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Items by astadnik

Agata

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  Posted: August 1st, 2008, 2:15pm PDT by astadnik

  Thinking about non-verbal communication I looked back at its master. Charlie Chaplin is considered of  the best mimes and performers ever. His acting was understood and appreciated around the world. In the  time of the silent movie era, he was able to tell explicit story using only his body, gesture and facial expressions. This is [...]
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  Posted: April 18th, 2008, 11:08am PDT by astadnik

  “What female want and male will do” -that’s a title of a 2 part program from Nature/PBS about the most complex sexual behaviours of animals. I flipped through TV channels yesterday night and stopped by accident on this program (part I). I was fascinated with the topic and complexity of nature. Check the program listing [...]
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  Fetched: April 14th, 2008, 4:36pm PDT by astadnik

  Last weekend I had a chance to see “Harry Widener and the Prisoner of AZKAJAM” at Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, where two groups were singing: The Callbacks and The Veritones. I have to say I didn’t have much expectations because I’ve never seen a group perform live, but the show was amazing and the whole [...]
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  Posted: April 11th, 2008, 3:43pm PDT by astadnik

  After thinking forward with the Masssagin Media Conference2 lets move back in time… Dali Atomicus,1948, photo by Halsman My friend told me about the famous photographer Philippe Halsman who is famous for photographing people jumping. Halsman he’d asked many famous people who posed for him for portraits to jump in front of the camera. He [...]
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  Posted: April 6th, 2008, 10:29pm PDT by astadnik

  Massaging Media 2 Conference, Boston’08 What is next with the technology and design? How should we prepare our selfs and our students for the future? What stays what changes? I think these were the questions hanging above the attendees’ heads. http://www.massagingmedia.org/ After few hour nap I am able to post some pictures I took at [...]
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  Posted: April 1st, 2008, 5:17pm PDT by astadnik

  Merry Conway also suggested I looked at Contact Improvisation. That was a great tip! Seems that this dance trend was very popular in 70’s and has been evolving since. I’m still researching and finding new things about movement, dance and social interaction today. This is the best description I found: ______________________________________ What is Contact Improvisation? by [...]
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  Posted: April 1st, 2008, 5:15pm PDT by astadnik

  My friend Angelina sent me these links (because of my interest in light) which I want to share with you: http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2008/colorchart/flashsite/ http://www.iloristyle.com/ILORI/Home/HomePage That remind me of the visit to the Mass MoCA, where I was enchanted and inspired by the light installations of Spencer Finch. It’s funny, I just checked his website and has done some light work [...]
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  Posted: April 1st, 2008, 3:45pm PDT by astadnik

  Everybody is talking about PILOBOLUS. That’s because they are great! What they do is very bold, creative and expressive. I can only imagine reaction of my classmates if I would ask them to perform something similar during my Square Game See their performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NgPA8Daxd8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOZ6KnVPvIU http://www.pilobolus.com/
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  Posted: March 29th, 2008, 12:36am PDT by astadnik

  Last week we had w workshop with Merry Conway. In many ways it was very interesting and exciting experience. After that I talked to her and she suggested I looked at work of William Whyte. (Seems that I have something in common with him). William Whyte liked to observe people…. He didn’t do it just [...]
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  Posted: March 29th, 2008, 12:09am PDT by astadnik

  Architectural elements of the city play amazing game with light and reflection.
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  Posted: March 27th, 2008, 12:04am PDT by astadnik

  Whenever I go to New York, I always find many things to see and do over there. Even after being there for just a day, I always came back home with couple hundreds od pictures and few new ideas… That’s why I keep adding things to my blog. I hope you will find it interesting, [...]
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  Posted: March 23rd, 2008, 11:21pm PDT by astadnik

  Below you can see some of the highlight of the exhibitions at MoMA that I recently had a chance to see. I liked many installations and the special exhibit “Design and the Elastic Mind”, which dealt with new inventions/designs. One of my most favorites was installation by Philip Worthington “Shadow Monsters”. It was an interactive installation [...]
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  Posted: March 23rd, 2008, 10:15pm PDT by astadnik

  Motion and shilouettes - areas of my interests
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  Posted: March 23rd, 2008, 10:13pm PDT by astadnik

  Since my recent project involves people following various color shapes/paths I experimented with Jim Lambie’s artwork of on the first floor of the MoMA (New York).
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  Posted: March 23rd, 2008, 8:31pm PDT by astadnik

  Technology invades churches!? Just kidding… St. Patrick Cathedral in New York I thought it was interesting to see flat panel TVs on many columns of the cathedral. Everyone could see rector’s closeup or could see everything else what was going on at the central altar, it was all televised life. My friend told me that’s becoming a standard [...]
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  Posted: March 23rd, 2008, 6:56pm PDT by astadnik

  Recently I had a chance to spend some time in Grand Central Station in New York. I was mesmerized by the dynamic atmosphere of the station, people coming and going in different directions, some standing in one place for a minute, taking pictures, others going slow, fast, draging their kids or lagguage. It was like being in [...]
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  Posted: March 23rd, 2008, 6:28pm PDT by astadnik

  Yesterday, in Harvard Square in Cambridge I saw couple of young people walking with signs: FREE HUGS! This group of young girls and boys stopped on the street and hugged whoever wanted to be hugged… I thought it was pretty sweet, (although myself don’t like to be hugged/touched by people). I don’t know if this was [...]
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  Posted: March 15th, 2008, 10:10am PDT by astadnik

  I have been thinking about dance little bit more. Inthe ballet I was concentrated more on the “negative space”. I found a good example of body creating rich and powerful lines and textures of gesture and clothing. It kind of ties with my interest of being able to see everything vs. not being able to [...]
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  Posted: March 10th, 2008, 11:49pm PDT by astadnik

  Yesterday I went to see a show at the Boston Ballet. It was called the “Next Generation” - it was choreographed by the hottes, youngest choreographers from around the world. I had perfect seat, first row in orchestra section, so I could see the stage floor from little bit of bird’s view. I was able to [...]
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  Posted: March 5th, 2008, 12:58am PST by astadnik

  I think President W. Bush is a cool guy. He probably wouldn’t mind to be take part in one of my jumping games… http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=77506&videoChannel=1 Mar. 5 - President Bush performs a tap dance while joking with the press corps and waiting for the arrival of Sen. John McCain to the White House. (Reuters) [...]
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  Posted: March 5th, 2008, 1:07pm PST by astadnik

  Last week I was talking with Jason and Simon about our projects, and I was complaining, that sometimes because of the cultural and language differences I don’t know (exact) names for various games. One game can have different names in various languages. So, sometimes it’s hard for me to research a particular game since I [...]
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  Posted: March 4th, 2008, 12:00pm PST by astadnik

  Last week I was talking with Jason and Simon about our projects, and I was complaining, that sometimes because of the cultural and language differences I don’t know (exact) names for various games. One game can have different names in various languages. So, sometimes it’s hard for me to research a particular game since I [...]
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  Posted: March 3rd, 2008, 12:10pm PST by astadnik

  
  

  1. Can games reflect what we are like? How do games influence us (especially youth)? Can we categorize people by the game they are playing?

  Although I don’t like video games that much I want look into why other people do. That’s why I posted a list of best games but it’s PEOPLE that are my main area of interest.

  2.When I was thinking about projects that I have done in the past they all fell in the categories o games that I like the most. I like quizzes, card games, chess and some other games that require body movement. I was trying to figure out what I like about gaming and I realized that I like: challenge, thinking abut strategy, concentrating on one thing, taking a risk, gambling , improvising, getting excited, forgetting about everyday else…

  The most important fact is that although playing games require thinking, planing or other “effort” it helps me relax and feel better. That’s why I want to create games/environments were (hopefully) people would get some adrenaline going…

  (No wonder there are so many people in Vegas!)

  
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  Posted: March 2nd, 2008, 5:49pm PST by astadnik

  
  

  I found this interesting list of

  10 Future Classic Games:

  [www.forbes.com]

  and

  Games We Long To Play
  [www.forbes.com]

  
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  Posted: February 29th, 2008, 12:47pm PST by astadnik

  I talked to Jason yesterday and he pointed out that I don’t update my blog too often. He is right. I’m busy with school and work (as everybody else is) and I forget how important it is to keep my blog fresh and updated. So I am making a commitment today that I will try, No [...]
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  Posted: February 18th, 2008, 11:18pm PST by astadnik

  
  

  It’s very funy, that in order for me to find some info on “jumping” I have to rely on blogs and other personal sites….

  Here is some info on jumping from this blog:
  [www.cloggie.org]

  and from Wikipedia:

  Originally, the gabber dance style called “hakken” was used to dance to jumpstyle music, although it is slower than hardcore; but later a new dance evolved called “Skiën” (to ski). Skiën means kicking one’s feet forward and backward on the bass line, while the torso goes the opposite way (right foot forward, torso back), once in a while lifting one foot significantly higher than usual to indicate a break in the beat. This dance, usually called “jumpen” nowadays (derived from English, to jump), originated in Belgium in 1997 but has seen a real popularity boost in recent years, gaining widespread fame in Belgium and Northern France around 2002 and more recently in the Netherlands. In other countries such as Germany and Austria it has also garnered some interest, albeit among a limited public. The Belgian DJs Da Boy Tommy and Da Rick are often credited with its invention.
  It is also called skank but is different from the skank associated with ska and reggae music.
  Often another variation of this dance called “Duo-Jump” is performed by two people who choreograph their movements and perform them in unison along side one another. This variation of the jumpstyle dance also originated in Belgium. Some see similarities in the dance style with inline dancing
  Jumpers can go to special jump discotheques, often called “Jumpotheques”; for example “The Oh!” in Gavere. Also special events, like the yearly Bassleader-event in Flanders Expo Ghent, are mostly kept in Belgium, but also events like ReverZe and Explosive Car Tuning or Jumping Is Not A Crime(JINAC) do their part in spreading this music style….”

  And if you want to learn the steps here is a link to a tutorial:
  [www.youtube.com]

  
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  Posted: February 15th, 2008, 12:39pm PST by astadnik

  
  

  I did some research abut jumping boys and their style in my favorite video:) I have to do more but at least I know what it is:

  (from wikipedia)

  ….The term Jumpstyle is used both for a musical genre (a subgenre of Techno, recognized by its hard beat and playful melodies) and for a type of dance usually performed to this style of music. In the early days of Jumpstyle, many categorized it as a slower variant of Hardcore Techno, but it has since solidified its position as a genre of its own.

  Jumpstyle traces its roots to Belgium in the late 90’s. While the trend has caught on in other parts of the world, such as the Middle East, it remains largely unpopular in America despite the embrace of American bands such as Captain Ahab and prominent exposure on shows such as So You Think You Can Dance.

  Jump also comes with a certain way of dancing, and there are certain ’styles’ in this dance.

  • Oldskool jump: Was based on the first move that was used in the dance called ’skieën’, later a certain standard routine came that was a combination of kicking forwards and backwards both legs on the basslines, even later certain moves came such as a spin.

  • tekstyle/starstyle: The jumper dances it to french tek or Hardstyle. The jump is more sidewise than the others.

  • Hardjump: This is the hardest variant of Jumpstyle. The basic step is different from the others and the jumper has to pitch hard on the ground.

  • Freestyle: With this style, the ‘jumper’ does whatever he/she feels like, there are no certain restrictions of jumping and it usually involves a mix of Oldskool Jump & Hardjump & tekstyle.

  • Duojump: Is jumping with two (or more) people at the same time, usually the people performing the Duojump have practiced it before performing it, since they both do exactly the same routine and try to synchronize it as much as possible.

  
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  Posted: February 10th, 2008, 6:24pm PST by astadnik

  
  

  I just found this funny video of boys jumping in Den Bosch (Netherlands). (I used to live in that town). I was actually looking for a video of something else and found this. I like parts when many kids jump in the middle of the town and on the check board. I think I might use this idea for one of my projects. It’s energetic and fun! Check it out.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eRxiGFrSA8

  
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  Posted: February 9th, 2008, 2:26pm PST by astadnik

  
  

  As everybody know I have many interests and ideas for my thesis.
  Here are my major themes:

  PEOPLE-human interactions and reactions with people/objects/situations
  (seems to have many interesting options and unexpected outcomes)

  LIGHT and it’s aspects: power, projections, screens, color, magic, expectations,

  If you have any suggestions GO AHEAD AND blog, Blog, BLOG, BLog, BloG, BlOg, Bolg