Titles sequences have to be good in TV shows. At the very least, they can't be annoying; your audience has to sit through one every episode. A good titles sequence will be an appropriate length, visually pleasing, have a good theme song, and also get the audience in the mood for the show they're about to watch.
The sequel to this post. Click on the show title to watch the titles sequence.
Shameless
Length: A little long, but I love every second of it.
Visuals: I love the cameos by each of the main characters. Entertaining.
Audio: This song is literally amazing. I sing my heart out every time.
Mood: The perfect combination of trashy and fun.
Overall: A perfect fit for the show, one of the best titles sequences I've ever seen, and -- if we're being honest -- the entire reason I decided to make another one of these posts.
Parks and Rec
Length: Just right.
Visuals: Cute snapshots of each of the main characters and iconic parts of Pawnee.
Audio: The song will eventually get to you and you'll be humming and dancing along.
Mood: It will make you even happier that you're spending your time watching Parks and Rec.
Overall: This show is so good the titles sequence doesn't even really matter.
Firefly (just the audio)
Length: Just a tad on the long side.
Visuals: Could be better. I don't particularly enjoy the font choice for one thing.
Audio: The song was made for the show (literally) and really encapsulates the "western" feel.
Mood: Appropriate, and adequately pumps you up for the show.
Overall: A memorable sequence, and certainly representative of the show.
Mad Men
Length: Not too long, not too short, just right.
Visuals: The combination of the old-school ads and the cartoonized, anonymous ad-man is perfect.
Audio: Iconic.
Mood: Really gets across the sleazy feeling.
Overall: Well done.
Better Call Saul (first episode)
Length: Short and sweet.
Visuals: Different every time! But the style is clear and consistent. So far, every sequence is on point, featuring some emblematic image. The font choice and blinking, neon effect is perfect.
Audio: I can groove to it.
Mood: Perfect. Different enough from Breaking Bad, but you can still see the Gilliganesque touch.
Overall: I hadn't even considered what the titles sequence might be for this show but I am beyond pleased with it.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
What is time?
For my Anthropology class this semester we have weekly field exercises. This past week's required asking four strangers to define time. Not too long ago I would have been totally at a loss if I were the one being asked. Now, however, I'm fairly confident in my answer.
Measured time is how we structure and comprehend our own consciousness. Every human is familiar with the concept of time passing either quickly or slowly depending on the circumstance. "Time flies when you're having fun!" It also flies when you're sleeping, or concentrating. Basically, altering your consciousness alters how you perceive and experience time. This altering of consciousness doesn't have to refer to recreational drug use -- though that can certainly have a profound effect. Your brain produces all sorts of chemicals that affect your perception. Those with depression, for instance, experience time in very strange ways.
So of course not all people experience time in the same way. In order for us to get anything done we needed some sort of standard. Hence, our concept of time, measured in minutes, hours, days, years.
But is time real outside of human experience?
If anything is real outside of human experience -- which is something we can't really prove and is fruitless to argue -- time must be too. The planet rotates and revolves at a regular pace; things live and die. The problem is that time is inseparable from space and matter and the whole package -- the theory of general relativity basically -- is difficult for most of us to wrap our brains around.
But my assignment wasn't to discover the truth of what time really is -- only to find what it means to different people. And in the process I came to find a simple, anthropocentric definition of my own.
College is crazy, honestly.
Measured time is how we structure and comprehend our own consciousness. Every human is familiar with the concept of time passing either quickly or slowly depending on the circumstance. "Time flies when you're having fun!" It also flies when you're sleeping, or concentrating. Basically, altering your consciousness alters how you perceive and experience time. This altering of consciousness doesn't have to refer to recreational drug use -- though that can certainly have a profound effect. Your brain produces all sorts of chemicals that affect your perception. Those with depression, for instance, experience time in very strange ways.
So of course not all people experience time in the same way. In order for us to get anything done we needed some sort of standard. Hence, our concept of time, measured in minutes, hours, days, years.
But is time real outside of human experience?
If anything is real outside of human experience -- which is something we can't really prove and is fruitless to argue -- time must be too. The planet rotates and revolves at a regular pace; things live and die. The problem is that time is inseparable from space and matter and the whole package -- the theory of general relativity basically -- is difficult for most of us to wrap our brains around.
But my assignment wasn't to discover the truth of what time really is -- only to find what it means to different people. And in the process I came to find a simple, anthropocentric definition of my own.
College is crazy, honestly.
The five things I'm giving up for lent
I'm not religious, nor have I ever given anything up for lent. But by a strange turn of events I am giving up five "bad habits" this year -- or at least trying to. This is a challenge outlined by a friend of mine, and so far I've broken each of them countless times.
1.) I can't say "same" anymore.
It's kind of my thing. I see or hear something relatable? "Same." A child trips and falls? "Same." A car honks its horn? "Same." Okay, so it's gone a little too far and it probably is a habit I should try to break.
2.) I can't repeat things my friend says in a mocking tone.
This too is something I should really stop doing.
3.) I can't bring up Breaking Bad in casual conversation.
For a person who is friends almost exclusively with people who haven't seen Breaking Bad I talk about Breaking Bad a lot.
4.) I can't reblog pictures of attractive women to my tumblr blog.
I don't think this is bad habit, but I'm trying to comply. (Actually I'm just queueing up all the posts for Easter. It's going to be a great Easter.)
5.) I can't have more than one caffeinated beverage a day.
This is also a really good thing for me. I literally have withdrawal symptoms when I don't drink coffee. This is bad. (It started out with a sip, how did it end up like this? It was only a sip. It was only a sip!)
All in all, this is much more of a challenge than it probably should be, but I'll try my best.
1.) I can't say "same" anymore.
It's kind of my thing. I see or hear something relatable? "Same." A child trips and falls? "Same." A car honks its horn? "Same." Okay, so it's gone a little too far and it probably is a habit I should try to break.
2.) I can't repeat things my friend says in a mocking tone.
This too is something I should really stop doing.
3.) I can't bring up Breaking Bad in casual conversation.
For a person who is friends almost exclusively with people who haven't seen Breaking Bad I talk about Breaking Bad a lot.
4.) I can't reblog pictures of attractive women to my tumblr blog.
I don't think this is bad habit, but I'm trying to comply. (Actually I'm just queueing up all the posts for Easter. It's going to be a great Easter.)
5.) I can't have more than one caffeinated beverage a day.
This is also a really good thing for me. I literally have withdrawal symptoms when I don't drink coffee. This is bad. (It started out with a sip, how did it end up like this? It was only a sip. It was only a sip!)
All in all, this is much more of a challenge than it probably should be, but I'll try my best.
Monday, February 23, 2015
My 15 things to do in 2015
Since 2010 I have been making lists of things I want to do each year. They are typically a combination of long term and short term goals, reasonable and a little more far-fetched, academic and personal. They are always a good snapshot of my priorities and accomplishments in any given year.
This year I decided to post them publicly so I can be even more dedicated. (Plus I'm really behind on blogging, which was one of my goals.)
In no particular order, here are my 15 things to do in 2015
1.) Read 10 books.
This might be a little optimistic unless I count skimming my assigned readings for class, but I always make an effort to read.
2.) Publish four posts per month on this blog.
Clearly, I'm behind. But I'm going to pick up the slack soon I promise. I'm also bending this one a little, so as long as I have at least 48 posts by the end of 2015 I'll consider this one met.
3.) Go on an actual date.
This on has actually already been accomplished (times three). Dates aren't that big of a deal actually. Hm.
4.) Apply for a job at the Writing Center on campus.
I think it would be a good fit for me.
5.) Travel to Europe.
This one will be accomplished, as my family has a trip to Ireland planned for this summer.
6.) Get a piece of writing published.
Whether that's the paper I wrote that my professor said I might consider publishing, or something unforeseen on the horizon... This one's a little more far-fetched.
7.) Perform guitar somewhere.
This one has already been accomplished as well. I played with some friends at an open mic night.
8.) Send a pilot TV script to my connection.
I have a connection. I do not, however, have a good pilot script. Ugh.
9.) Reach two thousand followers on tumblr.
I'm currently very close to one thousand and I think I could double that within a year. It'd be fun.
10.) Get a summer job.
This is a given, as I can't exactly sit around doing nothing all summer.
11.) Get good grades.
This is very arbitrary, but I made the Dean's List last semester so I'll try to keep to that standard.
12.) Declare my major.
I don't necessarily have to declare my major by the end of next year but it'd be nice to have an idea of what I'm doing. Right now I'm heavily leaning toward Environmental Studies.
13.) Room with my friend Nick.
What started as "I wish we could just room together" is now within reach. Next school year is going to be hella.
14.) Go on a road trip.
It doesn't have to be very long. In fact, it will probably just be visiting a friend who lives or goes to school a few hours away. But I want to go by myself.
15.) Make an artwork.
This one's appeared in almost every list and is usually completed in the last couple days of the year. But it always motivates me to make a cool poster to hang up or give away.
My last post of the year will most definitely be a follow up on how these goals have gone. Wow. 2016 feels very far away, but if the past if any indication it will be here before we know it.
This year I decided to post them publicly so I can be even more dedicated. (Plus I'm really behind on blogging, which was one of my goals.)
In no particular order, here are my 15 things to do in 2015
1.) Read 10 books.
This might be a little optimistic unless I count skimming my assigned readings for class, but I always make an effort to read.
2.) Publish four posts per month on this blog.
Clearly, I'm behind. But I'm going to pick up the slack soon I promise. I'm also bending this one a little, so as long as I have at least 48 posts by the end of 2015 I'll consider this one met.
3.) Go on an actual date.
This on has actually already been accomplished (times three). Dates aren't that big of a deal actually. Hm.
4.) Apply for a job at the Writing Center on campus.
I think it would be a good fit for me.
5.) Travel to Europe.
This one will be accomplished, as my family has a trip to Ireland planned for this summer.
6.) Get a piece of writing published.
Whether that's the paper I wrote that my professor said I might consider publishing, or something unforeseen on the horizon... This one's a little more far-fetched.
7.) Perform guitar somewhere.
This one has already been accomplished as well. I played with some friends at an open mic night.
8.) Send a pilot TV script to my connection.
I have a connection. I do not, however, have a good pilot script. Ugh.
9.) Reach two thousand followers on tumblr.
I'm currently very close to one thousand and I think I could double that within a year. It'd be fun.
10.) Get a summer job.
This is a given, as I can't exactly sit around doing nothing all summer.
11.) Get good grades.
This is very arbitrary, but I made the Dean's List last semester so I'll try to keep to that standard.
12.) Declare my major.
I don't necessarily have to declare my major by the end of next year but it'd be nice to have an idea of what I'm doing. Right now I'm heavily leaning toward Environmental Studies.
13.) Room with my friend Nick.
What started as "I wish we could just room together" is now within reach. Next school year is going to be hella.
14.) Go on a road trip.
It doesn't have to be very long. In fact, it will probably just be visiting a friend who lives or goes to school a few hours away. But I want to go by myself.
15.) Make an artwork.
This one's appeared in almost every list and is usually completed in the last couple days of the year. But it always motivates me to make a cool poster to hang up or give away.
My last post of the year will most definitely be a follow up on how these goals have gone. Wow. 2016 feels very far away, but if the past if any indication it will be here before we know it.
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