I Write Stuff

The end of Writing 1 ... I write no more. Sadness.

Brittany Moore: Graphic Designer

Graphic design is not merely a post-grade school career choice so unenthusiastically chosen for the simple fact that, for the medium’s rapid progression in the new millennium, it is sure to earn me an enormous income with hardly any downfall. No, this medium has spoken to me since I was a mere 7-year-old girl who experimented for hours upon thrilling hours with MS Paint. I’ve had eleven years to familiarize myself with computer art, and I did not waste any of them to do so. You could say that graphic design and I are destined companions.
My creative process remains the same through several digital design programs, from simple GIMP to complex InDesign: lightly outline the main elements, fill with base colors of the appropriate mood, shade and lighten to the proper illumination, and adjust endlessly to ensure perfection. My main observation of most artists’ digital works is how they take advantage of the tools’ sharp, luminescent effects that physical artistic tools cannot possibly compare to. That said, the aforementioned perfection I wish to accomplish lies within simple psychological questions: what objects should be sharpened and emphasized to express the single rogue emotion in an otherwise consistent environment? What deep shadows should contrast with bright highlights to symbolize the light and dark emotional aspects within the work? How does this parody or lie parallel to current reality, and how can I allow the general population to observe the hidden distortions of society?
I’m always excited to find my audience asking the same questions about my works as much as I do, for I find it my duty to parody the outer world in my own visions, which usually capture obscurities of the popular perspective. I strive to find humor and light within reality’s cold, unfeeling features just as I do to reveal the unfortunate sides of an otherwise optimistic atmosphere. With all the current new-age conflicts that society has, I say there’s no better way to parallel those conflicts than through a modern media such as graphic design. Audiences can hopefully gather the opposite array of thought I present to them, and furthermore be encouraged to ponder upon their own interpretation of life.
With the aforementioned goal in mind, I don’t fear anonymity, for I believe my audience should concentrate on the most important focus of any of my work, the content itself. As long as I strive to create, I’m willing to explore other boundaries beyond my own artistic vigor. Throughout those underground ventures in the artistic universe, I don’t mind leaving a trail of anonymously created art behind. All that matters is how my designs are accepted and pondered over.

Children at Play, Patrons at Debate

Jessica’s Statsky’s criticism on youth sports organizations, “Children Need to Play, Not Compete,” states her dislike for several aspects of the practice such as competition among the parents and children’s psychological development after competing. Christine Romano evaluates her logic and reasoning in “Jessica Statsky’s ‘Children Need to Play, Not Compete’: An Evaluation.” Although Romano raises good points about Statsky’s strengths and weaknesses, she also misses some points to her logic. So what exactly did Romano hit and miss about both Statsky’s strong and weak logic?

According to Romano, Statsky uses several methods to strengthen the thesis of her article. For example, she appropriately and believably cites several sources in many different mediums in order to verify her arguments (Romano 317-18), such as statements from Thomas Tutko’s book Winning is Everything and Other American Myths and quotes from Rich Tosche’s article “Peewee Football: Is it Time to Blow the Whistle?” from The L.A. Times (Statsky 389). This indeed strengthens Statsky’s arguments in that several of both professionals and nonprofessionals are concerned about the subjects at hand. In addition, Statsky applies examples in each paragraph to portray the nature of what she argues against, application which Romano describes as “believeable” and “appropriate” (318). Romano unwontedly repeats herself constantly, including on this point, when she lists within two paragraphs how Statsky’s sources are appropriate (318-19), when it could have been summarized in at least one half of a paragraph.

Romano also touches upon Statsky’s weaknesses. She states that Statsky’s argument, while it does have consistency, is incomplete because of two main reasons: Her neglect to mention noncontact sports and to arouse questions likely to be asked by certain demographics (Romano 319-20). Statsky refers to several sports such as Peewee Football and Baseball (Statsky 388), but never mentions examples of noncontact sports such as track running or swimming (Romano 320). This is indeed a large weakness of Statsky’s logic, but Romano, even within two unnecessarily repeated paragraphs about the point (319-20), perhaps may not entirely embrace her point. Although there are alternative sports, this doesn’t change the fact that competitive team sports need to ease up on children’s minds and bodies. Parents reading Statsky’s article perhaps already know of these alternative options, but still agree that other sports should be less torturous on their children. As for answering questions asked by certain demographics, Romano is absolutely correct, in that Statsky barely, if ever, tries to answer possible questions. Romano states that Statsky overlooks parents who believe mainstream sports teach children teamwork, social skills and sense of community (320). Statsky indeed doesn’t press upon these questions, seemingly ignoring their arguments in order to press upon her own points, a logical fallacy.

Statsky’s logic indeed has strengths and weaknesses, but so does Romano’s evaluation. No matter who is doing the aguing, evaluating, or reviewing the argument’s evaluation, there is no escaping how many people will find holes in anybody’s statements. One can only hope that the debate about competitive team sports will eventually be resolved.

Obligatory Identification

Welcome to the enchanted meadow of infectious dribble that is my blog.  If it has not already become apparent by my first statement, you must first realize my intrigue for eloquent speech and altogether love for seeming that I use a thesaurus in every situation I speak or write. I must, however, state that I am not a prude. In fact, I have been described many a time as amusing, bubbly, uplifting and otherwise one of the strangest people you've yet to know. Those who personally know me could tell you that the personality I portray in my writing heavily contrasts that of my everyday nature Even so, I dare not let my spoken language and live antics erase any strand of dignity the human language has, being constantly downgraded by use of text-speak and prolific swearing that the general public insists upon plaguing their speech with. I speak from my heart, ad my heart says prolong the elegance of our expiring language, so I shall move further as such.

I am an artist by trade, or at least working on doing so. My primary focus is in graphic design, which I have practiced since I was but a small lass of 7 years old, playing around in MS Paint, my first prints by my mother from a HP Deskjet printer, made to be tacked to her cubicle wall at the office to show what a dear little talent her baby was. I didn't really like her doing that. Art to me at the time depicted my deepest imagination that I found sacred and special, something I could keep undisclosed, my secret shelter from people who estranged my talents and thought processes. How could I, a child with no means of explanation, tell this to my mom who just thought it selfish of me to not allow her to show me off? I suppose I didn't know the reason myself, so off she went. Soon I was known as an artistic prodigy, and eventually as I accepted digital art as my future occupation, I grew more comfortable with publishing my craft. I figured it was better to invite people into my obscurely imaginative universe than to shelter myself away and never relate to anyone.

This leads me to the initiation of this blog. While a class requirement, I hope to also embed some personal insight to my personality and imagination as I become a better artist. This entails letting the public into my mind, sharing my opinions and evaluations of anything I wish to discuss. So welcome, my companions, to some words in a row by Brittany.