"Dante" - A 21st Century Technology

Joshua J. Campbell

Professor Blanka Roundtree

FMX 211-C                

9 May 2019

“Dante”: A 21^st Century Technology

    Digital Audio is the standard for the professional Audio/Visual (AV) Industry. Many of the benefits of digital audio networking come from the previous technological advances in other industries. While Digital Audio Networking is still evolving, the “Dante” protocol has become “The Networking Standard for the Professional AV Industry”. (1) 

    Dante is “an uncompressed, multi-channel digital media networking technology, with near-zero latency and synchronization.” (2) This technology has been integrated into products from hundreds of manufacturers, including AKG, Apogee, Audio-Technica, Avid, Clear-Com, EAW, JBL, Shure, Sony, Tascam, and Yamaha. Dante allows hundreds of channels of audio to be transmitted and received across several hundred meters of CAT6 cable over a single, standard IP network.

    Advancements in the field of IT and computer networking paved the way for Dante. Before “Audio over IP” (AoIP) was used for Pro Audio, it was already being used by business around the world to fill their telecommunications needs. The integration of AoIP into pro audio allowed for considerable cost savings in the industry due to the low cost and availability of standard network swithes and CAT6 cable.  CobraNet and EtherSound are two of the primary AoIP technologies that Dante improved upon. One of the most significant advantages was the ability to “Multi-Cast”, meaning a channel could be transmitted to more than one receiver at the same time. Prior to Dante, standards such as AVB only allowed a single point to point transmission.

    Dante provides significant advantages to alternative technologies for audio networking. A significant cost savings with this technology is not only due to the availability of materials, but the integration into products from hundreds of manufacturers as well as Apple and PC computers. This integration makes it possible to seamlessly integrate live sound reinforcement with broadcast and recording. The redundancy available with Dante allows users to run 2 parallel networks simultaneously, which immediately switch over in the event of a failure, resulting in zero failures or dropouts.

    The development of Dante can trace back not only through previous audio technologies, but through the telecommunications industry. “After Motorala closed an Australian research facility in 2003, current Audinate CTO Aidan Williams brought a team of researchers to the National Information and Communication Technology Australia (NICTA) research centre in Sydney, Australia. There, with the help of government funding, the team spent three years developing the foundations of Dante.” (3) 

    Dante will continue to improve as new products are developed and used in the industry. Over the last decade, this technology has made consistent progress in providing more stability, reliability, ease of use, end user training, and development products with new chip sets for manufacturers. According to Audinate’s prospectus, the have tripled their sales over the last 4 fiscal years. (4) With Yamaha as the majority stock holder in audinate, and with their implementation of Dante in their professional products, it is unlikely to see Dante going away anytime soon. According to sources including “AV Nation”, Audinate will be adding “video to Dante for their video over IP solutions”. (5)

Works Cited

Audinate Company Homepage, www.audinate.com. Accessed 9 May 2019.

Audinate Website, www.audinate.com/solutions/dante-overview. Accessed 9 May 2019.

Dante (networking) From Wikipedia. En.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_(networking). Last updated 21 December 2018. Accessed 9 May 2019.

Audinate Prospectus, https://investor.audinate.com/FormBuilder/_Resource/_module/U31UphySGkWm4tEdvC_Xbw/file/Audinate_IPO_Prospectus.pdf. Pospectus date 13 June 2017. Accessed 9 May 2019.

Albright, Tim, AV Nation Episode 388, https://avnation.tv/podcast/avweek-388-dante-vb/. Recorded 4 February 2019. Accessed 9 May 2019.

"SLEEP WALKING"

https://youtu.be/8S1_PkfawzM

"SLEEP WALKING"

an Art Video by Joshua Campbell

Presented by the University of Tampa, F In association with FMX211& Professor Roundtree Spring 2019

Have you ever felt like you were "Sleep Walking", but you were awake? I often felt that way when I was traveling. The constant time changes, sleep schedules, jet lag... It can really distort your reality. My composition incorporates videos that I took with my iPhone while I was traveling and juxtaposes them with a few of the creative projects that I worked on this semester. If you find yourself lost while watching this video, you are in the right place... That's how I want you to feel.

I used Adobe Photoshop, Premier, After Effects, and ProTools to complete this project. I also used several third party plugins in addition to a couple of analog synthesizers for the sound design. Some of the footage was shot while I was traveling in American Samoa, Tonga, and Saipan between 2015 and 2016.

Music Movements

From Post Modern to "EDM" & "Virtual" Performers

Many advancements in technology have been seen over the past century, which have played a significant and direct role in influencing artists and musicians as well as the development of tools and instruments that they use. While it is quite beyond the scope of a single class period, the FMX 211 class recently plowed through over 16 musical movements that use technology, and some of the prominent artists, musicians, and bands that made significant contributions to the movements or otherwise embody their genre. The discography (found at http://art211.santiago.bz/?page_id=181) provided does a great job of representing each of these movements. However, I do feel that there are at least a few "notable mentions" that are worthy of adding to this list.

The following is a list of  5 Artist's / Musicians / Bands that I feel should be included to the aforementioned discography:


DISCO
Lipps Inc. - "Funkytown"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVwiixXViT0

This track is just oozing with technology! Synthesizers, effects, and even a vocoder that uses the human voice to modulate the carrier signal of a synthesizer. I think the vocoder is one of the coolest things that has happened to the human voice in the past century. Here's a link to "The Secret History of the Vocoder" published by the New Yorker on 20 August, 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvR4qK0B--w



FUNK
George Clinton, P-Funk, Parliament, Funkadelic (or what ever name you happen to know them by). Funk was completely left out of the discussion. I understand that it is closely related to disco, but it's definitely not the same thing. George Clintons music in the 70s and 80s continued to be heard throughout the house movement and is still played by DJ's around the world. Synthesizers and Samplers were a big part of his sound. I think a good example of his work is "Atomic Dog"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etRu094xhvE



INDUSTRIAL / GOTH
Nine Inch Nails - How were they not on this list? Ok, I guess they could have also been included in the Nineties movement, but they weren't there either. Rant Over...
The "Downward Spiral" album featuring "Closer" & "Hurt" were recorded in a Mansion that was the site of one of the Manson Murders. Trent Reznor's use of synthesizers and samplers on this album is quite incredible. 

Nine Inch Nails - "Closer"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv3M5OvCJuQ



NINETIES
Rage Against the Machine... Just a typical four piece rock band from the nineties right? Nope! They're the first group that comes to mind when I think of "crossover" bands (Bands or Musicians that blend 2 or more styles together), with their particular combination of Rap & Rock. However, I have them listed here as a result of Tom Morello's (the Guitarist) contributions. His use of effects pedals and extended techniques (non standard articulations or ways of playing a musical instrument) often imitate sounds normally made by DJ's / Scratch Artists & other electronic musicians. A good example is "Killing in the Name"... Check out his guitar solo that starts around 3:50...

Rage Against the Machine - "Killing in the Name"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWXazVhlyxQ



ELECTRONIC / PRODUCER CULTURE
Mostly Robot - This group is made up of several endorsed artists from Native Instruments. They create original electronic music live on stage in a highly improvisational way. One of my favorites in the group is Jeremy Ellis, who is well known for his particular style of "finger drumming" using Native Instruments "Maschine".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DauCj-wH1Fg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-q5KkwHtmw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE_iEf4c8Ss

Performance Art - UPDATED

"Old Tech VS. New Tech"

https://youtu.be/SuxnyiwATnE

"Old Tech VS. New Tech"
- A Performance Art Piece by Joshua Campbell

Presented by The University of Tampa
In association with FMX211 & Professor Roundtree
(Spring 2019)

I asked total strangers at a local coffee shop (Starbucks) to express their feelings about technology while exposing them to Old Tech (Camera Obscura) and New Tech (Green Screen & Color Keying) and explaining how I would combine the 2 technologies into a single video. This combination of 2 contrasting video styles and subjects creates a sort of "Montage" art piece that is inspired by Sergei Eisentein.

My Performance Art was about inviting strangers to participate and be video recorded while learning about and using a combination of old and new technology & expressing their feelings about technology Here are 3 of my favorite performance artists In no particular order:

1              Banksy:

http://banksy.co.uk/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqQYVKSmugc&feature=youtu.be

I loved “the Punking of Paris Hilton”… He made 500 really awesome
looking imposter CD’s and snuck them onto the store shelves… What a cool way to
make a statement! He totally had to use tech in his work… He used a DAW (Digital
Audio Workstation) to record, edit, and mix the audio for the cds. His art
style for the booklet was fairly low tech, but cool… He used an exacto knife
and glue to insert commentary into the original booklet, and scanned it to make
the copies.

2              LaurieAnderson: http://www.laurieanderson.com/

“Landfall” with the Kronos Quartet is really cool. The music
is fantastic! I was first introduced to the Kronos Quartet from a professor at
the University of New Orleans, performing music from Phillip Glass. Tech is an
integral part of Laurie Anderson’s Work… Music, Video, and even topics about
computers of tech are used . 3   T hrobbing Gristle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8klW9trVTQ&feature=youtu.be

This group is credited with starting Industrial Rock… Although
KMFDM are the self proclaimed godfathers of industrial, more evidence supports
that Throbbing Gristle came first! No pun intended… Tech is an integral part of
their work… The use of effects processors, synthesizers, drum machines, samplers,
and other recording and audio equipment is central to their work.

How are they related?

I think one of the ways they are
related is that they have all used music and sound in their work to make commentary
on social issues.

Is Tech an essential component in their work?

Yes, Tech is an integral part of
each of these artists work.

What is to be done in the field of Performance Art?

It seems like everything that could
be done has already been done. Instead of searching tirelessly for a way to be
original, I think it’s more important to take in the world around us. Then we
combine ideas and resynthesize them in much the way Surgei Eisenstein resynthesizes
video into his genre of “Montage”. The originality is evident when you see that
the combination of 2 unlike and contrasting things creates it’s own unique
message that is greater than the sum of it’s parts.

XEROX ART, "Speak Out!"

"SPEAK OUT!"

Silent... Still... Always watching... Taking everything in... You become overfilled and you need to let some out, but you can't! There's always something stopping you. Even when you dream, something is keeping you from letting go. To your surprise, you wake up tomorrow and take some more. Tomorrow keeps coming over and over again, but nothing changes. You have no voice, but at least you can see!

It didn't seem right to use a proper canvas for this project. I felt that it needed to be fragmented and barely holding together. I chose to use one of the moving boxes left from my last military move after retiring from the Marine Corps. This box had some of my audio equipment in it. The day to day life that I knew on Active Duty as a Marine and as a Musician becomes more distant every day. That part of me feels broken and loosely stitched together the way this cardboard canvas is. Of course, no one can see that on the outside. That's why the canvas has to be covered. Behind layers of copies of different versions of myself lies the truth of what's holding it all together. 

It's just 50lbs fishing wire... 

Clear and transparent...

Covered with layers and layers that are held together with some spray adhesive...

Something has to keep it all sticking together...

Grid Art, Marilyn Monroe

Grid Art takes many forms. It's obvious modern day form is perhaps best realized in pixel based computer graphics programs like Adobe Photoshop. However, the idea of using a grid is nothing new. To get in touch with some of the earlier influences of grid art, I took my search to American Indian Bead Art. My search turned many corners until I finally settled on the image of Marilyn Monroe. My wife, Michelle is a big fan of Marilyn Monroe. I wanted to make something that would be meaningful to her. The image that I used for my "Marilyn" comes from Belkis Sanchez on Pinterest (Belkisaltsan12) www.pinterest.com/pin/308707749453617433/

I used 6/0 Beads from Hobby Lobby mounted on plexiglass using 50lbs fishing wire. 340 holes were drilled on the plexiglass to allow the fishing wire to string through and tie off in the back.

Flip Book Project, Trance Figure

"TRANCE FIGURE"

The "Flip Book" project started when I found a paper back novel ("Fifty Shades of Grey") in the trash. The concept of my flip book was to make a frame that would move around the page. Sort of a frame within a frame if you will... The dancing figure goes through a few transformations. This is where the title Trans Figure comes from... To make the "Frame", I used post it notes as a guide. I was able to post them, about a hundred or so at a time, and check the positioning by flipping the pages before committing to their placement.

The animated Dance Figure is named Klouse, and is influenced by the music of KMFDM, Ramstein & Kraftwerk. His main composition (Head and Torso) are the outlines of a dime and a quarter. His limbs were made by outlining different parts of a "D'Ring". He was created in a series of 12 step animations (thanks to my recent discovery of Muybridge) on card stock. I made a duplicate of the figures, and used an exacto knife to cut him out and make a stencil. The stencil was very basic, allowing for some modifications and transformations to happen while keeping the continuity of his movement.

The addition of other movements came after the main components were put in. They were more of an improvisation as opposed to part of a strict plan. The book is meant to be flipped from front to back. However, I did purposely add a few small details that make more sense when flipping from back to front. Lastly, the cover was created with card stock and spray adhesive to bind it to the original one.

B5, Camera Obscura

"CAMERA OBSCURA"

Camera Obscura dates back to antiquity. The earliest types were big enough to enclose the artist as well as his canvas or other medium. Before the development of the lens, a simple hole in one side of the box was sufficient to let in enough light and project it naturally on the other wall. Of course, the image was upside down.

For my Camera Obscura project, I chose to go mobile... My camera is approximately 18" x 18" x 24" with the hood. I used a mirror on the inside to flip the image right side up. This makes it easier to use. I also used acrylic sheeting for the viewing screen. It is cover with 2 layers of wax paper, which makes the image visible when reflected from the mirror.

The "Oracle" (aka, google) was quite useful when researching ideas on how to construct the project. My design is a combination of several designs that came up when doing a simple google search. The resources helped me more with concept than anything else though... I incorporated the use of an old Nikon telephoto lens to achieve the aesthetic look I was searching for. The construction of the box also had to be reinforced with more plexiglass and hot glue to support the weight of the lens and mirror. I've also incorporated a sliding tray design to allow the user to move the mirror and focus the image.





Several obstacles were encountered when construction my camera obscure.  The biggest problem was figuring out the distance for placing the viewing screen and mirror in relation to the lens. In order to figure out the focal point of the lens, I used a light bulb to project a focused beam of light on a wall. By moving the lens closer or farther away, I could see when it comes in to focus. The focal point for my lens was
approximately 18".










My Camera Obscura is quite useful even by todays standards. I used my camera to capture images of my drum set, the front yard, and my wife's massage room. I was happy with the level of detail I was able to capture, as well as the aesthetic of the color. I did have to experiment with camera distance from my subject in addition to mirror position in order to achieve an acceptable level of focus. However, the extra work was well worth it. I really like the natural vignette that seems to occur with the camera. I plan on using my camera on other project in the future to include still images, stop motion, and film.

B4, BROADWAY ("Hair")

     This week saw a a completed unexpected an unguided look at Broadway. After a quick visit to angel-stagedoor.blogspot.com, I realized I wouldn't be learning much about Broadway without either learning Spanish, or seeking another source. As my assignment was to comment on my favorite shows, I felt that an outside source may be of more benefit than finding a translator. While scrolling down the page on blogspot, I saw a heading, that seemed somewhat recognizable and warranted further exploration.

     "The Sixties (Let the Sunshine In)." From what little I could gather from the speckled in bits of English, this was an article about "Hair". From my limited scope, I often forget that American Productions are often translated and performed around the world. "Si anadimos a ello su exitoso estreno en Londres y la realizacion de la pelicula de Milos Forman en 1979 -y todas las representaciones que se han sucedido en multiples lugares del planeta- Podemos afirmar que Hair, mas que un fenomeno teatral o musical, fue un fenomeno social estrechamente unido al momento en que se creo y a lo que estaba ocurriendo en el mundo en aquellos anos." While I have a limited understanding of Spanish (owing to 2 years of Spanish Class and growing up in Los Angeles), I believe this excerpt from the blogspot page is saying that "Hair" was translated into multiple languages and performed around the planet.

     Music has often been described as the universal language. Of course, many of the musical terms that musicians respond to from sheet music come from the Italian language. Words such as "Andante", "Vivace", "Fortissimo", and "Accelerando". Although, the text for a singer still holds the same communicative barriers inherent in understanding foreign language, the emotions of the rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic content are quite perceivable and need no further translation or explanation. This becomes a valuable resource when conveying a story line that communicates a specific culture. The study of cultures has long since recognized components of music, food, art, religion, clothing, and such as defining features. Perhaps translating the text and keeping the musical context of the story, allows productions such as "Hair" to transcend barriers and allow people of other cultures a more authentic look at the 1960's hippie counter-culture movement.

     According to broadwaymusicalhome.com, "Hair" is "the first rock musical to hit the Great White Way - the product of hippie counter-culture and the sexual revolution of the 1960s". Opening night for the Broadway Premiere was on April 29th, 1968. It wasn't until over 10 years later that the production was translated and performed around the world in different languages. Given this type of timeframe, I imagine audiences feeling as though they had opened some sort of time capsule. Perhaps this kind of glimpse into an American counter-culture gave them insight into the roots of the 1970s America they would have been reading about in the newspaper and watching on television.

     The ability for music to transcend cultural and language barriers is nothing less than astounding. The ability to translate text, and bring productions to other cultures around the world is no small thing either. I personally find it very cool that we can experience art and music from people and from a time that we have to other connection to. It's a way of connecting people where there would otherwise be no connection. Music is a gift, and we are fortunate to experience and share it with our fellow man.


Works Cited:

angel-stagedoor.blogspot.com/
www.broadwaymusicalhome.com/shows/hair.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ0R3-JFpmU

Campbell_S1 (L'Orfeo)

Joshua J. Campbell

Professor Blanka Roundtree

FMX 211

13 February 2019

 “L’Orfeo” as an Introduction to Opera

Opera has been around for a little over four hundred years, with its roots stemming from Italy in the beginning of the 1600’s. As a musician and later the “Maestro Della Musica” at Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga’s court at Mantua, Cluadio Monteverdi was immersed in a rich musical environment where his creative work could be nourished and grow into a new form that we know today as Opera. Looking back at the early work that Monteverdi created, we can clearly see the recognizable features that are still inherent in today’s accepted conventions for operatic performance. “While Jacopo Peri’s Dafne is generally recognized as the first work in the opera genre, and the earliest surviving opera is Peri’s Euridice, L’Orfeo is the earliest that is still regularly performed.” (4)  As my journey into the world of opera is at a beginning, I chose to start by researching Monteverdi’s Orfeo.

 “Through ability and hard work Monteverdi rose to become [Duke Vincenzo] Gonzaga’s maestro della musica (master of music) in 1601.” (2)  He soon began work on L’Orfeo which was first performed on “24 February 1607, as evidenced by two letters, both dated 23 February [1607]”. (2)  His work in L’Orfeo was “…the first attempt to apply the full resources of the art of music, as then evolved, to the nascent genre of opera.” Specifically, he employed polyphony in a way that was more skillfully used and which was rare in any case, owing to the influence of the Church at the time. Going back several decades before this, the Camerata (a group of aristocratic intellectuals from Italy) had “rebelled against the extremes of contrapuntal music which caused the sense of the poetry to be lost in the interwoven harmonies.”

In the 1581 treatise, “Dialogo della musica antica e della moderna” written by Vincenso Galilei, he stated that the “elaborate polyphonic imitative style of the Renaissance can neither render words clarly nor express with sufficient subtlety or force the emotions of the text.” (3)  This treatise set up basic principles that stated, “…the text must be clearly understood”, “the words must be sung with correct and natural declamation”, and “the melody must not depict mere graphic details in the txt but must interpret the feeling of the whole passage…” (3)  Responses to the premiere of L’Orfeo pay particular mention to Montevedi’s success at capturing the emotion demanded by the Camerata. “The Mantuan court theologian and poet, Cherubino Ferrari wrote that: “Both poet and musician have depicted the inclinations of the heart so skilfully that it could not have been done better … The music, observing due propriety, serves the poetry so well that nothing more beautiful is to be heard anywhere”. (2)

While we can only imagine what it must have been like to be at the Court in Mantua for the premiere of “L’Orfeo”, technology has made it possible for us to experience Monteverdi’s masterpiece with the convenience of an internet connection and a laptop, smart tv, or even an iPhone. My original plan was to purchase a DVD of a 2008 performance, which changed to internet streaming due to slow guaranteed shipping times from amazon.com. The video performance I choose to watch was recorded in 1978 at the Zurich Opera House under the direction of Nikolaus Harnoncourt. The convenience of the internet in the palm of our hands makes it easy to take technology for granted. The technology that is easy to see include the backdrops that are brought in and out to depict “the fields of Thrace (Acts 1, 2 and 5) and the Underworld (Acts 3 and 4)”. (2) It’s a little easier to think about the lights that make it possible for us to see the performers, or the stand lights that allow the musicians to see their sheet music. It’s quite a bit less obvious to think about the video camera’s, recording and editing equipment, and the digital conversion process that enabled the 1978 performance to be uploaded to the internet. Another very small yet significant technology that I’m particularly drawn to is the use of the Antiphonal Brass during the Fanfare at the beginning of the production. The use of directional sound, especially in an offstage antiphonal setting, creates a stunning performance effect that still awes audiences today.

The Opera World seems to have been on the forward edge when it comes to trends in using new technology. New Opera’s have included the use of moving video screens, robots, and sensors that monitor the performers vital statistics and use them to manipulate visual effects. What will the future of opera hold? I think the answer is only limited to the imaginations of the creative minds that will continue to fuel this art form. If I were a 21^st Century Producer, I might be convinced to create a video game to immerse a broader (and more youthful) audience in the story of L’Orfeo.

The video game world has been no stranger to epic adventures spanning over 3 decades with franchises like Final Fantasy that released the original game in December, 1987 to the most current release of “Final Fantasy XV” which was released in November, 2016. The advancements in game console technology have also supported full orchestral soundtrack, and realistic video sequences for well over a decade. The technology is undoubtably there to support a 1^st person Role Playing Game (RPG) that follows the story of L’Orfeo. If I were producing this game, I would set the player up to be L’Orfeo, and follow his epic adventure from the fields of Thrace with the nymphs and shepherds starting in Act I to the gates of Hades and the Underworld in Act 3 and back, all the way through his ascent to the Heaven’s with his father, Appolo in Act 5. Perhaps a “Guitar Hero” type sequence might work well as our hero soothes Caronte to sleep before steeling the ferryman’s boat to cross into the Underworld. Other parts of the story would be best served as a “Cut Scene” as opposed to actual game play, such as showing L’Orfeo’s bride being bitten on the foot by a poisonous snake, or when L’Orfeo looks back at Euridice as they attempt to leave Hades, thereby breaking the agreement with Plutone and sealing Euridice’s fate.

Works Cited

 Monteverdi, C. “L’Orfeo”, 1607; Performance by Das Monteverdi-Ensemble des Opernhauses Zurich, 1978. Posted on YouTube 9 AUG 2013,  www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcRFFmgVGlc. Accessed 10 February 2019.

“Monteverdi: L’Orfeo”, courses.lumenlearning.com/musicapp_historical/chapter/1-6-1-lorfeo-monteverdi/, Accessed 10 February 2019

Kennedy, H.B. “A Comparative Study of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo and L’Incoronazione di Poppea”, 1 January 1969, https://thekeep.eiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1514&context=theses, Accessed 11 February 2019

Kheyer, J.M. “L’Orfeo”, quizlet.com/169910481/lorfeo-flash-cards/, Accessed 13 February 2019

“ARIA” (“Madame Butterfly” in 11 minutes) (Blog 3)

“ARIA” (“Madame Butterfly” in 11 minutes) This past week the “Art & Technology” class at the University of Tampa focused it’s lens on the study of Opera. Opera has a rich history stemming from Italy around 1600 at the beginning of the Baroque Period. It’s traditions and innovations in technology have been defining characteristics of the art form. Using technologies that didn’t exist just a hundred years ago, Opera has found new ways to be expressed and delivered to audiences around the world. Through the study of Opera’s history, we gain better understanding of the context in which it developed and changed, as well as the direction it will move in the future. “Madame Butterfly” is an opera by Italian compser Giacomo Puccini. According to Britannica.com, Puccini was introduced to the story in 1900 while attending a play in London written by David Belasco (American theatrical producer and playwright). The story for this 0ne-act play was “…derived from a short story of the same name, by American author John Luther Long, of a Japanese girl’s ill-fated love for an American sailor”. Puccini acquired the operatic rights with the help of his publisher, Giulio Ricordi. The first performance of the opera, which included only 2 acts, and was not well received. Puccini split the second act into two along with other extensive revisions before reintroducing the opera in 1904. By 1906, 2 more revisions had been made, bringing the metamorphosis of the opera to its “definitive form”. Nearly 100 years after Puccini transformed “Madame Butterfly” into an opera, soviet born Pjotr Sapegin took her to the screen. His award winning 2001 animated short tells the story of Butterfly and Pinkerton in just 11 minutes. Sapegin displays masterfully crafted stop motion with an incredibly artistic flair. The animations reveal a sense of movement and humanity on a level above anything I’ve previously seen. “Aria” masterfully tells the story of a native Japanese girl and the American Sailor that she has fallen in love with. It’s also a story of loss and deep sadness, ending with the suicide of the main character. The music of Puccini also plays an important role in the story as well as the emotional impact it evokes. “Aria” is peppered with many clever representations and story telling devices.In Sapegin’s portrayal, music is played by a grampophone, which is given to Madame Butterfly by Pinkerton before he leaves on his ship. The tie in from the baby’s scream to the high sustained singing of the Soprano was also quite clever. Several other clever tools are used to tell the story in a very artistic and emotionally impactful way. Soon after Pinkerton leaves, Butterfly finds that she is pregnant. “Aria” uses a goldfish in a fishbowl to portray the young developing baby in it’s mother’s womb. As the glass on the fishbowl breaks, so doe’s Butterflies water, which is spilt on the shore and returns to the ocean. While “Aria” isn’t capable of telling the entire story of “Madame Butterfly”, I believe it captures the essence and emotion of the story that Puccini intended. Pjotr Sapegin’s work displays some very strong visualization of a serious nature, such as child birth and suicide, made possible by the use of technology. Stop motion, wire frame dolls, creative lighting and camera work, and masterful editing and sound design contributed to the overall impact of this work. A quick search on IMDb reveals that Sapegin has released at least 10 other works. I’m definitely looking forward to checking out more of his work! Sources: https://www.nfb.ca/film/aria_en/ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Madama-Butterfly https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0764535/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0302274/?ref_=nm_knf_t3

"Sparking Creativity" - Living Smart Video Reaction

"SPARKING CREATIVITY" - How to apply Dr. Raul Cuero's concepts to everyday life...

I just finished watching an episode of "Living Smart" with Patricia Gras. In this episode (Sparking Creativity), Patricia Gras interviews Renowned Microbiologist, Dr. Raul Cuero. Dr. Cuero's roots stem back to Colombia where he was raised in a very poor uneducated family near the docks. His drive and zeal for life are quite remarkable. He has overcome social, economic, and educational barriers in becoming an esteemed multilingual microbiologist. Dr. Cuero’s life is quite remarkable, as is his willingness to share his thoughts on creativity, and academic pursuit.

According to Dr. Cuero, the “Intellectual Culture in Academia” has been on a decline in the United States. There seems to be an epidemic of negative attitudes towards academic pursuit. Today’s generation is looking for school to train them for a specific job that already exists. Dr. Cuero would suggest that students should attend school to be intellectually challenged and to engage in intellectual activities that spark creativity and imagination in order to be better equipped to recognize and solve problems. This sort of activity and engagement is crucial in an academic setting.

Dr. Cuero says, “Ideas emerge from interaction with other ideas”. In order to foster an environment for creativity to emerge, we must set it up to include communication and interaction. A successful academic environment would also provide opportunities for students to observe, recognize, and practice problem solving without limitation to an abundance of parameters. Dr. Cuero believes, “You can not plan creativity”. He talks about “discovering creativity” and “…moving beyond expectations and doing something that others don’t know you can do.” An environment where both students and teachers encourage innovation and creative problem solving is essential to the creative process in academia.

After hearing Dr. Cuero's words, I'm inspired to incorporate a few of his ideas into my everyday life. The first being to spend a bit more time in nature. As Dr. Cuero says, "Everything comes from Nature". For me, I see this as being an opportunity to quiet the noise of everyday life and observe the finer details that are so often hurried past. It's also an opportunity to contemplate ideas and to allow them to develop. Dr. Cuero spoke of creativity as a process with many steps. An integral part of the process is allowing "ideas (to) emerge from interaction with other ideas". I can see this bouncing of ideas happening in my own head, or through conversations and interaction with others in my daily living. Setting up the right environment is crucial to fostering an academic culture where creativity can exist.

Dr. Cuero says, "You cannot plan creativity". Inside the four walls of an intuition of higher learning, we feel ourselves being pulled in several directions all at once. On one side, we have to be analytical and detailed when justifying curriculum and the methods used to teach. On another, we have to present problems that are incomplete along with vague information, to allow opportunities for creative problem solving and new solutions to emerge. Above all, we must practice a sense of balance in life to achieve “Mental, Physical & Spiritual Fulfilment.”

FMX 211 First Feelings

First Feelings... Well, I feel EXCITED!!! I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be!

As a matter of introduction to my blog, I'm Joshua J. Campbell. I recently retired from the U.S. Marine Corps at the rank of Gunnery Sergeant after completing 20 years of service. While every Marine is a Rifleman, I held a few Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) that are a bit rare. My MOS' include 5524 Musician, 5563 Percussionist, 5519 Enlisted Conductor, & 5522 Small Ensemble Leader. Needless to say, I've had many adventures and have many tales to tell. However, I'd be giving a false impression of myself if I merely mentioned my experiences as a Marine. That being said, I'd describe myself as a creative problem solver, compassionate leader, and creative soul that has lived in an overly structured lifestyle while longing for opportunities to express authenticity and emotion. I'm also a Husband and a Father to 4 children.

I'm really looking forward to the enriching lectures, assignments, activities, and other opportunities that will come out of being in FMX 211. Having taken classes from professors that lacked real world experience, I couldn't be happier to be learning from Blanka Roundtree. I'm a huge advocate for "Realistic Training", and can't think of someone better to be teaching this class. I expect to be challenged and exposed to new ideas, techniques, and creative processes. I also expect open and honest feedback that will help me grow in the field of New Media Production.


(The SP19 FMX 211 Class met for the first time on Wednesday, 23 January 2019 @ 10:00am in the CASS Bldg on the University of Tampa Campus.)