Realism

1. interest in or concern for the actual or real, as distinguished from the abstract, speculative, etc.
2. the tendency to view or represent things as they really are.
3. Fine Arts .
a. treatment of forms, colors, space, etc., in such a manner as to emphasize their correspondence to actuality or to ordinary visual experience.
b. a style of painting and sculpture developed about the mid-19th century in which figures and scenes are depicted as they are experienced or might be experienced in everyday life. (Dictionary.com)

what is realism ?  Realism in relation to art is when the subject of the artist is shown in a realistic manner, as close to 'reality' as possible - the way the subject actually looked. For my understanding realism is something that is realistic; something that real which have less fantastic element. Something that representative with exact detail of real life object. art the are almost accurate as photography. for example that image below

we hardly realize which is real apple and which is apple. Realism is still apply by artist nowadays although camera is available. By using their skill they trying as hard as possible to draw or record down the detail to process a final outcome as accurate as the real life object. but is the object inside painting that the designer draw is real or still exiting ? maybe some are create by the designer memory.

for example the painting below

"If you see something that... looks human and isn't, you keep your eyes on it and you feel for your hatchet."

— Mr. Beaver, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

girl in the painting is draw with full detail but does this girl still exit? 

the Masahiro Mori's the uncanny valley theory can help us to explain the question above

this is a video to explain what is uncanny valley.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzxBpz7Xjl0)

Written by Nick Hayden & Marc Fennell

Directed by Aaron Smith, Nick Hayden & Marc Fennell

Edited by Nick McDougall

For the image on top we can place it the uncanny valley, when we found out it was a painting, because the painting had reached a level that look exactly like real human. But after we find what the painter reference on real human to process this painting, people will accept it and like it. By that time the painting will reach the target level of healthy human. From the video, we know that from the level of industry robot status is some technology that created by mimic the human movement. The industry is growing, and the robot industry have evolve, the robot have slowly improve not only the design and even the visual is mimic the real human. When it reach the level that it look exactly like a human people  at first will not accept it. At that level is the uncanny valley. But when people understand the concept and what they are referencing at people start to accept it.

The theory have been apply in all kind of source. Gaming industry it the most recognizable due to the technology now, the gamer want something that are real so while the playing it give them a feeling that they are in the game.  And even in japan they are using robot human as a concierge or receptionist to give human a more friendly experience instate of taking to a screen. 

The Process model of communication

The famous Disney have figure out a special multi touch sensor which is the Botanicus Interacticus. Botanicus Interacticus is a new technology for designing highly expressive interactive plants , which both living and artificial. The designer had take interaction from computing devices and places it in the physical world using plant as an interactive medium.
This project is very special and simple. the instrumentation of small house living plant is simple and does not bring any damage to the plants. It requires only a single wire placed anywhere in the plant soil. After placing the wire in the plant soil, it allow the user to interacte by using gestures as sliding finger on the stem of the orchid, the wire will detect the gestures and touch and estimate the amount of touch contact. 
(http://www.disneyresearch.com/research/projects/hci_botanicus_drp.htm)

The unique new project had let think of the process model of communication by Claude Shannon(1948)

sender :  The information source selects desire message or the originator of message.

encoder : The transmitter converts the message into signals.

decoder : The place of the signal which converts or decode the signals into message. The reverse process of encode.

receiver : The place to organize the signal that had been decode and  send to the final destination.

final destination : A destination for message from sender.

The sender’s messages converted into signals like waves or Binary data which is compact able to transmit the messages through cables or satellites. The decoder converts the binary data or waves send to receiver to organize into message that is understandable to the final destination to show out the message from the sender. Based on the final decoded message, the receiver gives feed back to sender. but if there are noise distressing the message it will affect the communication. The noise may affect the  process of communication which result receiver may not receive the correct message.

refer to the technology of Botanicus Interacticus

sender       :   People

encoder     :  Mostly use 'house plants' or small plant are used. 

channel     :   The wire that connect to the plant soil that carries multiple frequencies 

noise          :  Unrecognized  gestures or the distraction of the wire. 

reception  :   a chip and computer that control the signals

receiver     :  Programme that detects the signals and change it into specific sound

destination : Screen or speaker.

feedback   : The sound and graphic that present on the screen and speaker.

Digital Heritage Website

This is the first time i create a website. Is a very good experience although the website design is not really good. But hopefully the next website can be must more better. This website (www.gykho.com) that I had created is about our Malaysia culture heritage, Lion Dance(Southern).

Beside starting to create the website i had do some research for what are the information that i need to import to the website. While doing the research i had found some interesting thing about lion dance and some deeper meaning of lion dance costume.

Everyone nowadays enjoy lion dance as a performance or a sport. Lion dance actually come from a legend which actually have different version but the most common one was happen in a village in China when all the villagers are busy decorate their home to welcome the brand new year and the was a monster name "nian"(which is chinese word means year) which come out every end of the year to attack and terrorized the village, it horrified and ate men and animals. After awhile, the villagers were fed up with the beast thus they came together with an idea. The idea they have was to make a beast from paper mache and some noise making musical instrument like gongs, drums and cymbals to scare away the beast. The idea they had worked thus the villagers celebrated with firecrackers. Thus the belief of lion dancing is to bring good luck and prosperity while driving away the evil. 

For other version, you can have visit to this website (http://www.kungfusupply.nl/lion%20dance/lion_dance.htm).

Beside that the element of the Southern lion dance costume also had their own meaning.

Horn 

Southern lions are divided into Hok San and Fat San lions. The former has a curved horn while the latter sports a pointed one. In general, the lion’s horn wards off evil beings.

Head

The head is made out of papier mâché, and the movement of the eyelids enhances the lion’s vitality and liveliness. For the Northern lions, a red bow on its head indicates a male lion, or a green bow to represent female. The head comes in four sizes: one, two, three, four (four being the smallest).

Mirror (forehead)

The mirror dispels negative energy as evil spirits would be frightened by their own reflection.

Mouth 

The Hok San lion, always smiling, has a straight mouth and short tail while the Fat San lion looks more aggressive with a curved mouth and long tail.

Movement

The lion usually walks back and forth, almost like a zigzag path to confuse evil spirits. The Buddha (Dai Fut) teases the lion to lie down, roll and jump.

Body & colour 

The length of the lion varies between 1.5m and 1.8m. Lion types can be identified according to the Chinese classic ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’. Liu Bei (‘Auspicious Lion’) is yellow with white beard and fur. Guan Gong (‘Awakened Lion’) is red with black bristles and a long beard. Zhang Fei (‘Fighting Lion’) has a black face and black bristles. Other lion colours also include green (Zhao Yun), orange (Huang Zhong) and white (Ma Chao).

Expression 

Lion dance portrays eight different expressions: happiness, rest, anger, intoxication, mischief, suspicion, ecstasy and surprise.

As a chinese we need to understand what is the meaning of our great culture heritage.

Maybe some of the younger generation will think that in this modern world we need to change to become a modern person. Actually lion dance can be very modern as well. They are actually some lion dance performance that combine with modern element. Like their costume are combine with led light and glow in the dark. Beside that, instate of using traditional instrument, they even use pop music as their music.

led light lion dance

Glow in dark lion dance

hip hop lion dance with pop music

Interesting Talk about the Southeast Asian Arts and Culture

Our class had attend a talk with SER a guest speaker all the way from thailand which is also a graduated student from The One academy, can say is our super senior. Actually I was quite worry that i will slept during the talk due to not enough rest and class in the morning section. 

Although is short period of group discusion but SER try his best to finish the talk. Is was a very interesting talk and i do learn new nation culture after the talk which help me in the future. I found that the thai culture interested me the most so i take some keyword from the talk and do some reading on it. And i would like to share some of the research and info that i found in some others website.

During the talk SER did mention about the thailand traditional culture dance.  Beside SER some of the lecture of mine also had been telling us about the Ramakien or in The Ramayana in India. Actually the Ramakien can be said as the evolution of the Ramayana, Base on  the understand of Thai people for the Ramayana in the pass they have change the outlook of the character base on their imagination from the original story. And nowadays Ramakien had become a traditional story in thailand.

The Summary of Story, Ramayana or in Thai Ramakien:
This is a story of good versus evil.  Our hero, Rama is a king.  The villain, or demon king Tosakan.  This epic tale is thought to established after the Thais occupied Angkor in the 15th century.  It has been an inspiration for painting and classical drama with usage of intertextuality. (feel free to refer back on my previous blog entry about intertextuality)

There are few main characters in this story.

Rama –  deep green face, is an incarnation of the god Visbnu Rama’s.
Sita – The daughter of Tosakan’s consort and incarnation of the goddess Laksbmi, remains loyal to Rama.
Lakshman – Rama’s loyal younger brother, is often shown in gold.
Hanuman – The white monkey, son of the wind god, is totally devoted to Rama.
Tosakan – The demon king of Longka and have “ten necks, heads and arms”.


Rama, the king of Ayodhya, was sent into exile by his stepmother. He and his wife, Sita and brother Lakshman went with him into the deep forest. The demon king, Tosakan of Longka (Sri Lanka), kidnapped Sita and carries her away hoping to marry her. Rama and Lakshman chased after try to recue   Sita. And they met Hanuman and volunteers his service, together they found more help to defend the demon king. On their ways, they faced a lot problem and they solve it together.  Finally, Rama defeated Tosakan and killed him. In the end Rama crowns his ally, Piphek (Tosakan’s banished brother) as King of Longka and returns to Ayodha.

Connotation: A traditional story
Denotation: The moral values within the story. For example, no matter how difficult there are to rescue Sita Rama will never give up.
Myth: how good versus the evil and show the power of goodness fight against evil to bring peace to the people.

i mention that this story has been an inspiration for painting and classical drama with usage of intertextuality. The example below is a example of intertextuality of the story Ramayana by Nina Paley (born May 3, 1968) is an American cartoonist, animator and free culture activist. The video below, it show that how she used the modern technology Adobe Flash to animate the story of Ramayana into a flash animation combining with pop music and modern art style  and make the whole into another new aspect which represent a movement of modernism. Trying to make a 'boring' traditional story to a more modern and iterative with the technology and software in the current modern society.

This full video premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival on Feb. 11, 2008. created by Nina Paley alone.

In conclusion, the different of  with thai myth is Hindu Myths are from vedic texts. They tell of Gods  with almost human like flaws and stories.
In Buddhism, it's more of a reverse. A human prince attains a higher state. Thai legends representations for the spirits that both help and hinder humans on their way to enlightenment, as well as a balance to other former beliefs.

                                                        

Extra information :

Beside that, i heard that SER had ask us that do we know what is the curl thingy on top buddha head. I think no much people know that. He said is snail, during the process how buddha having his meditation  he faced different kind of problem. One is the torture of the hot sun, and the snail climb up to his head to protect him from the sun. And this is how nowadays buddha head are sculptured like this.

From this point we can link the buddha's hair to the topic of connotation, denotation and myth.

Connotation: a normal curly hair style

Denotation: Snails covering on buddha to prevent him from the sun heat.

Myth: the process how the prince awakened and become a buddha.

Beside that i found some meaning about the buddha sculpture

Buddha statues have meaning from head to toe

by Janet Eastman, Los Angeles Times, June 12, 2008

Los Angeles, USA -- SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA was a prince in India around 500 BC who set out to discover meaning in the suffering he witnessed. Once he found enlightenment, he began to spread his philosophy. He became known as Buddha, a title, since given to others, that means "awakened one."

-A dot on the forehead brings wisdom and a third eye to see unity.
-A full mouth indicates eloquent speech. Long arms signify generosity.
-White, slender fingers symbolize mindfulness, precision and purity in every act.
-Round heels represent an even temperament, and fine webs between toes and fingers signal interconnectedness.

Realism: Plato The Allegory of the Cave

Plato the Allegory of the Cave was interesting. During this class the are a lot of thing flashing my head, i keep on thinking what is thing that are real, is it something that we can see is real, is it what what people been saying is real. 

But after the class, i understand that anything can be real. Is just in different way of mind set, they are different way to progress the 'real' object. In the example of plato's allegory of the cave, it show that the prison only see the object shadow and from their mind set they will think that shadow is case by the real object. For example maybe the prisoner saw the shadow on the wall is a cat, they will automatically say that the shadow is a cat shadow. Such prisoners would mistake appearance for reality. But they wont realize what is the true object until they turn their head around and see what it really is. According to Allegory, when the prisoners that escape from the cave and they are shocked in afraid because what they think is real are not.  They would think the things they see on the wall (the shadows) were real; they would know nothing of the real causes of the shadows.

They are a lot of cases that happen in our life that are similar to prisoners. Newspaper and entertainment   news can transform a simple issues into something big just to make a better sales. For some people that are addicted to Facebook sometimes they will think the thing that share by their friend is real until they find out the truth. Sometime the thing that appear in front of us doesn't means is it truth. The is a sentence that quite similar to this situation "人不可貌相" which means we cannot judge a thing with it's appearance.

Also, and very importantly, Plato distinguishes between appearance and reality. It shows how sometimes what we perceive as real is only just an illusion, such as shadows or dreams. And this is in reference to the next area of philosophy, which is concerned with truth or reality, which is the light source of the plato cave. The person that escaped from the cave and find the light of the sun, the light of true reality, the light that cast all the fuzzy shadow on the wall. And from the light they will find out what is the object that cast the shadow on the wall. They will find out the truth.

Not all newspaper and entertainment news is trying to distort the reality. There are new medias that show the light to the reader or a hints to show the reader what is the truth behind the story or make them to find out the truth. For example the photo below that given a sample for analysis from my lecturer.

As we can see that there are actually both side of image. Each side of image itself can be the fuzzy shadow on the wall in the plato cave because the viewer only see one side of the banner on the wall. But the people who walk over the corner and see the other side of the image the will under what is really happen in the story. And they will start to question themselves what is the truth light of the image and they will start to find out the truth. Inside the image beside fuzzy shadow we can find out the light source as well. For example the tagline "see both sides of the story" is a hint for the viewer to find the light. When people see explosion the didn't know what is happen maybe they will think something was on fire but they don't know what cost the fire. And another side is a soldier standing guarding something but they dont know what is he guarding. Right until they walk around the corner and see the whole banner only know the fire is cause by war and the soldier is preparing for war.

This some funny photo that i think is related to Plato Cave. The man is like the prisoner he only see that beauty of the girl and when the kid was born he only realize that his wife did plastic surgery. but if the man find out the light which is the photo of the girl before she did the surgery what will the man do. He will be curious and start find out who is the person and question her wife to find out the truth. After he find out the truth will he still want to have the baby. But if he act like the prisoner in the plato cave and just believe on the fuzzy shadow which the girl she marry is not the girl in the photo he will be happy and may give a birth after they marry.


The plato cave can apply in many place. So people will like to be the prisoner in the cave to get away from the truth just to be more happy and there are people that want to find out the source of light and the truth behind the fuzzy shadow.

Redundancy and Entropy

Redundant and Entropy. Actually i don't know what is two theme actually means before Daniel class. When Daniel start using the word i was like what is it means, luckily he had do some explanation for the two words. For what i understand from his explanation is Redundant is the thing that is being repeated or something that is expected; and for Entropy is the opposite of Redundancy which that something that is really ramdom or something that we can't foresee or unexpected.

I had done some research on the two term. And most of the result is from communication and language.


Redundant, repetition of same sense in different words; "`a true fact' and `a free gift' are pleonastic expressions"; "the phrase `a beginner who has just started' is tautological"; "at the risk of being redundant I return to my original proposition"- J.B.Conant

example:

If all of us cooperate together, we will succeed.

In this sentence, the words cooperate and together have been used. But both these words convey the same meaning.

One of the two words should be dropped in order to make the sentence a correct one.

• If all of us cooperate, we will succeed.
• If all of us work together, we will succeed.

Both these sentences are correct ones.




Entropy, on the other hand, is a measure of the "disorder" of a system. What "disorder refers to is really the number of different microscopic states a system can be in, given that the system has a particular fixed composition, volume, energy, pressure, and temperature. By "microscopic states", we mean the exact states of all the molecules making up the system.

As a simple example, suppose that you put a marble in a large box, and shook the box around, and you didn't look inside afterwards. Then the marble could be anywhere in the box. Because the box is large, there are many possible places inside the box that the marble could be, so the marble in the box has a high entropy. Now suppose you put the marble in a tiny box and shook up the box. Now, even though you shook the box, you pretty much know where the marble is, because the box is small. In this case we say that the marble in the box has low entropy.

After understanding what it means, Redundant and entropy had been apply in interactive media as well.
In the system of a computer's softwares there are a lot of redundancy element especially exit, save and deleting information. Every time when we click, the software will repeat the same question over again to make sure whether we are sure with our decision so there are low entropy. For me i think that redundancy element is use to predict entropic cases. Like for event planning although the event is well planned they always create a contingency plan as a back up to make sure everything is all right, for example like a outdoor concert, all the electric supply is prepare they will always prepare another generator.

For entropic they are widely use in gaming and movie (especially horror movie) industry. Although the player is play the game but the don't know what will happen next or he expect something to come out but it doesn't; for horror movie, the appearance is always unexpected although the people know that is it  a horror movie but they don't know when or where it will appear. And this is the same result of the marble in a big box which is high entropy.

Intertextuality

Intertextuality; I search on the definition of at Dictionary.com, and this is the result: Intertextuality is  the interrelationship between texts, especially works of literature; the way that similar or related texts influence,reflect or differ from each other: the intertextuality between two novels with the same setting.


What i understand about intertextuality during class is this " No Such Thing is Originality". The fundamental concept of intertextuality is that no text, much as it might like to be like what they be seem but references to and quotations from other texts.

From the note that given by Daniel Chong,  there had shown that the study of intertextuality include:
remakes, sequels, prequels within same media
translations between media, e.g. novel to film, film to computer game (and vice versa)
transition between genres, e.g. Seven Samurai remade as Magnificent Seven
relation of artefacts within a genre group, e.g. between different episodes of the same TV soap     opera, or between different TV soap operas
and inside the note this is the on line that i remember the most is 'nothing is ever truly original'  Daniel said it, Parody can be good example of intertextuality; an author's or director's that borrowing and refer some other's author's or director's work and transforms or modifying them to trigger humor facets to become parodies.

The link below is example of intertextuality that use in Film or movie.

Beside film the are other example of usage of intertextuality such how painting and poem and become a song 

this is a song by Don McLean - ( Starry, Sarry Night) that refer on Vincent Van Gogh's Painting, Starry Night(1889) and Anne Sexton's Poem, The Starry Night (1961)


The website had more example of intertextuality. Feel free to explore and you can find out something interesting
 http://valerie6.myweb.uga.edu/intertextuality.html

and let me end my blog with this song ! Starry Sarry Night