Entertainment World Adaptation Frustration Why do book to movie adaptations have such variation in quality?
Space Movies. Can the movies about space change the future of space travel?
Letter From the Editor
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I have always loved watching and participating from a young age but I never knew the history or connection between these performances. I go to the movies, to concerts, or to dance shows, and I engross myself in the performance. Though, after the curtain drops, I move on only to remember their favorite parts, but never really exploring the show. This issue of Entertainment World explains the behind the scenes, the history, and the connections of movies, music, and dance, and tries to explain them to others. My dad always said, “Everyone has a story� and any performance is made up of people. Therefore each performance has a story. What is their story? A question that not many of us ask often enough. We overlook the fundamental parts of a production that are key to final product. We miss the applications of stories into our world today. I love to listen to the stories that people tell, and I love exploring new ways to looks at a performance or movie. Movies, music, and dance were all created to tell stories, but no one seems to pay attention to the story behind the on it is trying to tell. They miss the back-story, the history, the connection that are presents in our modern day story tellers. Stories are fundamental parts of humans and all stories are meant to be valued. Stay Entertained, The Entertainment World Team
Photo courtesy of unsplah.com
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December 2016
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C O N T E N T S Adaptation Frustration
Why movie adaptations have changed over time.
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Animation. Is There Anything it Can’t Do? 19 How TV animation has changed and what it could become.
Where No Man Has Gone Before 22 How the rise in space entertainment is being used to fuel our future space programs.
Bound Through Sound
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What music means to a local artist and how he uses the power of music.
The Evolution of Dance and Music
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How dance and music have progressed through time.
Front cover photos courtesy of: nasa.org and Marlith Back cover photo courtesy of: Magnas Manske
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CONTRIBUTORS Photos courtesy of NASA, Lambtron, Markus Spiske, Marcel Oosterwijk
Tara Lassiter All her life Tara has loved listening to music. She often spends long bus rides home enjoying music by artists such as the Flaming
Evan Hadd Evan has loved performing from a young age ever since he performed in the Nutcracker. His admiration and love of showman-
Lips, Band of Horses, Andrew Bird, and Cake. Both Tara’s father and grandfather have had a profound impact on Tara’s taste in music. From her father she has inherited her love for artists
such as the Beatles, the Who, the Velvet Underground, and the Police, from her grandfather her affinity for classical music. She is also very lazy.
ship sky rocketed from then on. Evan loved to tell stories and to explain ideas or phenomenons that people do not look at. Evan loved a good story, a warm heart, and he wants to see peace be-
tween people.
Ariana Estrada Ariana Estrada is 15 years old and attends LASA High school. Ariana enjoys reading, writing, and listening or making mu-
Jordon Leeman Jordon Leeman enjoys going to the theater and watching movies. He likes multiple genres, but his favorite has to be space. He
Jacob Graves Jacob has always enjoyed watching TV, watching movies, playing video games, and playing sports. Jacob started to watch animat-
sic in her free time. Ariana aspires to be a forensic pathologist or an author when she gets older. She lives with her mother, and dad, and three step-siblings. Her favorite drink is Grape Soda and her
favorite animal is the hyena.
has always liked space movies and when he was little he wanted to be an astronaut. Jordon drew his inspiration from the question, “can the movies that I love actually effect the way people look at
space travel”.
ed TV shows when he was 13 when he watched “the Simpsons”. He has loved to watch them ever since.
The Leeman Center, Austin TX
Photo courtesy of: Ariana Estrada
The Leeman Center is a wonderful place to take friends and family to see a variety of talent. From dance to music, the Leeman Center has offers multiple opportunities to experience professional shows of the fine arts. This month they are showing many performances for the holiday and for pure entertainment. This includes Batter Austin’s “The Cracker Jack” or the romantic display “Past Sorrow” performed by Austin Shake It along with many more.
Adaptation Frustration By Evan Hadd
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The what and why of the movies that both excite and disappoint us. Even though most people think that “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” and “Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief have no connections, they actually do connect.” Chris Columbus directed both movies. Both films differentiate in the accuracy to the book, and these movie adaptations explain the correlation between the accuracy of a book to movie adaptation and the film industry.
Photo courtesy of Evan Hadd
Ever since the “Harry Potter” franchise the film industry has increased production of book to movie adaptations. Some of these movies include: “The Hunger Games”, “The Maze Runner” and “Divergent.” In today’s society Hollywood loves making adaptations 10 of books. The reason for these adaptations
comes down to money and how books and other Intellectual Property have built in audiences that will watch the movie. Looking at the three different angles of people who know about adaptations, the evidence points to Hollywood needing a change in the amount of movie adaptation they make each year. Hollywood and the film industry make adaptations and other movies based a previous
material. Vanessa Mokry, a teacher of Audio Visual Production at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, Texas. She has taught how to make movies for 10 years. She keeps herself well up to date about information on the film industry. “All they make is adaptations. I think that 90 percent is based on previous
IP (intellectual property),” she said. The simple reason the film industry wants to make adaptations at all may come as a shock to some people. “People who make movies are scared not to make their money back. They are afraid to take chances,” Louis Sachar, the author of “Holes” and “The Wayside School” series, said. People want to view these chances, and without them, the film industry unfortunately disappoints many people. These disappointments may come from the agreement by people that the book’s value surpasses that of the movie. “If you going to make a book into a movie the book has to have some value in the beginning and because the book just has more details and interesting things that happen [than the movie],” Maddy Havenack, a lover of books and films, said about which she thought was better the book or the movie. People may be disappointed in the movies for another reason. Sachar, who wrote the book and screenplay for “Holes, said, “They took on other writer to test them out, and many times I read their work,[screenplays], and wondered if they had read the book at all. I am not surprised that many books don’t get properly translated.” Could screenplay writers not
be reading the books before they write the movie? If that is true, it explains most of the mistakes and blunders within movie adaptations the people dislike, and how many adaptations’ plots completely veer off track from that of the book. Another explanation of disappointing movie adaptations could come from the authors. Again Sachar pointed out an interesting detail from his personal experience. He said, Photo courtesy of Vanessa Mokry. This photo depicts students making a film and the amount work that goes into a film. “[it is] Very unusual to sell the fits opposed his fears because book, then be apart of the film with his book after the movie was released. The authors he told me that more people from start to finish.” Authors now know the name of the write stories and have specific perceive more details specific to themselves and the book book, and read his book. Also, views about the characters and wish to not relinquish their the name of the book reached which come across in their rights because they fear that an audience that also inwriting and to the readers. those specifics parts will not creased his publicity and gave Directors and Producers of him more opportufilms also have nities to make more their own views money. of the character Even though people which will be can criticize the movrealized within “[It is] Very unusual to sell ie, some movies do their films which the book, then be apart of impress the author. It conflict with that the film from start to finish” might come at a cost, of the author. or extra time, but a The conflictbook can be converting views may Louis Sachar ed well. “Overall I create problems was very happy with that decide if the the movie,” Sachar movie arrives said about his the close to the book show up in the final edit of the movie “Holes” which was in accurateness. If a Director movie. based off his book. Although, changes something about a Although, there may be fear he did put in his hours writing character, many people will be of allowing your book to be the screenplay and coming to disappointed in that change converted, Sachar said somethe set of “Holes” as much as because they want accuratething interesting about the he possibly could. ness to the book. movie “Holes”. “[There were] However, books may be Some authors may be afraid Great benefits especially since the reason for Hollywood to sell the rights of their book it was a good movie, if it was increased producto a movie company. Sachar bad [movie] I’m not sure how tion of adaptations. said that he feared that peo11 I’d feel.” Some of those beneMokry commented on ple would no longer bother
this idea. “Because they ruins [movies] per-say, [books] have a built in auI would just say that I dience, it is how Hollywood feel like they disappoint makes their money,” she people,” Havenack said. said. Books reach people Also, Mokry stated that and they fall in love with she is disappointed in the the book. These people choices Hollywood makes. create a pre-existing auMovie theaters anymore. dience for a movie. HolWith more places to watch lywood loves pre-existing movies one might think she audiences because the could find something, but chances increase that the the sincerity in her voice audience will go watch the on this statement provided Photo courtesy of Jack Pearce movie. Hollywood can also an insight into her honest figure out an estimated feelings the sincerity in her terfaces to make movie makamount of money the movie voice on this statement providing slightly easier than it had will generate before they begin previously been, movie proed an insight into her honest production. As stated above duction has not increased with feelings. Maybe there are no Hollywood wants to make their “good” films as their used to money be. back, and If we look at the if they can past we have have forefilm like “Star sight into Wars,” “Saving the amount Private Ryan,” “I wouldn’t say [Hollywood] ruins [movies] of money “The they will Wizard of Oz,” per-say, I would just say that I feel like make, Holand “Indian they disappoint people.” lywood will Jones.” Nowamost likely days, the movgo with the ies available Maddy Havenack movie that for viewing are: will make “Guardian of the the most Galaxy: Volmoney. ume 2,” “Rogue The facts One,” and “Cars these advances in technology. deny the idea that the amount In fact, Hollywood makes less 3.” All of these movies base of adaption made, correlates their plot lines on previous exmovies now, but more of the to an ease of movie making. isting materials. Also, with 25 films’ plot lines base itself of “No, there is nothing easy books or other stories; where- main books coming to a theabout making movies, Hollyater near you in 2017, some as, when Hollywood made wood makes less movies now more films, they produced of them sequels, the trend in [than they did the 80’s and a rising use of IP continues. more original plot lines. 90’s],” Mokry said. Even with Yet, what has happened to the It also seems that the conan increase in special movie adaptations. tent produced today is worse effects and softwares than that of 16-20 years ago. 12 that have built in in“I wouldn’t say [Hollywood]
People have watched great adaptations like “Harry Potter” and “The Lord of the Rings,” but in more recent times we have had worse adaptations including “Percy Jackson,” “The Maze Runner,” and the “Divergent” series. “I think Harry Potter was the first one and it sky-balled from there. As that industry started to swell people stopped caring what went into the movies instead [they thought] let’s make as much money as possible,” Havenack said on this subject. People know that Hollywood is a business, and unfortunately businesses want to make money. Those people who produce the movie fix their sights on money made, not content, and that results in worse adaptations. Although people do dislike adaptations, they have an understanding that movie adaptations will not equate to the book. “I mean there is no way they are going to fit all the detail that the books have
into a movie,” Havenack said regarding how she felt about movie adaptations. However, this idea does not excuse movies for being worse than the books. It just states that people understand that movies will not surpass the books. People still want amazing adaptations that come as close to the book as they can, without changing the material. In the end, the general consensus from the people I interviewed, comes to people wanting more original content. “I mean I would rather go see an [original] movie that I don’t have any expectation [for] so that I don’t have to be let down a lot or as much,” Havenack said. Expectations tend to inhibit people’s view of something, like when we read a book and have a specific idea of a character. When we go to the movie of that book, those people expect the character to perform the way they thought. When the character breaks that mindset that a person
“Movies reach more people than books, and films communicate with an audience and make a connection [with that audience] that is unique to that industry.”
previously thought of them, the movie disappoints the person watching the movie. On the other hand, when we go watch a movie of original content, people cannot expect anything because previous material does not exist of that movie. Without expectations, open minds flourish with viewers, which allow the viewers less disappointment in the movie. When said that Hollywood disappoints people, she summarized this idea in a nutshell. Hollywood creates too many book adaptations, and they need to start produce more original content. After dissecting all the points in between, one might realize that many factors contribute to why movie adaptations do not match the book. Unfortunately, the main reason comes down to details, and a book’s details outweigh those of a movie. Even though, people hate on movies, and they know the movie cannot match the book, Mokry provided an interesting look into what movies actually do for people. She said, “Movies reach more people than books, and films communicate with an audience and make a connection [with that audience] that is unique to that industry.”
Vanessa Mokry
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1. The first step is ideas. Someone has a wonderful idea.
2. Those ideas are then converted into a screenplay. The other thing that can happen is that someone is hired to write a screenplay.
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3. People are hired. In this phase of making a movie, directors are found and all others that are needed for pre-production.
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Making Movies A basic step by step process about how films are made. 10
10. Lastly, the film has a premier and then is released to theater to be viewed by the general public.
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9. All the elements are put together into a final edit that will be looked at and changed until the final edit is what the director wants.
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8. Music is composed and recorded to add extra emotion and flare to the movie.
4. The pre-production begins, sets are built, actors are hired and everyone gets ready to film the movie.
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Films take a long time and a lot of people to make. This graphic is a basic step by step process into how a film gets made. These are the 10 basic steps that are used to get a film make.
Graphic by Evan Hadd Information by Vanessa Mokry, Stephen Follows from his informative blog about films, and CD-writer a website for film makers.
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7. As the editors begin their work, so do the graphic animators. They are responsible for the special effects seen in the final edit or the movie. Many times multiple companies will work to animate one film.
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5. Production begins and many people work together to film the movie. The amount of people ranges from 778 to 3,310 needed to film a movie.
6. After filming, editors begin going through the film and figure out how to put the story together. Not many editors are needed per film it can range from 1-8.
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Animation. W Is there anything it can’t do?
Homer Simpson from “The Simpsons”. Photo courtesy of Gabri Solera
Why Animation is becoming more popular By Jacob Graves
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e all know about the shows like ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Futurama’. They give us funny outlooks on not so funny issues. These shows are becoming more and more parts of our lives because of how they deal with today’s issues in funny ways. Animated shows like “The Simpsons” and “Futurama” that are targeted for adults are becoming more of an integral part of our culture. Animation in general is also becoming more mainstream with anime coming from Japan and the emergence of animated TV shows targeted for adults. Vanessa Mokry is the Audio Video Production teacher at Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School. The popularity of animated shows targeted for adults, she said “I would not think there is a rise in popularity in animated films because if anything there is possibly a rise in Asian animation reaching us”. Asian animation became a popular thing overseas in the late 40’s, but it began to get to America in the early 60’s. “The Simpsons” has been running for 28 seasons, she says, “[There are many Simpsons seasons]because they don’t change the characters and it is in a unique position to be able to easily comment on what is changing in our culture so they highlight various social issues in a humorous way so it is a little more disarming to those that may be decepting of it.”
“The Simpsons”, like many thinks they are terrorists beother popular shows, uses cause of their religion. This epcurrent events and issues to isode shows how these shows create storylines and they can recognize and provide an use it as a basis for their outlook on issues facing tocomedy. Jay Graves, a fan of day’s society. animated TV shows targeted “I definitely think they for adults, says have gained that “Because popularity [the shows] are because “The characters animated I think they keep never age so you they can be a making new can connect with little more irrevones and them in a certain erent towards more and the topic where there are state and they they can turn spin-offs,” stay that way for a a current topic Graves while.” into a parody or said, “I defiDaniel Moore something like nitely think that”. [the popu In an larity] will at episode of “The Simpsons,” least stay the same if not gain. Bart(one of the main characI think animation lends itself ters) befriends a Muslim boy, stories that you can’t really do but Homer(Bart’s dad and anin live action and it just gives it other main character) doesn’t more fertile ground for comedy want Bart hanging out with his writers to play with the story friend’s family because Homer and come up with situations.”
Scene from “Futurama”. Photo courtesy of Fan the Fire Magazine
“The Simpsons” has been the staple of this genre since it came out in 1989. The Simpsons, which has 28 seasons, is the longest running animated TV show in history. Since then, more shows like “Futurama”, “Bob’s Burgers”, “Family Guy”, and others have been released and have become integrated into our everyday society. “I don’t know, I mean, I think mostly they are reflecting it not influencing it. I mean The Simpsons were really big some 20 years ago so people were influenced by it and people actually spoke like Bart Simpson and said phrases everyday like ‘eat my shorts’ and ‘don’t have a cow man’ and stuff like that,” Mokry said, “Other than that, I think they are clever and comment on the things we wanna say but don’t wanna say we wanna say them. I think it is some bit of validation to some people, but I don’t know. If anything, it shows the family unit that stays together over time in a culture that it’s not that common anymore, but I don’t know how it actually affects us for real.” Websites like “The Frinkiac” and “Morbotron” let people create GIFs and memes with their favorite scenes from “The Simpsons” and “Futurama”, respectively. They are large parts of our culture and they let people immerse even further into the world of these shows. The effect of Frinkiac and Morbotron 17 on these shows, Jay
more of a part of our culture and there are different factors that contribute to it. Whether it’s Asian animation coming to America or an increased demand, animation is on the rise and will continue to be a big part of our society.
Main characters from “The Simpsons”. Photo courtesy of Gabrielshepard
Graves says, “I think people people to have an ease of sharing what they liked over access to quickly go through social media turns into favorite season after season and it episodes or favorite chunks makes it more accessible to of episodes that were really people in new generations.” funny or they liked and turn “I think that people around and The future can connect over share those of animathrough webtion remains episodes or phrases sites like Frinunknown, or characters.” kiac.” but Moore Daniel has an idea Moore, a fan on what the and viewer future could Daniel Moore of animated hold for this TV shows genre of TV targeted for show. “The adults believes delivery of that “people can connect the shows will probably be difover episodes or phrases or ferent,” Moore said, “I’m sure characters and apply them to they will all be online and maycurrent political people. It’s just be all released at once, but a common pool to grab from I think they can always stay as characters in situations and relevant by referencing current episodes that are memorable.” events years from now. I think The influence of Netflix they will still poke fun at peoon animated TV shows target- ple and cultural ideas even in ed for adults, Moore the future it will be easy to do.” said “I think so. I think Animated TV shows targeted 18 it’s great for younger for adults are becoming
Main characters from “Bob’s Burgers”. Photo courtesy of shannonpatrick17
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Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before. Quote from “Whitehouse Booklet�
Where No Man Has Gone Before
Where No Man Has Gone Before
By Jordon Leeman
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Cover photo for this story by Nasa.org
“To boldly go where no man has gone before,” said William Shatner at the beginning of each Star Trek episode describing the explorational missions that the crew of the starship Enterprise would embark on. These words depict the marvel of their mission. To see magnificent stars and wonderful planets. Space, so close but yet so far. Humans have sent people to the Moon and built The International Space Station, but what’s the next step? Where should we set our eyes on and work so we can no the beauty that comes with discovering new things in our solar system? Mars. This planet astronomical organizations now eye. The organizations turning their attention to the planet due to the sudden increase in the its popularity from the general public, but what exactly made it popular? It resulted from the release of the hit movie “The Martian”. “The Martian”, a movie about a man who gets stranded on Mars, had a profound effect on the world’s perspective of space travel. Space travel, once a big entertainment for the general public, has died out in the years following the moon landing. Somehow exploring space has become bland and familiar. The release of “The Martian won many awards and became an instant success the box office, but also became a success for space programs like NASA and Mars One. The movie refueled the general public's interest on space travel, and
Photo courtesy of Mars at nasa.gov
it became the perfect time to use this momentum to send people up to space, but more particularly, mars. Mars One, an organization based in the Netherlands, plans to send people to Mars to establish a permanent colony. Mars One does not receive funding from the government, but takes in donations. The concept began in 2011 by Bas Lansdorp and Arno Wielders. Mars One announced in 2012 that they would send humans to Mars in 2024, but in 2015 they had to backtrack. Lansdorp changed the time when they would land humans on Mars to 2027 and said that
mans to Mars, period." Mars One has been criticized by scientist and engineers, but how does the general public view the project? How do people really view space travel, and do they feel it relates to them? “I find it incredibly intriguing,” said Alison Earnhart, who has been teaching astronomy at the Liberal Arts and Sciences Academy. “I have always loved astronomy since I was a little kid. I grew up in the country, so I had a really good view of the night sky all the time, and when I went to college to get my physics degree I ended up taking an astronomy course and an astrophysics course as a part of my physics degree, and really loved it, so I have always been a big fan of it.” Mars One chooses it’s astronauts first by asking for a number could change. Mars submitted application; second, One has made it clear that they come in for an interview; even if they don’t put people third, the remaining members on Mars in their estimated time participate in group challengrange, they will put people on es; and lastly, isolated training. Mars. Co-founder Lansdorp Anyone could submit an application, but many people did not apply due to the one way trip one way trip aspect. Once you go up to Mars you “Our goal is to send humans never can come back. to Mars, period.” “I remember when the applications were out and I actually sat down Bas Lansdorp and stared at a wall, and actually asked myself those hard questions,” said, “Mars One's goal is not said Earnhart. “Also the one to send humans to Mars in way trip aspect is really intrigu2027 with a $6 billion budget ing and I think that if and 14 launches. Lansdorp I were at a different 25 said “Our goal is to send hustage of my life then I
would consider it more.” specific functions because said, “is that if we establish a One topic not normally of the difference in gravity of somewhat permanent colony discussed in the Mars One Mars to Earth. Regarding this on Mars, and people start remission is considering the issue Earnhart said “It would producing, pregnancy in lower difference that gravity could ef- be a huge challenge and I gravity has not been studied fect the human body on Mars. think when we are design and yet, so I don’t know how that Since Mars has about one engineering the tools and hab- effects the fetus and I would third of the gravity on Earth, itats for what they're going to assume children born on Mars physical body changes would be using when they get there, I would know nothing else, so occur but we don’t know the am certain that no matter how that would be normal to them.” physical changes that could hard engineers try to keep that Along with these phystake place. “In movies, espein mind there will be mistakes, ical changes there are mental cially in The Martian and stuff, as far as ‘Oh, we should have changes as well. The one that's something that way trip aspect of most of the time they the mission calls for don’t even bother to intelligent selection try to simulate beto make sure that cause it’s so difficult they send people “You know what it’s not the strangest to simulate that in up to space who movies, they just igwill stay sane. “The thing in the world, and lots of people nore it entirely,” said screening process throughout our history of done exactly Earnhart, “I mean, psychologically for the same things. humans can learn finding the right and adapt easily and candidates is never if you send a group going to be perfect, Alison Earnhart of people there they'd and you just have eventually figure out hope that the peowhat they're doing. I would planned to make this differple that get chosen are fully assume that the body strucently in order to function in aware of what their committure would begin to change the lighter gravity’, but we will ting to and are willing to do it,” dramatically. People would learn from those mistakes and Earnhart said, “You know what probably begin to start being we’ll see what happens.” it’s not the strangest thing in taller and leaner with the less If Mars One succeeds the world, and lots of people gravity pulling on them, but in establishing a permanent throughout our history of done we’ll see. Thats a long, long colony on the red planet, and exactly the same things. The way off.” two astronauts decide they first explorers and the first pio On Mars enwant to have a child, what neers who went out anywhere, would happen? “What's really they were doing the same 26 gineers will have to make specific tool for interesting to me,” Earnhart thing. They were leaving their
homes forever, not knowing the closeness in time from plish things like landing on what was coming up and knew the mission surprising. “I find Mars. that they would die in some it rather amazing that we can Young seven year old weird alien world, and you just foresee ourselves such amaz- first grader Benjamin Leeman accept that. So it’s not a new ing feat such a short time from had ideas on space travel thing, it’s just the next step. It now as being able to go to importance. He feels it has seems more dramatic because Mars. I believe by taking this something to do with how it’s farther away, but it’s some- next step and going by going close we feel as humans to thing humans have been doing to Mars that is, will help us the planet. “Well planets are for a long time, and it’s not to understand our abilities as very far away, but people are an impossible task. I believe people and our thinking of the pretty close to us because that there are plenty of strong, universe,” said Evans. we are people. So if we send healthy, capable individuals Space travel has had a people up to Mars and we are who are ready, willing, and major impact on the world in people it just makes me feel able to take on that challenge.” many ways, but Evans had a closer.” Maybe a direct result To Earnhart, space very interesting prediction of of the success of the mission, travel means, “It’s all about what kind of impact the misaccording to Leeman, would perspective. You know most sion would have worldwide. come in the form of a feeling. people have an Earth What if having hubased perspecmans walk on Mars tive and a human makes us feel like we So it’s not a new thing, it’s just the next based perspective, have the capability but when you study of doing incredible step. It seems more dramatic because astronomy, to me my things, because we it’s farther away, but it’s something hufavorite thing about as people did somemans have been doing for a long time, studying astronomy thing incredible? and it’s not an impossible task. is changing your The perspective perspective. To look change Earnhart at the Universe as stated, the uniting of Alison Earnhart one big piece, and the world Evans proto see how tiny we posed, and the feelare inside that one ing of hope this would big piece. It just seems like the “Well the world would see the give the people Leeman adnext logical step for an adone nation or nations that work dressed could all possibilities vanced, intelligent, tool using together on that mission to that could result from the Mars species.” send people to Mars are seen One mission and missions like Earnhart states that as a superpower that should it, but one thing they all agreed this is the next logical step, be worked with in the future on. All had no doubt that this but could have the movie “The toward achieving your goals,” next step we as humans to Martian” given a new perspec- Evans said. Evans sees this keep space travel alive. Retive to people about the wonmission as a way to show how cent movies like “The Martian” ders of space travel? cooperation can lead you to and “Star Trek Beyond” have “I thought the acting great results. If this mission reinstated the public's interest was superb. I believe the plot succeeds it could result in dein space, and programs like itself really grasped me. Really veloping countries seeing that Mars One are taking advanmade me ponder our exisif they work more closely with tage. tence,” said Jackson Evans these superpower countries, regarding the film “The Marthey could improve the status 27 tian”. Evans also had found of their country, and accom-
The Apollo Program was executed at the height of the great space race to put Americans on the moon and then send them back to Earth. This program lasted from 1961 to 1972 with 6 successful missions.
Graphic on important NASA programs and how they affected the United States.
The International Space Station, or the ISS, is the largest artificial body in our orbit and can be seen from Earth with the naked eye. The contributing countries that Canada, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United States, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. This space station is still in low Earth orbit.
Project Mercury was the first crewed United States program running from 1958 through 1963 with six successful flights with humans. Its mission was to send humans to orbit and return them back to Earth, ideally before the Russians.
Skylab was the United States first space station orbiting Earth 1973 to 1979.
The Space Shuttle program took place between 1981 and 2011. This program’s mission was to send people into low Earth orbit to send parts for the International Space Station and return them back to be used again.
The Venus Program was the second crewed space missions from our government. It started in 1961 and stopped in 1966 with ten successful launches into lower Earth orbit on it’s belt. This project put us ahead of the Russians in the space race. This program sparked a rush space themed entertainment.
Diagram on the series of events following the launch of the Apollo 13 rocket. 7. Land
6. Re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
2. Command and service module separation.
3. Oxygen tank rupture.
1. Launch
Source: nasa.gov By Jordon Leeman
5. Re-adjusting course to Earth.
4. Using moon’s gravity as slingshot to return back to Earth.
Bound Through Sound “ ...it was this huge wall of sound, and, somewhere in this wall of sound there was a melody that came out, I listened to and, it was just, something that I had never heard be- Prince, and fore... “ then a lot
Often a time the music that we choose to listen to serves as reflection of who it is we are as a person. Long has music/the creation of appealed to both consumer and producer alike. Long have pubescent teens, college students, men/women early into their twenties, adults well into their thirties, forties, fifties, the elderly, even, been drawn to the creation of art. Long have we as a society praised those that take it upon themselves to create so immensely that the illusion of potential fame, and attainable, adoring fans has penetrated the vulnerable minds of those apt to falling
- John Constant to such a scam. Others still are drawn to music not for the fame, but for reasons personal to them specifically. John Constant has long since been involved with music. All his life has music played an active role in the way that he’s grown as a person, in the way that he’s grown to view the world and grown to view the creation of art. “The Beatles was really my first experience with popular culture music, and, you know they kinda changed my perception, as they do with everybody. Um, later on
Photo courtesty of Paul Holloway
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of the ‘80s bands, like, Chore, Echo and the Bunnymen, the Violence, and really got into those bands. And then, in the ‘90s I, I have to say my biggest influence was probably Stereolab,” Constant says. The music one creates will often serve as reflection of the path taken to get where one is today, the obstacles one has overcome, the bands/artists that have influenced one throughout one’s life. Music inevitably lies interconnected to memories, pivotal moments in one’s life, experiences unique to one as an individual. (“The
sound towards us that it was bands used a lot of electronic involved, but they were very actually blowing our clothes instruments, uh, synthesizers, poppy sounding, they were back,” Constant laughs, recall- organs, but also still guitar and pleasing but noisy at the same ing past experiences interrelat- drum driven. So, that, that’s time, and they definitely influed to music) kind of where I come from. enced me early on. You know, “So, Stereolab was, is, Um, in addition, and this is sometimes you see a band still, actually, a band that, they where the spaghetti western and you don’t know why, but kind of, they redid ‘60s music comes in,, I really really have you feel like they changed a little, meaning they used all always been a huge fan of your DNA somehow…” Conthe instruments, all the cool or- any Americani, which, he’s a stant trails off momentarily. gans from the ‘60s, and, put a composer that did a lot of the “So, in my band now, Kodawhole new aesthetic on super, early ‘70s spaghetti western chrome, we kinda fuse all super electric music, super soundtracks, like, The Big the that together. I mean, that’s fun music. They really, probaBad and the Ugly, For a Few our whole deal. We’ve got bly influenced me more than Dollars More, that music has this drone-y, organ driven, anybody at this point. And then always got me. electronic, indie-rock music another great band, I really “Flaming Lips, too. I thing going, with overtones of love is Broadcast, who kinda saw those bands,” Constant spaghetti western, and at this took what says, “there was a lot of noise point we’re Stereolab happy to be did and, and, recording took it to a and releasnew place... ing music, “The speakers were so loud, and I mean these and to be
they were moving so much sound towards us that it was actually blowing our clothes back.” - John Constant
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Bound Through Sound cont. getting music in films.” Glamorous as it may appear, the life of a musician can, at times, bring about unexpected consequenc-
-cal music family. They, they were very insistent that I play the piano, and I really didn’t like it which for a short time made me not like music,” Constant says, recalling the time his parents’ forced taste in music had him temporarily fall out of love with music. Continuing the trail of thought, “That’s a personal struggle for us just because we don’t really know how, but, you learn something 32 new everyday, so you
es. As to whether or not the clashing of creative forces could potentially bring about the destruction of a friendship, Constant has got loads to say. “I think the more you mature as a musician you, you learn what’s in it for you, and you respect what’s in it for the other musicians that you’re playing with, and you, you figure out whether it’s right for everyone or not, and, you know, it doesn’t have to be a
just keep doing it cuz you love it,” Constant muses, addressing the way in which he’s had to figure out a way to live via music, had to figure out where to settle along the middle ground between known and obscure. “Every phase of my life music has been a large part of it, whether it was connecting with friends who also loved music, or being in bands with people that loved music, or meeting new people… “I mean, we met because
big drama… “You know like, I think as you get older you just start to understand these things more clearly, and, you’re more confident in the things you want and the things you, don’t want, so you can figure these things out a lot easier. At times unexpected struggles, too, serve as obstacles an artist has got to overcome. “You know, like I told you, I grew up in a, a classi-
of our kids,” Constant rambles, addressing the relationship him and fellow musician Nate, the relationship between his life and music, “but we’ve connected because of music, so... every stage of my life music has been probably the primary connector to the world for me, and there is no substitute for that. Yeah, I don’t know how, how else to articulate it. “Um, it’s almost everything,” Constant laughs, addressing whether or not music
serves/can serve as connection tening to music together, and... try to enjoy your life through between people. that’s magic. That’s that’s it. It’s music,” he says, the start of a “You kind of get a sense from magic. smile tugging at the corners of people, you know, what kind of Constant takes a moment to his mouth. music they like, and, and if you compile his thoughts. “I mean, In conclusion, as it is with peohave a vibe going, right? I, at one point you either, you ple, so it is with music. We all “It’s just a, it’s just... you know can’t live without it, and, when are drawn to music for reasons what, it’s magic. When people you realize that, nothing else specific to us, unique to us as talk about magic, and they’re really matters, you just make it an individual. not sure what it is, there’s, work, you just make time for it, there’s an energy to music, you make it happen, and you there’s an energy to playing music, to playing music with “It’s just a, it’s just... you know what, it’s magic. When other people. people talk about magic, and they’re not sure what it is, There’s an there’s, there’s an energy to music, there’s an energy energy to lis-
to playing music, to playing music with other people. There’s an energy to listening to music together, and... that’s magic. That’s that’s it. It’s magic.” - John Constant
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the Eras of Music Medieval Era of Music Spanned 500-1400 (according to wmich.edu, spanned Greek/Roman era to Renaissance) Underwent evolution over time (”monophonic chant” into “complex style”) Witness to the Age of Chivalry, the Crusades, the plague
Renaissance Era of Music Spanned 1400-1600 Culture of the time reflected in music of era (Michelangelo/Shakespeare come to mind, “humanist spirit” reflected in literature/art) Witness to the invention of the printing press, invention of the compass, Martin Luther’s protestant reformation Renewed interest in “learning in general” following rediscovery of “the writings of ancient Greece and Rome”, according to ipl.org
Baroque Era of Music Spanned 1600-1750 Opera found it’s start during Baroque era (”Baroque” translates roughly into “misshapen pearl”, reflective of opinion of critics of time, according to baroque.org) Witness to “coming of” of modern science, according to ipl.org Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Antonio Vivaldi, oh my!
Graphic by Tara L.
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The evolution of music has long held the attention and fasination of many a historian, many a musical analyst, many an average person. The way in which music has born witness to major historical events, the way in which the overall perspective of an era is reflected in the art/literature of the time has long held many attentive. Read on!
Classical Era of Music Sp Spanned 1750-1820 Works of era often referred to being “Viennese Style” W capital of Vienna had become musical center of ((”Austrian (” A Europe”, according to ipl.org) E u Growth of orchestra, development of idea of orchestral G r symphony s y Era dominated by three great composers... Er Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig Fr van Beethoven, oh, oh! va
Romantic Era of Music Spanned 1780-1910 Following Beethoven composers “turned attention to the expression of feeling through music”, according to ipl.org “Romantic” movement Composers sharpened focus on newer “melodic styles”, “richer harmonies” Intent to move audience Romantic era saw “creation/evolution of new genres, such as program symphony”, according to ipl.org (pioneered by Beethoven)
20th Century Era of Music New! Bold! Exciting! Era of experimentation/fusion of styles! Following turn of century many composers “experimented in new ways with traditional instruments” (ipl.org), messed with rhythm, sought “new/different modes of expression” However, 20th Century “does boast numerous composers” that chose to “remain true to traditional forms of music history” (melodic/harmonious)
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The Evolution of Dance and Music By: Ariana Estrada Rhythm is imperative for music and dance. Naturally people want to beat the rhythm in a dance. It is natural to accompany the movement of dance with a rhythmic chanting. Dance and music began as partners to accompany rituals. Throughout all of these years, have people held onto the tradition of music and dance? There is a lot of controversy around dance and music and whether people really need one to have the other. Dance and Music can be separate. Anyone can dance around the room to no music if they want, but where is the fun in that? Dance consists of movements and teaching the body to move the way someone desires. People do not need to know a pirouette to dance to a song. In music people do not need the ability to sing if they desire to hum. Ms. Reed, a long-term dance teacher at Lamar Middle School, explained the fundamentals of choreographing a dance.
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She said, “Well, you definitely need the elements of dance, an understanding of body, action, space, time, and energy. So, knowing how to move your body and having a tempo. To have a particular action whether it be locomotor or non-locomotor.” Ms. Starkey, a long-term choir teacher at Lamar Middle School, said, “To teach a song is very difficult, especially for beginners who come from elementary school choirs because they are not used to this kind of material. It takes a lot of time and patience on a teacher’s part and you have to be very understanding and kind. Sometimes you even have to be the law and put the foot down. You also have to pick a song that the kids can at least try to get into.
“Well, you definitely need the elements of dance, an understanding of body, action, space, time, and energy. So, knowing how to move your body and having a tempo. “ Natalie Reed
That’s why I stray to folk or pop songs whenever teaching a new piece of music. The end result is completely worth it though.” Dance and choir are so different from one another but at the same time so close in relation. In dance you need your body to move, in choir you need your voice to move. And yet, even if they are different, they have stayed together since their creation. Ever since music was created by the nuns for rituals and since the Egyptians started using dance for traditional rituals they were meant to be together.
Painting courtesy of Maler der Grabkammer des Nacht
Not many people know this, they don’t truly know the evolution of both dance and music and they don’t understand how close they are. Someone will always see the two arts as just that, two completely different genres. To teach everyone the importance of dance and music does not stop with each other, they stop with all of us. There are many similarities with choir and dance. Take the type of music they tend to revolve around. Ms. Starkey, “My favorite kinds of songs
are, like, spiritual and like folk songs. I just like songs that make you feel good.” Ms. Reed said, “ I’d have to say classical music or spiritual music. I tend to stay away from pop songs because those are really hard to get into. Contemporary is a really great song to dance or choreograph a song with because the dance can get really serious and beautiful and those songs are basically the, well, the embodiment of that.” Tradition has made this so.
For centuries dance was used in rituals were combined with one another. As time has gone by, as new songs or dances came in and old ones were forgotten, tradition stayed and people forced music and dance to mold perfectly with one another. Dance and music have always been so similar because humans have made it so. Dance and music have not been used as a violent technique, as weapon of mass destruction, because these genres are meant for pleasure, for entertainment. The interviewees had expressed their opinions on this argument. Dance can be important in a person’s life. “Well, it’s important because it exposes you to lots of different arts and also teaches you how to be a good audience member and I think that even if you don’t continue with music or dance as a profession in life I think it will still have a positive impact on your life even if that just means singing your kids to sleep at night when you are older or knowing how to appreciate good music and being able to express why or why not you don’t like certain kinds of music,” said Ms. Starkey. “I definitely believe people should at least give the arts a try. If not I know they will completely regret it. Yes, dance and music is not an everyone thing and some people don’t enjoy as much as I or you do, but it still is important.
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It can teach you how to relate with others who you had no connections with before and it can help you understand the culture of nowadays and how other people in the world are. I would never say that the arts were meant for everyone, because they definitely are not, but I do say that everyone should at least experience these arts once or twice.” Amelia Paul, a student at the McCallum Fine Arts Academy and a dance major, had said. These people and so many others believe that music and dance have a significant importance in one’s life. People can understand why music and dance are important, but what about it makes it appealing to others? Many philosophers and researchers of the arts say it is because music is known to stimulate pleasure and reward areas like the orbitofrontal cortex, located directly behind one’s eyes, as well as a midbrain region called the ventral striatum. In particular, the amount of activation in these areas matches up with how much we enjoy the tunes. In addition, music activates the cerebellum, at the base of the brain, which is involved in the coordination and timing of movement. Amelia Paul said, “No, I don’t really think that. We like music and dance just because we like it. Just because scientists did some test doesn’t mean that there isn’t a deeper meaning to it. Music shouldn’t be seen as a trigger 38 in your brain. It really connects to people’s
emotions.” She said, “I definitely think the science part is very true. There is a sense of calm, a sense of purpose. I’m having a bad day and I take a dance class and it kind of all goes away. So I see the science and I see that being true, it all makes
“We like music and dance just because we like it. Just because scientists did some test doesn’t mean that there isn’t a deeper meaning to it. Music shouldn’t be seen as just a trigger in your brain. It really connects to people’s emotions.”
Amelia Paul
sense to me. At the same time though I think a small aspect of that goes back to life experiences and the people you surround yourself with. There are people who love to dance but they don’t teach dance, they don’t go in that direction. I think that’s where it comes down to the more nurture side of Nature V.S. Nurture and that whatever that experience that person might of had is different from mine because I took the path they chose not too. So yes, a large part of it is science goes into that.” Ms. Reed said that she does believe in the science behind why we like dance and music but she also stated that it truly depends on the person. For some people music and dance is a thing of science, where it can be explained logically and where it can be proved by experimenting. For others, music and dance is a feeling that cannot be explained by any scientific theory. It has been transformed over the years by many factors yet it has always connected people together with its beats and movements. Music and Dance is not for everyone, that is a fact. That does not mean, however, that these arts are not a part of every day life. Ms. Starkey said that, “[Dance and music are] important because....it will still have a positive impact on your life even if that just means singing your kids to sleep at night when you are older or knowing how to appreciate good music and being able to express why or why not you don’t like certain kinds of music.” She is stating that even people who can’t relate to others with music can relate to each other. Even when music and dance are disliked by some, it can connect them together.
Photo courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art
Photo courtesy of Nightryder84
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An Insight to the History of Dance and Music By: Ariana Estrada
This graphic will give the reader an insight as to what different stages dance and music have gone through individually and together. This will also show how culturally diverse dance and music have been.
In most ancient civilizations, dancing before a god is an important element in temple rituals. In Egypt, the priests and priestesses, accompanied by harps and pipes, performed dances which represented significant events in the story of a god, or cosmic patterns such as the rhythm of night and day. At Egyptian funerals, women would dance to express the grief of the mourners.
Graphics By: Ariana Estrada
Although there were many musical stage entertainments in the 1700s, none were officially called “musicals.” The first lasting English-language work of this period was John Gay’s “The Beggar’s Opera (1728)”, a ballad opera that remade popular tunes of the day to lyrics that fit a spoof of ordinary citizens who are no better than common thieves. This, and other British ballad operas, formed the majority of musicals offered on American stages right into the early 1800s. A favorite entertainment in Renaissance France and Italy involves women and men of the court being wheeled into the banqueting hall on scenic floats from which they descend to perform a dance. Such festivities were encouraged by Catherine de Médicis after she was married into the French royal family.
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In 1581 an important step in further progressing ballet is taken by Catherine’s director of court festivals, Baltazar de Beaujoyeulx. For a wedding celebration he produced the Balet Comique de la Reine, combining dance with the narrative interest of a comedy. It is the first dramatic ballet.
Nuns were believed to be the first composers of music. The Roman Catholic church had some of the first choirs and these groups sang to their God during mass. The choirs consisted mostly of nuns but pastors and priests would join in and encourage the audience who were at mass to sing along with the sheet music that were given to them.
In Spanish-controlled New Orleans of the late 18th Century slave owners regard their slaves interest. Respecting Sunday as a “day of rest,� the Spanish gave their slaves the afternoon off and allowed them to socialize. The slaves in New Orleans gathered and typically complained about the heat and their work. They also entertained themselves, making music and dancing. The city leaders allowed the slaves to congregate. Though, they had to meet outside the city in an open area just outside the original city, north of Rampart Street. This area became known as the Place des Negres, more commonly as Place Congo. Grecian culture had a highly developed art. The poetry of Sappho (600 B.C.) and others were often sung in contests. The songs were made with melodies and rhythms based on the poetic meters. Singing was associated with all forms of literature and with dance. The ode and the dithyramb all employed singers who moved to the rhythm of the music. By 500 B.C., ventriloquism had been recognized and both choruses and solo voices were being used in drama. Greek philosophers attached great value to music and to its cultural purposes. The Grecians created the Pythagorean Scale and a complex theory of music were developed. Information from: gonola.com, Musicals101.com, Meghan Starkey (Choir Director), Natalie Reed (Dance Instructor), www2.lawrence.edu, historyworld.net
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LASA in the Hood Join us February 30 in Austin, Texas for LITH Be a part of the most Nerdy and Funny community in the world.
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The
Llama Raft House
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General Admission (Wednesday through Thursday): $35 (2D), $50 (3D) Matinees (before 12am): $47 (2D), $100 (3D) Student, seniors, children (21-35), military personnel, Batter Austin and Chicken Fingers members: $36 (2D), $7 (3D) *All ticket prices not subject to sales tax *Sponsored by: Entertainment World
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