Expressionism

Dear readers,

To day we answer the question of "what do I think expressionism is?" If one is to simply look at the word expressionism we see "expression" and "ism". "Ism" clearly refers to an art movement while "expression" means that the artist is expressing something, however all artists express something. So what is expressionism expressing?

From what I have seen, expressionism is the taking of our inner most feelings and exploring the dark side of those feelings. The feelings that are expressed are all shared feelings of humanity. For example in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari the expression is a fear of death and a desire for love. In the Twilight Zone episode "Nick of Time" the expression is of our obsession with time and fear of the unknown (in this case the future).

These feelings are usually expressed through surrealistic settings which convey how deeply the piece delves deep into the human psyche (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari). To me that is what expressionism is, an expression of our deepest fears and desires while exploring the human condition.

Continue expressing,

Mike Hand

Dear readers,

This is not a post on SOPA. After seeing this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7xjxYNOj5Q. The way he placed the censorship in the video was great and really got the point across. However this video is both not and is the point.

The video uses the camera restrictions of the Halo world to create a short filmed, required voice acting, editing and a script yet I found it a bit jarring when someone asked him how one gets noticed on YouTube because the person asking the question is "an aspiring YouTube artist."

You may be thinking, "why do you have a problem with this?" Well the reason is simple, what most people see on YouTube as art, I don't see on YouTube as art. While there are some very well made and well executed videos on YouTube what some of these "aspiring YouTube artists" see as art is doing commentary on video games. Am I insulting Lets Players? No, not at all. I find a well done one very entertaining and they can be fun to do but I can not call it an art form.

There is not very much technique involved in doing a good lets play other than being able to be amusing and knowing the game. I simply cannot understand why people who only, exclusively run Lets Plays call themselves artists unless they are doing so to sharpen their skill at improv (often times this is not the case). If anything, while it is fun, it is more reminiscent too a movie commentary that you are interacting with.

Figuring out upload schedules for his lets plays and his other blog,

Mike Hand

First Post of the Year

Dear readers,

I beat the count to twenty game! Albeit in a small group of about seven or eight people I still count it as beating the game. Really that is the major achievement of this day. That and becoming better at ice skating.

There is a lot that could be said but nothing else that really should be said. School is starting again tomorrow and I'm both excited and unexcited for the coming week. On one hand I get to see everyone again and I'm that much closer to being done with this semester but on the other hand it is school.

Well, what else should be said? To life, a new year and to health, prosperity and happiness,

Mike Hand

Year End Post

Dear readers,

I would like us all to take a moment to sit back and look back on the year we've had. There's certainly been highs and lows. For some people I know they're at a high while others are at a low. And while I sit here looking back on all the things I've both accomplished and failed to accomplished I have to come the most important realization of myself.

My entire life I've run from the facts of life. I looked away from the terrible only to look at the positives but thinking on it, is it right? Not for me it isn't. Today, I have to stop running. Life happens and it will always move at the same pace. A pace I have to keep with. This weekend reminded me that every second with everyone and everything counts and I'm not going to use that time running.

My name is Michael Hand. This is my blog: A soul of its own. For the last time this year ending a blog post.

Hoping you have a good New Years,

Mike Hand

In Memory of Urryan

Dear readers,

This is likely a post I won't put up because I doubt many of you will actually care. It is simply something I find myself writing to help myself cope.

That said it is time to get down to business: This morning I woke up like every other morning and see that an old acquaintance of mine had passed away. Nor is it a joke; Lawrence High School has a memorial set for tomorrow. Myself and many friends of mine are, to put it lightly, shocked. Urryan was a funny guy and more importantly a good guy.

I do believe once I wrote that I'd write my thoughts on death and this seems the occasion I need to. Death is a thing we can not see pass and which has a state of permanence. They say the only things that are permanent are changes but this not true; The only things that are permanent are changes and death. All my life death has run circles around me, constantly reminding myself of the fact that I am mortal. I always have glanced over this though; I am young and I have nothing to fear. Of course today I was reminded that that is not the case at all.

In the case I've never said this, I love and appreciate you all as friends. From everyone I've learned something new and it is an understatement to say that it helps me develop as a person. So it is that I hate to weigh you down with my problem but at the same time this is something I need to type.

So before I start speaking circles I'll close this off. Rest in Peace Urryan, you died to young,

Mike Hand

Holiday Posting

Dear readers,

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and to all a good New Year's Eve. In all seriousness as I type I'm trying to find something to type about. So instead I will type about how somewhat difficult it is for me to find something to type.

It's counter intuitive; I got a new instrument, hat, vest, am done with my PiG paper, will be pretty much done with school entirely after this quarter, am planning to make a band and see as many movies as possible during this break but at the same time I'm grasping at straws that just don't seem to be there.

At the moment none of these are making me want to write but all I want to do is write. For me it is self exploration to sit down, think and record my thoughts but at the same exact time some thoughts I can't right on. Who cares about my thoughts on Christmas and crazy people? Probably only I do. The list could go on but I feel that the point is known.

So really this post is to wish all of you a happy holiday.

Hoping the holiday is enjoyable,

Mike Hand

Time Flew

Dear readers,

Right now I'm dealing with something a little strange for myself. Did you ever have one of those instances when people say something and you think, "that will never happen to me"? I have and those are senior speeches in congress. Every year people break down crying and say that no one can know why until they stand up there themselves. Now don't be mistaken any one crying isn't crying for the sake of it, most of them centered their entire high school around this club. We all went in there awkward freshman or otherwise and returned from the battle field of debate as man. This is no joke, I would have people tell you how awkward I was freshman year at the first congress but most of those people graduated. What remains is a few people and then myself. I who can tell you how awkward the majority of the people in every school's club were when I first met them, I who could tell there growth intellectually and socially, I who was approached by many people with important questions and then I who will graduate and leave.

What I'm grappling with is "and then what?" Ultimately the moment I leave for college I will slowly be erased from the memory of the club which made what was probably the biggest impact on my four years of high school. It used to be that I cared about awards but that ended after the first congress when I realized my joy could never be in awards but only in speaking and being near a group of people who far exceeded in intelligence and creativity most people I knew at school.

And when I go to college I lose all that. More then that I may lose myself. Is that a bad thing? Maybe, maybe not but I guess the only thing I can do is go boldly towards the future.

Looking to what's ahead,

Mike Hand