Location as Character

1. Location
   The location I chose was a Japanese garden in San Mateo Central Park.
2. List of 2-3 Emotions we would like to capture:
   Japanese gardens are known to create a peace and serenity, so these would be best to try to convey in creating this project 
3. Minimum of 10 shots "dream shots" you would like to capture or experiment with that addresses the "mood" or "feeling" of the location.

   
   

   1. Japanese Garden are known for several things,one of the most common are there Koi also known as carp, these are beautiful fish that are often times quite large and definitely interesting to gaze at. Within this shot I would like to have selective focus on the fish because I want all attention direct towards them and their actions.
   

   

   
   
   

   
   

   
   

   2.One other thing that these gardens are known for are their ceramic stone lamps. This is object would be filmed also with selective focus to bring out the texture of the decorations. 

   

   
   

   3. Of course flowers can not be forgot in a garden. Rack to focus in flowers in the garden would be best for one of my shots and selective focus and a lot of dead space would be ideal for this shot to focus on the color and the beauty of the flower.This would also emphasize the shape of the object,

   

   
   

   4. Bambo fountains are not only also part of japanese gardens, but also very nice to capture both in film and photography. For this shot, I will again use selective focus and focus on the water coming from the bambo fountain, running will help in creating a mood of serenity. 

   
   
   

   

   
   

   5. Trees make up alot of a japanese garden, so one shot should focus on the leaves of the trees. The "dream shot" would include using the rule of thirds and dead space around the leaves.This would also be shot at an angle to give some dimension.

   

   
   

   6. Any building or house in the garden should be included. This would also add to an japanese garden them. This shot would be a long shot, with the house to the left using the rule of thirds.

   

   
   

   7.Rocks both big and small are often found in japanese gardens, this would be a significant shot to use. It would also be selective focus on the rocks and a pan to show all of them. This would also create texture 

   

   
   

    8.Bridges are also a key factor in japanese gardens. A shot that would include a bridge would be a long shot with deep focus of the rest of the garden, such as trees and plants

   

   
   

   9. Any wildlife would also make the project more interesting. A butterfly would futher push the mood of a peaceful location. If this were possible to capture, the shot would have selective focus in the butterfly with dead space around it. 

   

   
   

   10. The last shot would be a full shot of the whole garden, the garden was slowly reveled through selective focus shots, now the last shot will show the garden as a whole. This would give the audience the whole perspective of what the garden looks like.

   

     

   
   

   
   

Contemporary Media Analysis

1. What does the media say about the world we live in?

From many of the presentations one of the most reappearing aspects about media was that it is constantly mirroring our society. Many times media will either explore or mock issues within a society that is occurring at the time. One example discussed by a group was the issue on homosexuality in the well known television show in Glee. This show has been in the spot light for teens in our nation in among the recent years, it expresses high school students who are both straight and gay. These students are portrayed in a positive manner with their sexuality making them no different then any other kid.The show further imitates reality when depicting the issues that the teens must face. In addition media also feeds on what an audience craves weather it's a super man or the opulent lives of the Kardashians or the humors and adventitious events of a modern family. Media is based on what the "people want too see" and this is what makes television and films enjoyable because it is shaped for audiences. Furthermore to push the idea that an media fills the need of audience, is through the idea of escapism, where audiences escape their reality and enter one that is far more exciting and pleasant. However in contrast their are also films that handle a struggle of people, that an audience watches to relate and are able to understand a television show or film because their experiences are some what similar.Media will always emulate the interest of the audience therefore our world will always long for media because it fill our needs of what we want reality to be and or what our reality is. Media is absorbed in our world because it is a reflection of it.

2. Do you notice any one trend that keeps resurfacing through multiple media forms?

A reoccurring theme I saw in multiple media forms was the "blurred lines" in characters. When a person is indistinguishable in weather they are good or bad. It was discussed how this character of good and bad has been around for several decades, however only in the recent years has media been able to portray such a character that is on the border. One example that was in several presentations was the television show Breaking Bad. The main character, Walter White is so well developed, he is not simple expressed as good or bad. but instead the audience understands the struggle of the character and why he took certain actions . For example the character is a manufacturer of drugs, however his motives are only for the welfare for his family, to leave them in good fortune, this line is blurred when good motives and bad actions are intertwined. This is also seen in media shown by the news, another example that was also in many presentations was Edward Snowden who was leaked secret US. surveillance information in order to protect liberties of the people. The controversy is weather this man is "a hero or a traitor", a blurred line that people have been questioning currently.

3. What do you see as the best and worst of what media portrays?

Media can be an art, where people can create all sources of entertainment and masterpieces. It can be a way to exchange ideas and information as well as showing significant aspect of our society. However there are also many down sides of our usage of media. This includes the constant stereotypes and expectations we are able to put on people. Media can give us the wrong perception of our own reality and distort how we not only see others but ourselves. It quite obvious that media has known to objectify women and make the men rich and strong and as well as one to flock and to be flocked by women. Often people find themselves to be faulty or less then because of how they are shown in the media. We influence media, however media may also influence us as well, it may give us the wrong or impossible guidelines to follow.

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4. Where do you see yourself contributing to the conversation?

Media has been any important tool our society has utilized not only for entertainment but to better understand our society and the people in it. Despite the many flaws in media I do believe it is essential to how we live. There is a recent realization that media is able to break down the walls that it has put up for so long.Though it is a slow development every step is closer to a more liberal and understanding world.As an individual I see myself in full support of this evolution of the media. A new media in which is true and can aid us instead of hinder the progress to an overall better world.