I had a wonderful time at the Museum of the Moving Image. I loved the stop motion animation exhibit. It reminded me so much of my childhood when I would borrow my neighbor's camcorder, and try to make stop motion animations by pressing record and pause over and over again after moving my collectors dolls little by little.
I loved learning about the history of the beginning of the moving image. I thought that having the interactive stations within the museum was great. This really pulled me in, as I'm sure it would students.
Going by what I know about my own daughter who is 5 years old, I don't think she would have much interest in the museum at her age. So I think a slightly older audience would be good, perhaps 3rd grade and up. (And I believe our guide mentioned that they start giving tours at 4th grade, so that age would make sense.)
I did not like the exhibit with the Exorcist doll and other scary props. While many people would have interest in it, I don't see how those who don't want to see it could avoid it. It seemed that one would have to pass the exhibit to get to the next step in the museum. I think it should have its own room that has a sign warning visitors of its content. This was my only complaint. I think everything else at this museum was phenomenal! I would certainly take a school group here if the school is close enough.
BTW: The remainder of my day was so much fun and I even got to see Jon Stewart in a parking garage!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
Should Photographers Interfere?
I come to this question this week after the murder of Ki-Suck Han who was pushed onto the subway tracks in New York. The photographer who shot a picture of the man on the tracks, R. Umar Abbasi, is now under attack for not trying to save the man. He defended himself by saying there was nothing he could have done for the man.
It reminds me of the story of Kevin Carter, whom we learned about in class. He was ostracized for not helping a starving Sudanese child of whom he took a photo in the early '90s. In the photo, the child is shown crawling to a U. N. feeding center; a vulture stands nearby, waiting. Carter ended up taking his own life when he was no longer able to cope with the backlash of this photo, among other things. From what I learned in class, Carter could not help the child because of the risk of disease.
In each instance the photographer did not intervene. Is that okay? I think it depends on the circumstances. The photographer, as with any bystander, shouldn't be expected to put him or herself in danger. The choices must be weighed in each circumstance. I would be the first one to step in if I saw a bunch of 10-year-olds bullying a 7-year-old, but if a grown man was attacking a smaller man, I wouldn't put myself in the middle. But I would call the cops.
So, it all really depends on the choices made in those few critical seconds. Could Abbasi have done anything to help the man. I think trying to grab his hand would have been a nice gesture of humanity, but I don't know how close the train was when this happened. Was there time for that? I just can't judge this man for not putting his own life at risk.
In Carter's case, what more could he have done? He probably had a little more time than Abbasi, but what could he do? The child in the photo was most likely not the only starving child in the area. Could he have walked to the feeding center to get food for her? Would the staff at the feeding center allow that? If he got food for her, would he then have to go back for each other starving child? Where would it end? I don't know... because I don't know the circumstances. So I can't judge his choice either.
I feel for Ki-Suck Han's family. It must have been a horrific few seconds of panic, something that no one should have to experience. But I don't think it was Abbasi's fault, so he shouldn't be blamed for it. I hope society will learn from the past and not judge this man too harshly for what he could not control.
(On a side note, whether or not the photo should have run on the front page of the New York Post, is another question all together...)
It reminds me of the story of Kevin Carter, whom we learned about in class. He was ostracized for not helping a starving Sudanese child of whom he took a photo in the early '90s. In the photo, the child is shown crawling to a U. N. feeding center; a vulture stands nearby, waiting. Carter ended up taking his own life when he was no longer able to cope with the backlash of this photo, among other things. From what I learned in class, Carter could not help the child because of the risk of disease.
In each instance the photographer did not intervene. Is that okay? I think it depends on the circumstances. The photographer, as with any bystander, shouldn't be expected to put him or herself in danger. The choices must be weighed in each circumstance. I would be the first one to step in if I saw a bunch of 10-year-olds bullying a 7-year-old, but if a grown man was attacking a smaller man, I wouldn't put myself in the middle. But I would call the cops.
So, it all really depends on the choices made in those few critical seconds. Could Abbasi have done anything to help the man. I think trying to grab his hand would have been a nice gesture of humanity, but I don't know how close the train was when this happened. Was there time for that? I just can't judge this man for not putting his own life at risk.
In Carter's case, what more could he have done? He probably had a little more time than Abbasi, but what could he do? The child in the photo was most likely not the only starving child in the area. Could he have walked to the feeding center to get food for her? Would the staff at the feeding center allow that? If he got food for her, would he then have to go back for each other starving child? Where would it end? I don't know... because I don't know the circumstances. So I can't judge his choice either.
I feel for Ki-Suck Han's family. It must have been a horrific few seconds of panic, something that no one should have to experience. But I don't think it was Abbasi's fault, so he shouldn't be blamed for it. I hope society will learn from the past and not judge this man too harshly for what he could not control.
(On a side note, whether or not the photo should have run on the front page of the New York Post, is another question all together...)
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Welcome to the Family!
Great news today! My 7th cousin, Prince William, is going to be a father! I'm very happy for my cousin and his wife!
Anyhow, The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting, and the media is already up in her business. I was watching the news this morning and that is what the news was about on every channel. Apparently the royal family was forced to make the announcement since Kate is ill and in the hospital. I feel bad that the whole world is now in her private business by knowing every detail about what's going on with her body. And I still don't understand why her being admitted to the hospital forced the palace to go public, but that was the reason given for such an early announcement. Most women don't tell their closest friends until they're three months along. How strange for the world to know when it's still so new to her!
The commentators made many comparisons to how this new child would live, in contrast to Prince William's upbrining in the spotlight... and also how Kate's experience would differ from Diana's. One reporter mentioned that William would be careful to make sure that history would not repeat itself, (I wonder how much control he has over that). I hope that is truly the case though.
Anyhow, The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting, and the media is already up in her business. I was watching the news this morning and that is what the news was about on every channel. Apparently the royal family was forced to make the announcement since Kate is ill and in the hospital. I feel bad that the whole world is now in her private business by knowing every detail about what's going on with her body. And I still don't understand why her being admitted to the hospital forced the palace to go public, but that was the reason given for such an early announcement. Most women don't tell their closest friends until they're three months along. How strange for the world to know when it's still so new to her!
The commentators made many comparisons to how this new child would live, in contrast to Prince William's upbrining in the spotlight... and also how Kate's experience would differ from Diana's. One reporter mentioned that William would be careful to make sure that history would not repeat itself, (I wonder how much control he has over that). I hope that is truly the case though.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
American Music Awards
I'm not a big fan of awards shows, but I thought it would be an interesting thing to write a post on, and since it strategically planned to ruin my night of Revenge, I decided to watch some of it. (I say "some" because I could not possibly stay up late enough to watch the whole thing.)
I liked some things, but I disliked more, and this is just from the first hour or so... imagine if I posted about the whole thing?!
Kate's Top 2 AMA Likes:
1. Real Women
Okay, there were still plenty of toothpicks there on Sunday night. But I was so happy to see that some of the women actually look like they are women! It was so nice to see that Kelly Clarkson and Ke$ha did not look like they starve themselves! I hope this is a continuing trend so that in 10 years when my daughter is into all this music stuff she'll have someone to look up to who at least looks healthy. Too much to ask?
2. Ke$ha (again)
Okay, so I cannot relate to anything in Ke$ha's music, and I'm pretty sure I don't even approve of what she's singing about, but I can tell you that she knows how to perform. I know I sound silly, but I was entralled by the performance, it had so much energy and I really felt like I should get up and dance, but I would have felt like a doofus. Ke$ha on the other hand was dressed up like some kind of jungle woman and had all of these male dancers with skull-like faces performing with her. Amazing!
Kate's Top 3 AMA Gripes:
1. Justin Beiber
Can I just express to you now how much I despise Justin Beiber?
Since this kid's been on the scene I haven't liked him. At first I found it mildly annoying that school girls got all verklempt about this otherwise average-looking boy. Then the whole hair-in-the-face style. Ugh!
Well, this past Sunday he really wanted to make sure he pushed me over the edge. He went up on stage to accept his award, and what are his first words of gratitude that come spewing so eloquently out of his mouth?
"This is for all the haters!"
Really?! All that "hard work"? All those late nights? All those top hits? You did that all for -- whom now? For the haters? You did it for the people who didn't believe in you? sho said you couldn't do it? who didn't think you'd be around in two years? That really sounds like a worthwhile endeavor to me! Keep up the-- er --good work...
2. Mini Dresses
I don't care how awesome your body is... if the hem of your sleeves come down farther than the hem of your dress you have a problem. I am looking at you, Taylor Swift!
In all seriousness, though, I wonder how much of that was her choice, or if a stylist made that choice for her, because she looked absolutely awkward, self conscious, and uncomfortable in it, constantly trying to pull the hem down. Given her body language I can only guess that she was not happy with the wardrobe choice either. Taylor, either speak up for yourself, or learn how to dress appropriately! The dress was otherwise beautful as far as color, style, and embellishments go, I would have liked to have seen it at least 4 inches longer...and if she was my daughter, 6 inches longer. ;)
3. Live Performances
I was not impressed (save for one, which I mentioned above). Maybe I'm getting too old, but I didn't like Carly Rae Jepsen's song (which I then had to hear repeated during the Macy's Day Parade), Kelly Clarkson's performance had no energy, and No Doubt (whom I used to worship as a teenager and I didn't even know had had a comeback) has not made any big changes or development to their style of music in nearly 20 years.
I liked some things, but I disliked more, and this is just from the first hour or so... imagine if I posted about the whole thing?!
Kate's Top 2 AMA Likes:
1. Real Women
Okay, there were still plenty of toothpicks there on Sunday night. But I was so happy to see that some of the women actually look like they are women! It was so nice to see that Kelly Clarkson and Ke$ha did not look like they starve themselves! I hope this is a continuing trend so that in 10 years when my daughter is into all this music stuff she'll have someone to look up to who at least looks healthy. Too much to ask?
2. Ke$ha (again)
Okay, so I cannot relate to anything in Ke$ha's music, and I'm pretty sure I don't even approve of what she's singing about, but I can tell you that she knows how to perform. I know I sound silly, but I was entralled by the performance, it had so much energy and I really felt like I should get up and dance, but I would have felt like a doofus. Ke$ha on the other hand was dressed up like some kind of jungle woman and had all of these male dancers with skull-like faces performing with her. Amazing!
Kate's Top 3 AMA Gripes:
1. Justin Beiber
Can I just express to you now how much I despise Justin Beiber?
Since this kid's been on the scene I haven't liked him. At first I found it mildly annoying that school girls got all verklempt about this otherwise average-looking boy. Then the whole hair-in-the-face style. Ugh!
Well, this past Sunday he really wanted to make sure he pushed me over the edge. He went up on stage to accept his award, and what are his first words of gratitude that come spewing so eloquently out of his mouth?
"This is for all the haters!"
Really?! All that "hard work"? All those late nights? All those top hits? You did that all for -- whom now? For the haters? You did it for the people who didn't believe in you? sho said you couldn't do it? who didn't think you'd be around in two years? That really sounds like a worthwhile endeavor to me! Keep up the-- er --good work...
2. Mini Dresses
I don't care how awesome your body is... if the hem of your sleeves come down farther than the hem of your dress you have a problem. I am looking at you, Taylor Swift!
In all seriousness, though, I wonder how much of that was her choice, or if a stylist made that choice for her, because she looked absolutely awkward, self conscious, and uncomfortable in it, constantly trying to pull the hem down. Given her body language I can only guess that she was not happy with the wardrobe choice either. Taylor, either speak up for yourself, or learn how to dress appropriately! The dress was otherwise beautful as far as color, style, and embellishments go, I would have liked to have seen it at least 4 inches longer...and if she was my daughter, 6 inches longer. ;)
3. Live Performances
I was not impressed (save for one, which I mentioned above). Maybe I'm getting too old, but I didn't like Carly Rae Jepsen's song (which I then had to hear repeated during the Macy's Day Parade), Kelly Clarkson's performance had no energy, and No Doubt (whom I used to worship as a teenager and I didn't even know had had a comeback) has not made any big changes or development to their style of music in nearly 20 years.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Class Debate
I found the class debate on children and media violence to be an interesting one. Both sides brought up very valid arguments including the "pro side" who explained that children imitate what they see on television and also have a heightened sense of agression after viewing violent programming, and the "con side" pointed out that there are other factors that contribute to childhood agression.
Now that the debate is over I can talk about my true opinion. I do feel that extreme and excessive amounts of violence are not good for children. Of course, I would never dream of letting my young kids watch a horror flick. But I think, for someone who is very aware of what my kids are watching, I'm pretty liberal. I like to describe myself as a middle-of-the-road parent.
My kids will see an occasional agressive act, but they are not watching those Saturday morning cartoons where they're bombarded with violent images. I don't think completely shielding kids from violence is going to help them in any way. Better to witness it (in small and occasional instances) and talk about it.
And by "talk about it" I don't mean lecture. A quick, "Well, that wasn't very nice." from Mom shows that she disapproves! If the behavior or the words are imitated (which I can't really even remember a time when this has happened), then that particular show will not be viewed again.
Now that the debate is over I can talk about my true opinion. I do feel that extreme and excessive amounts of violence are not good for children. Of course, I would never dream of letting my young kids watch a horror flick. But I think, for someone who is very aware of what my kids are watching, I'm pretty liberal. I like to describe myself as a middle-of-the-road parent.
My kids will see an occasional agressive act, but they are not watching those Saturday morning cartoons where they're bombarded with violent images. I don't think completely shielding kids from violence is going to help them in any way. Better to witness it (in small and occasional instances) and talk about it.
And by "talk about it" I don't mean lecture. A quick, "Well, that wasn't very nice." from Mom shows that she disapproves! If the behavior or the words are imitated (which I can't really even remember a time when this has happened), then that particular show will not be viewed again.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Election Night -- Oh What a Night!
Election Day started off pretty quietly. I watched the morning news to see what was being covered.
The interesting dynamic this year was how people in storm-torn areas were dealing with getting out to the polls. In New York voters could go to any voting station, in New Jersey voters could email their votes. I think the highlight for me that morning was when Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey responded to people's complaints about their emails bouncing back. He told them, "get off your butt" and vote. Wow! Strong and eloquent words!
Then the long wait until the evening when we would find out how our next four years would be determined! My sister and brother-in-law joined us and we all enjoyed Election Night pizza as we waited for the votes to be counted. I felt that some of the networks -- especially NBC were making too many projections, they were calling states when only very small percentages of votes had actually been submitted. I also found it interesting that at no time did the networks seem to have similar counts. How does that happen?
I stayed up for it all, well after my sister and brother-in-law went home. I put on my p.j.s and watched as Romney conceded and after a brief snooze (I tried my hardest!) I woke up just as the first family was taking the stage. At this point it was after 1:30 am, almost nothing that President Obama said registered with me at that point, but his energy and the energy of his audience moved me. I'm not one to talk to the television, but I was punching the sky and cheering along with the crowd. I wish I knew what he was saying, but that part of my brain was already in bed. I know west-coasters don't like that their geography means their votes often "don't count" but on the bright side, they could have been it bed by 11!
The interesting dynamic this year was how people in storm-torn areas were dealing with getting out to the polls. In New York voters could go to any voting station, in New Jersey voters could email their votes. I think the highlight for me that morning was when Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey responded to people's complaints about their emails bouncing back. He told them, "get off your butt" and vote. Wow! Strong and eloquent words!
Then the long wait until the evening when we would find out how our next four years would be determined! My sister and brother-in-law joined us and we all enjoyed Election Night pizza as we waited for the votes to be counted. I felt that some of the networks -- especially NBC were making too many projections, they were calling states when only very small percentages of votes had actually been submitted. I also found it interesting that at no time did the networks seem to have similar counts. How does that happen?
I stayed up for it all, well after my sister and brother-in-law went home. I put on my p.j.s and watched as Romney conceded and after a brief snooze (I tried my hardest!) I woke up just as the first family was taking the stage. At this point it was after 1:30 am, almost nothing that President Obama said registered with me at that point, but his energy and the energy of his audience moved me. I'm not one to talk to the television, but I was punching the sky and cheering along with the crowd. I wish I knew what he was saying, but that part of my brain was already in bed. I know west-coasters don't like that their geography means their votes often "don't count" but on the bright side, they could have been it bed by 11!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Hurricane Sandy!
What's that you say? A storm is coming?
The "weather man" always hypes up storms, doesn't he? I have to say, I really thought this one was going to be all hype too. It's a bit like the boy who cried wolf, except in this version the wolf like Big Bad Wolf from the Three Little Pigs, blowing houses (and other objects) away.It turns out that hype can come true, as Sandy has proven.
It's difficult to keep yourself informed of the events as they unfold if you have kids in the house. I wanted to know what was going on, but at the same time, I really didn't need my kindergartener to hear about young kids being killed by falling trees. The radio doesn't give a disclaimer. How about a quick, "Turn down your volume for our next story, if you have children around."?
Another interesting piece to this whole thing is how people survive without their media, now that power has been lost to so many for so long.
P. S. Can I just say, I hate the term "Superstorm?" I'm not sure why, I just think it sounds ridiculously uncreative. The world of meteorology couldn't come up with a more inventive term?
The "weather man" always hypes up storms, doesn't he? I have to say, I really thought this one was going to be all hype too. It's a bit like the boy who cried wolf, except in this version the wolf like Big Bad Wolf from the Three Little Pigs, blowing houses (and other objects) away.It turns out that hype can come true, as Sandy has proven.
It's difficult to keep yourself informed of the events as they unfold if you have kids in the house. I wanted to know what was going on, but at the same time, I really didn't need my kindergartener to hear about young kids being killed by falling trees. The radio doesn't give a disclaimer. How about a quick, "Turn down your volume for our next story, if you have children around."?
Another interesting piece to this whole thing is how people survive without their media, now that power has been lost to so many for so long.
P. S. Can I just say, I hate the term "Superstorm?" I'm not sure why, I just think it sounds ridiculously uncreative. The world of meteorology couldn't come up with a more inventive term?
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