Roald Dahl

http://www.roalddahl.com/

I was looking up some of the favourite childhood authors, see if i could gain any inspiration from them and remind myself of all the old books i used to read. One of these, of course, was Roald Dahl. However, when going onto Roald Dahls website i realised that it seemed to be the website itself that was interesting me!

Of course, it's sort of set out for people about ten years younger than me, (not saying i didnt have a go on the flying peach game however) but it's just the set up and thought that has gone into setting this website up that's really impressed me. There is constant movement of characters and a hand that comes over to write on the screen. Not only are the characters in the background of the website but they just wander over the screen when you're in the middle of reading something etc, which is such a good added extra.

I loved Quentin Blakes illustration, it's one of my favourite looks for a cartoon. Seeing it plastered all over the website is good, keeps up with the theme that Roald Dahl always had and apparently gets everyone old and new having a good click around to see whats going on!

Amelie

Amelie is the type of film that once you watch it you just want to rewind and watch it again so you can pick up all the little things you missed the first time. It has many sub plots winding around each other as we see Amelie grow every year. It's a very complexed yet an easy going film, which is a very hard thing to achieve.

The basic plot of the film is around watching Amelie grow up and find out who she wants to be throughout a series of experiments and mystery. She finds a box hidden in her room from a boy when he lived there in his youth, she tracks down the boy and from then on vows to bring happiness to others always. Along the way finding her own happiness also.

Amelie is wrongly diagnosed with a heart condition by her father and therefore her heart beat is fast throughout her life and her personality seems to match it. The films sets and colour also seems to match that almost hyper yet nervous feeling too. Every colour seems to be in a high resolution with lots of red and greens and the music is very quick and happy.

Audrey Tautou plays Amelie. With her pale face and big eyes she brings such an innocence to the role which is exactly what Amelie needs to be. Everytime you watch this film you pick up on something new or realise the depth and meaning of one of the sub plots. It's definitely a film that is worth taking the time out to watch.

The Sage

The Sage is a large music centre on the Quayside of Gateshead that was built in 2004 for bands, orchestras, opera singers and every type of music genre. It was purposely made to have great accoustics for music inside and therefore when you hear music being played inside it is an incredible experience.

The Sage was built by Foster and Partners and is a beautiful building. When it was first being built it was questioned and picked up on alot-the shape and sheer space that this building was taking up on the riverside i think worried some people but as it started to piece together some came around to The Sage and its design. I think it flows into the river almost, matching the surrounding architecture well. It brings a good modern feel to the area.

However some really dislike The Sage calling it various names and comparing it to things such as a slug. Everyone's opinion is entitled, i think it's great to see a building that stands out abit and i certainly don't think it's ugly or animal like at all.

The Baltic

Mariko Mori

Yoshitomo Nara + Graf

The Baltic is a contempory visual art gallery on Gatesheads Quayside. I really love going to The Baltic because it's alot different to other art galleries. Instead of concentrating on how one piece or painting looks they have alot of artists who design a whole room or area around their pieces too. The art is everywhere, even whilst you are going up the stairs you will be greeted with a series of artwork that is matching to that area.

They have alot of installation art within the gallery which i love. Seeing how each piece is developed in parts or recorded and shown interests me alot and i think often can be alot more stimulating to people then just staring at a piece of paper. Also, The Baltic has no permanent exhibition so everytime that you go in something new is beaming back at you, every one of them unique and often quite puzzling. They have big artists and not so well known ones, they choose their displays on talent rather than fame.

The two pictures above are examples of what is on at The Baltic now. Mariko Mori is a Japanese artist who in her exhibition is showing her opinion of an invisible world and our consciousness within it. Yoshitomo Nara and Graf (a design company) have designed the second exhibition which is a series of characters displayed on everyday objects and situations, showing in a very bold way how art can fit into everyday life.

Ian Rankin

My favourite author is a man named Ian Rankin. He is most well known for writing books around the character Rebus. A police detective who lives in and around Edinburgh. The first Rebus novel came out in 1987 and he has kept his audience entertained with the ongoing journey of John Rebus's life since then.

The Rebus novels have been famous and loved world over, being best sellers in several countries. The first Rebus novel was 'Knots and Crosses' and the final one which was published in 2007 was called 'exit music'. I have read both of them and many inbetween. The quality stays throughout every book, Rankin never slips or faults-hence his huge fan base. 'Exit music' was a particular favourite of mine, because it was the final Rebus book. I was interested to see how such a complexed character would be left, how emotional it would be and most of all if Rankin could really pull of a spectacular finale...which he did.

It's great to read a series of novels that are all amazing in their individual right, i love a book that you literally can not put down and these books definitely fit the bill. I think they also look the part, every cover has been done in the same style, dark mysterious background pictures with and stamping font of Ian Rankin's name. I looked alot at these covers for inspiration whilst we did our book cover project in year one of graphics.

It's a pity the Rebus novels are now done but i think it was left on a high. They are now being made into TV dramas which are mainly shown on ITV.

Sean Henry- Man with potential selves

These are three bronze figures that are in Newcastle's city centre. They were produced by a man named Sean Henry who is known for placing sculpures of life sized people into urban areas and waiting for a reaction.

Henry has put figures all across the world in various situations and cities. People standing up, lying down, heads on walls, holding children. He also does oil paintings of people in the same style but his sculptures have created his real fame and talking point. They are situated often in city centres as this obviously gives Henry the biggest reaction back to his work but he has been known to put his sculptures into forest areas, play grounds etc. Every situation holding a different reaction for Henrys work.

This particular statue comes in three parts, the three potential parts of a man. One where the man is stood still, another where he is walking and the final one where he is balanced on his elbow.

I decided to talk about these statues because i believe that they are something a little different to the norm. They stand out in Newcastles city centre yet blend in at the same time. Tradtional sculpures and statues have their place but when talking about how something really has an impact, the man with potential selves seems to stand out in the crowd.

These pieces are lifesized, when you are walking down a busy street they look just like everybody else, until you see the one balancing on his elbow, not an everyday skill. Many people bump into them and apologise whilst still going on their way and not realising what they have even done. After an inital reaction of wonderment from alot of the locals these figures have become a liked and admired part of the town-and often a source of amusement too.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

"How happy is the vestal's lot. The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind. Each pray'r accepted, each wish resign'd"

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of my all time favourite films. It must have been one of the most complicated films to shoot, direct and edit for a very long time in my opinion. The whole film is memories that are slowly erasing. Sets are constantly falling apart as the actors are in them, they flip from place to place and repeat scenes often with less content then they had in the first time.

The quote above is what the film is basically about. A couple that erase each other so they can just get over each other once and for all. The quote implies what the film shows, there is peace on a mind that knows no other complications-forgotten memories do not need to be moved on from. However, twists and turns within this film make it harder and harder for memories to be erased and with Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet running around Joel's (Carrey's character) mind trying to stop the erasing for the whole film, you get to see their relationship from beginning to what appears to be the end.

I had never seen Jim Carrey in a serious role before and he shocked me actually, i think he managed to bring just the right amount of humour in rather than he usual goofy ways and really brought some emotion to the part. Kate Winslet is also amazing as the slightly mad character of Clementine who matches her hair colour to basically what mood she is in. She was nominated for an Oscar for the role but instead it went to the writing team of the film for 'Best writing and orignal screen play'.

Although this film should appear to be rather complicated to keep up with, it actually flows very well, much to the amazing skills of the editor Valdis Oskarsdottir and the special effects expert Mark Bero who must have had the patience of a saint to put together every little detail from every scene and gel them together to make perfect sense. I have put the trailer from the film below to see some snippets from it...