My Weekly Checkup (#12)

A Collection of Some Things I Found, Some Thoughts I Had This Week

Last week, through my Weekly Checkup, I shared my fascination with a lecture on the philosophy of science. In college, I minored in philosophy. Part of this blog's title refers to this subject. It is safe to say, philosophy is dear to me.

But, my blog's name also includes another word, "bard".  While there is a lot to unpack with my choice for both words, the choice of "Bard" carries a longer explanation that is part humorous, part nostalgic, and part ambitious. For now, I want to reflect on "bard" as entertainer. So, I am going to share with you two videos that exemplify  two ways I wish to be a modern bard.

Yeah, I want to be that guy, except for the outfit.

At the school where I taught, as part of their experience, all students participated in Dante Day, an annual celebration of poetry. Each student had to research and present a poem before the school, including parents and teachers. Awards were given out.  During the last ever Dante Day, one of the students introduced to me a spoken word poem.  Someday, I will talk more about the experience, and how it changed my perception of performance art, but for now, suffice it to say, it moved me to delve deeper into this literate art form.

Therefore, every once in a while I go searching for new spoken word poems. And this week I found one that accurately reflects how I want to combine technology, art, poetry, and performance into my own creation. In addition, it is incredibly beautiful, disturbing, provoking, and inspiring. Be warned, it discusses hopelessness and depression.

YouTube Video: To This Day

I love animated film. They provide an opportunity to experiment with storytelling in a way that is outside the realm of regular film. Technology has made animation less expensive. This has made the medium more accessible to a far more diverse group of creative people. I am so grateful. Seriously, if anyone claims the golden age of animation has passed, I am going to drown them in an avalanche of animated films produced in the past 10-15 years. 

One of the those films that I fell in love with from the opening scenes is included below. But it is this scene (along with two others), that has stuck with me the most, and demonstrates what I want to do with storytelling. Yes, I know I cannot do in real life exactly what he does. But I do want to capture that magic in some way, and have it presented live on stage. It would be incredible.

YouTube Video: Kubo and the Two Strings