Jessica, Anaya, Alyssa, &Ngozi: Express Myself!

Group Artist Statement:

For our group video, our group found similarities and differences about each other, and put them together to create the video. Our topic was interests and hobbies, and we worked collaboratively to come up with ideas. We incorporated our different hobbies and interests into the video, starting with differences and working our way towards similarities. In the end, we found out that we aren’t as different as we had initially thought.

Our different hobbies and interests included shooting targets, running track, drawing, and animals. One shared interest between Ngozi and Alyssa was drawing. Another thing in the video was our love of slushies, which shows that even something simple can bring people together. We also included our favorite movies and books. Though they were all different, we still all share the similarity that we enjoy movies and books.

The music we chose was Blank Space by Taylor Swift and Rather Be (feat. Jess Glynne) by Clean Bandit. We chose Blank Space for the opening because it is one of Jessica’s favorite songs, and the intro was about her hobby. We used Rather Be for the rest of the video. It was Anaya’s suggestion, and everyone agreed that it would be a great song to use. This was also part of the collaboration and our shared similarities, since we all enjoyed the song.

From this project we learned more about each other, and that we can all collaborate no matter how different we are. After completing the project we became closer friends. Collaborating was an easy task, and we worked well together. Everyone contributed their ideas and pictures.

Jessica's Artist Statement:

This video is reflective of the most important moments of my life. There is no specific order of which I put these in, but common things are together. The songs of which I chose were dependent on the pictures and videos. Not every song is something that I would necessarily listen to, but they fit the pictures.

Every picture has some meaning to me. Except for three of the quotes, I was at every moment and I remember them to the fullest and I miss these things more and more each day. “TUR CAMINA MI” means “All About Me” in the native language of Aruba: Papiamento. I have been there seven times and I hope to go back more.

Alyssa’s Artist Statement:

I am an adventurous, creative, animal-loving person with a big family who lives on a quiet street. Using technology, I was able to put together a video expressing these traits. Technology has become instantaneous and international, and it makes sense that social beings such as humans would use it for self expression. In my video, I used pictures, videos, and audio to express myself. Using these mediums, I cut my video into small sections, each telling something different about myself.

The first section of my video is about my summer vacation with my best friend, Jessica. For this section I played a fitting beach tune. I showed a picture of us together, and another picture of us(though you can only see Jessica) before we boarded the bungee cord ride at Wildwood. The ride pulls you high into the air lying down, then drops you at the highest point. Though I was unsure if I wanted to ride it at first, in the end my adventurous side won out. Being lifted high into the air was scary, but thrilling at the same time. In the end, it was an exciting experience, and I hope to ride it again in the future.

In the second section of my video, I showed my cats. This symbolises my love of animals. My pets are a part of my family, and have been with me for years. I used a jungle-themed audio for this segment to compare my pet cats to wild cats. Mimi is the white cat shown, and Joyce is the black cat. I have wanted a pet for as far back as I can remember, even before kindergarten. I remember being obsessed with dalmatians, thanks to the Disney movie 101 Dalmatians. When I was six, my neighbors got a gray tabby kitten named Binky. I would often see her through their screen door. When Binky was old enough to go outside, I would try to befriend her, but she was scared of me at first. Over time, Binky let me pet her and came to greet me, and I care for her like my own cat. Binky is what inspired me to get a cat of my own. I would have gotten one a long time ago, but my dad is mildly allergic to cats and dogs. I decided that begging my parents would not work, and that maybe if I researched cats they would let me have one. Determined not to give up, I researched the perfect cat for my family. Since my dad is allergic, I researched cats that were hypoallergenic. I finally found a cat called the Siberian cat, which was hypoallergenic, had long fur but did not shed much, and had a good temperament. My parents saw how much research I’d done and finally let me get a cat, but she was not at all a Siberian cat. On the last day of summer, going into fifth grade, my family adopted Mimi. Mimi was around nine months old when we got her, and was found on the streets starving and pregnant. She had to have an abortion, because she would not have survived birthing kittens. We connected instantly, and to this day Mimi still follows me around like a little puppy. A year later we adopted Joyce, an extremely friendly overweight cat from the SPCA, and I have been trying to help her lose weight.

In the third section of my video, I showed myself adding the finishing touches to the sketch and final of my English Book Reflection project. I chose the audio file titled “rave” for this section because I felt the section of audio I used showed how I am focused  when I draw. Drawing is something I love to do, and it’s hard for me not to doodle when holding a pen or pencil. Though my drawings aren’t perfect, I’m still improving. The picture I drew depicts the battle between the shape-shifting dog and alien monster from my book report. I drew the shape-shifting dog, who had changed into a dragon-like creature, how I imagined him in the book. I looked at a few dragon references for things like the scales and claws, but drew my own distinct pose. I was unsure of how to draw the alien creature, so I looked at a reference from the movie, and drew my own pose for that one as well. I learned more about drawing anatomy and shading from this drawing, and will keep improving these things in the future.

In the fourth section of my video, I showed pictures of where I live, and places I visit often. I played calming music for this section because I felt at home in these pictures. A few were pictures of the front and back of my house, a place where I feel at ease. There is no one my age on my street, and it’s calm for the most part. In another picture I showed a pretty scene from my walk home from summer camp in the summer. I have been going to the camp for several years, and am now a counselor. In the last picture I displayed a park which my cousins and I often meet to hang out.

In the fifth section of my video is about my family. I felt the music I played had an almost family-like feel at the end of it, sounding like a song about family that sticks together. I showed a picture of my brother and I when we were small, and another of my dad holding me when I was very young. I also showed a video of my younger cousin dancing at my grandmother’s house, where my dad’s side of the family often meets. We celebrate birthdays and holidays together there. On my mom’s side of the family we celebrate events at my uncle’s house. I have a big family, and I love them. My cousins are my best friends, and we are always there for each other.

Anaya’s Artist Statement:

Why do we express ourselves. This is a question that I can only answer for myself. I express myself because it is a way for me to share my feelings or thoughts. I may also express myself to give others a better explaining of me as a person. For example, the quote “don’t judge a book by its cover”. This quote best supports my reason. If someone looked at me they might not like me but once i open up to them they’ll understand and accept me.

How does technology affect the way we express ourselves and connect with others? Technology affects the way we express yourself because there are many ways you can express yourself. You can express yourself anonymously, you are still expressing yourself even though no one knows its you. You can also express yourself using social media. You can post pictures or videos and share post that can be commented on.

How have you expressed the complexity of your identity in your video? I expressed myself in my video with the things i love. The number one thing is myself. I love myself and no one can change that, I believe that if i don't love myself nobody will. The second thing i love is my family and friends. Without them i don't know where i would be today. They support me with everything, good and bad. Also, my favorite celebrity ever.. Rihanna. Rihanna would have to be one of my biggest role model because she didn't let anything get in the way with her accomplishing and remaining to be successful. Lastly, i included bible quotes. Unlike other children i enjoy going to church and doing things that have to deal with my religion. These quotes help me to continue on with my journey of growing up, they help me to keep my head up and be positive. 

In order to understand the video you should know a few things. One thing you should know is what is in the video, you may see it but not know what it is. You should understand what is in the video for example, if someone showed a picture of a sport they play and you don't know what it is you wouldn't fully have an understanding.

Ngozi’s Artist statement                                                                                                          

Through the previous essay, videos, and watching TED talks, I can say that I have made an artist statement that defines who I am and other people: What I have learned on what makes a person who they are would have to be what they would say or do to make someone think about them like in a sense of how they they would view a person. But that also comes from your culture. And to make a point on my first comment, it doesn't matter on how others view you but on how you view yourself. And in what place you're comfortable being you and accepting it. It’s then you find a way to express yourself. For me the way I would express myself is through art and my drawings. And I need to make a statement that you don’t relief stress from art. Based on the things you draw you can tell almost immediately how you are feeling. For example, if you were to see a drawing someone made and it’s a picture of events that happened in “Harry Potter”, you can make a judgement on the person on weather he/she likes mythology or just plain action.

But another thing that we can express ourselves in is through technology. The way people are posting stuff online are expressing themselves a whole lot and they don’t even recognize it. Some people can say that texting mean pictures can be a way of expressing yourself. But I would like to go deeper in it and say something personal. For instance, someone can be nice, kind, loving, and enjoyable in the real world but gets bullied a lot, but online or like in Facebook, the person will be one of those people you would be scared to be around of. And that's what the person is trying to do. Scare people after suffering the experiences in his own life. And he knows he’s safe because he has a virtual identity on the internet that no one could ever link to him. So that's why he knows that he wouldn't be saying this stuff that he says on the internet in real life. Because he himself is scared.