Tolstoy & The Coen Brothers

I just finished reading Tolstoy's, Anna Karenina, and took my midterm on it for my Russian Literature class and I have to say I really came to love Tolstoy. His writing is so beautiful. I was amazed by how many situations he would create just using character's dialogue but the themes that were addressed within each interaction were so powerful and universal! I loved it.
Anyways, I watched the movie, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and I felt like I was watching a piece of Tolstoy's literature in each short story. I know a lot of people that didn't enjoy it, but honestly I thought it was artistically brilliant intentionally created. I think because my mind has been conditioning the last few weeks to interpret themes and imagery through the lens of trying to interpret Tolstoy, I couldn't help but see a connection in the movie. I loved how the movie created such unique characters that caused me to question with whom to sympathize and where my moral expectations and when that happens. I loved it! As weird as it may sound, I would love to write an essay or something about the various themes of the short stories and how they were conveyed and connected to each other.

Usher

Well well this week I remembered how much I love Usher. My roommates and I hosted a game night at our house this weekend and we played catch phrase and the name, Usher, came up. It then led to me showing my friend multiple music videos that reminded me of being a teenager or bonding with my older siblings. I loved re-watching these videos but I was also reminded by how much my experience and attachment to music videos has evolved as media has evolved. I remember being in middle school and even high school and really loving music videos and knowing all of them because I used only Youtube as my means to play music. I now only know a select few music videos of some favorite artists of mine but for the most part I dont even think of music videos. I am curious where the future of music videos will go and if it is going anywhere right now...

Dance Ensemble

This weekend I got to perform in the Dance Ensemble concert on campus. I love how dancing is a unique form of media. It can be either fully experiential or simply visual. I love that for me as a dancer,  I get to use every thing I have: my mind, body, emotions, experiences, personality, etc. into every little movement or lack of movement in dancing. Performing will always be a highlight for me as I get to experience the unique power of connecting with strangers as I invite them into my expression of self through movement. It is a unique communicative method that for me is irreplaceable. I am grateful for dance and art because I get to create media that inspires both myself and hopefully others.

The West Wing

When it comes to TV shows, I am a bit of an 80 year old woman. I don't really have "my shows" nor do I get hooked very easily. I think just because currently I am very busy and don't have time, the idea of watching TV doesn't even cross my mind. Im grateful for this class though because I have to watch a TV show to code for our media project. While watching the West Wing this week, I have been so awakened to the gender discrepancy in women's roles versus men's in media. Although that is not a part of our group's study, I am consistently finding it to come up in what I code for and I think in the future, I want to be especially aware of it. I like coding while watching because I feel completely engaged and mentally, it is far more stimulating to be an active viewer and participant in media.