Blog Assignment 3A

Note: Imagery in this one is fan-made. There is no official music video for the original

The original song I have chosen to examine is Trent Reznor’s (Nine Inch Nails) “Hurt”, and its cover version is by Johnny Cash. The first difference between the two is a lyrical change, Cash decided to change the lyric “crown of shit” to “crown of thorns”, and this serves two purposes. The first being a religious connotation, Cash was a religious man who believed in redemption, especially at the end of his life, and “crown of thorns” would have most likely resonated with country fans than “crown of shit”. The second purpose that this lyric change provides is that it makes the song more radio friendly; by removing the only swear word in the song.

Although perhaps not immediately apparent, the intensity of the two versions is remarkably different. Both begin softly, and while Cash’s version maintains a comparatively stable intensity, it does become more intense at the second half of the chorus – it then regresses back to softer sound. Reznor’s version is a continually building experience. It begins with a much softer intro than Cash, but by adding various instruments as the song progresses and changing the intensity of his vocals, Reznor’s version culminates with the impression of a loud and intense piece of music with his explosion of sound that serves as a sort of finale. The minute or so of feedback and white noise creates a lot of tension in the listener (if you have not turned it off yet) that really is ever effectively released, you still feel almost violated and uneasy even after the track has faded.

These two versions have significantly different timbre that is set apart by the two very different artists. Johnny Cash is a country music legend, and consistently his music has a very tight tonal timbre, there is a great deal of affinity in his instrumentation and how it relates to his voice, his cover of “Hurt” is no different. Reznor’s version gains a noisy timbre as it progresses, from the white noise track that becomes apparent during the softer parts of the song and the use of distorted instruments in the latter half of the song. The distortion also contrasts Reznor’s soft voice and creates an uneasy feeling in the listener as the song moves away from the more restrained portion of the song.

Both versions of the song have the verse, chorus, verse, chorus, verse organization. The instrumentation on the second chorus of Reznor’s version changes however, and gives the song a more powerful feeling as it comes to a close, while in Cash’s version the instrumentation does not change.

I enjoy both versions of the song, but in the end I will always prefer the original. Cash’s cover does not portray the genuine emotion that I feel in the original, it just seems like a radio single. The original version translates like a real emotional experience; it evolves and changes as the song progresses. The mainstream appeals of the cover (shorter time, lyrical changes, etc) take away from the experience. I enjoy the industrial/rock instrumentation of the original; it makes it sound more raw and visceral. I also feel as though the song’s power comes from its heartfelt lyrics, and to say that someone else can do it better than the writer is a slap in the face to a gifted artist.

Blog Assignment 1A

What kind of a creative person am I? I guess it would be necessary to elaborate on what I like to create first. I'm a video production major, but I haven't had the opportunity to make videos or films of my own yet, so I can't really say what kind of filmmaker I would be. I would consider myself a writer, and seeing as that's where media begins, that's relevant right? 

So what kind of a creative person am I then? A lot of my writing is self reflective, and is almost entirely used as an emotional outlet. Most of what I write no one but myself will ever read, but what passes through my filter and I allow other people to read is an objective observer's view on the world around me  and human interaction. Generally when I'm writing I can see the action to a T, but I can't draw, so film is a genre I want to express my creativity through; through film I can utilize similar-minded individuals abilities to help create my vision. 

Sunhine (2007)

Contrast and Affinity - Danny Boyle and Alwin H. Kuchler

One of my favorite directors is Danny Boyle. I've been a fan since I first saw 28 Days Later (2002) years ago. Boyle is known as a restless individual on set, he likes to be involved in as much as possible. I think this shows in his work, as his films transcend a variety of genres but they always have commonalities that show his influence and power as a director. They all carry their own self contained visual style, but it always stands out in every film. His films also always progress at a breakneck pace as they abound with energy.

My favorite Boyle film is Sunshine, and it's one that I admire the most. The film was made for a relatively small budget and carries the look of a Hollywood science-fiction film, which is impressive. The visual style of the film is its most defining element, and its key feature is its contrast and affinity. As demonstrated in the picture above, the film is carefully crafted around the use of color. Danny Boyle and Alwin Kuchler, the film's cinematographer, intentionally designed the interior of the ship (where most of the film takes place) with greys, greens, and blues, colors with a visual affinity. After long scenes in the ship there are contrasting shots filled with yellow, in order to illustrate the significance of the sun in the film. 

The Devil's Backbone (2001)

Tension and Release - Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro is a director that took me by surprised. The first of his films that I saw was Hellboy (2004), which I went into with little to no expectations - Hellboy's art direction absolutely blew me away. It didn't end there, for a film with such a dark tone and look del Toro managed to fit light hearted comedy into the film in a way that didn't make the film feel like B-movie. The thing I admire most about del Toro is that he's a writer as well. His films are a solely his vision from the beginning - that's something I would love the opportunity to do just once, he's done it seven times.

My favorite scene in a del Toro movie comes from The Devil's Backbone, when the film's protagonist, Carlos, is being chased by the ghost of Santi through the orphanage. The chase sequence constantly builds tension, which culminates as Carlos hides in the closet. He slowly moves toward the key hole to peer through, and as he does the haunting eye of Santi is staring back at him. Release follows as Carlos is spared by Santi, and he wakes up in the closet the following morning.

Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Text and Subtext - George A. Romero

George A. Romero is the father of the zombie film as we know it today. Beginning with Night of the Living Dead (1968), his Dead series has transcended generations. As a zombie-enthusiast of sorts, I've always viewed Romero as a director with a message. His films have always had something important to say that seems to be lost to the typical viewer in the excess of gore and violence that also define his films.   Perhaps the quality of his work has dwindled in recent years, but as a fan, I continue to appreciate the social commentary that he crafts his films around.

Dawn of the Dead is to me, the high point in his career. It reached a more broad audience than Night of the Living Dead but maintained its social significance. In terms of its text, Dawn of the Dead is a defining apocalyptic horror movie - it has all the action, gore, and groundbreaking special effects that came to define the genre afterwards. The film's subtext carries much more, Romero uses the film as a podium to preach for social change. Above all it's a scathing take on consumerist culture, but the film also deals with race and gender.