Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Golden Triangle
For my final project, I intend to relive my trip to India in November... and take all of you along with me.
Using either Photostory or iMovie, I will retrace my steps and revisit the places and faces that made an impression on me. I will gather up photographs, maps and scraps to tell a story.
My hope is that it will be more than a glorified slideshow. I will try to use sound (and maybe narration?) to create an experience that makes anyone who sees it want to go on the same trip. Because I use video for work, I would like to do this *without* video to see if I can create the same kind of experience with still photography. If I am successful, I will consider doing animated photo essays to accompany my video/documentary work from now on as an extra component that can be posted on the Web.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Five Fave Blogs
I'd like to share five of my very favorite blogs with you. It was tough to narrow it down, but I think these five should give you a good example of what stimulates a Black and Restless mind like mine.
HARLEM+BESPOKE (www.harlembespoke.blogspot.com)
The first one speaks to my love of my neighborhood, Harlem, and its history, architecture, real estate and culture. My grandmother has lived in Harlem my whole life and now I live here, so I've had the opportunity to see this historic neighborhood develop and change. I am very interested in issues surrounding gentrification and believe Harlem is an amazing petri dish where you can see all kinds of competing forces (haves vs have nots, historic vs modern, community vs individualism, etc) battling for supremacy.
The blogger who created Harlem+Bespoke also lives in Harlem and updates several times a day with information on Harlem's history, new businesses in the community, cultural events, houses for sale, interesting renovations, and anything else that would interest members (or faraway fans) of the Harlem community. It is a fantastic resource that has provided a forum for comments and debate within the community. I love it!
Racialicious (www.racialicious.com)
This blog is really amazing to me because it really challenges and expands the conversation on race. Instead of making everything a "black-white" issue, Racialicious gives voice to a wide range of "diverse" viewpoints. Whether it's race, gender, nationality, sexuality, or political affiliation, Racialicious challenges you to broaden your definition of "minority."
Whether they are looking at pop culture, media, politics, or social issues, the bloggers provide smart, sharp commentary and analysis that is often left out of the mainstream media. They are as comfortable with academic theory as they are with slang and lowbrow culture, and they always manage to keep the conversation lively and engaging.
Because this blog doesn't focus solely on the traditional framework of racial binaries, it forces its readers to make connections across racial lines and social groups and perhaps form alliances or at least sympathies with minority groups other than their own.
New America Media (www.newamericamedia.org)
New America Media is a great resource for any news junkies, but particularly for news junkies who want to know what it going on in the world the mainstream media typically does not cover. NAM has a staff of stringers and emerging journalists around the country who are dedicated to giving a voice to people who don't normally get airtime on the broadcast networks, in newspapers and on cable news channels.
I like this site because it provides perspective on issues affecting minority communities from the members of the communities themselves--an insider's take instead of an outsider's attempt to parachute in and quickly assess a situation with no background knowledge or cultural insight.
I love that the creators of this site have decided to be proactive and take newsgathering into their own hands instead of waiting on mainstream media to bring them in and throw them a bone.
Speakeasy (http://wsj.com/speakeasy)
Speakeasy is a fantastic arts and culture blog by the Wall Street Journal. I love it because it is the perfect mix of high and low. It caters to folks who are well-educated and well-versed in business, politics, international affairs, but also conversant in the latest in TV, movies, books, music, etc. This blog is a great acknowledgment of the fact that yes, even smart people are consumers of entertainment. Just because you are an attorney or banker or journalist doesn't mean you can't enjoy reality TV or concerts.
Without catering to the lowest common denominator, Speakeasy taps into "what's hot" right now and also tries to bring newer, lesser known artists and events to your attention. I have discovered a lot of great music, visual artists and TV series through this blog. The bloggers have great taste and write smart, funny, informative posts on all different aspects of arts and culture. It's a gem.
Midtown Lunch (www.midtownlunch.com)
The first four fave blogs were for nourishing a Black and Restless mind, this last one is for nourishing a Black and Restless body. Because let's face it, everyone's gotta eat!
This blog is just awesome. If like millions of us, you work in an office building in Midtown Manhattan, you know how challenging lunchtime can be. If you don't want to eat the exact same sandwich or salad every day, five times a week, four weeks a month, twelve months a year, Midtown Lunch can be your best friend.
This blog reviews new restaurants and food carts within a 10-15 block radius of Midtown Manhattan and gives you the scoop on who's got the tastiest, fastest, most original, cheapest lunches in the area. Midtown Lunch has some of the most rabid and serious commenters around--these people take lunching very seriously.
Plus, these bloggers even provide a Twitter Tracker feed so you can keep up-to-the-minute tabs on what your favorite lunch carts and restaurants are serving today. This is especially brilliant because so many lunch carts in Midtown change locations and menus daily.
Thanks to Midtown Lunch, if I need an emergency cupcake or am craving Indian, Korean fried chicken, the perfect burger or salad and don't feel like going to the same old places in the lobby of my building, I can check in, get recommendations and be chowing down in no time.
HARLEM+BESPOKE (www.harlembespoke.blogspot.com)
The first one speaks to my love of my neighborhood, Harlem, and its history, architecture, real estate and culture. My grandmother has lived in Harlem my whole life and now I live here, so I've had the opportunity to see this historic neighborhood develop and change. I am very interested in issues surrounding gentrification and believe Harlem is an amazing petri dish where you can see all kinds of competing forces (haves vs have nots, historic vs modern, community vs individualism, etc) battling for supremacy.
The blogger who created Harlem+Bespoke also lives in Harlem and updates several times a day with information on Harlem's history, new businesses in the community, cultural events, houses for sale, interesting renovations, and anything else that would interest members (or faraway fans) of the Harlem community. It is a fantastic resource that has provided a forum for comments and debate within the community. I love it!
Racialicious (www.racialicious.com)
This blog is really amazing to me because it really challenges and expands the conversation on race. Instead of making everything a "black-white" issue, Racialicious gives voice to a wide range of "diverse" viewpoints. Whether it's race, gender, nationality, sexuality, or political affiliation, Racialicious challenges you to broaden your definition of "minority."
Whether they are looking at pop culture, media, politics, or social issues, the bloggers provide smart, sharp commentary and analysis that is often left out of the mainstream media. They are as comfortable with academic theory as they are with slang and lowbrow culture, and they always manage to keep the conversation lively and engaging.
Because this blog doesn't focus solely on the traditional framework of racial binaries, it forces its readers to make connections across racial lines and social groups and perhaps form alliances or at least sympathies with minority groups other than their own.
New America Media (www.newamericamedia.org)
New America Media is a great resource for any news junkies, but particularly for news junkies who want to know what it going on in the world the mainstream media typically does not cover. NAM has a staff of stringers and emerging journalists around the country who are dedicated to giving a voice to people who don't normally get airtime on the broadcast networks, in newspapers and on cable news channels.
I like this site because it provides perspective on issues affecting minority communities from the members of the communities themselves--an insider's take instead of an outsider's attempt to parachute in and quickly assess a situation with no background knowledge or cultural insight.
I love that the creators of this site have decided to be proactive and take newsgathering into their own hands instead of waiting on mainstream media to bring them in and throw them a bone.
Speakeasy (http://wsj.com/speakeasy)
Speakeasy is a fantastic arts and culture blog by the Wall Street Journal. I love it because it is the perfect mix of high and low. It caters to folks who are well-educated and well-versed in business, politics, international affairs, but also conversant in the latest in TV, movies, books, music, etc. This blog is a great acknowledgment of the fact that yes, even smart people are consumers of entertainment. Just because you are an attorney or banker or journalist doesn't mean you can't enjoy reality TV or concerts.
Without catering to the lowest common denominator, Speakeasy taps into "what's hot" right now and also tries to bring newer, lesser known artists and events to your attention. I have discovered a lot of great music, visual artists and TV series through this blog. The bloggers have great taste and write smart, funny, informative posts on all different aspects of arts and culture. It's a gem.
Midtown Lunch (www.midtownlunch.com)
The first four fave blogs were for nourishing a Black and Restless mind, this last one is for nourishing a Black and Restless body. Because let's face it, everyone's gotta eat!
This blog is just awesome. If like millions of us, you work in an office building in Midtown Manhattan, you know how challenging lunchtime can be. If you don't want to eat the exact same sandwich or salad every day, five times a week, four weeks a month, twelve months a year, Midtown Lunch can be your best friend.
This blog reviews new restaurants and food carts within a 10-15 block radius of Midtown Manhattan and gives you the scoop on who's got the tastiest, fastest, most original, cheapest lunches in the area. Midtown Lunch has some of the most rabid and serious commenters around--these people take lunching very seriously.
Plus, these bloggers even provide a Twitter Tracker feed so you can keep up-to-the-minute tabs on what your favorite lunch carts and restaurants are serving today. This is especially brilliant because so many lunch carts in Midtown change locations and menus daily.
Thanks to Midtown Lunch, if I need an emergency cupcake or am craving Indian, Korean fried chicken, the perfect burger or salad and don't feel like going to the same old places in the lobby of my building, I can check in, get recommendations and be chowing down in no time.
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