Sorry for another one (I'm turning into someone we know O_O)
But I have to share this. These are photos of a Finnish secondary school class visiting Sweden six years ago. My class to be specific. How often do you find a picture of yourself (yes, I'm there) on the internet? :O
http://opetus.
All I did was googled the name of an old friend.
www.obscure.or
Wow.
If you have the time, please read this. It is the introduction to my dissertation, and I'd like some outsider-feedb
INTRODUCTION
Is there something particularly amusing about outdated machinery? When put like that, as a direct question, it is not easy to think so; why would there be? Yet there are a number of examples of funny machinery that come to mind: in science fiction the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO in ‘Star Wars’, the robot Orvis in the book of the same title by HM Hoover; in family movies Herbie the Volkswagen, side characters in Pixar’s ‘Cars’ and all the protagonists of the animation ‘Robots’; even in classic comedies like Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times” and Buster Keaton’s “The General” – although using technology current to the time when they were made – place the machine as the comic relief as well as an agent of change. A different although related pleasure derived from old-time machinery in specific is apparent in numerous stories – whether drawn, written, or filmed – where the hero’s out-of-date equipment defeats the villain’s state-of-the-a
Although the old machinery is often used as comic relief, it is also usually done in a very endearing way, while the humour based on new machinery – jokes or satire about personal computers, mp3-players or whatever the latest technological rave – is more frequently spiteful. The main observable difference between older machinery and the technology we live with is the process the machinery goes through when it operates. Anyone can logically follow the courses of action that a car engine goes through to convert fuel to motion, yet the physical workings of a PC are a mystery to the average user. Most of us could only come up with a feeble “it’s something to do with silicon chips.”
So a humorous role is something not uncommon for the mechanical to play, and it does so in works of art as well. Marcel Duchamp’s “The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even” – also known as “the Large Glass” – is often called the artist’s “hilarious picture.” But would it be hilarious if the different elements in it were depicted as people? The Bride in her naked glory taunting the Bachelor who “grinds his own chocolate.” Would Alvar Gullichsen’s “Bonk Business inc.” –project be amusing if the imagined family of Bonk had stayed in the fishing business and never invented anything? In the least it wouldn’t be as extensive as it is today: after all there are only so many jokes one can make about anchovies.
So that is what this essay is out to do: explore the humorous in the mechanical and the mechanical in the humorous. The aforementioned works of art, “The Large Glass,” and “Bonk Business inc.” shed the light on the matter along with the cartoons of Rube Goldberg and W. Heath Robinson. Different established theories of humour are also discussed and reflected in relation to the examples.
So please comment, anything it made you think about, any corrections to the language, anything at all.
Also, would you be interested to read a study about this, based on this intro? Did it get you interested enough to wanna read on?
Thanks.
I have a wiki in the building that you lot can help out with, so please do.
Because the emo-queen is taking a break (don't really know why... maybe he overdosed on something :D *hopeful*), here's a short what'sup:
I'm back to England, doing uni-work like a little busy bee. I'm in the press group for the Degree Show arrangements, writing my dissertation and programming some utterly stupid shit in ActionScript (while not really knowing how it works) while everyone else is making proper art. ._. I'm also applying to the MA Media Arts course here in Coventry, so I might stay here a bit longer :3
There was a tiny dark brown mouse in the studio yesterday and I was a complete sissy and yiped about it. But in my defence, Phisch was sissier. Another girl came and we caught it in a bucket and took it outside.
Dissertation work is fantastic, I love academic writing. It's about humour in philosophy and in art, so basically explaining about theories of humour and using artworks as examples, then describing the artworks with the humour theories and such-much.
Seems that I will graduate on 17th July, which is a bitch because Tall Ships' races in Kotka are on 18th-20th or something like that. 'Twill be rushy. :/
And which ever part of me is responsible for falling in love is trying to bertray me and make me fall in love with someone... >_> Lucky I only see him about once a week. *will resist temptation of email*
*yoink*
i confess that in 2006 I...
stayed single the whole year: no. Go 2007!
got your first kiss: no.
kissed someone new: no
kissed in the snow: no
kissed in the rain: hmm, possibly. Who can remember that far back?
fell in love with a fool: fell out :/
had your heart broken: hmm, yeah I guess you can say that
broke someone else's heart: not sure, but I'll be cruel and say no he didn't have a heart.
had a stalker: online ones, a slight encounter with the RL one, but he's pretty much dealt with
had a good relationship with someone: not a romantic one, but lots of good other kinds
came out of the closet: no, my wardrobe's so small this year that I can't even fit in.
kissed someone of the same sex: no, though it was close. But it's nothing romatic, just silly art studentes
dated someone you'll never forget: I hope not
done something you've regretted: Hmm, I'm sure I did but I can't remember what.
lost faith in love: Not really, just lost interest
kissed under mistletoe: not a habit here
school
got straight A's: I wish :/ But in my deence, that would be a bitch-ass hard to do in uni.
Met one teacher you really like: yes, David John is a genius
hated: a teacher? Hmm, not as such.
failed a class: no, but was close.
cut class: not in the evil sense, I was actually not in the country at the time
skipped school: hmm, don't think so. I usually go in everyday, sometimes on weekends
got into a fight with a classmate: No.
did something you were proud of: Yes, though I can't remember what that might be.
discovered a new talent: Hmm, probably not.
gave the teachers a reason to teach: In a non-insulty way, in uni it's like, they teach the interesting students and the boring ones they ignore >_>
proved yourself an idiot: Most likely
embarassed yourself in front of the class: No
fell in love with a teacher: David John is a genius! <3
got a lead in the school play: ...no, I'm not in elementary school. And I wouldn't care.
made a varsity team: A what?!
made a junior varsity team: I'll just assume it's some American sex term.
were involved in something you'll never forget: Yeah
got sent to the office: The Office? Or any office? Accommodation office and Finance office, and met a teacher in their office...
other
painted a picture: even though I paint no more: yes!
wrote a poem: Eh, sorta
ran a mile: Ran, no. Walked: more than that.
listened to music you couldn't stand: yeah
double-dipped: what?
skinny-dipped: No.
went to a sleepover: Kind of.
went to camp: Camp?! I'm 21!
threw a surprise party: No :/
laughed till you cried: till it hurt, yes.
laughed till you peed in your pants: almost.
visited a foreign country: yes
visted a foreign state: The difference between state and country? Ah that's right, you're American. >_>
cooked a disasterous meal: Yes, oh my God it was horrible!lost something important to you: yes
got a gift you adore: Yes, Harpo!
realized something new about yourself: Yes.
tried to gain weight: No, I don't care about my weight.
dyed your hair: Not this year
came close to losing your life: You never know, but maybe.
someone close to you died: Someone in the bus died :(
went to a party: Surely at least once. *tries to recall*
tried drug(s): Tried? And are we not including medical things?Bleh. Nothing illegal, no.
got drunk: Probably, but I may have been drunk at the time and thus can't recall :P
got arrested: No.
read a great book: Yeah
saw a great movie: Yes.
saw a movie so scary that it made you cry: Has such a movie been made?
saw your favorite band/artist live: Hmm, no, not this year.
saw someone famous in person: Not that I can recall. I missed it when people saw Hermione in Frieze.
did something you want to tell everyone: Yes, tunneling :P
Enjoyed this year overall: Yes.
Had a boyfriend/girl
broke up with boyfriend/girl
Had a traumatic experience: Yes, the forementioned man on a bus.
Cried more than 20 times: What, in the year? Of course.
Know someone who gave birth: ...my mom? Oh you mean this year. No.
Hurt yourself: Yeah, I'm a clutz.
Went dancing: Hmm, not really. Don't think so.
Met a new friend: Yes ^^
Lost a friend: Well, some have gone missing, but that's different.
Almost lost a friend: No?
Gained 20 pounds: You asked the weight thing already, so I assume you speak of money: not by working, I'm on student support, but luckily that's more than 20 pounds.
Made your parent(s) cry: No
Ran away: From what? Probably from something.
Learned a new language: No. I don't think you can in one year...
Got addicted to something: Not that I'd admit it (though the Fish is addictive)
Hugged a tree: No, unless I was using it for something else.
Taken a shower with someone: Way back, lets forget it.
Killed someone: No.
Cheated on someone: No.
Loved someone: Yeah.
Liked someone that didn't like you back: Hmm, not sure
Snuck out: Actually... can't remember whether that was 2006 or before.
Bitched someone out: What does that mean?
Punched someone: Yeah, but I play the "beetle"-game
Run over an animal: I can't run that fast.
Broke a promise: no.
Wish you could have told someone how you really felt about them: Forever, but with only one person it's too late now. So I've learned about that.
A nice ET tour about bones, have a peep.
http://elfwood
(this is the first image of the tour, just click on the little tour thingie in upper right corner to go through it)
New Year's Eve was... painful.
As almost everybody knows, I have a dog. He's huge and fat and strong as a bull. He's my best friend. So. Last night, from 6 pm and even before up until midnight and past it, my best friend was so afraid of the world outside the house that he couldn't lie still, couldn't look me in the eyes, couldn't urinate even. All last night my best friend wandered inside the house, trying to find a place to hide, a place where he would feel safe from the noise outside. He was trashing blindly in little corners and under furniture, knocking things over, stepping on things. He was jumping against walls and doors, searching for another corner of the house he hadn't yet checked. He was so in panic that he bit me, just because I wanted to stop him from climbing up my bookshelf because he thought there might be a door there. He never even jumps at door handles, knowing very well that people open the doors for him. It's like I didn't even know him anymore, like he was a whole different person. And he certainly didn't recognice me or anybody anymore. New Year's Eve was over 6 hours of fear and agitation for him. Today morning he could barely get up, he was so utterly exhausted.
I do not understand what fun can a few crummy rockets give to a person: you go out to the cold, fire your explosives (that were hideously overprized) to the sky and that's it. I understand a professionally done pyroshow can be amazing, art even. A professionally done pyroshow, such as one most likely arranged by the city, would take place in city centre, not above my house. And fireworks arranged by professionals would last... how long? No longer than an hour? Definitely not 6 hours.
Next year, I would implore all animal-liking people to refrain from buying fireworks, and going to an arranged, professional show instead. A small grievance for an individual would make the world of difference to others.
So uhm, I hope you all had a happier start for the new year. Make a difference with this year, even if only to yourselves.
And here's my resolution: I will try my level best to eat something new (a dish, a brand of a product, or a something), something I haven't tried before, at least once every week. To keep an open mind, and to have a sense of adventure this year.
I'd have a kid if someone promised to be it'd be as cool as this one!
<diary:892308>
Well I'll be... there is a klingon version of Wikipedia. o.O
http://tlh.wik
"There was a curious outbreak of contagious laughter in 1962 in Tanganyika that lasted for six months and affected thousands of people."
1. My dissertation research rules.
2. We gotta do that! Lets make contagious laughter! How utterly awesome would it be to laugh for six months!
Dissertation-l
http://www.aat
AATH is the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humour. There are some wonderful essays and papers there about humour and laughter, looking from a healthy point of view.
<diary:886642>
Fantastic. Might mean that I have to start watching Babylon 5 too.
More Yahoo!-radio updatage. :P
I was put in my place by Yahoo!-radio. >_>
A song I didn't know by a band I didn't know came up, and I went "whoa, hear that Sex Pistols influence on the vocals! This guy sounds like Johnny Rotten!"
The band was Public Image Ltd. >.<
*ish a bad punk*
From the series "100 reasons to love the Barenaked Ladies", entry #59, quote from their song "Pinch Me":
I could sleep under there /
I just made you say underwear /
XD It took me about 3 minutes to get that, and when I did I exploded. XD
Uff, yesterday's rant looks really snobbish when read in a not-murderous-
On a happier note, I'm going to (try) stay in Coventry to do my Masters. :) So another year (at least) of England. :) Heck, wouldn't mind doing a PhD around here somewhere ^^;
And then I'd feed it to my non-guiding stupid twat of a guidance councellor saying "thanks for all the bloomin' fish" xP
Long rant. Get offended, then get over it. Or go do my new poll. :)
Comment from a wiki
... however it makes me mad to see people that go to an airport turn on a jet engine have a giant canvas sittng behind it and then throw buckets of paint into the jet stream and turn around and sell it for a quarter million dollars!!! THAT is the sort of thing that makes me upset... because in about 30 mins they can have a completed mess they dub art while i sit for 7-10 hours or more and draw a pic that is life like with my pencils and cannot get ore than $40.00 for it! sad! *gets off soap box and tries to cool down*
I just love it when people fail to see the point. When people are so busy being a smart aleck that they don't stop to think.
Firstly, go to an airport with an empty canvas and a bucket of paint. Did they throw you out for being a terrorist? Thought as much. Let's try again. Arrange the thing before hand. Call up some big-wig airport person to ask permission to come do your piece of art in their jet engine. What, took you 3 days to reach the right person, and they said no? You had to find someone else to call? They also said no? Bummer isn't it? Another go, you need to convince them. Sit on your desk, thinking and planning this particular piece of art. What does it mean to you? Why are you making a painting this way, letting a jet engine blow the paint on the canvas? Do you know about the other artists in history who have worked with randomness, machinery-crea
In the end the entire process took over 3 months, a lot of talking and arranging with other people, communicating, thinking. And that means a lot more than when you sit in your cosy little bedroom and make a doodle.
The reason your scribble doesn't get more than 40 dollars is because it means nothing. People have scribbled on paper with pencil for hundreds of years. And they all did it better than you and had meaning. Yours is life-like? Fuck, I can take a digital picture of absolutely anything in less than 5 seconds and it's lifelike. Real art transforms us or the way we see our world or even the world itself. A pretty picture does nothing, it doesn't even make you think. Pretty pictures are like porn. Porn has its uses, prettu pictures have theirs. But neither is art. (They have potential to be art, but when they are made art, they cease to be porn/pretty pictures).
In the end, you, dear commentor, are not an artist, you are an illustrator. And there are five million professional illustrators who can do what you do, but they are better and they are professionals. What is the opposite of professional? Amateur. You are a sunday driver complaining about Ferrari not begging you to drive Formula 1 for them.