Interim: Steps Forward and Video too!

Notes from 1/24/10

- 30 minute time limit, how to reveal identities in that time

o Expanding as individuals or as group dynamic

o The host has revelation, his impression of them, rather than actually them

- Jeopardy “personals” segement: contestants fight him on his characterizations of them

o Structure: round of the game, camera off interlude, round of the game, structures collapse

- Scenic: inflato-American flag, celebrity deathmatch from inside the stars

- Ghetto blasters playing the same song simultaneously, lo-fi version of surround sound

- Everything emerges in the same moment, finding them “mid-plug-in”

- Host more mobile? Movement through audience?

- Group swapping? Discovery that they fit better on the other team?

- American symbols: eagle, McDonalds, cowboy hat, flag

o Flag as merchandise, not wanting to sell someone else’s product

- Scenic: pyramid structure

o Red and blue stripes for layers, all seeing eye is a giant white star

Next Up: Viewing Party!

- Bring viewing materials, videos, YouTube clips, etc.

- Projector and drinks at Peiyi’s

Interim Discussion Notes

PQ: Inflated Ego

Assignment: Review the notes from the class discussion.  Cast the game show.  Consider who the six contestants would be; what does the host represent.  How does the game structure function?  What is the prize/goal for the contestants?  Does anyone win at all; is the game completed successfully?  Choose an object or garment piece for each contestant.  If time allows, create rough diagrams for the inflatable patterns of that object/garment.

Game Show

Family Feud: One Host; Two Teams; 3 Members per team= Cast of 7

Binaries: Division of America: How do we agree/disagree? Does the immigrant family know America better? Immigrants vs. Established; Upper class vs. lower-middle; educated vs. uneducated; conservative vs. liberal; beautiful people vs. ugly, lazy slobs; Hard Workers, Consumers Vs. Fat, Lazy, Cheap

Archetypes

Political Figure: Obama vs. Bush

Celebrities: Angelina Jolie, Mark Zuckerberg, Jersey Shore Cast, Sports Stars

The Young Hero: are fictional characters.  Our only heroes? Firefighters, pilots, troops (too ambiguous?), Dr.s, Normal People/middle-class heroes, 15 min of fame. Dogs; Sports/Athletes; Young Millionaires.

Suburban Mom: Wealthy? Single? Ignorant?

Illusion of other identities masked by inflatables; face value vs. inner selves

The Outcast: Illegal Immigrants; The lone shooter, socially rejected person; reality TV people; Sacrificed; The Osbournes; Activist; Eco-farms; Grassroots; The Amish;

Scapegoat: politicians, bi-partisan; big business/corporations/financial; fallen heroes: Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods; celebrities

Capitalist Corp.: Disney; CEOs; Nestle

Star-Crossed Lovers: gossip-based celebrities; Interracial/Class relationships; gay marriages; Jen Aniston and Brad Pitt; Impossible Relationships: Homosexual/ Interracial

Joker: Host; Jon Stewart, Colbert. International?

The Sage: Oprah?

The Devil Figure: Our Devil: Wall St., BP, Terrorists (possibly shadow, including Illegal Immigrants); International Devil: George W. Bush

The Shrew: 24-Hour News Cycle; Media; Sensationalism

Persona: Nuclear Familyà Are we as family oriented?; #1 Power; Progressive?; Democracy; Justice (Human Rights, “Equality”); Moral Obligation/Doing the right thing (or not); Puritanical, Christian; Tolerant, Educated

Earth Mother: Are the americans?; (take agency of those we help) Peace Corps; Oprah; Volunteers; Michelle Obama; Health Care, Babysitters: Privileged

Proposal Text

TITLE: Inflated Ego! (working title)

DESCRIPTION:

Using plastic inflatables and a game show format, our piece explores the American image projected to an international audience. Issues of branding, packaging culture, artificiality and sensationalized politics and celebrity emerge as the archetypal characters of the wounded soldier, suburban mother, sexualized celebrity, illegal immigrant, and two-faced politician play against each other in a heightened setting of Family Feud. The archetypes compete in teams to guess the most "popular" answers to questions as determined by American public polls. As they guess they reveal their individuality. The game becomes a stand off of defending oneself as an American and ultimately deteriorates. The piece is set within a clear plastic inflatable, illuminating the fishbowl nature of America's central spot in International Media and Politics. Audience can view the performance from inside or outside the inflatable. Characters wear costumes that inflate when in conflict or discomfort with their type.

Meeting Notes

PQ: Inflated Ego!

Notes from 12/18

MASHA:  avoid language; language as gestural and sound driven

ALEX:   use of variety of languages (Czech / English / gibberish)

JAMIE:  brought in reference book:  Who Are You?  101 Ways of Seeing Yourself  by Malcom Godwin

FOR INTERIM CLASS

Watch GAMESHOWS from Different Countries/US With Sound Off à take notes

Watch FAMILY FEUD episodes

Find VISUAL IMAGERY:  Not fitting or Fitting into A Role

ARCHETYPES:  Characters in current life, history, etc.

-       Create a character and find ways of defining this character (monologue, costume, voice, movement, etc.)

AMERICAN IDENTITY à POLL

1.)   What do you think of when you think of American National Identity?

2.)   How do your relate yourself with this National Identity?  (In what ways does this identity define and not define you?  Is there a national identity that you identify with most? If not a national identity, what kind of identity groups would you use to describe yourself?  Which parts of American culture do you feel are a part of your life?)

-  ANSWER BOTH (music or imagery to help answer these questions?)

- Have person/box stationed outside cafeteria to POLL CalArts Community w/ AMERICAN IDENTITY Questions.  Film this as well?  Have people email longer responses?  Have people email images, etc?

PACKAGING/”AMERICAN” visual research

FAMILY FEUD GAME à think about topics over break

WHO IS THE HOST?

-       Hologram/projection host

-       Host as voiceonly?

INTRA-NATIONAL FAMILY FEUD

BUY PLASTIC FOR INTERIM:

6 mil painters plastic (standard = 10ft tall rolls)

            $20 for 1.3mil

            $38 for thicker

-       plastic sheeting (home depot)

SET

3.)  MASHA: collonades

4.)  ALEX: when enter interior space = privy to other experience/knowledge

5.)  PEIYI:  smaller spaces inside of larger spaces

6.)  Think about inflatable spaces

7.)  Inflatable ball (man in ball / flaming lips)

JAMIE:  suggested participating in *AUDIENCES UNLIMITED (group as studio audience and get paid)

ASK IAN:  LIABILITY ? – audience inside?

PEIYI

1.)  email Michael

a.     fans

b.     inflatable lesson on 1^st day ?

c.      SEND INFLATO COOKBOOK

Proposal Images