Shy's response to assignment #4: Plungasana Informercial

Plunga Infomercial 3 from Shyamala Moorty on Vimeo.

password: Plunga (note the capital P)


Feedback questions: 

1.  Are there any moments that are particularly funny/entertaining? 

2.  Is there anything that makes you think?  Is there's the potential for leading into a more serious topic with this.  If so, what topic/s do you see it relating to?

3. As the infomercial  developed it turned out to be more for video then a live performance then I had originally expected.  I do still imagine that there could be some audience interaction, like teaching them to meditate while using the plunga wand etc.  When you watch it, can you imagine any live elements (would the announcer be live and the dancing and yoga be on film, or vice versa?)  Or could there be live performance that is related to this?

4. What are the politics of commercialization in relation to this piece?  Is there a possibility for empowerment of herself and her community through selling the Plunga Flow Workout, or do you think she's "selling out"?  Please explain your answer

5.  is there a relationship to the comic book theme?  how so?   Do you see any connections to other (Un) epic Wonder Women characters or themes?

6.  Who do you think the uninspired woman, the plunger dancer, and the yogasana demonstrator are? (are they Plunga?  are they Nirmala (before turning into Plunga)? are they different ordinary people?)

7.  Any other comments, suggestions, ideas?

Shy's UnEpic Encounter, Assignment #3

 Part 4: Encounter
 Password: Ganga

Every day to Epic from Shyamala Moorty on Vimeo.




Part 1:  Epic Woman
Not all of this made it into part 4 of the assignment and I wanted to get feedback on other parts of the movement so I included it here (My every day woman is all in the part 4 video above, from the beginning until the music starts).  
Password: Ganga

Ganga study from Shyamala Moorty on Vimeo.


Questions:
1. What movements are most interesting in both videos?  what least?
2. What do you think about the use of sounds in the first video?
3. Do you get any sort of narrative or other associations of meaning in either video?
4. Is the material more interesting in conversation or separate? (together is part 4, separate is Part 1 by itself and the first couple min or Part 4 before the music starts)
5. What could be the next steps with this material?

Ganga Cleanser of the Universe -Origin Story

In case you can't read the above caption: In the crowded busy city of Los Angeles, there was a little oasis for yoga lovers in the lovely retreat home of a yoga teacher named Nirmala.*

If you can't read the bubble above it says:  "Something Must be caught in there! Just a little more suction and..."

If you can't read the bubble it says "Pop!!!"

should read: "partitioning of land in 1947, splitting Hindus and Muslims into India and Pakistan"

should read "...into the sewer system"

If you can't read the above: "She awoke to find a tiny glowing pearl on her fingertip.   As she gazed at it, it grew and grew until it envelope her - transforming her into..."

If you can't read the "voice of god" it says "Behold Ganga! Cleanser of the Universe!"

should read "yoga students' bad thoughts..."

Sorry about the typos.  I'm still working to clean them up and may be able to post a cleaner version soon, but thought it more important to just get it up!

 Feedback:
1.  What do you think about the origin story of the cleanser of the universe?  Are there any holes in the plot, or things that I should modify to make it stronger? 

2.  I tried using collage images for some of the comic and some watercolor paintings for the other parts.  While these images are just ideas (perhaps it would all be animation eventually), I'm curious if you are particularly drawn to any of the images.  If so, please say which image/s and why. Also, how did you feel about the collage being used in some parts and the paintings in others?  How does the aesthetic of a collage or a painting add or detract from the comic book world?

3.  How might this goddess/superhero interrelate with your goddess/superhero?

4.  Any ideas for ways to dance or stage any of this into live performance?

5.  Any other thoughts?

Shy's response to Assignment 1: Ganga Comic

This is a series of slides, made in powerpoint...

Here is a version where each slide is 6 seconds. if that's too fast, there's a 10 sec version below...

Vimeo:

Ganga Comic Study from Shyamala Moorty on Vimeo.

10 sec slides:

Ganga comic with longer slides from Shyamala Moorty on Vimeo.

Questions:

1. What do you enjoy about this "comic"?

2. What do you think of the comic book format?

a. What coud I do to make it more comic book like?

b. Were there too many photos on a page to take in during a movie format?

c. How were the speed of the slides (they're all 6 seconds right now, I'm not sure but I may be able to vary the timing for each slide.)

d. Should I "animate" things within each slide...so for example each photo could add in until you get the complete page, and I can add thought bubbles coming in sequence as well.

e: other ideas?

3. How was the superhero aspect?

a. Did you understand her superpower?

b. Do you have any ideas related to what her superpowers cover? I had a thought that human version of her is a clean freak and is always cleaning....and she looks into the toilet bowl like a crystal ball to show where troubled people are. Is that funny or just gross?

c. What are ways to make Ganga look more interesting...I think I want to give her rubber gloves and a blue eye mask. Anything else you can think of to make her costume more superhero like?

4. If this were a part of the live performance, I am thinking that the beginning could be projected, then the live dance could start with ganga's transformation and plunging...and it could end with the last slide of the yoga guy's reaction. Do you have other ideas about how this could be integrated into live performance?

5. Is there nything you would change?

Any other comments or ideas?