GMU's Comm 399 students on pop, art, fashion, and more
This video ended up winning the best in show award at the ‘Anime USA’ convention that I attended last weekend. This is the “I Love the Whole World” song used in the Discovery Channel commercials, mashed together with various shows. I think many of the shows fit the lines pretty well
I first discovered Florence And The Machine after reading a great feature article from NPR in April 2010 titled, “Florence And The Machine: From Delicate To Fierce.” The feature talks about British lead singer Florence Welch becoming one of the newest music sensations. The feature does not list who the author is, but the author seemed to only use a little bit of research. This research included information on Florence + The Machines past albums, critic reviews and an actual interview with lead singer Florence Welch.
The feature is organized very well, but is lacking in the lead sentence. It doesn’t particularly grab the reader’s attention right away, but the body of the feature makes up for that minor flaw. The article describes how Florence Welch got discovered, and goes on to mostly talk about the influences on Welch’s style and the particular vocal sound that makes Florence And The Machines stand out among other new music artists. I think it’s unusual that this feature uses subheadings to separate topics, but it seems effective. It grabbed my attention, and I was able to follow along with the article better.
There are a lot of good-quality quotes from Florence Welch in this article. Such as when Welch talks about her musical style by saying, “It’s primal tribal bashing of percussion, mixed with the choral side of backing vocals.” Although the author included some good quotes, I think trying to get some quotes from Welch about her transition from London to America, as well as her thoughts on making it big in the American music industry would be beneficial to the feature.
One of the best parts about the feature is the author’s creative description of Florence And The Machines music. For example the author says, “The song’s evocative words channel the emotionally destructive nature of love.” These fluid sentences make the reader want to listen to the music. As for the final kicker, it is decent. The author ends off with a quote from Welch on how she feels about playing at concerts. It kind of leaves the reader hanging, but it also makes the reader want to know more about Florence And The Machines.
Who would have thought that a video showcasing a teenage girl singing a song about being Justin Bieber’s girlfriend would become such a huge Internet hit. Click here to check out the video.
What do you think of the song? Corny or cute?
It’s not surprising that with the first part of the last movie of Harry Potter coming out on Friday, for it to be on news articles, features, blogs, and reviews all over the world. In the feature, “‘Harry Potter’ Hits the Road” by Cindy Pearlman of the Chicago Times, she talks about the movies ending after ten years it first came out.
Pearlman doesn’t give a description of the place she interviewed Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), but it appears to be on the set of the film. The feature includes quotes from the actors expressing their thoughts and emotions for having to end their roles that made them so famous. The only research that appears to be done is by talking with the actors and producer on the decision to divide the last book into two movies. More research on comparing films from the beginning with the end of the films could have helped make it more interesting to see how big the franchise has actually become, other than earnings for being box-office hits.
For the purpose of the article, the questions she asked I think were straight forward and what everyone does want to know: what will the actors do next? And final thoughts of shooting the last scenes. The feature begins with a quote from Daniel Radcliffe, giving readers what he is thinking about finishing the movies. She then talks about the movie and its popularity, and going back to hearing what the cast has to say about coming so far. There are headers in the article, which gives the reader and idea of what the discussion is about. Ending the feature with a “life after harry” headline gives the overview of where the cast is headed and what the future holds for “Harry Potter.” I like how Pearlman ends with a quote from Radcliffe, which gives closing remarks on ending the saga.
After years of waiting and speculation the Beatles catalog is now available on iTunes. Check out this article from the Hollywood Reporter about the legal dealings behind it all. Are you excited the Beatles music is now available for download?
Costume designer Janie Bryant is bearing it all – figuratively, that is. In her newest book, The Fashion File, Bryant goes behind the scenes and shows readers all that goes into the wardrobes of each character on ‘Mad Men’. But there’s more to this book than meets the eye; by telling readers how she was inspired to dress each character, she also is giving insight into the deeper character and the type of persona they would like to identify with.
As with any television “talent” show, there are always going to be discrepencies between what the experts say and how the viewers vote. These types of issues were expected on the November 17 elimination round, however, the uproar that followed was much more pronounced than expected. As shown on AOL.com, competitor Brandy was eliminated the night after receiving a perfect score from the judges, while Bristol Palin stayed afloat. That being said, this brings a new issue to light: is this a dance competition or a popularity contest? Only a trip to the finals will tell.
Alternative Press doesn’t post their magazine features online so I’m not sure if this will even count, but Brendan Manley wrote a pretty good feature about A Day To Remember in the December 2010 issue.
His methods of research were pretty simple: Just got hang out with the band a couple times. He met up with them in Florida while they were recording their newest album. He interviewed current as well as a former member who still writes some of the music. Manley also went on a few message boards to get the latest rumors straight.
A question I would have asked would be, “What is it like to have a former member still involved in the writing process?” or “Why is he still involved?” The story goes into what the former guitarist writes, but not why the current guitarist isn’t doing it instead. Other than that, I feel like Manley did a good job of asking questions that fit the direction of his story.
The story starts out by setting the scene and letting everyone know that the singer has a bone to pick. People on the message boards are making fun of the bands drummer because of a recent tattoo he got (a Chick-Fil-A number 1 meal). The next few paragraphs involve the singer sticking up for his band mate, saying he can get whatever he wants as a tattoo and it’s no one elses business.
After that, the focus shifts to how the singer’s feisty attitude shows up on the new album. A lot of the songs are about people that have recently pissed him off or hurt him in some way. The bands straight forward, honest attitude is a big part of their music.
The next few paragraphs talk about the reason the singer’s life has been so troublesome recently. The band has had a grueling touring schedule over the last 18 months and many of his relationships have suffered from it, whether it be with family members, friends or a girlfriend. Manley uses a couple of quotes from the singer to really emphasize troubles with a long time girlfriend that caused the relationship to end.
After that, Manley talks about how the difficulties influenced the songs on the new album. A quote from the singer that “there’s not one positive A Day To Remember song” shows the bands attitude.
The piece transitions with a list of contributors to the album, including a few different producers and reitterating the fact the the former guitarist still helps to write. It finished by telling how the new album sounds followed by a quote from the singer along the lines of i don’t care if people hate our band, I love it and other people do too. That is all that matters to me
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Jack White says that him and Meg might be getting back into the studio soon. After taking some time off for side projects, the pair “can get back in the studio and start fresh,” says White. Check out the full story here.
Back in September, women’s fashion magazine Vogue published a feature article on a celebrity who had been MIA for quite some time: Halle Berry.
Jonathan Van Meter, the assigned (and lucky) reporter for this feature, jumps right into the main idea with the question “Where have you been, Halle?” He wastes no time in asking her why she hasn’t done any interviews lately. Van Meter should be happy he writes for Vogue, because Halle mentions she would be gracing the cover of the magazine’s biggest issue of the year. How could she possibly turn that offer down?
In order to get a feel for Halle’s life, Van Meter roams Beverly Hills with her for a couple of days. He gets full access to all her planned events and day-to-day activities, including being the first writer to ever enter her home. The organization style and reporting was excellent, because unlike a phone or Skype interview, Van Meter got to see Halle’s true personality without any restrictions as he shadowed her on a daily basis.
The article starts off with the writer and actress having lunch in Beverly Hills, where he questions her whereabouts in the last 3 years. The next day, Van Meter finds himself at a gym with Halle and her personal trainer. That evening, Van Meter gets invited to dinner at Halle’s place in Malibu. The writer gets a tour of the house as the actress explains details about meaningful statues and pictures framed in her home. Next, Halle takes Van Meter with her to the domestic violence center she has a charity for. The feature story ends on a discussion about the right age to conceive children between Halle and Van Meter. Basically, the writer puts together a print documentary of Halle’s daily life.
Van Meter did his research prior to spending time with Halle. He knew about her recent breakup, about her infamous car accident in 2000 and consequences that came with that; he knew about bad movie reviews that critics wrote, and by asking about why she decided to give birth in her 40s, Van Meter even finds out what the “one thing God got wrong” is during his experience with the actress.
I love Van Meter’s writing style for this feature. Everything he mentioned had imagery to it. I could picture myself sitting eating dinner with Halle and her closest friends at her weekend place in Malibu; I could also see her working out intensively in her hot-pink top and “funny-looking split-toe sneakers.” Van Meter masters the style of emotional attachment in this feature by giving such visual details.
In my opinion, I don’t think there is anything I’d wish Van Meter should have or forgot to ask the Hollywood star. He answers the main topic of where in the heck Halle has been, and what’s in store for her next. After reading this feature, I feel like I’m BFFs with her. Halle shared intimate secrets about her ex-relationship, being a mother to her daughter, and how to survive the curse of winning an Oscar. I think Van Meter successfully put together a feature article that presented everything a Halle fan would want to know.