Street Art

1) What are qualities that you noticed in the documentary that you can transfer into your own work?

The artists would not limit themselves to just a plain canvas or one medium; they would combine several mediums(i.e. spray paint, photo-shopped images, tile, other paint). They were in a way "fearless", they knew what message they wanted to convey through their art, and nothing would stop them. Not a specific size, limit of color, form, or texture. I feel like this has opened my eyes, I'm not forced to make my art piece go well with everybody else's as long as I'm giving off the message I'd like.

2) What amazed you about the artists work?

They put them selves in troublesome situations, to create art that could be taken down in a matter of days. They travel quite a lot to spread their art, and spread the word, this takes a lot of effort. The time they use to create their art is minimal but very meaningful. They create an image which follows them, the Space Invaders go with "Space Invader" and so on. Many share similar qualities in their work, whereas they aren't copying form each other, they are more "inspired" by each other.

3) How did the artists use their craft to convey a message?

They use repetition, in a way "brain washing", where "Mr. Brain-Wash" got his name. Some seem to use even text to clearly give off their message, like "Life Is Beautiful", or "Hope" on an Obama poster. As they are consistent they attract attention, people decide to look at their art however they want. Though their expression is illegal, to some it may be beautiful.

"The Metamorphosis" Chapter 3

Insects are usually considered pests in our world, when they are in households. The change of the protagonist into a sort of pest can represent many things. Before reading "The Metamorphosis", we read about the author, Franz Kafka, who didn't seem to have a great life/live style. Possibly the author felt he could reflect his childhood into Gregor, as he could have felt bug, or a pest, not welcomed to where he was. Kafka wasn't some one who was very stable, possibly afraid of commitment, as he had engaged and dis-engaged to women a couple times. Gregor couldn't hold any relationships either, because of his job. Gregor was a salesman, who thought other salesmen had it better, I think that Kafka could have had problems as an author initially, believing other were better as Gregor did.

I personally wondered why it was a "beetle". Looking around I discovered(source below) that Kafka's intentions were not to be specific on what kind of bug he was, but just emphasis that he was "monstrous" and "gigantic". What was important was that Gregor became something that could disgust his mother just with a glance. How Gregor looks is all up to the imagination of the reader, a couple features are explained, like his neck(at a point when he turns around), and thin legs. A giant frog would instantly be killed, they wouldn't keep it in the home, I don't think anyone could like with a really big frog hidden away. Gregor is harmless, and weak, though he looks awful. This is all the point to him being a sort of "insect".

"The Metamorphosis" Chapter 2

Personally I believe that everyone you meet changes who you are. The people who you surround yourself with, influence you in the greatest way possible. You can't choose your family, but you sure are surrounded by them a whole lot! The Samsas don't seem like they work as a family. No one but Gregor works in this family. Yes, his parents are old, but all the load is dropped on poor Gregor. They don't seem to communicated very well, as in the first chapter both his mother and father were trying to get him out, and he managed to keep them away only saying a couple words. Gregor's father is hurting his mother and sister by threatening Gregor, and by hitting him. He has no idea how to deal with his son's transformation, so he thinks violence and brute force is the answer. Grete, Gregor's sister, feels like she needs to hide away that she was giving him food initially, as they didn't know what her parents response would be. This family over all seems very destructive.

1)Communication

This is vital in any relationship/interaction. From people to computers, or sister to mother.

2) Dependence

A family shouldn't be dependent on one person, but on each other, there for support when needed.

3)Complete honesty

Lies shouldn't be part of a family, there isn't a reason for them to belong.

4)Respect

They aren't beating each other with newspaper, or throwing fruit at each other(cough)Gregor's father(cough)

5)Love

They have to want to stay as a family, and protect each other.

Samsas Grade: C-

This family doesn't have 1-4, but they have love. If they didn't Gregor wouldn't be alive, his mom wouldn't have stepped in on his father stomping him like a bug. His sister wouldn't have bothered ti ever go inside his room to clean and feed him, or even stand being near him. Lastly Gregor wouldn't have taken the responsibility of his parent's debt as his if he didn't love them.

"The Metamorphosis" Chapter 1

"What circumstances in Gregor's life might have caused him to feel dehumanized even before the metamorphosis took place?"

Gregor worked has a sales man. He work all day, and studied what he'd be doing/working on all night. He didn't have what some may call a " life". Gregor is addicted to work, even though it is clear he doesn't enjoy the one he has. He compares himself to other salesman who probably have it easier, he says "what a demanding job I've chosen!" as he lists all of the various, tiring things he has to do involving his career..He needed to take his mind of things, get a hobby, which wasn't related to his work.This was apparent to his mother as well, as she has told Gregor's manager she would get mad sometimes because he didn't go outside some night, or afternoons. He kept himself away from other interactions with society, he couldn't really hold a relationship with anyone, this making him feel dehumanized.

He probably acts this way because, if he works hard enough, long enough, he will finally be able to pay off the debt, and be free. Gregor is being used, he is paying off his *parent's* debt, not his. To them, he may be just what brings in money. He is too much off a good person to accept this.

When he woke up as a bug, that worried him for a bit, but then he seemed to forget, all he could think of was his job, and how it was a quarter until seven. One can not be completely sane, and forget that they turned into a bug for a couple minutes as they think of work.

Being part of a community, having friends, socializing, it's one of the most "human" things I can list, and this was taken away way before he became an insect.