branching structures

Hapless Fame multi-path comic version 1.0

multidirectional comic structure

branching structure

I loved Jonathan Harris’ Ted Talk on collecting stories….or snippets of stories to gain insight into any person’s life or how they are feeling at a particular moment.  I am again reminded of how refreshing it always is to hear tidbits of people’s thoughts, even if you don’t know who they are.  Sometimes you can relate to a total stranger.  My sister and I live a few hours away from each other.  There have been many nights where I was up late or very early in the morning, only to log in to Facebook and see her updating her status (which immediately let me know she was awake as well) and I knew at that point what she was doing or how she was feeling.  I sometimes was able to read the plans for the day, her feelings of the day that was just ending or how tired she might be. The use of the many social networking outlets that we have available to us today, help in keeping alive the art and tradition of storytelling and quick documenting.  Even though the habits of families glueing polaroids into albums and writing captions has long gone down a new avenue….the intent has always remained the same.  The intent of documenting an event, a feeling, accomplishment or a simple everyday occurrence.

I was inspired by the pictures and stories from Johnathan’s trip abroad.  The stories of the people in the village (personal glimpses).  I love seeing collected stories of people in other countries…issues that they deal with or thoughts they might have since they have very different beliefs and ways of living.  I was reminded of how storytelling for decades has always been lengthy recollections that included setting, characters, plot, beginning, middle and ending.  We were either taught a lesson in the end, or became much more knowledgeable of a subject.  Today, we can utter a few words and have the world know exactly how we are feeling at a certain time of day.  In a short sentence, we learned how a young women wanted to be an independent woman and not lose herself to marriage.  We quickly learned of a woman’s role in her society.  My interest in foreign collected stories might come from my own South American background and how different my life and beliefs have come since leaving my birthplace.  It helps to keep me grounded when I am reminded of how my life could be in contrasts to how my life is now.

I’ve also always felt like people are for some reason more honest or open when they express their feelings online or impersonally.  Therefore it is appealing to me to play around in the We Feel Fine Application.  This application is basically a database that grabs and stores phrases containing the keywords “I feel” or “I am feeling” from millions of blog entries.  The results are various interfaces that sort feelings and make them searchable according to a number of demographics.  The numerous colorful dots generated by the particle system in the We Feel Fine application, are representative of people of all colors, shapes and sizes and how they are feeling every minute of the day.

Our class visited the Brooklyn Historical Society, which I’m sure I have passed several times and didnt realize what it was.  We had the opportunity to view an audio installation piece dedicated to Brooklyn’s Vietnam Veterans.  Along with audio, this exhibition uses portraits and personal belongings or artifacts from the veterans.  The audio stories were triggered and heard through an overhead speaker after standing on the illustrations of foot prints.

It was interesting to hear each person tell their own stories.  The experience felt very intimate as we also looked at pictures and of the veterans during their younger days in the war.  We heard about their families, their experiences (whether heartbreaking or joyous) and most importantly, we had a face to go along with the story.  We often hear many stories of veterans from all over the country.  Many of them that sound similar. Many of them having experienced tragedy.  However, we seldom are able to put a face to a story. It was almost like we got to meet these people and listen to their stories inperson.  I envisioned their stories as they happened, I empathized with their feelings and as a result, I was left thinking about how their lives are affected even today. Veteran Anthony Wallace (portrait below) spoke of his efforts to contact the families of some fallen comrades.  He spoke of how grateful their families were, and how blessed they also felt that they were able to have someone that lived to tell them of their son’s final moments.

I think of the many families who have loved ones die or somehow cannot be accounted for.  This story in particular stayed with me because I recently for the first time in my life had to deal with my father potentially dying.  Although he is well and alive today, I remember how I wasn’t by his side when he became ill and how all I wanted to know were details on his condition.  These veterans, in my opinion, led extraordinary lives, yet some of them lead very normal lives today.  Without hearing the stories, of today’s preachers, parents and grandparents, we would never know any of their experiences.

Today, a friend and I visited the Tree Museum. Beautiful day to take a walk on the Grand Concourse and listen to some of the stories these trees have to tell.  Our first stop was in Joyce Kilner Park.  It was a little hard to find to find trees in this location that had the markers. We only managed to find one.  Once we got the number, it was easier to hear some other stories in other locations.  We also visited 170th street and listened to the story of 3 trees there.  One of the trees looked as though it had been cut down.  I found tree number 23 by the Joyce Kilner park interesting because of a hotel that used to exist there, I was surprised to hear that what was once known as the “social center of the bronx”, housing famous baseball teams and holding presidential conventions was almost turned into a welfare facility and is now a residence for senior citizens. Although many of the trees are clearly new and did not exist for a 100 years,  I felt like some of these trees were relative to how humans carry on stories for generations.  The stories about the Salvadorian vendor and the bee keeper, will be told 100 years later.  Below is a small visual map of a few of the trees that we found and their locations along with some other pictures.

Voice Over- Emily Ryan

In my short animated series and video blogs entitled Hapless Fame,  a writer named sneaks into a high profiled party to get some gossip and ends up being wrongfully arrested. This short audio piece is Lisa and her friends recapping the experience during the party.

Audio story

This fan-fic piece  is my version of part of the Gossip Girl episode entitled “The Serena Also Rises.” While there are other characters in this series, I am focusing mainly on Serena, Blair and Chuck. For those that are not familiar with the show below is a brief description. Gossip Girl frequently refers to Serena as “S” and Blair as “B.” Other supporting characters might sometimes receive nicknames as well.

Gossip Girl is based on a book series turned into a show in 2007. The series is narrated by “Gossip Girl” whose identity is unknown. The series revolves around the lives of rich/privileged teenagers attending an elite high school in New York City’s Upper East Side. Despite all being under the age of 18, these teenagers lead very adult lives. The series follows “Blair Waldorf” and “Serena van der Woodsen” who both have been long-time friends, allies and seldom rivals. Both girls are also Queen Bees in this society as they are envied by most of the girls within their high school. The story also follows “Chuck Bass”, who is notoriously known as the bad boy of the Upper East Side. Chuck is a womanizer with a troubled past but has an occasional soft side. Gossip Girl circulates rumors (whether fact of fiction) on a website or via text message. These tips are usually text messaged to “her” or somehow technologically communicated (i.e. picture mail etc.).

Gossip Girl then disperses these rumors to everyone who has subscribed to the service.

Gossip Girl’s rumors primarily focus on the main characters seeing as how they are all in some way socialites and well known in their community.

*Sections in Bold are narrated by Gossip Girl

______________________________________________________________________________

Good Morning Upper East Siders, Gossip Girl here, your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite.

It’s Fashion week! The time of year that every girl wishes she could be a part of.

Who wouldn’t trade in her only pair of Manolo Blahniks to be front row to see anything Loboutin. SPOTTED: S and a certain socialite partying it up at the Marc Jacob’s after party…. and where is our B? Looks like B is our new lonely girl. What’s wrong princess? No Friends?”

“Come on people get with the program and fast” Says Eleanor,” I have a fashion empire not a hobby, no time for mistakes.” Eleanor screams as she walks around looking at the models being fitted. “Fix that dress before I faint!” she screams.

“Relax mother, you’re gonna blow Ralph Lauren’s spring collection out of the water”, Says Blair, “You have absolutely nothing to worry about with me at your side.”

“I know honey thank you, you’re so much more supportive than these nitwits I pay to be here” says Eleanor.

“Yes mother, and I’ll be front row for the best show since last year’s show during Fashion Week.” says Blair. Eleanor chuckles, “flattery will get you everywhere dear. Don’t forget to tell Rachel to reserve a seat for Serena as well.”

“Serena’s not going to be there”, says Blair

“AND WHY NOT!” Eleanor exclaims, “You girls have always been front row at my shows since you both were in junior high school.”

“Well traditions are meant to be broken mother.” Blair snapped.

“Whatever you and Serena have got going on, fix it and quick” says Eleanor while snapping her fingers three times at Blair.

Eleanor walks off and leaves Blair while she mimics her mother’s actions of snapping her fingers.

Meanwhile Serena and Poppi Lifton are having lunch at Sugar.

“So we need to go shopping so we can have more outfits for every day, afternoon and night for the rest of  Fashion Week.” says Poppi.

Serena looks down at her plate and shrugs her shoulder.

“What’s the matter Serena? Why the long face?” asks Poppi.”Well Blair and I aren’t exactly speaking right now, so I think I’m gonna lay low for the rest of Fashion Week, just for a little while.” Serena says softly.

“Lay low?” asks Poppi, “You laying low during Fashion Week is like YOU buying a knock- off Louis Vuitton. Unforgivable, laughable and whyyyy would you even think of doing that?

“Yea I know” sighs Serena, “I guess we can skip Eleanor’s show, she won’t even notice.”

“At a girl.” cheers Poppi, “So where are we going first? Bergdorf’s? Neiman Marcus?

While S and Poppi do a little splurging, our favorite Bass has his hands a little filled. SPOTTED: Chuck Bass doing a dirty little deed or as he would like to call it, “a good deed.”

“Make sure you thank your parents for making such a beautiful, sensual and touchable human being” says Chuck while rubbing his hands on the young girl’s face while they sit in his parked limousine.

The girl giggles, draws closer to Chuck and whispers “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome,” says Chuck as he tries to kiss the girl.

“So where are you taking me tonight? Dinner? Your place? Dancing?

“I dont dance” says Chuck and he kisses the girl on her neck, ignoring her questions.

“Okay so dinner then? You can charter one of your jets to France for a few days” exclaims the girl.

“I prefer my women quiet,” whispers Chuck as he attempts to grope the young girl.

“Ok I can do quiet”, says the girl “but I thought we were going to go to lunch.”

“That’s the problem, you’re always thinking” as he continues to fondle the girl.

“You’re a pig!” exclaims the girl

“And you are just a potential one night stand.” asserts Chuck.

The girl grabs her clothing and purse and leaves the limo.

BCBG, Calvin Klein, Dior, Michael Kors. Fashion Week is well under way. RichGirl22 was kind enough to send us a pic of our S and P partying it up and NOT being total ladies.

Poppi and Serena are drinking and dancing at one of the parties.

“So wadda ya say we stop by Eleanor’s show?” asks Poppi.

“Oh noooooo, the paps are going to be all over that one and I just don’t want Blair being mad at me for life” says Serena.

“Serena forget about her, let’s go!” Says Poppi as she grabs Serena and pulls her out of the club.

A few minutes later Serena and Poppi enter the hall of Eleanor’s show before it has started.

Serena sees Jenny Humphrey and approaches her.

“Hey Jenny, haven’t seen you around lately” says Serena.

“Serena! Hey” says Jenny looking puzzled as she looks unto the clipboard she is clutching, “I don’t see you on the list.”

“Yea about that” says Serena, “is it possible to somehow get me and Poppi into the seating arrangement, kind of a last minute thing.”

As Jenny stumbles to respond, Eleanor walks up to the girls

“Serena, Poppi, good to see you girls, Blair said you weren’t coming” says Eleanor.

“Yes I’m sorry, I forgot to RSVP, please forgive me” says Serena, putting both hands on her hand on her chest.

“As a matter of fact, I’m glad you both are here, would you girls mind modeling some of my designs? I’m trying to have more IT girl faces on my runway this year. Would you mind? Eleanor asks

“Me? Model? Shouldn’t Blair”…. says Serena as Poppi harshly nudges her and interrupts Serena’s response.

“Of course!” screams Poppi “Eleanor Waldorf Designs??? Of course!!!”

“Of course, I’ll do it, I would love to” screams Serena as she hugs Eleanor and Poppi.

As Serena, Poppi and Jenny scurry backstage, Blair stands in the far corner scowling.

A few minutes later the show begins. The models walk out unto the runway and photographers snap their pictures. Serena walks out unto the runway, glances and smirks at Blair sitting in the front row.

While Serena poses at the top of the runway for an extended period of time, they both stare at each other, before Serena breaks eye contact and makes her way back down the runway into the dressing room. Blair gets up from her seat and walks backstage into the dressing room. While Serena is changing outfits, Blair taps Serena on the shoulder…

“You are wearing my mother’s dress, walking down the runway of  MY mother and wearing dresses I should be wearing.” Screams Blair.

“Get over it Blair” says Serena nonchalantly as she turns her back on Blair.

“Get over it?” asks Blair.

Blair proceeds to push Serena in the back. Serena turns around, charges at Blair and snatches the headband off of Blair’s head.

“Take off that stupid headband. Your mother is a designer and you have crappy taste to go along with that crappy attitude!” screams Serena.

“The two scuffle before the other women in the room separate them. Both girls walk out of the dressing room.

Don’t worry B, the brightest stars burn out the fastest. Waiting for a star to fall…

XOXO

Gossip Girl

55 word story

We hug, laugh, or as I mostly remember, squeezing each other, nine years have gone by, nine years of memories…from running in the yard with no worries to wondering what the future will hold. everyone’s crying, “don’t forget to write, don’t forget to call.” I promise that I always will. Tears on everyone’s faces.

6 word story

I am already procrastinating, bad idea