Blog End

Hi there Blogheads,

Today is your last post so, it's time for a little reflection.

Please answer the following questions:
Which post you enjoyed writing most? (& why?)
Which post you enjoyed writing least? (& why?)
Which of your classmate's blogs you enjoyed reading most? (& why?)
Who has the most attractive blog? (& why?)
What you enjoyed or disliked about the blog writing experience? (& why?)

Leave a comment on your teacher's blog and on the blogs of 3 classmates. Write a minimum of 250 words.

A Special Website

Today I'd like you to write about a special website you like to visit. It doesn't have to be your favourite or the one you visit most but one that you go back to visit every now and then. In my case I'm going to write about AsianCinematic, a web site I found in 2010 when I was doing a course on "Experimental Cinema". http://www.asiancinematic.com/ During the course, we discussed a cult Japanese movie called Tetsuo about a man who starts turning into an "iron man" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetsuo:_The_Iron_Man). We watched a short clip of the film and it inspired me to investigate the genre. Anyway, whilst investigating I came across AsianCinematic and started to explore by cross-referencing the films with Internet Movie Database (IMDB). I've seen quite a lot of Asian films because I've always been interested in Asian culture but this webpage gives you access to so many films that it's a little overwhelming. I searched through a couple of specific genres and found films that you would never see on the mainstream TV or in local cinemas. My favourite finds were: Love Exposure (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1128075/) and Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169222/). I also saw some other crazy films like Machine Girl (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1050160/) & Tokyo Gore Police (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1183732/) that quite silly are so full of blood that all you can do is laugh. Tarantino is a big fan of this type of movie and it's easy to see where he gets his ideas (e.g. Kill Bill). I don't visit the website very often because I don't have much time during the academic year, however, I'm looking forward to the holidays when I can put my feet up and watch some good films. I don't think this website is for everyone because some of the films are quite "strong" in nature. However, if you like good independant cinema, it's brilliant.
Write about a website that you visit every once in a while.
Say:
When you first visited the website,
How you found out about it,
What it's about,
Why you like it,
What sort of people would like this website.
Mention anything else you think is important. Write at least 250 words. Comment on your teacher's blog and on the blogs of 3 classmates.

A Piece Of Art

I can’t claim to know much about art but I do know what I like. As a teenager I was a big fan of Salvador Dali mainly because of his amazing imagination. Pop art also appealed to me because it was usually very clever and there are some modern artists who produce excellent material that gets you to think in another way. However, the painting I’m going to write about today is “The Little Tower” by Pieter Bruegel. I’ve never actually seen the original which is in the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam, Netherlands but it’s a painting I was drawn to since I first saw it on a postcard in the Museum of London in the early 80’s. I still have the postcard (which is now almost 30 years old) on my wall at home. I think I might have been influenced by the similarity with the Tyrell Corporation building in Bladerunner which I saw about the same time. However, I really like the idea of the Tower of Babel and of our forefathers trying to build a tower to reach the heavens (actually, architects are still trying to do the same today, I mean just take a look at the Gran Torre Santiago!!). The colour and the detail are also amazing plus the fact that Bruegel transported the building to his native Belgium. I really wish I could paint like that! Write about 2 pieces of art you like. Say what they are, Who they are by, When you saw them for the first time, Why you like them, Mention anything else you think is important. Write at least 200 words. Leave a comment on your teacher’s blog and on the blogs of 3 classmates.

A Film

One of the best films I've seen in the last few years is a British film called Fish Tank. I actually saw it at home on DVD as I don't go to the cinema very often any more (I've been once this year). The film is an independant movie by director Andrea Arnold and my eldest sister Terry suggested that I watch it. The film tells the story of a young girl from a broken home growing up in a poor part of London. The film is a drama and it stars unknown actors. The lead role is played by Katie Jarvis and it also stars Michael Fassbender who is the star of the other movie I was going to write about (and best movie I've seen this year) "Shame" by British director Steve McQueen (A must see movie - Watch it!!!). I enjoyed Fish Tank because it is a very British movie and it relates to elements of British culture that many people don't know about. The young girl in the story is a bit of a loner and has a very troubled home life. Actually, I've just seen that the full fill is available (subtitled) on Youtube:) Here¿s the trailer. Write about a movie you enjoyed. Say: What it's called, Where and when you saw it, Which actors star in it, What genre it is, What it's about, Why you enjoyed it. Mention anything else you find interesting. Leave comments on your teacher's blog and the blogs of at least 3 classmates.

10 Things You Want To Do Before You Die

Because of my age I'm limited with my choices. I can no longer play football in a Premier League football team for example or travel around Europe on a Student rail card (you need to be under 26 years old!). However, there are other options. 1. I'd like to travel to lots of places. If money was no option I think my first stop would be Japan because I've always been fascinated by Japanese culture and I'd like to experience it first-hand. 2. I'd like to direct a movie. I started making little videos last year and I think it would be amazing to do something more professional. 3. I'd like to finish writing a novel. I've started lots but never get past 2 or 3 pages. I think if I took six months off it would be a possibility. 4. I like to record some of my newer songs in a good studio. I've made lots of recordings but I haven't recorded anything in a good studio since 1996. 5. I'd like to see Janelle Monae in concert. My nephew saw her last year and said that she was brilliant. 6. I love cooking so one of my ambitions is to open a little restaurant. Maybe it’s something I’ll do when I retire from teaching. 7. Actually, I love drinking so I’d also like to open a little bar. One that plays good music and that all my friends use as a meeting place. 8. As most of you know, I come from a big family so; I’d love to be able to invite all my family for a holiday reunion in Chile. It would be great to show them all how beautiful Chile is. 9. One of my ambitions would be to take a year off and work my way around the world. My wife and I have joked about doing it so maybe next year………. 10. Finally, I’d like to find inner peace and contentment. Phew!
Write about the 10 Things You Want To Do Before You Die.

Leave a comment on your teacher's blog and the blogs of at least 3 classmates.

A Little Present for Music Lovers

Feist plays at Amanda (Vitacura) this Saturday. It's gonna be good:)

A Concert, Exhibition or Show

I guess I’ve been lucky when it comes to listening to live music. I grew up in a time when everybody I knew was either in a band, starting a band, or knew someone who was in a band or starting a band. From the age of 16 I went to gigs regularly. I watched rock bands in pubs, Jazz bands in hotel bars and punk bands in dark dingy basements. Today I’ll write about one of the concerts I enjoyed most, which was going to see Nina Simone in London in 1988. I started listening to Nina when I heard one of her songs on a cassette my brother had. The song was “My baby just cares for me” and it was love at first listen. I’d listened to other female Jazz/blues singers before like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith but I’d never heard a voice with the quality of Nina’s. Over time, I started to hear more and more of Nina’s recordings and the more I heard her the more I liked her. Anyway, when the concert dates were announced I went out and bought tickets straight away. I was living in London at the time and I read about the dates in the New Musical Express, a popular music paper which I used to read from cover to cover every week. Nina Simone was a very special artist. I’d had tickets to see her before but the show was cancelled at the last minute because of trouble with Nina’s mental health. She had been trained as a classical pianist but became known as a jazz singer. However, in her concerts she often used to stop mid-song and tell the audience to stop talking or insist that they pay attention. If they didn’t, she would often just get up and leave. When the day of the concert arrived I was really excited. It was held in a theatre in the centre of London and it had the atmosphere of a classical concert. I went with my girlfriend (at the time) and a couple of friends. The support act was Najma Akhtar a British/Indian singer who I really like. She played a wonderful set and got a great reception. When Nina arrived on stage the applause was thunderous. It was just Nina and her piano but the sound she created was amazing. Nina introduced some of the songs with stories about the song; how it was written or why she enjoyed singing it. She was very formal and asked people not to talk while she was playing. She played for a couple of hours and then she was gone. I think the main thing I remember about the concert was the fact that I had experienced something extremely special. Well, it’s not every day you get to see a living legend. Write about a concert, an exhibition or a show you went to. Say: What it was, Where it took place, How you found out about it, Who you went with, Why you enjoyed it. Write at least 300 words. Leave a comment on you teacher’s blog and on the blogs of at least 3 classmates.