PressPausePlay

Media has greatly evolved over time, especially with modern day technology.  The documentary PressPausePlay explores the influence that technology has created on the many different types of media.  Art has quickly become something that is not only for the elite culture.  Through democratization, mass media and art have become something for the mass culture to enjoy.  Making art, movies, and recording music has become much easier to make.  Lena Dunham, a film director, says, "It's possible for anybody to make a movie now" (PressPausePlay). 

However, without the help from modern day technology, movies and recordings would be much more difficult to create.  Technology has become vital in creating and making just about anything.  For example, with the help of today's computers, just about every song on iTunes has been edited along with each and every movie.  It has become an essential part of not only the industry, but modern day society.  Bill Drummond, an artist, says, "Technology always comes first, then the artist comes along" (PressPausePlay).  

Technology has become something that everyone relies on and has made it so just about everyone could make a movie if they wanted to.  Just one person can create a whole film.  They could produce it, direct it, edit it, and even act in it.  Artists have become more and more independent thanks to the evolution of technology.  Andre Stringer, from Shilo, says, "Anybody can do anything" (PressPausePlay).  

Throughout the film, Olafur Arnaldas, an artist from Iceland, shows the importance of technology in the creation of music today.  He blends classical and pop music to make something no one had ever heard before.  Although he only plays piano himself, he is able to blend other instruments in to create music unlike any other.  Soon after he put his music online, he became an overnight success.  For Arnaldas, it was not about the success, it was about inspiring people through his music.  Olafur Arnaldas says, "But I think it sounds good, and that's what matters, and I hope that people realize that it's not about elitism and rules, but about doing something nice" (PressPausePlay).  Many times, it is easy to become caught up in the world of technology, however, Arnadlas truly shows that it is about inspiring others.  His success truly shows the positive effect that democratization can have on the world.  It is constantly keeping this changing and giving the chance and opportunity for many people to create new things with their own ideas.  

"Smoke Signals"

The movie "Smoke Signals" is a story focused around two young boys, Thomas Build-the-Fire and Victor Joseph, living on the Coer D'Alene Indian Reservation in Plummer, Idaho.  Thomas is a so-called "nerd" who enjoys telling stories and helping others.  On the other hand, Victor is a tough boy who likes to do things for himself without the help of others.  Although very different, both boys grew up with somewhat troubled pasts.  As a baby, Thomas lost his parents in fire, however, he was saved by the heroic act of Arnold Joseph, Victor's father.  As a child, Victor dealt with a life surrounded by parties, poverty and an alcoholic father who then left Victor and his mother.  Later, he would find out that his father had passed away.  With the help of Thomas, Victor is able to travel with him to Phoenix to get Arnold's remains.  
Although two completely different characters who both had no intentions whatsoever of being friends, I really enjoyed seeing how Victor and Thomas could work together to teach each other so much.  Thomas has nothing but good intentions, and is able to use these to help Victor heal after the death of his father.  Similar to Ceremony, Thomas is able to use his story-telling skills to help Victor heal.  He helps Victor realize that his dad only wanted the best for him.  In return, Victor helps Thomas by showing him how to be a "real-Indian."  After their trek to Phoenix, it is evident that Victor and Thomas have become something they never thought they could be, friends.  One of my favorite parts of the film was when Victor shares his father's ashes with Thomas.  I really enjoyed seeing how Victor and Thomas worked together to help one another and make each other better versions of themselves. 

In The End...

As Ceremony has come to an end, it has become evident that hope is a very prevalent theme throughout the book.  In the last section of the book, there are many different glimpses of hope that come from the stars.  "'It's for light.  The light of the stars, and the moon penetrating the night'" (Silko 211).  Hope is constantly reflected in the moon, stars, and nature in the book.  "...a shooting star arched from west to east, scattering light behind it like dust on a trail" (Silko 216).  Through the darkness, both literal and figurative, hope always seems to appear, to bring hope and light to every situation.  Also, besides the stars, the sunrise also brings a great sense of hope to many different situations throughout the book.  "Yet at that moment in the sunrise, it was all so beautiful, everything from all directions, evenly, perfectly balancing day with night, summer months with winter.  The valley was enclosing this totality like the mind holding all thoughts together in a single moment" (Silko 220).  Stars are a sense of hope, especially for Tayo as he is faced with difficult times.  Stars are hope, they are light in the darkness, and a guiding path for Tayo.

Along with the glimpses of hope, there are many moments that stand out throughout the book, especially towards the end.  Many people question Tayo's sanity, however it is Tayo that is right all along.  "He cried the relief he felt at finally seeing the pattern, the way all the stories fit toghether -- the old stories, the war stories, their stories -- to become the story that was still being told.  He was not crazy; he had never been crazy.  He had only seen and heard the world as it always was: no boundaries, only transitions through all distances and time" (Silko 229).  Tayo is finally accepting the fact that everything that has happened to him in the past is a part of him and has made him who he is.  He has realized that he doesn't want to change his past, but instead wants to learn from it.

Tayo's Character

Throughout reading and discussing Ceremony, the character traits that Tayo posses has become more and more evident.  Although Tayo is many times treated with disrespect because he is a "half-breed," he has a kind heart and treats others in a different manner than he is treated.  He chooses to treat people with complete respect and kindness.  Many times in the book, Tayo even treats the simplest little things, such as a grasshopper, with a caring heart.  He would never hurt a fly.  Although at first Tayo may be assumed to be a "tough-guy" because he has fought in war and has pushed past lots of traumatic experiences, Tayo has an unexpected soft side.
For Tayo, no matter how many times he is treated with disrespect, he precedes to treat others the exact opposite.  Even the simplest little things mean a lot to Tayo.  "He looked down at the booth into the weeds first to make sure the grasshoppers were gone before he set his foot down into the crackling leathery stalks of dead flowers" (Silko 143).  Tayo treats the most simple and smallest things with utmost kindness.  Another thing that is important to Tayo is being kind to nature.  "He slipped his gloves out of his jacket pocket and took hold of the boughs gently, remembering that it was an old tree and the limbs were brittle.  He shook the snow off carefully," (Silko 194).  Tayo truly does have a soft side and seems as if he is one of the most kind people one would ever meet.  He puts his kindness and care into everything he does, from treating people right to taking care of nature.