Indis Vision

On May 22, 2011 I attended the Indis performance titled Visions. For those who do not know what Indis is, its a mutual club that ties all the smaller Indian/ Middle eastern clubs together under one common body. This particular performance was to make others more aware of the rich cultures and customs practiced within India and the Middle East. Truthfully, I went to the performance not so much because I was interested in learning a new culture but rather to support some friends of mine who where performing. I will say that I overall I enjoyed the performance and did learn.

Many of the performances used a two drum hand like apparatus called the tabla. I must say that watching people play this instrument was the highlight of the performance, well at least to me. It was mind boggling to see how the slightest shift in position of the hands and fingers created such unique sounds. Their was one particular student who was amazing. the speed in which his hands moved and the rhythm that struck out of the tabla was jaw dropping.

As far as the dancing goes, man I am amazed at the talent found in students who attend UCSB. The short belly dance performance had me completely entranced. The way in which they have such control over there bodies was breath taking not to mention seductive. That wasn't the only dance that was enjoyable. The very last performance was lively with rich movements and vibrant clothing to bring the whole ensemble wonderfully together. Overall I enjoyed the performance.

Final Exam and TA Presentation

The final exam wasn't so bad but I don't really know how they will be graded so I can only assume I did well. I wrote a decent amount of information on each image. The only thing is that I could not remember the names and I didn't attempt some of them because I'm bad at spelling. I think that there was one image that I didn't remember seeing in class, which is surprising since I never missed a Kip lecture and was only late twice, like 10 minutes late.

The most interesting part of taking the test was doing it in the Alternate Persona outfit. I was a ninja sitting near the front rows taking a final test. I remember telling myself that I had to do the test in my alternate personality so whenever I caught someone staring at me I would give them a death stare as if they where the next targets on my ninja hit list. Unfortunately I forgot to write the test like a ninja. Thats definitely my bad and hope the performance aspect during the test was enough to overlook that part.

As far as the class presentations are concerned, our class killed it. Lets face it, the other TA's really weren't prepared to go about showing the performances and not to mention that almost everyone who went on stage was from our section. Mad props to Desiree's Tuesday and Thursday section. I noticed that no one was writing their final while our video was playing. There was another section that had a video but it wasn't as energetic as ours. They made music with random noises where we made gun shots sounds with our mouths as we ran around having a hand gun war.

Personal Space: Least Favorite Place

I absolutely hate Canada, it shouldn't even be a country. Hahahaha no I'm just kidding. I've never even been there so how can I judge.
I really don't know where my least favorite place is. When I leave my cities its usually to visit beautiful or wonderful places. I mean I don't take vacations to slums or anything like that. Not to mention, I don't really go on vacation. So I guess my least favorite place is the Isla Vista Theater, room one. Ya that small little class room located in I.V. Man I absolutely hate that place. Its such a nuisance that I can't even stay awake during lectures. Not to mention every class I've taken there has been a completely boring class. I guess it mostly has do with the fact that I took most of my math classes in that room, so maybe I associate it with math.

Week Nine

To further elaborate on what I did this week, I will start by saying that I started the week as a ninja. Sunday was a crazy day having to muster up the guts to actually dress like a ninja and go about my business. For the most part I stayed around my neighborhood but I did go to my fraternity house for a bit and chill as a ninja. At first sight everyone had a good laugh. After  I proceeded to go to campus and wait for the Indus performance to begin. I went to the Arbur to buy some subway, because I was starving, and the cashiers would not stop staring. It was time to initiate the death stare. Maybe I shouldn't mention this but I did change into normal cloths while watching the Indis performance. I felt like it would have been disrespect not to and I went to the event to support some friends of mine so I didn't want to do no harm.

On Monday I had one early morning class and surprisingly no one really noticed me. I think it had to do with a mixture of an early class and the fact that I sat in the back and tried to be as quiet as possible. The real fun started at 3:30 when I had to take the final for Art St 7A. My plan was to not speak and be as quiet as possible and if anyone noticed me and started to stare than the death stare would commence once again. I noticed that the TA who rhymes with fun, really liked to stare at me. I think she enjoyed the death stare because I could tell it made her want to laugh just about every time.

I did not go up on stage because I thought it would go against my character. I was an assassin ninja so I who dwelled in the shadows. Going on a brightly lit stage would have been a direct contradiction to everything my ninja character was.

Personal Space: Favorite Place

Where is your favorite space?
Thats an easy one. Anywhere I can call home.
Why?
Because I feel free do to the sense of comfort and protection. My room is like the Bat Cave. The greatest secret hide out on the history of the planet. Not to mention all the good shit goes down in there. Hahaha, but on a more serious note, theres a lot of things I don't think I could enjoy without being in the comfort of my home. For one; sleep is great only when I can enjoy my nice comfortable bed and sleep in without the worry of random people coming up to me during a vulnerable time.
Second, the restroom. I know people probably rather not talk about it but that morning shit can only be enjoyed when you're sitting in a bathroom within your house. A good day always begins that way.
Third, the couch. I've noticed that I can only enjoy the comfort of a couch when its present in a location I feel comfortable in.  If I sit on a couch when I'm uncomfortable an the presence is awkward, then I'll be sitting strait up in the worst positions imaginable. Now, when I sit on my couch at home and watch tv or play video games, then I sink into the seat and create my only little nest.

Home is where you make it. (cliche)

Alternate Persona: Thursdays Presentations

I think that the best presentation on Thursday was the silent girl one just because I thought the way she recorded her work and presented it was interesting compared to the performance. She spent two days without talking but yet she records the time using just sound and pictures that require no sound. It was as if she was recreating video  documentation. Overall I thought the pictures of her notebook be shown through the conversations was an interesting twist to the way most people would have presented and so, to me, it was a fresh presentation. If there was one thing i though that would have boosted the presentation it wold have been to add a short conversation of before, in which she actually contributes output and input so that we could here the difference. I think it would have helped since the point of her work was to become more prudent.

My least favorite presentation would have to be the super hero and super villain. Although their persona's were great and the whole little live action seen during the final made their persona's all the better I still think that their documentation wasn't that great. I liked the comic books but to simply pass them around wasn't the best way to go about. they should have also been skimmed through on the big screen and we should have seen pictures of them going about in society, not just during the comic scenes. But still a good art performance and an overall good amount of performances.

Alternate Persona: Tuesday Presentation

My favorite presentation on Tuesday would prob have been the bro on a count of I felt like she actually spent the time really attempting to be one of the guys. The documentation was well done and it even acted sort of as a documentary into the lives of that fraternity, although I'm sure it didn't capture everything they do and contribute to society. Following as a close second or possibly even a tie, I think the human hunter girl was a well done presentation of an interesting persona. The documentation was fun while at the same time capturing the point of the art assignment. I think the Australian accent she attempted to maintain busted the performance because it played along with our stereo type of what safari explorers or hunters would sound like.

My least favorite presentation would have been on the leisure guy who was naked under his robe. The idea was excellent but the presentation was a bit week mainly because all his pictures where of him in what seemed to be secluded areas. If he had shown some of him casually strolling through society then it would have definitely boosted the presentation.