The Fifth Element (Week 5)
by skocko on Oct.05, 2009, under Blog
common sense. 1. Native good judgment; sound ordinary sense. 2. The set of general unexamined assumptions as distinguished from specially acquired concepts: Common sense holds that heavier bodies fall faster than lighter ones.
— The American Heritage Dictionary
So, which is it? Is common sense 1 or 2? Is common sense always a good thing? Does common sense always make sense? These are not rhetorical questions. Think. Answer! Which one makes sense to you? I’ve got to admit, when I first came across some of these quotations, I was puzzled. You see, my preconceived notions got in the way. I’d always been told that common sense was a good thing. And it seemed that I was missing it completely because when my dad would get frustrated at me (which happened quite often), one of his favorite rebukes was, “Gosh darn it! Don’t you have any common sense?” (He’d actually use a stronger version Gosh darn it! if you know what I mean.) I used to feel bad about it until I began to understand the dual nature of what we call common sense.
Abstract finger painted words, to dance the metaphor
Makes the rhyming reason, for those who will explore
Twenty-six, pick-up sticks, word pictures do you see
Common sense, evidence, in conflict do they be
Look the question in the eye, extract what’s make believed
Prism bends the lighted path, like notions preconceived
— Skocko / Dream Yet Complete
Do you get it? Did you even try? I know, I know… What’s this got to do with Digital Art or 3D? I’ll let Loren Eiseley help you to find the answer to that last question:
Is not the real business of the artist to seek for man’s salvation, and by understanding his ingredients to make himself less an outlaw to himself?
In the Mac Lab, you are an artist (Trevor M). The artist within, that quality of self which some of you are beginning to discover, will help you find success in your life’s journey. It’s one of the great secrets, as J.C. Kumarappa well knows:
If the nature of the work is properly appreciated and applied, it will stand in the same relation to the higher faculties as food is to the physical body.
I’ve just given you a precious gift. I have no idea if you’ve clutched it to your heart or rejected it without a second thought. Such is the life of a teacher. I’ll let Dan Simmons give it one more shot:
For our race to reach the next true satori, for us to move to that next level of consciousness and evolution that so many of our philosophers proclaim, all facets of human endeavor must become conscious strivings for art.
In return for your efforts to understand this post, I’ll share another secret with you today. Do you like movies? I do. I promise that when I show you how the Rule of Thirds works, it will wreck the experience… at first. Then it will open up a new level of appreciation for the art. I guarantee that you’ll love movies more than ever after adding the Rule of Thirds to your conscious awareness. Visual literacy, sometimes, is simply coming to understand what you already know. The trick, sometimes, is to free yourself of preconceptions. Don’t let your common sense get in the way.
1006: I talked all period yesterday about the Rule of Thirds so I’ll keep this short. If you didn’t read (or didn’t get) yesterday’s post, read it NOW. If your desktop isn’t set, do it NOW. If yours was set incorrectly, fix it NOW. If you’re reworking your self portrait (hint, hint), use the Rule of Thirds to create a better composition. I’ll work on the InDesign Website process today while you take care of business and the tutorials will be up tomorrow (if all goes well). Designing a Website with InDesign? Now there’s some uncommon sense!
Milestones: Yesterday the Republic of Paraguay became the 123rd country to visit our little blog. We also had our 10,000th unique visitor. Interesting stats about the last 30 days: 9,907 Visits from 95 countries including 49 states plus the District of Columbia (no West Virginia) accounting for 50,580 page views.
Peek at Photoshop World: I still have lots to tell you about it but here’s Scott Kelby’s take (do this at home or outside of class) Mean Scott Kelby | PSW in Pictures | Jet-Lag Monday | And oh do I have something to share about meeting these guys in McCarran International Airport. (Sometimes it pays to be too cheap to spend $4 for a little bag of Twizzlers.)
Featured Student Artwork: When Christian showed up at 6:25, I apologized and told him I had to rip his head off (the blog). I’d written the post but had to scramble to find new artwork yesterday morning because I’d been out of town (at PSW). Trevor M, a Mac Lab Rookie, is also taking an unusual approach to the self portrait project. Please note that this is a work in progress. When he completes it, it’ll be uploaded to the ‘09 Self Portrait Gallery. Is yours ready for consideration? Show me! I’ll add any and all worthy projects.
1007: Man, you guys were high maintenance yesterday. Couple that with family obligations last night and an early morning in the Skocko household (the girls got up at 4:15 to head to YAT for Fox’s early morning feature on Peter Pan, their latest production) and we get a one day delay on the Web workflow tutorials. No worries though as it’s very simple. All requirements for the progress report (next Friday) will be straight forward and easily achievable. Work hard, follow instructions, take care of your time, and you’re guaranteed and A or a B. (More details next week. If you’re working hard, don’t sweat the progress report, you’ll do fine.)
Teacher Angst: Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been oscillating between My plan is working perfectly! and What in the world was I thinking?! True, we are spending an inordinate amount of time on the Pen Tool and self portrait, but think about what else we’ve begun to learn about… Visual Literacy to Digital Literacy. The Rule of Thirds to the Elements and Principles of Design. We’ve touched on Color Theory and have repeatedly explored the Inspiration Section as I’ve hammered on the concept of feeding your right brain. (Soon, not today, I’ll require you to read about and embrace the 5 Stages of the Creative Process.) But most importantly, you’re beginning to understand that the Mac Lab is a different type of classroom. You’re learning that you’ve got to be self-motivated. You get to work at your own pace but you have to work hard. You’re coming to understand that moral and ethical behavior are required (admittedly, not a new lesson for everyone). You’re never finished in the Mac Lab! isn’t a whip to make you work harder; it’s a reminder that you can always improve upon your artwork. And speaking of that, just look at how much better this year’s crop of self portraits are compared to last year’s. (If you don’t see a big difference, wait a day or two as I’ve seen a whole bunch of others that are nearing the initial completion stage. Once again, the students raise the bar.) I’d love to feature your self portrait too. This project sets the tone for the rest of the year so you might as well throw yourself into it! Resistance is futile.
Visitor Update: The Republic of Yemen is our 124th international visitor.
Don’t Let Advertisers Poison Your Mind: Sequence of events: Ralph Lauren published a grotesquely Photoshopped image of a model. Photoshop Disasters republished the image, rightly pointing out the disastrous final result of a Photoshopper Gone Wild. Ralph’s lawyers hit Photoshop Disasters with a DMCA and his ISP automatically removed the offending image. (Make no mistake, it is an offending image, but Ralph and his crew are the offending parties, IMHO.) Boing Boing also ridiculed the image. Ralph’s lawyers struck again. Boing Boing fired back. Bravo! It’s high time the “fashion” industry is called to the carpet right here in the Mac Lab as well for yet another pathetic attempt to poison of the minds of our youth.
Hey, Ralph! If you want to make clothes for Barbie, switch to the toy industry. If you want to make clothes for women, try a little honesty in your representation of the female form. [END OF RANT]
1008: Yesterday, as with every day so far, I asked you to read the blog. Today’s no different. What is different is that today you have an assignment. Now, I realize that some of you don’t like reading the blog but I made it clear early and often this year that reading it wasn’t an option. If it was a deal-killer, I told you to take another class. If you don’t follow instructions today, you’ve got an extra hour. No debate. No excuses. No exceptions. Any questions? Good. Today you’re going to create and upload your own Mac Lab Website. If you do anything other than what I’m asking, you’ll receive a personal invitation to spend an extra hour in the Mac Lab. Watch this movie and do exactly what it says.
1009: Would you believe we’ve had visitors from 200 cities in California since April? That’s amazing to me but far less amazing than the facts in the second paragraph. Finish the steps from yesterday first then watch this movie.
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Translator
Paint the World with Light now available
October 5th, 2009 on 10:28 am
“I’ve** always been told that common sense was a good thing.”
October 5th, 2009 on 10:32 am
Common sense may hold that heavier bodies fall faster than lighter ones, but I’m pretty sure that Galileo would disagree. If the to objects are in a vacuum and are dropped from the same height at the same time? Hmm… I wonder… Lol’s
October 5th, 2009 on 11:08 am
Lol! Very funny Kyle
October 5th, 2009 on 11:09 am
“If the two** objects are…”
October 5th, 2009 on 11:11 am
Skocko, ever seen The 6th Sense?
October 5th, 2009 on 1:15 pm
Kyle, we’re ALL told it’s a good thing. That’s the point. Problem is, common sense is like a bag of rice. What do you do when you find out that some of the grains of rice in your bag are poisoned? Hard to know which ones to eat, eh?
Michael, Of course Galileo would disagree. That’s the point. (Or am I misunderstanding?)
I do remember being surprised by a demonstration of a feather and heavy object falling at the same speed in a vacuum. Some preconceived notions die hard.
Sixth Sense? Sure.
October 5th, 2009 on 2:47 pm
My film analysis teacher was amazed I learned what the rule of thirds was in a computer class, and that I even knew it for that matter.
Wait, why am I typing this? I haven’t received an apology for the horrendous inclusion of Larry the Cable Guy in last weeks post-o-rama. I guess I’ll just have to leave in midsenten…….
October 5th, 2009 on 3:17 pm
Wise guy.
Off to ultra interesting Tech Coordinator’s meeting. Back later tonight.
I’m so sor— [click]
Please deposit another seventy-five cents. [click] Please deposit another seventy-five cents…
October 5th, 2009 on 3:48 pm
Quick! Someone give him 75 cents! He was almost there! Ha ha!
October 5th, 2009 on 4:20 pm
I’m putting a challenge out there to the maclab students. On your own time design a mobile maclab logo. I am going to start making an iPhone/Touch app and am in need of a logo.
October 5th, 2009 on 5:23 pm
Are those not currently in the Mac Lab allowed to partake?
October 5th, 2009 on 6:30 pm
—ry
No need to ask, Shaun. You’re an honorary Mac Lab student.
October 5th, 2009 on 7:46 pm
Oh yeah!
I don’t want to waste a post just saying oh yeah, so I’ll just randomly start chatting about Long Beach…. I’ve only got 4 periods which is nice. Gets me much more time on fun Mac Laby stuff.
People are amazed I’m a senior. 3 weeks in some are just figuring it out.
The computer class is agonizing (you actual Mac Labians don’t know how lucky you are). Literally a couple days ago our lesson was to create and save a file…… Painful. Today we typed a page of code into POV-Ray… More painful.
Film analysis is rock. We’ve already analyzed Psycho, Rebel Without a Cause, 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s movies, and we’re working on Jaws now. Great stuff. The shark keeps *SPOILER* eating people. *SPOILER OVER*
Anyway, that was pretty easy to turn a two word post into a WALL-0-TEXT.
October 5th, 2009 on 7:53 pm
Ouch…. “Film Analysis is rock”… Why is there no edit.
October 5th, 2009 on 7:59 pm
Yeah go right ahead Shaun. Lol
October 5th, 2009 on 8:54 pm
P.S. Logos should stil look good at 60×60 pix good luck to all.
October 5th, 2009 on 9:27 pm
skocko look man i am jus having some tough times here in the lab maybe there is something else that would be good for me man I just imagined this class being like somethin else illistrations just really isn’t my thing i am no where even close to being decent at this type of stuff I am sorry to tell you this skocko but it just isn’t working out ever since so told us about the progrees reports coming out this friday I just thought thats it I might as well just quit and get out of the class and find another elective there should be something good in stock for left handed people
October 6th, 2009 on 4:10 am
John, I didn’t set the date for progress reports, the district did. You’re free to change but did you hear the rest of what I said?
You’ll all have Websites, but they won’t be much to look at. I don’t really care about the quality at this point, so long as you’re following instructions and trying your hardest. And (this is the important one) doing the self portrait with the Pen Tool is the hardest project you’ll do all year.
Remember, it’s like juggling. It only looks hard until you get it.
October 6th, 2009 on 6:13 am
Yay. InDesign, finally my years of designing yearbook pages for hillsdale an other stuff like that pays off. I’m sure going to miss flash though…
October 6th, 2009 on 7:01 am
InDesign for Web site design? Blasphemy! Your unconventional ways may have gone too far this time.
Then again, I don’t design my Web pages in DW either, though I will admit the DW code is getting less ugly. For students though I have them use it since I don’t have time in class to teach HTML and CSS.
But InDesign? I have heard of crazy people doing this before. I’ll have to see for my self.
It is a very valuable program for the kids to learn. I’ll have some tutorials later this year.
October 6th, 2009 on 7:36 am
Hayes, just as a feather falls at the same speed as a bowling ball in a vacuum, InDesign allows the same control as Flash without the convoluted workflow and near-vertical learning curve. Both ideas seem to challenge conventional wisdom (and run contrary to common sense).
Cool thing is, InDesign now exports SWFs. Go to Window > Workspace > Interactivity… Oh, wait. You have CS3, right? I just checked and in CS3 the Interactivity Workspace isn’t offered. There IS a Hyperlink panel but no Buttons. Might not be such a thing of beauty in CS3.
October 6th, 2009 on 7:52 am
Ah, see I am missing out on all of the good stuff. First the Blob brush, now this. I hear big new things are in store for Flash CS5.
October 6th, 2009 on 9:25 am
CS5 :O!?
YARRRRRR!!!
*whoosh away with cape in hand*
October 6th, 2009 on 9:26 am
Oh and Michael, is it a free app?
October 6th, 2009 on 10:16 am
I’ll be leaving that up to Skocko… I thought that I might suggest 99 cents and have the royalties go to the maclab funds… probably will be free though because the goal will be for a widespread mobile maclab to take control of iPhones and Touches around the globe. hahaha *evil laughter*
October 6th, 2009 on 10:19 am
That answer in your question Kyle?
The mobile iMaclab is just a concept now, I hope to soon make that a reality. *cough, choke*
October 6th, 2009 on 10:22 am
*death*?
October 6th, 2009 on 10:32 am
yeah but how am i supposed to be better at this kin of stuff even if I never tried it before in my life man it’s probably going to take me longer than I thought it would just to get it
October 6th, 2009 on 10:47 am
John, very few students have ever used the Pen Tool prior to coming in to the Mac Lab. Yes, it takes time. If you want extra help, come in at lunch or before school and show me what doesn’t make sense. If you don’t give up, I guarantee you’ll get it. Probably sooner than you think.
October 6th, 2009 on 11:23 am
it makes sense to me but i just am never good at illustrations
October 6th, 2009 on 11:35 am
Y’know, John, I was never any good at juggling until I spent hours teaching myself how to do it.
Just because you’ve never done something doesn’t mean you never will.
Think about it.
October 6th, 2009 on 12:32 pm
Remember John, the only competition is yourself.
October 6th, 2009 on 2:04 pm
Practice, practice, practice!
October 6th, 2009 on 2:16 pm
I might try making the logo that you were talking about Michael W., it sounds like fun.
October 6th, 2009 on 4:58 pm
Lol Kyle
October 6th, 2009 on 5:06 pm
I sensed someone talking about designing web pages without my precious Flash… I’m scared.
InDesign shall fall! To the torches and pitchforks!
October 6th, 2009 on 5:08 pm
Phew! It’s (InDesign) pink. My worries are for not as Flash is red, a darker, more mature version of pink!
October 6th, 2009 on 5:16 pm
Yay, fixed my gravatar to have a more iPhone app look.
October 6th, 2009 on 5:18 pm
… be gone pointed corners hahahahaha…
October 6th, 2009 on 5:19 pm
Hey Skocko have you beta tested CS5 Suite yet?
October 6th, 2009 on 6:04 pm
Shaun you can’t stop progress even if it threatens your favorite program.
October 6th, 2009 on 6:38 pm
Shaun, I’m right with you when it comes to flash, CS5 leaked beta that is, *evil laugh* but when cut to the chase, and with my yearbook managing background I would have to lean towards InDesign CS4 on this one. Besides tough guy like pink… just kidding… lol
WALL-O-TEXT is so fun!!!
October 6th, 2009 on 6:48 pm
CS5……. *brain implodes, shortly followed by Jaws shark head explosion*
THANK YOU! Finally one reply to that post. It took me around 10 minutes to think up and type! Haha.
October 6th, 2009 on 7:26 pm
Hope you can contain your excitement… it took a lot of digging but I am here to say that if you try you can find CS5 buried in a site… under another sites source code… across the gumdrop valley… and through the lollipop forest… hahaha. I never will say were I start ed my quest(http://www.creativecow.net/interstitial.php?url=http://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/212/543&id=1), but the bounty is worth the hunt… oh man I’ve said to much already… oops I gave the X on the map away. Good digging Shaun… hope you get as lucky as I did. CS5 full Beta is the bomb!!!
October 6th, 2009 on 7:28 pm
Only found Flash and Photoshop though…
October 6th, 2009 on 11:12 pm
John, I hope you stick around!! I wish I could help somehow :*( Do you like to work with any other digital medium…? Photography? Design? Manipulations?
I thought the pen tool was super hard. And… I still think it is difficult! However once you get over this hurdle you can explore new ways that seem natural to you
P.S. Skocko I wanna come visit ^^ Is the lab updated somehow? EVER GET THAT SERVER…?
P.S.S. In my first week at college I’ve already been snagged as an officer position of marketing at a club I attend.. haha!
October 7th, 2009 on 3:41 am
Michael, the Beta won’t be available to peons like me until the end of the year. Only the Flash gods receive the honor. (And scurvy-ridden pirates!)
Making fun of pink, Shaun? As my daughter said to me in Kohls when she picked out a shirt for me, “Real men wear pink.” And if this were not Media Arts Teachers Wear T-Shirts to School Week, I’d don that pink shirt today. Besides, Toaster Boy, have a look at this. Talk to ya later, pinky.
Hannah, you’re always welcome in the Mac Lab. But let me know in advance. Maybe we can time it to coincide with the Pencil Tool since you’re a master of bringing it to life.
October 7th, 2009 on 6:04 am
Pirates like me. Yay! Lol. 8^)
October 7th, 2009 on 10:26 am
alright yeah maybe I will
October 7th, 2009 on 11:49 am
iLOVE BARBiE!!!
October 7th, 2009 on 2:26 pm
Alright, I support the Viper part of that, but for all I know, you hacked their site, and upped the brightness of the image, thus turning the once red image to pink.
Also, I never said men don’t/shouldn’t like pink. All I said was that red was a darker, more mature version of pink. For example, in Red Vs. Blue, Sarge (a red troop)is a more gruff, leaderly character than Donut (a pink troop).
October 7th, 2009 on 2:27 pm
YES! Getting those linky words took about three retypes.
October 7th, 2009 on 3:37 pm
Great analogy Shaun. Lol’s
October 7th, 2009 on 3:54 pm
:/ Looking at that model picture hurt my eyes. That’s clearly cruel and unusual punishment (to me).
October 7th, 2009 on 5:27 pm
i want this shirt skocko: http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/itdepartment/5d6a/
October 7th, 2009 on 5:58 pm
Another Michael W?! This is madness.
So is the MacLab open for visitors? It’d be fun to crash a show-day/presentation-day and observe the first batch of work!
October 7th, 2009 on 6:33 pm
Hmm…
EDIT: Last initial only!
October 7th, 2009 on 7:31 pm
Uh oh. The clone has noticed his double. Get the rhino tranquilizer…
October 7th, 2009 on 7:50 pm
Hmm… The question remains who is the clone. *evil laughter*
October 7th, 2009 on 7:52 pm
Actually, the question you should be asking yourself is are either of you the original?
October 7th, 2009 on 8:17 pm
Easy, the one without the bracelet…
-The Island
October 7th, 2009 on 9:03 pm
Are fraternal clones possible?
October 7th, 2009 on 9:22 pm
Anything’s possible in the world of science!
October 8th, 2009 on 1:37 am
First off; if you can’t click on the name then they don’t exist. NONE OF YOU ARE REAL.
Second off; how much of an ‘advanced notice’ would you need for a maclab visit? I was thinking the front desk calling you would suffice. It would take me several minutes to equip my visitor sticker and migrate downstairs to the lab.
October 8th, 2009 on 2:17 am
Bingo.
But later today the names will be clickable. Then the question will arise again. Of course, since one of you was there the first day I stepped in to the Mac Lab, that answers the question as to who’s the original.
In case of a tie, bragging rights go to the one with the best Website.
—–
Think you might be a clone? Worth a read.
October 8th, 2009 on 4:19 am
Bingo on the arbitrary visits being A-OKAY?
I have vague plans to drop in Friday.
October 8th, 2009 on 6:12 am
Friday? But we’re using the Pen Tool in Illustrator. Won’t that cause you pain?
October 8th, 2009 on 6:19 am
How will I ever trump Werner’s site without the godly powers of actionscript… I do admit that I have a few tricks up my sleve for illustrator though… Hmm…
October 8th, 2009 on 6:24 am
What’s stopping you from acquiring ActionScript skills?
October 8th, 2009 on 6:28 am
First period has access to photoshop, c4d, and inDesign, right skocko… the perfect start to a superior web interface… Do you mind if we lace our sites with flash if we know how… My mind is racing from the endless possibilties…
October 8th, 2009 on 6:36 am
You have access to ALL apps in all periods… once you earn creative freedom. First we do it my way.
October 8th, 2009 on 9:15 am
Yay! Websites… Oh yeah! Hahahahaha lolx10000000
October 8th, 2009 on 3:08 pm
PEN TOOL. GROSS.
See you next week!
October 8th, 2009 on 3:55 pm
Pen tool doesn’t sound to bad to me. Maybe I’ll stop by?!
October 8th, 2009 on 4:03 pm
more like pen TOOL OF THE DEVIL.
October 8th, 2009 on 6:29 pm
Think about it.
This is the 5th week. The first week was pure classroom management. Half of the rest was either life lessons, “boring” lectures, or more Mac Lab acclimation activities. During the other 2+ weeks, they’ve created these (after learning to use the Pen Tool). And there’s more that the kids haven’t cut loose of yet. Incredible stuff no one else has seen… yet.
What happened during the first five weeks of my initial Mac Lab stewardship, Michael? What did the rebellious crew create besides havoc? You were there. You would know.
The Pen Tool is an artist’s best friend. (And so am I. No brag. Fact.)
Time for you to drop your preconceived notions and get acquainted with it. It’d make a lasting impression on the kids if you were to be so brave, Michael. What will you create the first time driving this new tool? (Especially after deriding it — or at least Illustrator — so mercilessly.)
I’ll give you until that first visit next week. (How’s that for a challenge?) Can’t wait to see what you come up with. I know it’ll knock our socks off!
October 8th, 2009 on 6:44 pm
Everyone knows you have a class of mutants (Marvel, not Futurama).
When you picked up the MacLab there were dead rats in the walls, porn on the hard-drives, and more bad apples than good ones and how you kept your sanity is beyond me.
Also I’m pretty sure there was lab equipment stolen regularly.
Silverstein left you with quite the task! HE WAS A REAL GEM.
So now you can be Xavier or JJJ.
October 9th, 2009 on 1:45 am
As to not offend said mutants. Xavier ran the school for the gifted. Super powers!
Actually, X-Men is a great analogy for the entry and exit of MacLab students and the evolution of the maclab in general.
No one reads x-men
October 9th, 2009 on 3:04 am
X-Men timeline here. (I read ‘em in the ’60s and early 70s.)
Oh sure, many Mac Lab students may develop mutant powers, but it’s nothing they didn’t already possess. I just give ‘em room to find the artist within. (I do, admittedly, sprinkle on healthy doses of fertilizer along the way.)
Should I point these guys to the post that traces your historic climb to artistic heights, Michael? I can find it in a flash, if you know what I mean.
October 9th, 2009 on 10:19 am
Yay for linky names!
October 9th, 2009 on 3:23 pm
I think you actually have an entire blog post on it somewhere from the first few weeks of this blog.
They are LOUD and CRUDE. We had like 5 audio-files to work with!
Explosion 1
Explosion 2
Explosion 3
Explosion 4
Explosion 5
And we were working on Macs! You do the math!
October 9th, 2009 on 6:31 pm
Hahahahaha. You’ve gotto love adobe. They just made Photoshop for the iPhone… Free
October 9th, 2009 on 9:49 pm
oh yeahhhhh forgot i read about that somewhere.
GOT IT
October 10th, 2009 on 4:05 am
I found something worse that Adobe Illustrator files.
They are called “SST”’s which are “SHOP SITE TEMPLATES” and have been the thorn in my side for the last week.
Suddenly the pen tool is not looking so bad.