Words can not describe my relief at this school semester being over. It has definitely marked what has been the lowest point in my life thus far, and the fact that it is over and good grades are being projected, I am relieved. Not happy. Just relieved.
Anyway, I don't have much new to show off today, unless anyone is interested in some of the photographs I included in my presentation for Applied Digital Photography. View at your discretion.
Another television picture with slow shutter speed. Not a particularly good composition, but it gives off a very uneasy feeling. Somewhat grotesque. I included it to see how much people wouldn't like it, but most said they were more interested in it because of how uneasy it made them feel, and how they couldn't figure out what is going on in the photo.
We also had to do some work in the studio with the spot lights and stuff. So I gathered all of my trash in my car (fast food bags, coke cans etc.) and took pictures. This one is one of my favorites.
This is just a picture of our pool deck with a shadow of a palm tree. I had to stand on a chair to get this one.
I also wanted to share a bit about one of my personal favorite artists who I did a power point on for my Contemporary Art History class (even though he kind of doesn't really fit in with any movements we discussed in class). But Robert Crumb is such a cool guy I got to talk about him anyway.
He is an illustrator who started out working for American Greetings which is where he honed his cute cartoony style for his characters within his raunchy and offensive narratives. I happen to think they are really funny.
He founded the underground comic Zap Comix, which spawned the underground and psychedelic comic movement in the 60's. Eventually local obscenity laws were enacted and shops were busted for selling his work, which gave him his infamy.
The Cover of Zap No. 1
He has many characters that people may recognize including Mr. Natural, and Fritz the Cat--who was adapted into a movie, the first X rated animated film in America. Crumb hates the film however.
Fritz the Cat in his element
Mr. Natural pontificating
He also was the man behind the "Keep on Trucking" saying from the late 60's/early 70's. He did it in reference to a lyric from a blues song (I lost my notecards and forget the exact song and artist, but I'm sure "Keep on Truckin" is in the title).
Recently he did an illustrated version of the book of Genesis from the Bible. It is the exact same story word for word. However the illustrations provide a very humanistic feel to it. God is depicted as a bearded man (of course), and the graphic depictions of the suffering and violence in that book. It is very different to read Genesis with pictures.
Anyway, that is Robert Crumb. Not only do I love the low-brow humor, but he is an expert draftsman.
-Jason
