Animation Deconstruction

Adventure Time

Color
Color is a very important part of Adventure Time. Notice in these two shots the Hue of the main characters in the foreground. The artists used very vibrant and light colors. Jake is bright yellow, and Finn is bright blue. Now look at the background. The artists are using a lot of washed out hues to enhance the characters a bit more. The earth tones are very successful at creating depth of field. Another reason they might be using these specific colors is to represent the moods or feelings of the characters. Finn and Jake are always for the most part, joyful. The bright colors help to convey their sense of happiness.


Lighting
The lighting is also another important aspect of the show's symbolism. In both pictures above Finn and Jake are really the only brightened or lit up thing in the shot. The backgrounds are both darker and shaded to create depth. The first picture shows some large trees casting shadows on the ground. This could give a theme of mysteriousness. This symbolism creates a specific type of mood in which the characters are constantly being represented as good people or the protagonists of the story. Whereas the background is seen as dark and faded possibly representing the cold and dangerous world they live in.

Scene Deconstruction

The Good The Bad The Weird - Market Scene

Theme

     The film “The Good, The Bad, The Weird” contains many scenes that have strong thematic characteristics. The theme of this movie displays the extremities of which some will go for the idea of wealth and power. In the scene I chose, the theme is very obvious with an epic battle between the characters attempting to retrieve a treasure map. It has a lot of guns, action, and violence which displaying the theme of greed and the theme is active because it keeps the audience engaged with the action throughout the entire movie.

Critique

     In this scene the theme is not only obvious with the actions by the actors, but it is also recognized throughout the cinematography of the scene. The scene has a very intense tone. As an audience watching the scene you immediately become engaged in the battle. There is much tension during the scene as “the weird” is avoiding gunshots while “the good” is trying to shoot all of the enemies. At the end of the scene there is release when you see “the weird” come out of the barn with no injury. Throughout the scene, lines reinforce the theme by directing the audiences’ eyes to the most intense action. They used wooden beams as lines throughout the scene as a guide. At 00:36 seconds of the scene you will notice the wooden beams to your right and that is where the next attack is from. The shape of the characters faces also reinforces the theme. “The good” and “the weird” have prominently rectangular shaped faces. The other characters that are not the main focus have circular shaped faces. This gives the audience the idea of who the better characters are. The theme is reinforced throughout many aspects of this scene.

Song Deconstruction

Cover Song

"Where Did You Sleep Last Night"

Leadbelly

WZRD

LISTENING FRAMEWORK (Leadbelly)

LISTENING PHASE 1 (Rhythm) 


Tempo [slow, medium, fast]
The tempo is slow to medium, a bit faster than WZRD's version.


Source [where is the rhythm coming from?]
The rhythm is strictly from his guitar and voice.


Groove [describe how the personality of the rhythm]
The groove is very southern and bluesy.
          
LISTENING PHASE 2 (Arrangement) 


Instrumentation [which instruments drive the song?]
Leadbelly only uses a guitar and his voice for this song.


Structure/Organization [how is the song built? Order, patterns, etc.]
The songs structure is very consistent throughout.


Emotional Architecture [Draw how the song build and drop?]
The song has a consistent flow much like a lot of southern blues classics.


LISTENING PHASE 3 (Sound Quality) 


Balance

• -  Height [high and low of frequency]
  The instrumentation gives a very low frequency and maintains a mellow sound. His voice is very loud compared to the guitar so he gives off a much higher frequency.
  
• -  Width [stereo panning left/right]
  No panning somewhat consistent monotone in this version.
  
• -  Depth [layers of instruments - via loudness] 
  
• His guitars plays a consistent chord and doesn't get too fancy. His voice is probably his strongest instrument.

LISTENING FRAMEWORK (WZRD)

LISTENING PHASE 1 (Rhythm) 

Tempo [slow, medium, fast]

Tempo is very slow and mellow

Source [where is the rhythm coming from?]

The rhythm also derives from the guitar in this version

Groove [describe how the personality of the rhythm]

The groove is very interesting in that it fluctuates by raising and lowering constantly.   
      

LISTENING PHASE 2 (Arrangement) 

Instrumentation [which instruments drive the song?]
The guitar and drums are a very important part of the song. His voice is very instrumental as well, you'll know what I mean when you hear it.

Structure/Organization [how is the song built? Order, patterns, etc.]
The structure is very similar compared to the original.

Emotional Architecture [Draw how the song build and drop?]

The build and drop was very consistent and full.

LISTENING PHASE 3 (Sound Quality) 

Balance

• -  Height [high and low of frequency]
• The instrument, including Cudi's voice are a low frequency to start but fluctuates to and from a high frequency throughout the entire song.
  
• -  Width [stereo panning left/right]
• The guitar has small hints of panning but thats the only instrument I noticed.
  
• -  Depth [layers of instruments - via loudness]
• Cudi uses many instruments in his cover. He has a guitar, piano, drums, and several beats of his own. Nothing really over powers any of the others.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

These two songs are similar in that they, for the most part, have the same melody and lyrics. The only noticeable differences are they instruments that are played and the style of song. Leadbelly is a legendary blues musician which gives him a much more southern feel while WZRD is a modern hip-hop artist. WZRD's version is more of an expansion of the previous. It is a much more fuller song because of the many instruments Kid Cudi uses. Such as, the electric guitar, the piano, drums, and especially the multiple beats he incorporates. Leadbelly's version is very simple because it  contains just a guitar and his voice. Leadbelly's voice is much more high than Kid Cudi's which seems to have a mellower feel. Leadbelly's voice adds to the originality of the song because it is constantly fluctuating. WZRD kept the original lyrics from Leadbelly, both versions are written exactly the same. Leadbelly uses a very simple yet catchy melody which I think is the best part of the song. His voice is very southern and bold, you can feel the blues in it. The melody in WZRD's is much more rounded in that has much more fuller or layered. Kid Cudi's work was very well done in my opinion. He brought the song to a different level with such a different style yet a similar tone. The musical quality for Leadbelly's version has a consistent feel pretty much throughout. The rhythm is steady and mellow while the intensity is subtle.  Although each song carries a different vibe they are similar in that they both have about the same speed. The speed is slow paced making it an easy listen. Another similarity with both of the songs is they have the same pitch. The only difference would be that Leadbelly's has more of raw southern draw, whereas Cudi uses modern day instruments to create a  new twist on the original pitch. I enjoyed WZRD's version a little better only because its more my style. Leadbelly's version is definitely a beautiful yet simple song, it's got a raw, southern feel and a mellow rhythm. Whereas Kid Cudi's is very full and layered. I think he covered the song very well. He maintain an original melody and transformed it into a complementary rendition.

Pulp Fiction: Ezequiel 25:17

Vincent flips the two locks, opening the case. A small glow emits from the case.

CLICK CLICK

                                     JULES

                         We happy?

               No answer from Vincent.

                                     JULES

                         Vincent!

               Vincent looks up at Jules.

                                     JULES

                         We happy?

               Closing the case.

                                     VINCENT

                         Yeah we happy.

                                     BRETT

                         Look, I’m sorry uhh I didn’t get your name, I got yours, uhh Vincent, right?    But but I never got yours.

                                     JULES

                         My name's Pitt, and your ass ain't talkin'

                         your way outta this shit.

                                     BRETT

                         I just want you to know how sorry we

                         are about how fucked up things got

                         between us and Mr. Wallace. When we

                         entered into this thing, we only had

                         the best intentions –

BANG

               As Brett talks, Jules takes out his gun and SHOOTS Roger

               three times in the chest, BLOWING him out of his chair.

               Brett has just shit his pants. He's not crying or whimpering,

               but he's so full of fear, it's as if his body is imploding.

                                     JULES

                              (to Brett)

                         Oh, I'm sorry. Did that break your

                         concentration? I didn't mean to do

                         that.  Please, continue. I believe

                         you were saying something about "best

                         intentions."

               Brett can't say a word.

                                     JULES

                         Whatsamatter? Oh, you were finished

                         anyway.  Well, let me retort. Would

                         you describe for me what Marsellus

                         Wallace looks like?

               Brett still can't speak.

               Jules SNAPS, SAVAGELY TIPPING the card table over, removing

               the only barrier between himself and Brett. Brett now sits

               in a lone chair before Jules like a political prisoner in

               front of an interrogator.

                                     JULES

                         What country you from!

                                     BRETT

           What?

                                     JULES

                         "What" ain't no country I know! Do

                         they speak English in "What?"

                                     BRETT

                              (near heart attack)

                         What?

                                     JULES

                         English-motherfucker-can-you-speak-

                         it?

                                     BRETT

                         Yes.

                                     JULES

                         Then you understand what I'm sayin'?

                                     BRETT

                         Yes.

                                     JULES

                         Now describe what Marsellus Wallace

                         looks like!

                                     BRETT

                              (out of fear)

                         What?

               Jules takes his .45 and PRESSES the barrel HARD in Brett's

               cheek.

                                     JULES

                         Say "What" again! C'mon, say "What"

                         again!  I dare ya, I double dare ya

                         motherfucker, say "What" one more

                         goddamn time!

                                     JULES

                         Now describe to me what Marsellus

                         Wallace looks like!

               Brett does his best.

                                     BRETT

                         Well he's... he's... black –

                                     JULES

                         – go on!

                                     BRETT

                         ...and he's... he's... bald –

                                     JULES

                         – does he look like a bitch?!

                                     BRETT

                        

                         What?

               Jules' eyes go to Vincent, Vincent smirks, Jules rolls his

               eyes and SHOOT Brett in the shoulder.

BANG

               Brett SCREAMS, breaking into a SHAKING/TREMBLING SPASM in

               the chair.

                                     JULES

                         Does-he-look-like-a-bitch?!

                                     BRETT

                              (in agony)

                         No.

                                     JULES

                         Then why did you try to fuck 'im

                         like a bitch?!

                                     BRETT

                              (in spasm)

                         I didn't.

               Now in a lower voice.

                                     JULES

                         Yes ya did Brett. Ya tried ta fuck

                         'im.  You ever read the Bible, Brett?

                                     BRETT

                              (in spasm)

                         Yes.

                                     JULES

                         There's a passage I got memorized,

                         seems appropriate for this situation:

                         Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the

                         righteous man is beset on all sides

                         by the inequities of the selfish and

                         the tyranny of evil men.  Blessed is

                         he who, in the name of charity and

                         good will, shepherds the weak through

                         the valley of darkness, for he is

                         truly his brother's keeper and the

                         finder of lost children. And I will

                         strike down upon thee with great

                         vengeance and furious anger those

                         who attempt to poison and destroy my

                         brothers. And you will know my name

                         is the Lord when I lay my vengeance

                         upon you."

               The two men EMPTY their guns at the same time on the sitting

               Brett.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

I have chosen the ezequiel 25:17 scene from Pulp Fiction because it has great use of sound elements and the sequence is all around very powerful. For listening modes we have the simple casual listening for all the gun shots. The dialogue where Brett is unsure of what Jules means and keeps saying "What" is a good example of semantic listening. Gestalt principles is taken into consideration in this scene. Figure and Ground is the first thing I noticed. When Jules is talking to Brett, he is standing and Brett is seated. This lets the audience easily decode the relationship between the two. For space we have Jules in the front and vincent in the back, both standing and very large men. The men they are there to see are smaller representing how little power they have in the scene. For time speed and loudness are very important in the climax. Jules recites his famous bible verse. He gets faster and louder until the end and that is when they kill Brett.

Brainwashed

Acknowledge the Lizard: This is referring to the part of the brain that worries about safety and when needed dishes out anger. It causes us to be hesitant when showing something that we’ve created. It is afraid to be laughed at, which is what Pressfield calls “resistance”. This is the voice that is complicit in the brainwashing.

Connect: Some may think social networking is a waste of time. Yes I agree it can be but we must acknowledge a greater use for such technologies. Being connected is extremely beneficial. You can make real connections with people that have similar interests. This can teach you things most people would never learn. Society has never been so close. The future is connected and we must utilize the technology to the max.

Ship: Scarcity creates value. People that are getting things done and are able to beat the competition are going to succeed. They become indispensible. The goal is to be the best around.

     I do not find these exercises completely worthless, although there are many problems I have with them. First, I would like to point out that having a word count seems like a good suggestion because some students may not work as hard as others when writing these blogs. Though we are being graded by the quality of our writing, the problem is that we are also being graded on quantity. If I can get my point across in a lesser amount of words than is required, why does my grade have to suffer? When limitations are given the quality of the work will diminish. Even right now I have to bullshit some of these sentences just to meet the requirements. My second problem is the vagueness when assigning the blogs. Some of the homework is very questionable, meaning when I read what the project entails I just ask myself “Why?” It could just be me but sometimes I can’t grasp the value of these assignments. I think that these are just given to us as “work” to do. Maybe discussing the importance of the assignment and its relevance to media a little more thoroughly will help to motivate us. The third and final problem is I can’t understand whyI also have a suggestion for future assignments. This is a media class and we do study media, so maybe watching a film and writing an essay about it will give us more interaction to work with. It can also give us the opportunity for group collaboration if we like. I don’t think I’m alone in this. Many of us media types are artistic and creative. Writing a 500 word essay is not going to be in our list of specialties. The work we do for class should inspire us as filmmakers instead of making us dread the couple of hours it takes to right the assignment.