Waffa Bilal

Times Union Article

Wafaa Bilal's gallery has been shut down.

WTF RPI? The alumni of RPI really hold the power over everything. By power, of course I mean money. Part of me understands why RPI always plays it safe, I get that. Funding, alumni, etc. But if you're pushing the arts department. Pushing the "Rensselaer University". Then what are you doing shutting down this display? Talking about this in class has brought up about 5 stories of students final projects that have been shut down. Now, while these have been slightly controversial projects, they haven't been THAT crazy. It's mostly been funny inside RPI jokes like "One word empties wallets. Rensselaer. Why not change your mind?" or pro-religious projects. It's really interesting to me because RPI only got wind of Wafaa's project after the press it's received.

Now let me just say that I was part of a large conference call with artists in Iraq with Wafaa translating for us. He's a very normal, calm guy. He's just enjoying this time being at RPI and was really gracious to us for being so willing to participate in the phone call. We were able to ask questions to the artists in Iraq. We even had a Jewish guy ask questions, which was kinda neat. My big question was how artists were influenced in Iraq. Do they focus on a positive future or does their work reflect their harsh day to day reality?

These questions are interesting. These questions bridge the gap between cultures. Aren't we supposed to be learning from eachother? Embracing our differences? I've learned a lot already from Wafaa. From how administration reacts to what life for an artist was like in Iraq. (They tend to focus on staying alive rather than their work and it's hard for them to ever take their art outside of their homes). I support the Arts Department of RPI. It's just a shame that RPI ended his gallery display early. As an arts student at RPI, I've learned a ton, so thanks to everyone regardless of your opinion.

-Emelie

Visting Artist Waafa Bilal

After viewing some of his work and seeing him in person today for the first time, I am really surprised that RPI has him as a artist in residency. His work is very controversial and frankly I'm surprised to see him at RPI considering the stir he could potentially create. However in my own opinion I think it's great for the arts department to have him here. Today Waafa and a group of students (including myself) were part of a phone conference with 4 artists in Iraq. It had me thinking about his work and the artists in Iraq. Their artwork must vary so much from that of an American's in concept because of the significant differences in day to day life. I also wonder if their inspiration is more about a positive future in Iraq or if it's about the negative present.

I find it kind of amazing that in such a war torn place there are artists that are able to support themselves. I just imagine life over there to be much more practical and focused. I value art and music so much in my life and I cannot imagine how I'd be different emotionally without it. Then to think about these people in Iraq who probably don't have much music or artwork (expression of their feelings) and how that must be so bounding. I could be wrong though, I'm not really sure. These are all just ideas based on what I know as a young American girl.

-Emelie

Laws of the Jungle | Response

Immediately, this article made me think of delicious. The internet has become the best classification system in the world because of the ability to tag items. I personally liked the quote "Things have their places, not a single place." No longer do we need to physically separate things into different categories. Now we can have things/topics/ideas/thoughts overlapping and in a variety of places all at once. I immediately think of books, cook books, emails and other paper goods that have now become electronic and organized. With the click of a button we can have a search done or something alphabetized. It's simple and economical.

A Response to Henry Jenkins

This post is a response to:
"Quentin Tarantino's Star Wars?:
Digital Cinema, Media Convergence, and Participatory Culture"
By Henry Jenkins

First off, let me just say that I've never seen Star Wars or Pulp Fiction or 98% of the other movies mentioned in this article. However, I do understand a lot of the references to fan culture and media. There were many many references that were way over my head as well. The main idea that I got from reading this piece was how fan culture has evolved so much that in todays society, ANYBODY can get their work out there. So now people can use such resources as youtube.com or fan websites, forums, blogs, etc to post their ideas, stories, movies, artwork, etc and be recognized for it.

Anybody can take a cheap camera and make a film. Anybody who has a computer and a camera, even if they are doing in-camera edits. While the quality may be horrific, their point and idea is getting across to their audience and that's all that matters. If their concept or idea was good enough, they could be picked up by someone with enough money to further their project.

Fan culture is interesting in that it is FOR the people, BY the people and there is something very appealing about that. Taking out the 'business' of movie making and story telling, you get people who are passionate about this stuff and that really speaks for itself.

My favorite part of this article was the quote by Francis Ford Coppola in the very beginning. He states "For me the great hope is now that 8mm video recorders are coming out, people who normally wouldn't make movies are going to be making them. And that one day a little fat girl in Ohio is going be the new Mozart and make a beautiful film with her father's camcorder. For once the so-called professionalism about movies will be destroyed and it will really become an art form." That quote really embodied the entire article into a few lines for me.

-Emelie