Bucci+Spring+2013

= Class 1: Create a Page = Anthony Bucci III (Tré)

Majors: Political Science (Public Policy Focus); Environmental Studies; Sustainability MinorComputer Experience: AutoCAD, Photoshop 8, Premiere 8, started teaching myself Python via Udacity, New MediaArt: Photography (for The Cherry Tree and for fun), AutoCADSomething Interesting: Last semester I spent quite a bit of time attending entrepreneurial conferences and startup sessions as I tried to develop the next Facebook (I was told I have several new "features," but the sum may not be equal to the whole of its parts).Artistic Interests: Too many to list! A few that I find most interesting are interactive art, armor, architecture, music, and some modern art--so long as it does not look like vomit on a canvas.

Absence/Presence Art - 29 January 2013

Project 1: Part 1

Part 2:







Not having a significant amount of experience in this field, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Lev Manovich’s “After Effects or the Velvet Revolution.” The examples that it gave, such as George Lucas’ //Star Wars//, were insightful in helping me visualize and understand the Velvet Revolution in filmmaking and new media in general. Even some of the examples that I was unfamiliar with were helpful because I was able to look them up online and compare them—and just as the article described, there were significant advancements in technology “between 1986 and 1996,” for example. Having taken a course on the Comparative Politics of Central and Eastern Europe, I learned about the real Velvet Revolution. While I understand and see the relationship between the historical Velvet Revolution and the artistic Velvet Revolution, I believe the comparison to be uncreative and somewhat insulting. There were years of struggle that the Czechs and the Slovaks put into making their revolution a reality; whereas the artistic revolution had no comparative struggle. With that said, the technological revolution analogy is important to make, especially in comparison with the way computers, cell phones, and cameras each developed from the late 80s through today. I am somewhat disappointed by how out-of-date the article is. While it was published in the Fall of 2006, there have been significant advancements in new media technology since then, the least of which include social media outlets such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, among others. Seven years since the article was published, other advancements in new media have been made as well. The article mentioned the advancements in music videos and movies in particular, referencing how 2D characters and 2D backgrounds were used together to create innovative media in the early 1990s. Since 2006, there has been a reemergence in 3D movies, television, and video games. It would be interesting to read this same article with a few extra paragraphs or a section or two devoted to how the technological revolution advanced in the past few years.
 * After Effects Response:**

media type="youtube" key="EzfLsyG7qto" height="432" width="768" "Newport Living" by Cute Is What We Aim For
 * Motion Project**

It took me several trips to Philadelphia to realize what exactly this sculpture was. This sculpture is a great testament to the creative power and the pure ingenuity of Benjamin Franklin. I enjoy that everyone who enters Philadelphia over the Philadelphia Bridge has to see it. The structure weighs 60 tons and is made of stainless steel. "It is 101-feet tall and marks the axis of Independence Mall and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. It is situated at 5th Street and Vine, in a vest-pocket park. The sculpture depicts a bolt of lighting, a kite, and a key at the base." (ushistory.org) Though not completed, this edifice stands as a marker of not only Crazy Horse, but as a symbol of Americans’ unfinished, and un-repaid debt to Native Americans. The Iraqi Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, much like our very own here in the U.S., stands as a memorial to those lost and unaccounted for during the war.
 * (un)Monument(al)**
 * Real Monuments**

While not necessarily a monument, the Berlin Wall may be presented as such. It has all of the classical elements of a countermonument discussed in this week's article. Furthermore, since parts of it have been destroyed and others have been painted over, it has become a relic of the end of Communism in Germany and Soviet influence on Berlin.
 * (un)Monuments**

The Burj Khalafia stands as the tallest structure ever built in human history, but how may it be seen as a monument? As one of the worlds most challenging architectural and engineering feats, the Burj Khalafia is a testament to the time of the present: it not only reflects the technological capabilities of the 21st Century, but also stands for our ambition as a global society. Not all monuments are initially intended to be so, as evidenced by the Berlin Wall example above. Buzz Aldrin's footprint here represents humans' vaulting desire to defy odds. While many monuments are a tribute to the gods, Aldrin's footprint represents the apotheosis of man better than any monument on Earth. Though not necessarily the most practical monument, if there are any future colonies on the Moon, this will definitely become a protected monument site.

"Counter-monuments: the anti-monumental and the dialogic" by Quentin Stevens, Karen A. Franck, and Ruth Fazakerley was an insightful look into not only some of the world's most prominent counter-mounuments, but also to the complex way in which they are created. I thoroughly enjoyed the examples, some of which I have interacted with. The article was inspiring to this project in particular because it allowed me to see that something can be broken and turned into a counter-monument. This has given me many ideas for my project and made me think of adding the Berlin Wall as an example here. I enjoyed the paragraphs about the personal experience of those interacting with the counter-monuments because it emphasized the difference between them and traditional monuments: instead of telling a story often very bluntly or by praising and glorifying a person or event, counter-monuments allow those interacting with it to have their own personal interpretations and also act as realistic critiques to the stories, events, or people they depict. The article was also valuable in giving me insight into all of the hard work and research that goes into creating a counter-monument. While some seem simple, such as the Vietnam War Memorial, the depth to its symbolism may be seen as far more impactful than narif the monument had been created traditionally. This contrast, as the article points out, is deliberate with all counter-monuments and is something to emulate in the upcoming project.
 * Article Response**


 * (un)Monument(al) Sketches/Ideas**

This monument is a critique of America's poor response to oil spills in its waters around the U.S. It breaks the current Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool by hosting a pool of oil (which would float on the water) in its center. The oil would be contained by the same bouy system used to contain oil spills, so the actual reflecting pool would not be damaged.

The Monument of Life would be a globe composed of one giant, spherical television. On the globe would be the world, with countries divided by their respective political boundaries. One designated person in each country would have a camera that would televise what he or she filmed directly onto the screen to show those in Washington what is presently going on in the world around them. It would serve to raise awareness about atrocities around the globe, such as the ongoing conflict in Syria.

A sober reminder that we have only been alive for such a narrow span of history, this monument would consist of as many different layered strata from across history to display just what Earth has experienced over time. It will be composed of rock layers from the time the Earth was formed until today with as much evidence as may be found. It will line the Smithsonian path between the Washington Monument and the United States Capitol.

A satirical piece, the Cold War Monument would be based off of the board game //Risk//. It would be the most controversial monument of the ones I created here, because it would emphasize the bipolar nature of the world with blue soldier pieces representing the United States and her allies as well as the Soviet Union in red with her allies. The Third World would be represented by the color yellow or white, representing their relative absence from the conflict. This would be placed on the lawn before the Capitol Building.

This bent American Flag would represent the recent financial downturn and the Occupy Movement. The twist represents the downturn in the economy as well as the recession, which seemed to turn the country upside down. The large size of the metal flag would represent the "too big to fail" policies of the time. Half of one of the U.S. stars would be bent in the monument, allowing only those small enough to pass through it. This contrasts to the 99% vs. the 1% arguments of the day since only 1% of the visitors to the monument would be able to pass through (also, 1/2 of one star is proportional to 1/100, meaning 99/100 stars are not permeable). The children in the monument represent the childish policies that support //only// the 1%.

This monument, inspired by John Gast's //American Progress//, would stand as a testament to America's undying ambition for progress. It would be a symbol of both achievement and extravagance, as it would be made entirely out of mined moon rocks and its base would be made out of Antarctican bedrock. Its composition would mirror America's conquest for more land during its period of Western expansion.

The World Peace Cup would be an interactive monument in which visitors may pour a cup-full of water from their hometown into the monument as a sign of solidarity in the movement for world peace. It would have text from every language around its base.

Inspired by the U.S. National Debt Clock in New York City, this monument would address the U.S. Energy Crisis. This is an issue that the last eight presidents promised to address, but have not. The U.S. energy consumption is one of the leading causes of climate change in the world. This will be attached to the Washington Monument and face the Capitol Building.

Similar to the monument above, this monument would address U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. currently has about 5% of the world's population but emits nearly 25% of its carbon emissions. This would serve as a reminder of the price others will pay as a result of our lifestyles. This will be attached to the Washington Monument and face the White House.

This final monument was modeled off of living walls. At its base would be dirt and a stone circle, from which vined plants will grow up the wire frame statue of John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club and one of the most prominent U.S. environmentalists. The plants represent life for the ecological movement. This monument would be placed on the National Mall just outside of the U.S. Botanical Gardens.