My Montagnard Documentary in COMPLETETION

Here is my DMA Documentary on how American culture has influenced traditional Montagnard Dega music and dance since coming to the US. ENJOY!!

Is digital media bad for us?

If taken too far, I do believe digital media can be potentially bad for us. As human beings, we born with curiosity, and these days with all this new high tech equipment we are able to develop our curiosities further, and dig deeper into what is of interest to us. There is so much information posted on the internet that one can easily investigate what would normally be a hard to find topic.
This can be potentially dangerous politically because people can start to become influenced by the many extremely biased political opinions and thoughts posted on the internet. Instead of being out in the world, forming one's own opinion the worry is that people will rely on these internet posts to make their political decisions.
Digital media can also be potentially dangerous interpersonally from online social networks, but has also shown good results in it's connection to face to face social interaction. If used in the wrong way, I believe social networks can be very dangerous (ex. sex offenders targeting young children through online social networks such as MySpace and Facebook). But if used cautiously, studies have shown it helps people become more social, not only online, but also in everyday, face to face interaction.
Emotionally, digital media can be dangerous in that it can become very addictive. Just look at the online game World of War Craft; a game in which you can find many teens, as well as adults, spending the majority of their time playing. It is a perfect example of how the internet can be extremely addictive.
There are also cognitive worries that digital media is making us rely too much on it, thus reducing our mental capacities. I think this is a very legitimate worry. One can easily access so much information, and answers, through the internet. The internet acts as a universal brain, holding endless amounts of knowledge that is far too easily accessible. I could see how, if used in the correct manner, digital media could be used as a very beneficial learning tool. But, I think many people take advantage of, and abuse, the endless amounts of information on the internet.
In conclusion, I believe digital media can be a very beneficial tool, if used in moderation. One cannot allow themselves to rely too much on it, or become addicted to it; these are both the real dangers. If one is aware of these dangers they will be fine! Just sit down and enjoy this fancy technological advancement of our age... but not too much time!

Traditional vs. Contemporary

I used the theme of traditional vs. contemporary to interpret traditional Montagnard music and dance, and how it has been influenced by American culture. The process of making this video went pretty smoothly. I wanted to find a good representation of Montagnard music and compliment it with some video clips of dance. It showed a traditional Montagnard instrument, as well as traditional dance and costuming. Then I compared it with Montagnard hip hop artist, Mondega to show the American influence. I paired it with some Montagnard refugees doing a more American hip hop style dance. Overall I am pleased with how my video turned out!

Digital Art & Artists

The internet has opened up so many opportunities to allow people to share their ideas with so many more people than they ever would have been able to before. This blog is perfect example of that! I never would have been able to share my thoughts/feelings/ideas with so many people if it weren't for the internet. 


The articles we read this week shows how the internet opens up opportunities for artists that normally would not be seen/discovered. Issa Reinvents uses the internet to sell, or give away her music, depending on the listener. She allows people to choose how much they want to pay, if anything, to download her music. Surprisingly, she has actually been very successful! Atomic Tom is another example of utilizing the internet to share, but also play their music. They all use iPod touches to digitally play their instruments because their instruments were stolen. They are a big hit! The Story of Cosmetics also shows how an artist can share and spread their thoughts and ideas that normally would not be heard by so many people, if not for the internet. Those are just a few examples of the many ways artists utilize the internet to share their art with others.


We also read about copyright. Creative Commons's "vision is nothing less than realizing the full potential of the Internet — universal access to research and education, full participation in culture, and driving a new era of development, growth, and productivity." They use the internet to help information become universal, that without the internet would not be possible.


Now, due to the internet, artists can share/spread their music, thoughts, books, videos, etc. with the world!

creativity, influence, ownership, and art in the digital age

What is digital media? Technically, digital media is a bunch of broken signals or separate pieces of data (digits) that are brought together to look continuous. According to Lev Manovich, the Digital Age all started when the histories of mechanically produced images and mechanical devices that perform numerical processing intersected. These images and numbers were brought together and industrialized/mechanized, thus creating the computer. In relation to other times in history, the Digital Age can be seen as industrializing mental labor, compared with the Industrial Revolution in which new technology freed humans of manual/physical labor.

I think this information about digital media is all very interesting in relation to creativity, influence, ownership, and art in this day and age. Sometimes it seems as though technology interferes with our creativity. With so many resources available on the web it's hard to not be influenced by other people's works. It is also very easy to mimic these available works, thus opposing ownership. It's hard to know what works are original and what are just interpretations influenced from another person's work. The Digital Age has definitely made it mentally easier to achieve things, which makes me wonder: How has the culture/definition art changed in this new age?

The Montagnard Dega Project: cultural music, art & dance

I am really interested in learning about the music, art & dance of the Montagnard culture and how moving to the U.S. affected it. Is their art influenced by American art? And, is American art now influenced by Montagnard art? How has their culture evolved since relocating to the U.S.?

The Montagnards have adapted to American culture in many ways, from how they dress (they wear typical American clothing instead of the traditional bright-colored, handmade, embroidered Montagnard attire) to intermarriage with other ethnic groups (because of the shortage of Montagnard women in the U.S.). 

Here is a quote taken from the article, TRAN QUANG HAI : MUSIC OF THE MONTAGNARDS OF VIETNAM, PART 2 in which it describes many of the Montagnard instruments and how they have evolved:

"The "evolution" of music since the 1960s lets us see transformations in the
usage of musical instruments. The young generation prefers the guitar to
the 13-string zither, the gông, plastic pipes to the dding clarinet, the
western harmonica to the traditional mouth-organ, the dding nam or the
komboat."

This shows the American influence on the young Montagnard generations because of their choice of an American standard guitar over the traditional Montagnard 13-string zither instrument. 

Another example of American influence on Dega music is Mondega's "For the People."  Modega is a Montagnard refugee turned hip-hop artist. He became so popular because he can relate to other first generation South East Asian refugees in the U.S. 

The Montagnards have also been influenced by American culture in dance. I still have more research to do on this topic, but it seems that the traditional Dega style of dance is still present, but it's performed in a more American setting (such as a competition or recital compared to some sort of ritual).

 

But the Montagnards are still practicing their own traditions, such as weaving. Many of the women refugees take part in this time-consuming, yet beautiful tradition. Again, I have a lot more research I would like to do on this topic.

In order to learn more about these topics I'd be really interested in possibly meeting with some of the youth of the Montagnard community. I think that would really help me see how American culture has influenced their traditional culture, and what the younger generations have grasped from American art, and what they have held on to from their own culture.

Framing

Framing is how one sees/perceives a certain situation, and each person's framing is different from another's because of their individual experience. It's what surrounds a specific point and it's the way we categorize things. For example, if you say the word "cat" you think of other related words or scenarios like 'pet', 'litter box', 'meow mix', 'collar', 'cost', 'vet', 'neutered', 'kittens', etc... These are the surroundings that that one specific idea, "cat".

According to George Lakoff, professor of Cognitive Linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley, "language always comes with what is called 'framing.' Every word is defined relative to a conceptual framework." This framework is what influences/shapes/manipulates the public's opinion of the stated idea. This linguistic framework is used for advertising purposes, to lead viewers to a certain implied idea about the given topic. Advertisers frame their product in a way that the language they use manipulates public opinion. In "The Persuaders", a PBS Frontline video program, they use the example of Starbucks. The advertiser's goal for Starbucks is to have the viewer perceive it as a community, a third place to escape to, a place other than work or home. They want Starbucks to be appealing to the public, so they must frame it that way.

Framing relates to my life in that it effects the way I view things. If I am given the idea "California", for example, I automatically think 'home', 'family', 'Encinitas', 'beach', 'warm', and so on. My individual experience of "California" is unique to any others because of my framing that surrounds it. Not everyone grew up in California, therefore their framing might be completely different; they might see "California" more as 'weather', 'warm', 'beach', 'vacation.' It all depends on the individual's unique background and perception.

Framing also plays a big part in my art, ballet. I think framing has a lot to do with one's attitude towards certain situations. If I go into ballet class thinking negatively I am already setting myself up (or framing) for a bad experience. If I go into class or even a ballet performance with a more open mind, I am allowing the framing/surrounding aspects (the mood of the music, the teacher and other students' attitude, the environment...) of the situation decide how I experience it. I also think it is very important to be able to separate myself from, and be able to recognize the framing of the situation. That way if the framing is producing a negative affect it won't effect me. It's all in the power of the mind!

Let me introduce myself

Hi. My name is Emily Ryall and I am from Encinitas (near San Diego), California. I have four younger sisters ages 17, 15, 13 and 10, who I am very close to. My sisters are what I miss most about being away, but I also miss the warm California sunshine!

This is a photo I took at one of my favorite beaches
in Encinitas called Swami's Beach.

Me and my four younger sisters.

My family came to the United States two generations back; both my dad's mother and my mom's father immigrated from England to Canada, and then to the US when they were young. My dad sells software at a company called Quest Software for a living and my mom is a "stay-at-home mom" busy taking care of all five of us kids.

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I think one of the main problems to watch out for in the US, particularly for young people, is our over-dependency on technology. It is far too easy these days to become addicted to things like facebook, cell phones, iPads, etc. It seems to create a barrier between individuals. One used to have to actually interact face-to-face with others, which I think creates a much more intimate, personable relationship than interacting through a digital screen.

I'd say digital media has a fairly big role in my life. I use the internet all the time to stay socially connected through email and facebook, to look up videos on youtube, to read the news, etc. Although I use digital resources a lot, I try not to become to consumed with/addicted to it.

I have very little experience in growing food (just little, simple things like growing a strawberry plant), but I would love to learn how to grow more food. One day I want to have my own vegetable garden!

I became interested in art around the same time I started ballet, when I was 12. I started becoming more and more interested in dance as an art form, not just a recreational activity, which opened my eyes to other art forms as well (both performing and visual arts).

Advice I would give teenagers who are newly arrived in the US would be to be very open and try a lot of new things, meet a lot of people, and take advantage of all the opportunities the US offers.

I have travelled to Mexico once on a cruise. It was a very touristy trip, so I didn't get to fully experience the culture as much as I would have hoped. I have never lived in a foreign country, but I hope to one day! I am not a very worldly person, but I hope to be in the future.

I think growing up in Southern California--really close to the Mexican border, as well as being very diverse in other races--exposed me to other cultures. Because I grew up with this diversity I learned to be very tolerant/open-minded to other races/cultures.

What matters most to me is my family and friends, and living life in happiness. Since I grew up in such a big, loving family I really emphasize the importance of being close to and staying in touch with family and friends. Without the support of my family and friends my life would be incomplete. Happiness also plays a big part in my life. I believe one should live their life for themselves (not to sound too selfish), and make happiness a priority. Material possessions, money, etc. should not hold greater importance in one's life than true happiness.