “A girl with a kaleidoscope eyes” in my opinion is talking about seeing things while on a high. Watching the video without being the under the influence of any sort of alcohol or drug is trippy enough, I can not begin to imagine how it looks while under the influence. The song goes into detail about a high feels. The verse “ climb in the back with your head in the clouds and you’re gone. Lucy in the sky with Diamonds…” It goes back to telling the listeners that a high will take you into the clouds and everything will mesmerize  just like diamonds do. The song provides the listener with vivid words that entice you into producing vivid imagery in your mind. The high pitched nature of the song is another thing that draws the attention of the audience. It has a catchy tune and the chorus is so easy to remember that you sing it without noticing. The song is clearly about being under the influence of acid, and I too believe that it was not a coincidence that the title spells out LSD.

Link to Song:
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - The Beatles

Lyrics:

Picture yourself in a boat on a river
With tangerine trees and marmalade skies
Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly
A girl with kaleidoscope eyes

Cellophane flowers of yellow and green
Towering over your head
Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes
And she's gone

Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, ah

Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain
Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies
Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers
That grow so incredibly high

Newspaper taxies appear on the shore
Waiting to take you away
Climb in the back with your head in the clouds
And you're gone

Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, ah

Picture yourself in a train in a station
With plasticine porters with looking glass ties
Suddenly someone is there at the turnstile
The girl with kaleidoscope eyes

Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, ah

Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, ah

Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds

Iconic Images

The field of Medical Anthropology studies how culture affects the practice of medicine and also how medicine affects the practice of culture. In developing countries such as Guatemala symptoms for simple conditions such as stress, the flu or depression are seen as a curse. Guatemala is a country very true to its roots and beliefs of the super natural. They believe that the envy of others is strong enough to cause a curse to come upon a country. When a family member gets sick the people of Guatemala run to the local medicine man, church and practice their spiritual beliefs more than ever. The picture above is the best example of how Guatemalans think. This picture was taken from an I-phone and the most ironic part about it, is that is the center piece if a traumatologist’s desk. Not many people run to a clinic in Guatemala when they become ill and if they do the doctor does take into account their patients’ religion. Many time the doctor will prescribe home remedies because prescribed medicine can cost up to a whole month’s rent. Doctors themselves turn to religious and cultural practices when it comes to medicine. This picture shows me that religion and culture plays part in every aspect in the lives of the people living in  a “developing” country. The second picture is the picture of a Doctor in the United States prescribing medicine. The United States is a country of many diverse cultural and religious practices and beliefs. However, most of those practices and beliefs are only exercised on the days that one has a holiday to celebrate, church to attend to and or when one uses “religious purposes” to get out of an exam. We live in a modernized country where a small pill can take care of a fever, body ache and put you to sleep all at the same time. We forget to turn to our religious and cultural practices for strength to get through an illnesses. When one feels stressed, depressed or sick a doctor is immediately sought in hopes of being offered of a quick fix. This makes us a society dependent on prescribed drugs. Many times if a one type of medicine is not offered to us we are given an alternative. Although these medicines do help us fight off sicknesses how far do they drive us from our ancestors’ old cultural practices? How big is the separation between culture and medicine in the United States compared to a “developing” country. This is the gap that the study of Medical Anthropology studies and tries to understand.

Representing Others

    In Sontag’s book a quote that stuck to me the most is found in page sixty three, it states “ The camera brings the viewer close, too close; supplemented by a magnifying glass- for this is a double-lens story” This brought me back to the movie that was watched in class. In the movie we were able to view the war from a Japanese perspective. We were able to view Americans how they viewed Americans, we were able to feel what they felt, and sometimes it seemed as if we were in their shoes because of the images we saw. The film served as a reminder that there are always two sides two a story. In war movies and war pictures usually only one side is depicted. In Sontag’s book it is stated that “With subjects closer to home, the photographer is expected to be more discreet” For example an American photographer is going to publish pictures that will depict Americans as the heroes and the others as the villains. It is rare to find a picture or film that taken in the perspective of the other. No one wants to see the villain hidden within the hero. It makes you wonder how supporters of this current war in present time would feel to view  a movie in the perspective of Iraqis. Would America’s “heroic acts” then be seen as an act of terror?  Like the American soldiers that shot the Japanese soldiers because they didn’t feel like watching them. Would Americans then be classified as the enemy? As uncomfortable as it may be, when an image can put you in the shoes of the other it is then that we can cherish the value of the camera. Throughout history there have been many war images that have been seen as indecent because they have shown the other side. However, the camera was made to capture both sides at every angle.

A Mother's Keeper

A Mother's Keeper

“I’ll be ok mami” Those were the words that started my college journey here at the University of Florida. Standing there saying goodbye to my mother before she departed to Miami seemed surreal to me. 

Ever since I could remember I had been my mother’s keeper. 

 At that last hug my whole life flashed before my eyes. It’s funny how some people say that, that happens right before they die but for me it happened right before I was about to start living.

I went back to my small home located Miami, Fl. I went back to the happy times. I traveled back to a time where my parents were very good at concealing the truth about their marriage. As a child I knew I was less fortunate, than most of my peers in school in an economic aspect.

 However, that did not bother me much because I felt more than fortunate to have a family. I admired my parents, the morals they instilled in me and I treasured every smile, laugh and moment of joy. I was so blinded by bliss. I would’ve taken to offense if anyone would have told me that my parents seemed distant. I figured since they loved me and my older sister they must love each other. I remember smiling when I remembered my mother teaching me how to cook and my father buying me a new pair of skates. Every bruise, burn and scratch was always well taken care of.

Those brief memories of happiness ended just as soon as they began. It was at the age of nine when I went from enjoying my childhood to embracing adulthood.

 I remembered the first time my sister and I heard my parents arguing. My father told us to go to our room. It wasn’t long before I realized why he had done this. Just as the plates shattered against the floor so did my world. There was shouting that was preceded by silence and the slamming of the door.  There was no need for someone to tell me what had occurred. I had seen the play by play in my head. 

I had been fighting the urge to cry while I was in my room.  My older sister looked like she was going to cry, but before she could burst into tears I hugged her tightly. I told her it was going to be ok and to wait in the room. I gathered the courage to head to the kitchen and console my sobbing mother. It was at that moment that I faced reality.

Divorce is the worst thing that can happen to a family. The constant bickering, the never-ending custody hearings and child support court dates can really drive someone crazy.  I remembered being my mother’s lawyer, doctor, translator and best friend. I went with her everywhere and anywhere that she needed to go. 

All the qualities that I admired about my mother were slowly fading away. Her strength, energy, smile and laughter were ceasing little by little. 

The only motivation she had were me and my sister. Our accomplishments in school always brought back those qualities. Hence, my sister and I always made sure to achieve academic excellence.

During the weekends my mom had us go to my father’s house. My sister was always happy to see my father, I, on the other hand never wanted to leave my mother’s side. I would go to the park across the street and spend the entire day there.  

I disliked being at my father’s home so I asked to help out at the horse stable that was owned by the park. I was thirteen when I got my first job and it was at the horse stable. 

I would wake up every Saturday and Sunday at 6 am to head over to the park. I would take the horses on their morning exercise and ride around without a care in the world. I would clean them and their stables. During the afternoons their owners would come to ride them and I would take their children on rides as well. From tips alone I would make about $150 dollars every weekend. Ever since then I’ve always had a job to help my mother financially and to pay for my own expenses.

The happiest and saddest moment of my life came the day I found out that I was accepted into the University of Florida.  I worked very hard during high school to get into the school of my first choice. However, I knew accepting my invitation to attend meant that I would have to leave my mother. Although, my mom was saddened by my moving she was more than ecstatic to help me prepare for my big move.

 It all happened very quickly. Before I knew it my mother was dropping me off at dorm. There I stood hugging her goodbye, trying to be strong for her, as I’ve always been. This time my strength failed me. This was the first time I allowed her to see to see me cry. Many people would say that my upbringing prepared me to live on my own and though they may be right it was going to take a while to adjust to this new environment without my best friend. Looking back on that day I would have to conclude that moving to Gainesville was the best decision for my future.  I’ve grown as a person, a student and a daughter. My mother has also come a long way. She is about to open her own business and is the happiest I’ve ever seen her. The distance has helped us grow as individuals all the while strengthening our relationship. 

My mother will always be my best friend. 

Analysis

I chose to write this narrative because first and foremost it is very dear to my heart. It shows how I was raised and a series of events that has made me the person I am today. I chose to title it “A mother’s keeper” in hopes that the reader’s first question would be “what is a mother’s keeper?”   That question is answered through the narrative with the images. I hope that from the narrative with the images the reader can conclude that a mother’s keeper is her daughter.  A mother’s keeper is a daughter who is there for her during hard times, sad time and happy times. A mother’s keeper is a daughter who understands that no more matter what her best friend is her mother. I chose to put the pictures in a different order so that the reader could make their own narrative about the images. Looking at just the pictures I would think that a writer is possibly trying to make a comparison and contrast between Miami and Gainesville. The first picture is also the last picture in the narrative because it signifies that the relationship I have with my mother is never-ending. The song I chose sets the tone for the story.The song does a great job in describing what is happening in the narrative. I feel that it prepares the reader for a heartwarming story.  

Blog Assignment 3

“Geez, I hope nobody got hurt. You’re very quiet. You’re mad I missed the play aren’t you? I have two jobs baby; you know how important they are for us. I’d give anything to have been there”

*HER The enigma in this scene begins with the start of the flare by a police officer. You begin to wonder what happened, who has gotten hurt and why there is a traffic jam. However, as the scene continues we realize that the focus is not on the accident but rather on Cole and his mother. What is at question in this scene is Cole’s quiet nature. Whether he’s really upset with his mother?  And why does he seem so pensive?

“I’m ready to communicate with you now…tell you my secrets.”

 The promise of an answer begins to develop when Cole tells his mother that he is ready to communicate with her. He tells her that he is ready to share his secrets which not only captures the attention of the mother but also the attention of the audience. When Cole begins to tell his mother that someone got hurt in the accident the mother begins to question his ability to look past the cars not realizing that this was the first part of his revelation. Cole begins to tell his mother that the woman who got hurt is next to his window. When this is said the camera shows the viewers the dead woman next to Cole’s window however, only Cole and the audience can see this woman not his mother. This is an indication of equivocation in the scene in the sense that what is proven as truth to the viewers still seems false to his mother. However, Cole stating that he can see the woman who died only serves as the partial answer to Cole’s earlier pensive state. When Cole begins to talk about the woman that got hurt he mentions that the woman is standing next to his window, which begins to scare his mother. When his mother states that she is beginning to get scared Cole states “they scare me too sometimes” when his mother asks who they are there is a small suspension of silence with the camera getting close and focusing in more on Cole’s face. Cole then reveals that he can see ghosts; that the ghosts have been the ones that hurt him and ask him to do things for them.

“She said you came to the place where they buried her and asked her a question. She said the answer is every day. What did you ask?”

At first Cole’s mother is hesitant to believe that her son can see and talk to ghosts. Disclosure begins to take place when Cole begins to speak about his grandmother.  Lynn asks him to stop but Cole continues with the story about how his grandmother saw his mother dance to prove that he can see ghosts. Cole also mentions to his mother that “everyday” is the answer to the question his mother asked his grandmother at her burial place. Once Lynn realizes that this is not some made up story she reaches out to hug her son. **ACT The lighting of the flare sets up the atmosphere of this scene. The flare serves as an indicator that something bad has happened. The man speaking to the officer stating that he is ok and that he did not know what happened tells the audience that an accident has occurred hence the traffic jam that Lynn and Cole are in. The camera in this scene then begins to walk the audience through the traffic jam. You can see that smoke is coming from the car and that the roads seem to be wet making it possible to believe that it had been raining earlier. From this the audience can derive that it was not a typical bumper to bumper car accident. ***SYM  As with any narrative, many times rain, thunder or a storm will be used to indicate that something bad is about to happen. Although there was no rain in this scene, the roads were wet and it was very cloudy. The fact that the roads were wet indicates to me that it had been raining, which is possibly when the accident happened. The wet roads may be used as a confirmation that someone did get hurt. What confirmed this even more are the sirens you hear in the background and the lighting of the flare which typically symbolizes that a death has occurred. The unbelief for the supernatural can serve as cultural symbol. Lynn was a bit hesitant to accept the truth about her son until she was presented with proof. Very much like today many people have the mentality that they will not believe something until you can convince them with proof that what you are saying is the truth. The bumble pendant and the dance recital were symbolic towards revealing the truth. The hug that Lynn and Cole shared at the end symbolizes the need for support from family. A hug tells someone that they are not alone. 

Assignment 2

http://www.samedaymarriage.com/marriage/marriage_license.htm

The image is of a couple on what seems to be their wedding day. The balance of the picture takes place with the lighting of the picture as well as the attire of the couple. The bright background light with the white tuxedo as well as the white dress gives off a sense of happiness. This also gives off a sense of purity and peace. These are two very strong feelings that the photographer wanted to make the viewers feel. This image is projecting marriage as a pure, peaceful and loving act. However the most unconventional detail about this picture is that the groom is wearing a white tuxedo as opposed to the usual black tuxedo. Typically people focus more on the bride when attending a wedding, with the groom dressed in white one cannot help but to focus their attention on the groom as well. This gives off the feeling that not only is it the bride’s happiest day but also the grooms. Typically more focus is given to a bride’s beauty but in this picture the focus is on how the couple makes each other feel. Most wedding pictures also have the couple smiling and staring at the camera.  However, in this picture the couple is facing each other with both their eyes closed which to me states that their focus is on each other and not what is around them. 

The first image that was posted made me think of marriage being this lifelong commitment that everyone should consider. However with the altered image my perception of marriage changes. A simple text such as “A Happy ever after?” really makes one think what it is they are signing up for. It actually made me question how long this particular couple was going to last. It also made me question whether marriage really is a happy ever after and whether this feeling of love, peace and tranquility really does last longer in pictures then in person. The scariest part of this picture is the percentage of failed marriages. In an article published by Gary Becker on Human Capital it is stated that forty percent of marriages are already on their first divorce. This data alarmed me. Marriage is not what it used to be in past generations. It is not taken as seriously and that is why I chose  to question how serious couples are when they decide to say “I do” at the altar. The altering of the second image raises awareness of the rapid divorce rate.