Have you ever thought that in the academy award has not always been fair for everyone to get the chance to win and be able to let out their sentimental speech in front of other multi talented celebrities?
This can be called to be racist.
At the time of the mid-1940's there was this controversy where the ''black'' community were to begin addressing them offensively that are old-fashioned. One of the first actresses that has won the Oscar is Hattie McDaniel for her supporting role as Mammy in 'Gone with the wind'.
Looking up the word 'Mammy' brings up the signification as being ''Informal'' or ''Disparaging and offensive''. The word mammy is basically used to indicate that a black woman/man is doing her/his role as a servant or as a slave to a white family.
So basically the ''black'' people were being signified or directed to poor roles.
Bibliography:
"Oscar's First Black Winner Accepted Her Honor In A Segregated 'No Blacks' Hotel In L.A.". The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 2016. Web. 27 Nov. 2016
"SHOULD BLACK PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THE OSCARS ?". YouTube. N.p., 2016. Web. 27 Nov. 2016
Sunday, 27 November 2016
Sunday, 20 November 2016
Ali Ferzat Visit
Having over Ali Ferzat at the institute and understanding his thoughts through his translator friend or co worker and seeing his gestures while expressing his thoughts was much more effective and admirable to know about him. I really enjoyed the experience of having over an important artist that is important and talented at his natural artistic intelligible artwork that has made a very large impact on what he passed through.
Thinking about it and looking at the real scenario of Ali Ferzat's experience, I realise how in life we pass through hard times to do what we love to do. Some people just give up, but others keep strong and they would do anything for their talent to keep going on, I rephrase on what Ali Ferzat has said to the audience that were there, including myself, he said that he was born to be as a cartoonist and it is his spirit, he also said that ''An artist should practice what he teaches'', from the last phrase he said made me think a lot because it has a good meaningful value, especially it encourages the people to do what they love doing by keeping up their practice on their spiritual or rather devotional work that they do. One can not teach without having the sentimental value practice that needs to be instructed to others that are interested on a particular subject.
That moment when Ferzat shared his past experience of the time when the people that wanted to break his hands to stop continuing drawing, one really should realise how much we should not take life fore granted and start realising how people would want to stop you from what you love doing because they would know you're good at what you do, but they would just want to destroy what you do.
Ferzat enphasises that he is not a politician himself, but his art is about expressing yourself. He said that he knows that the politic is something very serious and so he said that he enjoys giving them hard time by expressing what they do in reality and how they are destroying with what they do wrong.
Ali Ferzat said that one day it will end, but how it is going at the moment they are tasting their own blood.
He continues on arguing that art is more powerful than anything on earth. He only carries a pencil and something that he finds it very effective to that particular moment or mind thought he would be able to let out his reflection. He argues that the duty on art is to help make change in Syria.
Ali Ferzat said that he finds himself as an important figure because they never had anyone that expressed these type of messages about politician through works of art.
An important point that taught me through what he said is ''when art carries the pain of the people and expressing it widely, people will love you and even protect you''. It's peoples power that kept Ali Ferzat alive and this reflects well on the effectiveness of the power from below. He said that if people hated him they would have killed him along time ago. The civil society said that they wanted him alive and not dead, so thanks to his people that support him Ali Ferzat remained with us.
Thinking about it and looking at the real scenario of Ali Ferzat's experience, I realise how in life we pass through hard times to do what we love to do. Some people just give up, but others keep strong and they would do anything for their talent to keep going on, I rephrase on what Ali Ferzat has said to the audience that were there, including myself, he said that he was born to be as a cartoonist and it is his spirit, he also said that ''An artist should practice what he teaches'', from the last phrase he said made me think a lot because it has a good meaningful value, especially it encourages the people to do what they love doing by keeping up their practice on their spiritual or rather devotional work that they do. One can not teach without having the sentimental value practice that needs to be instructed to others that are interested on a particular subject.
That moment when Ferzat shared his past experience of the time when the people that wanted to break his hands to stop continuing drawing, one really should realise how much we should not take life fore granted and start realising how people would want to stop you from what you love doing because they would know you're good at what you do, but they would just want to destroy what you do.
Ferzat enphasises that he is not a politician himself, but his art is about expressing yourself. He said that he knows that the politic is something very serious and so he said that he enjoys giving them hard time by expressing what they do in reality and how they are destroying with what they do wrong.
Ali Ferzat said that one day it will end, but how it is going at the moment they are tasting their own blood.
He continues on arguing that art is more powerful than anything on earth. He only carries a pencil and something that he finds it very effective to that particular moment or mind thought he would be able to let out his reflection. He argues that the duty on art is to help make change in Syria.
Ali Ferzat said that he finds himself as an important figure because they never had anyone that expressed these type of messages about politician through works of art.
An important point that taught me through what he said is ''when art carries the pain of the people and expressing it widely, people will love you and even protect you''. It's peoples power that kept Ali Ferzat alive and this reflects well on the effectiveness of the power from below. He said that if people hated him they would have killed him along time ago. The civil society said that they wanted him alive and not dead, so thanks to his people that support him Ali Ferzat remained with us.
Sunday, 13 November 2016
Ali Ferzat
Ali Ferzat, from the city of Hama in Syria, for the past 50 years it has been involved with civil war and dictated by one party Bashar al-Assad's militia. It is known to be the worst humanitarian of our time. This is where the one who sheds light comes and speak for the people not as a dictator but as a leader.
He has worked for several newspapers and magazines, where as an artist he produced cartoons without any captions. He frequently draws dictators’ satire to show their oppressive methods of ruling. This marginalize them and makes their social status lower which helps to give the people hope and courage to continue to demonstrate and be critical. Therefore In my opinion I think that art carries human and moral causes because in similar cases it helps people to transcend pain into hope.
If one goes back to the roots of Mr Ferzat, I believe that he always thought different than everybody else. There is one particular drawing whom he drew at just the age of 12 whom he had sent to the newspaper called “AL AYYAM” where he drew about the Evian accords on Algeria, which three days later appeared on the front page. What an achievement for a twelve-year-old, this is where he knew he was on the right path to become a voice.
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There are several drawings that challenged the party and has put the dictator and the regime in fear of not being feared and exposing their weakness. It was forbidden to draw the president and when Ali Ferzat crossed the line, it was then when people started being encouraged by him. When they saw an artist who spoke the freedom of speech and being rebellious through art. People started using his art for protesting.
The president making speech on the reforms, however the drawing shows that air bubbles are going out.
Due to controversial drawings , most of the state never thought that he was based in Syria but in Europe or the United States. There is also a drawing dating back to several years ago showing a symbol of how power from below is run in Syria. It shows a step by step guide of a human life cycle that some dictators are given power either from inheritance or automatically from birth to death.
Another that has withdrew my attention is this drawing which shows the state spending money on wars , on killing and destruction and leaving the people seeking for dignity.
This is what I believe has put Ali Ferzat in danger , because drawings like these aren’t easily accepted especially in a regime that has ruled for fifty years and whose essence is to bully people. An activity that goes beyond their border normally leads to a punishment or perhaps in this case a price that one must pay.
On the 25th of August 2011 , Ali Ferzat was leaving his office at 5:00 am like he normally does, driving his way back home in empty streets only to notice that there was a car following him. He suspected something as he had received threats before through his social media and phone. All of a sudden they rammed his car and opened the doors with man power. The doors were broken down even though they were not locked, this shows how angry the aggressors were. They entered his car and put a bag over his face and handcuffed him. Bodily harm was committed in his car and was dragged to their car where he was put on the back seat and was forced to sit in a specific position to be able to get hit on his hands. I believe this was done to break his hands, to send a message to not to draw more.
After this occurrence, the whole world covered this story and this has made the artist feel very honored that art can still have such an impact and send a message to the heart of the people, as he has power of a Syrian’s voice.
After recovering he found it difficult to draw again, both physically and mentally, however he still hopes that he produces stronger art than ever before.
Reference list:
Stelfox, Dave. "Ali Ferzat, Cartoonist In Exile". the Guardian. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Nov. 2016
Stelfox, Dave. "Ali Ferzat's Cartoons – In Pictures". the Guardian. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Nov. 2016
Thursday, 3 November 2016
Power from below
I think Power has two elements on how to understand it. There's the good power and the bad power. But what makes good and bad? The good should always reside with the community and not to be abused, the bad is considered bad because of the actions and who holds the power.
Power can be broken down into some arenas,
Physical force is the control of the means of force whether in military or police, wealth which gives the ability to buy results and to buy almost any kind of power. There's the power of government which that states the law to compel people to do or not do certain things. For example, as a democracy we the people give the power to the government to the elections. We choose who we think is the best to use the power to enhance our society and life. In third world countries where the state is in a dictator ships power emerges from the threat of force. Then there is the social influence or what other people think that it's okay.
This is mostly used by celebrities either to endorse themselves or for the good however they can change behavior. A social figure can motivate enough people to change the way of thinking and action. If a mass of people collectively show interest it is more likely for growth.
In everyday life, perhaps even in the Maltese Islands forms of power can be noticed everyday, there is social status such as ministers and police members, this allows them to have such abilities over the civilians. In the case of a police member, can give an order or penalties to the public.
In the case of the government there can be a dictatorship which usually emerges from either bad choices of the society or the government turns corrupted. One can easily see the cases of Hitler how he was elected as a good person and turned out to be deadly dictator. Power can be given to the wrong people very easily, one case that came up to my mind is by watching the television series Narcos where I learned that Pablo Escobar, a narcotic drug dealer who ran for president at the same time. He emerged by giving the poor people money (power) and brainwashed them to believe how he wants to be portrayed.
Sources:
"Ja Of Nee". YouTube. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.
"Top 10 Pablo Escobar Facts". YouTube. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.
Power can be broken down into some arenas,
Physical force is the control of the means of force whether in military or police, wealth which gives the ability to buy results and to buy almost any kind of power. There's the power of government which that states the law to compel people to do or not do certain things. For example, as a democracy we the people give the power to the government to the elections. We choose who we think is the best to use the power to enhance our society and life. In third world countries where the state is in a dictator ships power emerges from the threat of force. Then there is the social influence or what other people think that it's okay.
This is mostly used by celebrities either to endorse themselves or for the good however they can change behavior. A social figure can motivate enough people to change the way of thinking and action. If a mass of people collectively show interest it is more likely for growth.
In everyday life, perhaps even in the Maltese Islands forms of power can be noticed everyday, there is social status such as ministers and police members, this allows them to have such abilities over the civilians. In the case of a police member, can give an order or penalties to the public.
In the case of the government there can be a dictatorship which usually emerges from either bad choices of the society or the government turns corrupted. One can easily see the cases of Hitler how he was elected as a good person and turned out to be deadly dictator. Power can be given to the wrong people very easily, one case that came up to my mind is by watching the television series Narcos where I learned that Pablo Escobar, a narcotic drug dealer who ran for president at the same time. He emerged by giving the poor people money (power) and brainwashed them to believe how he wants to be portrayed.
Sources:
"Ja Of Nee". YouTube. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.
"Top 10 Pablo Escobar Facts". YouTube. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.
Controversies on Spatial and Architectural Design
Controversies in architecture and design never live up to their expectations however in some cases some tend to virtue more than most. Perhaps this research can enlighten a reader to seek knowledge not as an observer but as interested reader.
Enlisted are the websites which I have visited to commit myself to find out to get fruitful information, both in research and as a reliable source.
Santiago Calatrava: The World's Most Hated Architect?
Renowned for several impressivc works that had built Calatrava an outstanding reputation has helped him to be trusted with the most remarkable projects. Calatrava before being a recipe for disaster used to turn engineering into an artform. Art in the works of Seville's Puente De Alamillo which was functinal and now very popular among the locals and visitors was a beautiful piece. It all went wrong for Calatrava when he took over big projects with a small vision. Unfortunately, one of the projects he is in-charge of the world's trade centre transportation is wildly overbudget and behind schedule. The list continues with a slippery bridge in Bilbao, over budget bridges in the Netherlands and a flood prone Opera House in Valencia. Although he has been critised and bleeded by the press, he still believes that he can mantain the momentum of his reputatuion.
> "Santiago Calatrava: The World's Most Hated Architect?". Co.Design. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.https://www.fastcodesign.com/3039658/santiago-calatrava-the-worlds-most-hated-architect
MP wants Luqa 'So called' monument removed as soon as possible
There has been quite a hassle on the Luqa monument for several vulgare issues, to mention a few it's dominating the Luqa area, as mr John Schembri said. The debate was about the removal of the monument because of the popes visit in 2006 and that Malta is considered to be known as a catholic country. For which the monument itslef was meant to be as an abstract fantasy based on Mediterrainean colours.
> "MP Wants Luqa 'So-Called' Monument Removed As Soon As Possible - The Malta Independent". Independent.com.mt. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.
''Is human activity primarily responsible for global climate change?''
I included this debate subject because I think it is relevant to the design subject, since it's our role to take care of such situation, it is in favour to our creative ideas and inventions where one can come out with a good solution.
> "Climate Change Procon.Org". Climatechange.procon.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.
> "New Measures Tackle Overcrowded Housing - Press Releases - GOV.UK". Gov.uk. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.
Santiago Calatrava: The World's Most Hated Architect?
Renowned for several impressivc works that had built Calatrava an outstanding reputation has helped him to be trusted with the most remarkable projects. Calatrava before being a recipe for disaster used to turn engineering into an artform. Art in the works of Seville's Puente De Alamillo which was functinal and now very popular among the locals and visitors was a beautiful piece. It all went wrong for Calatrava when he took over big projects with a small vision. Unfortunately, one of the projects he is in-charge of the world's trade centre transportation is wildly overbudget and behind schedule. The list continues with a slippery bridge in Bilbao, over budget bridges in the Netherlands and a flood prone Opera House in Valencia. Although he has been critised and bleeded by the press, he still believes that he can mantain the momentum of his reputatuion.
> "Santiago Calatrava: The World's Most Hated Architect?". Co.Design. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.https://www.fastcodesign.com/3039658/santiago-calatrava-the-worlds-most-hated-architect
MP wants Luqa 'So called' monument removed as soon as possible
There has been quite a hassle on the Luqa monument for several vulgare issues, to mention a few it's dominating the Luqa area, as mr John Schembri said. The debate was about the removal of the monument because of the popes visit in 2006 and that Malta is considered to be known as a catholic country. For which the monument itslef was meant to be as an abstract fantasy based on Mediterrainean colours.
> "MP Wants Luqa 'So-Called' Monument Removed As Soon As Possible - The Malta Independent". Independent.com.mt. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.
''Is human activity primarily responsible for global climate change?''
I included this debate subject because I think it is relevant to the design subject, since it's our role to take care of such situation, it is in favour to our creative ideas and inventions where one can come out with a good solution.
> "Climate Change Procon.Org". Climatechange.procon.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.
New Meausures tackle overcrowded housing
England are proposing new measures to improve housing for tenants by giving them constitutional rights and landlords can now be liable to offence if they dont obtain a licence which declairs the living of the tenants. If the landlord doesn't obey there is now a prosecution. The writer believes by tackling this problem the rental homes would be more of a quality sufficient living. The council have funded in order to apply raids to homes to see if it by the law.
> "New Measures Tackle Overcrowded Housing - Press Releases - GOV.UK". Gov.uk. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.
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