Water Walk

John Cage would not be considered your typical pop icon musician. Many would even claim that his music is unworthy to be declared music. John Cage creates experimental sound productions. While doing so he questions the idea of what really is music. As well to the very way people play instruments even the very instruments themselves. Still fifty years later his sound productions bring question to what really is music.

When contemplating what John Cage was doing on stage walking around maneuvering and operating each contraption. It was clear to see the process, the thoughts behind what to the normal eye looked awkward and unfamiliar. Cage has been trained to read and produce music. What he has done with this classical training is take the next step by showing people the illusion of conventional music. That taking normal objects, not instruments, with process and understanding of sound can convey a song.

Prior too his performance it is announced that Cage has a stop watch to accompany his precise executions for each sound made. So instead of counting out beats and rhythms of the drums and guitar, he is counting when to drop the radio and water the flowers in an exact sequence of sounds. Music is the combination of mathematical sequences and sound. It is represented by symbols and when written out create a harmonious flowing math equation. Cage understands this and in doing so with the strangest of objects produces what is called a song.

So what is Cage doing? For what reason or purpose? At the time of his debut, it is important to consider the outside implications on society. It is a time of American success. A time where every house on the block looked the same and all had a bomb shelters because maybe just one day the Russians might send us to our doom. Now for an artist or musician at the time who are breaking boundaries and pushing limits of modern society. May have been in the eye of some government not very liked. In all odds they probably thought Cage was a crazy communist pushing propaganda through his commi instruments. Perhaps farfetched but pushing new ideas onto a society that may not be ready for what is presented could be a great risk.

While watching “Water Walk” for the first time I understood what Cage was doing was experimental and was pushing musical boundaries. It was not until turning the screen off and just acquiring the sounds produced in his music. It finally made sense and in some strange way all the sounds balanced each other. While denying sight it allowed only one sense to take in the performance. It was completely different for the second time. Instead of focusing on the movements of Cage and already interpreting the sound about to be made. It allows the main focus to siphon into the sequence of sound. Elaborate in his process Cage shows his new perception of music.

Now why does music have to be a certain way? We created the idea of music, the process, the instruments. Why can we not change these ways? Through the song “Water Walk”, Cage intends to communicate that the process of music is not limited. Limited to what produces the sounds to the way the production is presented. Allowing the audience to engage in the idea of what music is.

Public Art: NeckFace

Neck Face eat your kids! Neck Face obese woman! Neck Face had an abortion! Critics would say its not art and some would say he is just lightening up the mood, but as for public art goes its their and in your face, made to scare you, made to make you laugh.

Graffiti and tagging has dwelled into an era that has lost its touch. Its the same old name, the same old bubble letters. Neck Face has set the new model for street art. Perhaps inspired by Satan or King Diamond, his heavy-metal gothic creatures represent fear and comedic relief to the street art world. Unless you are only into delightful colors and flowing

happy moods. You may pass a Neck Face piece and be disgusted and terrified but the few who enjoy seeing “NeckFace puke your brains out” understand what he is doing and its pure comedy.

A noted piece by NeckFace is on a large-scale wall outside of Melrose’s Barracuda, in Los Angeles. This massive piece is a giant ghoulish woman, screaming with tongue out of mouth, stating “ I’m Creepin while your Sleepin!!!” The bright orange of the skin is thick, it is in contrast to the pungent green hair. Her face is covered in black lines and random symbols. The product is hideous, that pleasant old grandma walking past it would not be to happy with it. She will run away and have nightmares of the demon. With NeckFace art thats what its about. It’s not about the arts way its a

bout his way. Creating art that has not been cultivated by the critics and mainstream ideas.

In an interview NeckFace stated “I do what makes me happy and makes other people bummed.” The comedic relief that is in NeckFaces work is almost child like. Tagging billboards including a famous piece done in New York City, Neck Face Begins! Altering an advertisement for Batman Begins, how can you becoming back from a hard days work, see “Neck Face Gary Coleman” and not have some kind of laugh. Along with the written wor

ds most of his pieces incorporate violent creatures, eating babies or reeking havoc. The works speak for themselves.

The hate by other artists is apparent. In an article out of Brooklyn called Fuck NeckFace, it engages in conversation about New York art studio buildings that have been

tagged by NeckFace. Artist living in the building Peter Caine states, “ I hate that crap, It’s just dirtying up our environment.” As well the building supervisor who had apparently witnessed NeckFace dispersing says, “ If I'd known it was him he wouldn't have been Neck Face - he woul

d have been in the hospital with a red face!” For NeckFace statements like these are the things that pushes his obscure work. It drives the dark humor. NeckFace is ugly.

Remake

Perhaps The Coen Brothers wanted to steal John Wayne’s thunder or perhaps they wanted to jest tell a better story. But indefinitely Joel and Ethan Coen took True Grit from being a memorable Wayne film to vivid story of grit. The premise of True Grit is about young Mattie Ross retelling her account of how she saw to her fathers’ retribution. She travels miles away from home by herself to recollect her fathers’ belongings and as well to hiring a US Marshall to take down her fathers’ murderer. She hires Marshall Reuben “Rooster” Cogburn to take down the killer. A stubborn patriot that might as well have a whiskey bottle roped to his hand. Accompanying Cogburn and Mattie is Texas Ranger LaBeouf. LaBeouf possibly the opposite of Cogburn is young and cocky has already been tracking there killer. After charitable persuasion Mattie Ross the three head out for the killer in Choctaw Indian Territory.

The 1969 film True Grit, directed by Henry Hathaway became a classic western film. The original film stared John Wayne as Marshall Cogburn, Glen Cambell as Texas Ranger LaBeouf, along with Kim Darby as Mattie Ross. This film is the typical Hollywood Western. It may be how John Wayne entirely becomes the movie as lead roll. Or it may be the old and out played “western townscape”. John Wayne plays his classic cowboy roll, ending up stealing the show by killing the bad guys because he is the good guy. It is not bad acting it is just out played. Glen Cambells roll as Ranger LaBeouf is additionally another iconic western cowboy roll. He says his dialogue and plays the part but believable and entertaining, not so much. Kim Darby at the time of play Mattie Ross was twenty-two years old. Unable to understand why her character was so perky and happy throughout her ordeal was confusing. She did not fit the role. The Original True Grit is a classic film. It is happy go lucky, good guys vs. the bad guys. The film is entirely of the time but for today’s standards it is outdated.

The Coen Brothers 2010 True Grit remake is not so much a remake of the 1969 film but an adaptation to the book. Being a fan of Coen brother films it was enjoying to see the certain cast that has been used in many of their films. It includes much of the dark humor and extreme bitterness that Coen Brothers films usually have. Jeff Bridges starring in other Coen brother films like The Big Lebowski, takes the gritty role of Rooster Cogburn. In the film, Bridges is pretty damn impressive. In no way has he tried to become the Wayne of the film. Bridges allows himself to become the dirty, grimy, drunk bastard that was destined to be. Texas Ranger LeBeouf, played by Matt Damon is not the best of characters but adds sense of comic relief between Cogburn and Mattie Ross. Hailee Steinfeld playing the lead role of Mattie Ross ultimately brings the character relationships together. Instead of being a spunky young girl like in the 1969 film, she brings resourcefulness and determination. Steinfeld becomes Mattie Ross and allows you to gain insight to the lives of each character she comes across. The film is not exhausting. Each scene is original and unique. Creating the sense of space needed for their entire journey. The 2010 True Grit is authentic. It flows in its dialogue and flows visually within scenery.

Documentary

Throughout the documentary Dogtown and Z Boys, director and skateboard enthusiast Stacy Peralta unearths the foundations to what is today modern skateboarding. Peralta expresses the art and evolution surrounding the beginning of skateboarding. Allowing the viewer to understand why things are and where they came from. Simple transitions from recollected video from the 70’s to interviews from the people who were their and who made it happen. As well as incorporating the punk rock attitude that set apart the Z Boys from everyone else.

It is important to understand the past to understand the future and in the case of Dogtown and Z Boys you are revealed the place and time as if you were there and had a little piece of the beginning. Peralta assumes you are unaware that there is even such a thing called a skateboard and tells the story. Going in detail the evolution from surfing to skateboarding, how trends of toys come and go but it is really about the culture of Southern California’s Santa Monica. How money and where you live is your status in the world. It is the story of the people who were not the prominent members of society, the people who were not supposed to succeed in life, fulfilling their passions. The documentary takes you from the beginning of the Zephyr surf team to how the lives of everyone separated and the paths they took. Communicating how life is a mystery and how no one could have foretold the outcome.

Bands like Black Sabbath, Neil Young and Jimi Hendrix grip you to each hill topping slop of the film while not being annoying or overpowering. The music chosen was to portray the time and energy of what was going on. Communicating the story was extremely acknowledged while cutting from old film reels of the 70’s would express what the interviewee was stating giving some connection to what was going on. This allowed some internal view of their lives as well to your own. Including ideals like childhood, becoming and developing as a person, and having a career. This is not just a happy go lucky skating the streets film, it speaks to you because it is the truth and the truth is art. The ups and downs of peoples lives, changing their surroundings and the norm is creating art. Peralta perhaps to keep the attention of the viewer, changes cuts from color to black and white and back and forth. Artistic, perhaps, but the change in colors definitely mixes things up.

Directory Stacy Peralta tells the story of The Z Boys. He shins light on the misfortunate and the people who succeeded. To watch how just a group of sub par kids to society could so greatly impact the future. How no one could have seen it coming, but it happened and the story had to be told.

“Two hundred years of American technology has unwittingly created a massive cement playground of unlimited potential. But it was the minds of 11 year olds that could see that potential.” Craig Stecyk 1975

Food Review

The best god damn food on this planet is without doubt freshly caught seafood. It can be oysters, shrimp and crab, snapper, octopus and grouper, doesn’t matter where you get it. If it came out of the ocean and you eat it quick, it’s of the gods. Not just one preparation is good enough, for any method is genius or just eat it raw.
Living in the United States, the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans are at easy access. Coastal areas get the freshest catch, but that is not to state the fresh catch is not shipped all over. Premium yellow fin tuna is the best of the best and you don’t even need to cook it. Melt in your mouth butter is the best comparison for eating raw yellow fin. So do not ruin this fish by cooking it, for the perfect complement is soy or lemon. Some fish is delicious when cooked like red snapper. Fried, grilled, sautéed, or baked, it will always be tender, it will always be juicy, not to mention healthy when compared to steak or burgers.
Get it from the coast, get it shipped, it doesn’t matter get from the ocean and get it quick. Have the family fish fry; grill the vegetables and salmon, sauté the luscious halibut or just raw on ice. The favorite dish is up for decision but the best food is from the sea.