earthtokeri

Blog and photoshop

earthtokeri — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:39:33 +0000

Although many of us were skeptical or just plain confused about the project at first, it seems much simpler in hindsight. This project was a journey in self discovery and like many journeys, the path was not always clear. The blog, with it’s ability to be edited and tweaked, is one of the few tools I can imagine housing this type of project. Tagging posts is one of the numerous ways the blog is used to illustrate connections between seemingly unrelated stories. Photoshop, may bring great frustration to beginners, but creating a simple composite is not too difficult and the effects of the visual integration of images can be very powerful. I think this kind of visual means of dealing with the project, can illuminate connections that words may fail to.

Insights during composition

earthtokeri — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:28:19 +0000

After the first part of my project was complete, I felt I had a pretty good idea of where things were heading. Before working on the presentation with my group, but I felt the connections between my stories were vague and a little disjointed. I suspected the outcome would deal with imagination as an escape from reality. Escape was, in fact, a major theme of my three stories. After completing my community story on Osceola, however, I discovered that although I am tempted to escape when faced with a problem or opposition, it is important to stand up for myself, and my beliefs. Working with my group gave me new insight into the project, as well. The questions we posted in the PowerPoint were helpful in shaping my connections and filling in the logo chart helped me narrow things down into concrete parts. My group members were able to give me new insight and help me with parts I was stuck on.

Readings

earthtokeri — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:09:22 +0000

Wabi Sabi and Chorus of Stones were both useful tools in the development of my mystory and logo. From the first part of the project, I learned the importance of combing the stories for clues as I read them. If you read the stories with the project in mind, there are many helpful directions and insights to be found.

Chorus of Stones is a beautifully written mystory that weaves together many stories and focuses on the objects or themes that emerge in patterns among them. When I thought about writing my own metaphysics, I took cues from Griffin. Griffin describes a world steeped in denial. According to her world view, we keep secrets personally, and as a society, to escape from the things that we find unpleasant. It was interesting to see how her world view was reflected in all aspects of her story. Community stories played a large role in Griffin’s work and the depth of her community stories was impressive.

Wabi Sabi was an excellent guide to creating the emblem. All parts of the emblem can be traced to Wabi Sabi. The simplicity of the book, which is at the heart of wabi sabi ideals, made it easy to digest and to apply to the project. I learned to pare down to the most important elements of my stories to find meaning.

Mood

earthtokeri — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:37:07 +0000

The story of Osceola and his people expresses how I feel about my morality and metaphysics. Like Osceola, I feel threatened. Osceola believed that his people were entitled to live peacefully on their lands. The land was inextricably tied to the Native Americans’ way of life and when it was taken from them, Osceola refused to surrender to the injustice. The Seminole people faced the constant threat of white settlers and seizure of their land by the U.S. government. Osceola felt that he and his people were in constant danger and he must always be ready to fight. He led a resistance and bravely defended his people. A deep-seated distrust existed between his resistance and the U.S. government.

Morality

earthtokeri — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:36:49 +0000

In a world where skepticism abounds and our beliefs are constantly doubted, it is important to defend your beliefs. It is important to always remain open to reason, and not to cling blindly to your beliefs. But when it comes down to what you know is right; defend it! Do not let your voice be stifled or your spirit broken. In A Little Princess, Sara faces Miss Minchin head as she scoffs at the belief that all girls are princesses, and holds steadfastly to this conviction. She brings light to the world around her and will not allow anyone to distinguish it.

Metaphysics

earthtokeri — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:36:27 +0000

My family story, The Santa Debate, depicts a world that resists our beliefs. In the story, I learn that I am one of the only kids left in my class who still believes in Santa Claus. I am protective of my belief because i trust what my parents have told me and because to me, Santa is an important figure with a lot of meaning attached. We live in a world where our convictions are constantly under scrutiny. Sometimes this skepticism is helpful because it forces us to consider alternative solutions and recognize different beliefs. This skepticism, however, often leaves us in a state of ambiguity or doubt. Doubt and opposition arenot always clearly distinguished.

Atmosphere

earthtokeri — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:32:41 +0000

Many of the traditional uses of chalk have been replaced by other substances, but are still called “chalk.” Chalk is often found in a school setting where it is used on blackboards. Chalk is used by teachers to write out lessons and examples for students, and then it can be easily erased and replaced with new markings. Chalk is also commonly used to write and play on the sidewalk. Here it is often brightly colored and is used for games, such as hopscotch.

In my entertainment story, the chalk is used to trace a safety circle. Sara draws this circle and curls up inside in an effort to escape from the grim reality of her situation. She has just lost her father, who is the only family, and only true connection she has in America. All of her riches have been stripped away and she is forced to become an unpaid servant, living in the cold and dirty attic. The chalk circle is drawn in a desperate attempt to run away from her problems.

Attributes

earthtokeri — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:05:18 +0000

Chalk is a soft, porous, white sedimentary rock. It forms deep under water from the gradual accumulation of tiny calcite plates shed from micro-organisms called coccolithophores. Compared to other clays, chalk is resistant to the natural powers that seek to erode it, thus forming tall steep cliffs where chalk ridges meet the sea. It is often used for drawing on rough surfaces because it readily crumbles leaving particles that stick loosely to these surfaces. Chalk’s softness and openness give it sustainability but it is fragile.

A circle is a simple geometric shape consisting of those points in a plane which are equidistant from a given point called the center. The common distance of the points of a circle from its center is called its radius. A circle represents the infinite nature of energy, and theinclusivity of the universe. Circles were protective emblems to the Celtic mind. Circles were often drawn as protective boundaries, not to be crossed by enemy or evil. Circles were also Celtic symbols of the cosmos – noting in symbol the intangible procession of time.

Outnumbered

earthtokeri — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:30:25 +0000

Osceola, a fierce and cunning fighter, defended his people and became the face of their resistance. He was a persuasive orator and a natural born leader. Although he was never actually a Seminole chief, he had a great deal of influence over the people. He was charming, handsome, elegantly dressed, and a bit egotistical. He skillfully maneuvered between the white and indigenous people, commanding authority within the Native American community, as well as gaining widespread notoriety throughout out the United States. He was followed by the press and often quoted as the voice of the resistance. He secured his leadership position by using Native American culture, such as staging traditional ballgames, to lure followers. He also used these games to promote cultural cohesion and to get supplies and ammunition from the game’s white military hosts.

As the leader of a 250-man guerilla-style army, he led his people in a seven-year game of cat and mouse with the U.S., in which both sides used deceitful strategies, resulting in an atmosphere of deep distrust.

Thing

earthtokeri — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:25:11 +0000

I chose a chalk circle as the material item that best represents the pattern that emerged among my three stories. In A Little Princess, the chalk circle is a ring of safety. It is first mentioned in the beginning of the movie, as Sara recounts an old Indian folk story. A princess is told she will be safe as long as she remains inside a circle traced in the sand. The little princess, Sara remembers this when she loses everything. She traces a chalk circle on the floor and escapes inside. This notion of escaping when threatened is central to my story. In my family story, I feel threatened when my belief in Santa is ridiculed by my classmates. My instinct is to grab my best friend and escape to our sanctuary on the P.E. field where we are comforted by the stories of our imaginations. I can make Santa real by believing. My community story is about Osceola, the brave leader of a threatened people. Escape has become a way of life for the Native Americans, who are constantly forced to move to a safer grounds and concede their lands to the U.S. government. Osceola knows that escaping into a safety circle is only a temporary fix and that eventually there will be nowhere left to run. He stands up and fiercely fights for his people and for his beliefs.