The Plaza Hotel: 2nd Visit
Our group decided to do our project on the Plaza Hotel. One of the most prominent aspects of this hotel is the graceful and grand aesthetic of it. It’s not only seen in the architecture and interior art, but in the mannerisms and dress of the employees and visitors. Everyone is well-dressed and put together no matter where they are in the hotel.
I chose this particular photo of one of the hallways is because it captures the attention to detail and beauty of every spect of the hotel. You have the beautiful artwork on the floor with its wavy and floral accents on a diamond-patterned background. You have the plants carefully arranged on the ledge in the background of the photo and in a vase next to it. Even the ledge has so me level of artistic detail carved into it. You have the mannequins displaying clothes in glass cases standing by the left wall. Finally, you have the two people walking down the hallway. One is dressed in a black suit with black shoes and a black hat, while the other is in a black shirt with a black jacket over it and black shoes.
Each part of this photo suggests how much effort each person contributes to the overall aesthetic of the place. The artists that paint the walls and floor make sure that each has an exquisite pattern. The people who set up the furniture and decorations of the place shows nature and industry in one hallway. The employees (although not in the photo) greet every person gracefully and politely and are well dressed in suits. Finally, the inhabitants follow along with their dress and behavior. Every part of this hotel contributes to one large image the hotel wants to show the city and anybody interested in it.
Subway Visit #2
In order to start producing the film, we elected to go on a day of shooting. We didn’t have a full script, a defined shot list or concrete storyboarding, but we decided to go out anyway, just to practice, and see what would happen. The day of shooting and exploring the space for new shot opportunities allowed to us to see the potential of the space, and create a more concrete storyline tying together all of the ideas we had previously. We noticed the reactions of people as we were filming, annoying them with our talking, the camera and monopod. As I was filming Michelle sitting down in the train car, the guy next to her kept falling asleep, leaning down and then constantly jolting up. We took that opportunity to film her annoyance and discomfort in the situation. We found creepy tunnels and spaces at a station in Brooklyn, giving us an opportunity to showcase another unfortunate “subway situation.” Although it wasn’t necessarily the idea in the beginning, the film most likely will have a fairly dark feel, as the majority of the situations are either annoying, unpleasant, or actually terrible. However, we feel that they are definitely a possibility, and should be shown, rather than purposefully making the short film light. As we were outside, filming Michelle walking to the station, we decided that the most efficient way to tie together all these situations was a dream, or rather a nightmare, in which she is imagining each of her annoyances, fears, and pleasures as she goes about her today on a ride on the Q train from point A to point B. There is a whole host of feelings and events that go on in this space, and we wish to bring them to life.
African Burial Ground…Part 2
During our second visit to the African Burial Ground in Lower Manhattan, my group and I focused on different aspects of the site from last time. For example, we examined a map of the burial ground carved into the monument, which showed us that the burial ground is a lot more extensive than we believed. I read that the remains of these Africans extended over 5 city blocks! It was depressing to us that none of us, and probably most Manhattanites, had ever realized that every time we get off the 6 train at City Hall, we are literally walking over thousands of remains. Below the streets of Duane and Broadway is essentially a giant cemetery, holding the bones and possessions of the ancestors of one of New York’s largest ethnic groups.
After filming and recording, my group and I decided to walk around the site again. We each explored the site individually. I noticed there was a circular ramp which leads viewers into and out of the monument, with a wall curled around it. On this wall was a series of symbols, most of which I didn’t recognize. I came across one particular symbol, which was shaped like an uneven spiral, hypnotically curling from the center outward. I asked a nearby tour guide about the symbol’s meaning, who told us that it was an icon symbolizing the Africans’ long, harrowing, and unpredictable journey to the New World. I immediately thought about how profound that was, and I instantly understood the meaning of the symbol, even though I have no African roots. I felt more emotionally connected to the site, and experienced its aesthetics more than I did last time around. I definitely plan on revisiting!
Visit #2
The second visit to our site really brought together everything that we were thinking of doing. It gave us a much more defined and structured plot, an effective way to incorporate our urban space, and a better feeling of what our plan was for the final piece. We were able to finalize our decision of specifically which subway to use and even focused on a specific station. Our idea for the Urban Space iMovie is to create almost a dream-like setting while incorporating significant events we have seen, heard, and felt while on the subway line. The subway is a very diverse place in of itself from the smells, sights, sounds, and overall atmosphere it is a world of its own. We wanted to show what the subway is like while still creating a story focused on a girl and her flashbacks to the train ride or rides she has taken in the past. Although it may seem at parts to stray from the sight, we always bring it back with flashbacks or eerie videos of the subway in its prime.
The thing I love about the Q line is that although it is a new subway line, there is still a sense of age to it and every time I pass over the bridge and see the city as a whole, I get this familiar feeling that almost brings me back in time. The view is absolutely breathtaking and its so interesting to see others on this line because they do not even for a second look up from their phones to see what could be one of the most beautiful views of New York City. Every time I am on this line I am simply mesmerized by it, and that is something else we would like to capture in this iMovie. Even something as insignificant as a subway line has the power to capture a whole new world of experiences.
Joy at Coney Island
The second visit that my group and I took to Coney Island was on a Saturday afternoon, contrasting to our first visit on a Sunday morning, which made Coney Island seem like a ghost town. On Saturday, people of all demographics were having fun with family and friends. Many were jogging or just taking a stroll along the boardwalk, enjoying a hot dog from Nathan’s or gazing in awe at the many attractions Coney has to offer. During the second visit, my group and I decided to take a more detailed look at the art that gives Coney it’s old-carnival yet modernly artist vibe. We discovered more of the Coney Art Walls; murals in which people express their artistic perspective on either the attractions of Coney Island or anything relating to the themes and diversity of Coney Island’s visitors. Unfortunately, the rides close in the end of October, so we did not have close access to them, however we managed to take several pictures of the major rides such as the landmarks The Cyclone and The Wonder Wheel from a far perspective to see how these grand rides impacted the overall landscape of Coney Island. While walking through the streets of Coney, we realized that there was so much to look at at all times and therefore we decided that our video should be in the format of someone’s eyes, as if the camera is the eyes of someone that is walking around Coney and taking in all the eccentric landscape has to offer. I chose this picture because to me it represents the overall essence of Coney Island. Pleasing signs such as “Don’t Postpone Joy” on pastel-colored walls represents how art is used in Coney Island to bring happiness and joy to visitors in order to brighten up their visit. This uplifting sign next to a mannequin, named Miss Coney Island, shows the quirkiness of Coney and how it is a place for people of all ages, races, and genders to have fun and enjoy the scenery around them.
People of the Tram
This time I went on the tram I paid more attention to the people this time than the surroundings. I compared the people to the people I’ve seen on the subway. The people on the tram seem to be much calmer and aren’t as tense or stressed as you would normally see on the subway. One similarity, however, is the diversity on the tram. Since it is not only a mode of transportation but also a tourist attraction, there were many people from all corners of the world, all in this little box, and it really spoke to what New York is about: diversity. We even interviewed one of the tourists and she said, “you really learn to take new york all at once” which I completely agree, not only by its aesthetics but by its people. Much of New York is clearly made up of its people and the tram successfully captures that with different races, different languages, different fashions, different genders, different ages, different identities, and the irony is that although there are so many differences no one feels awkward or as if they don’t belong because that’s what New York is made up of, differences! After I took the tram, I then took the F train from Roosevelt Island and noticed a completely different atmosphere. On the train I saw more worry lines, more people focused on something else, a book, their phone, their iPad, in essence, distracted from being present in one form or another, and it was much quieter. The tram, however, people were looking outside, looking at each other, there was chattering, even strangers talked to one another, and people seemed to just be much more social because with the view, with the people, with the slow ride, they had things to talk about, whereas in a train we’re trapped in this black tiny tunnel only thinking when the next station will come and keeping to ourselves.
Second Visit to African Burial Ground
For our second visit to the African Burial Ground, the focus of the visit shifted from just looking at the site and leaving time for introspection to the inclusion of elements we might have glossed over. We noticed a poem in the front of the monument that is meant commemorate the history of those who were buried here and we spent a good deal of time going over it, as well as recording shots of us reciting the poem. I think it’s an astounding part of history that we stand on ground where African-Americans were brutalized and buried to be forgotten for centuries, as an incredibly diverse group that is able to pay our respects in this manner. Another significant part of the site that we decided to focus on builds off the wall of religious and cultural symbols on the wall of the site. This wall is centered around a map of the world, with a walkway in the shape of an arrow pointing in the general direction of Africa, which represents the remembrance of the origins of those who were buried here, especially slaves that had just been forcibly moved to North America. This feature helps bolster a deep respect of the monument for not just those who are buried here and the experiences that they went through, but also the fact that for many of them, they or their ancestors were removed, against their will, from their native lands. This attempt at recognizing the brutal role of colonialism as part of this monument can be broken down to this one arrow, pointing towards home for many who were buried here. This drives home important themes that my group wants to focus on. We want to do a “draw-my-life”, illustrating much of the history that has been emphasized in this monument but we also want to convey a notion of not just the past but the future that the African-American experience and community has created in terms of cultural and social works and development.
Second Visit to the Roosevelt Island Tram
View of part of the Queensboro Bridge and East River from the Tram
Upon our second visit to the tram, we took in more of the environment and how the commuters interacted with the aesthetics of the space as well as paid attention to the differences between the tram and other forms of transportation found in New York. When you arrive, there are the sounds of construction from the renovations being made to the platform but, once you’re on the tram itself, all of that seems to fade away. Because of the construction, the tram only runs every 15 minutes, but that didn’t seem to bother everyone patiently for it to arrive. Most of the other commuters were tourists which may have been due to the time of day we took it. When we got on the tram, we took photos and videos of the view (just like the rest of the commuters/tourists), the people inside of the tram, the Queensboro Bridge, and the tram leaving Roosevelt Island to use for our movie. We noticed some major differences between the two islands: as you exit and/or enter Manhattan and pass over 1st avenue, it is practically a parking lot but when you arrive to Roosevelt Island, there are hardly any cars (all I saw was one FedEx truck). We also noticed some differences in the environment on the islands – rather than having pavement virtually everywhere on Roosevelt Island, you’re greeted with a large patch of grass when you exit the tramway station. We also visited the Roosevelt Island subway station to compare it to the tramway as a form of transportation. In the subway station, although it is pretty clean, you have to go very far underground to get to it, making you feel cut off from the beauty of Roosevelt Island.
A Map of the Ground
On the ship that represents the plight of the Africans who were brought unwillingly to New York is an engraved map of the African Burial Ground that shows its size and location relative to its surroundings. Our group loved the representation and it inspired a “Draw My Life” approach to our project. We want to frame the video as a “Draw My Life”- for the very beginning at least- and start it off with us exploring the location of the ground or at least keeping it in perspective.
The size of the burial ground is remarkable- it winds through five city blocks, but the monument itself takes up one city block. It’s incredible to think about all of the graves that are underneath the ground and how much history is buried there. It’s also horrifying to think about how people tried to recklessly excavate this vast site. I think the map also speaks to how isolated the ground is. I passed by the African Burial Ground every day for four years and had no idea what it was or that it existed until this year. Chances are, if you ask anyone, they also won’t know what the African Burial Ground is unless they work on that block, where the information center also is. The burial ground, not just physically but also the idea of it, seems to exist only within this space. Our group found that tragic.
The entire point of our I-Movie is to raise awareness of the ground, but also celebrate the history of these people. We are aiming for our video to showcase the burial ground and explain its significance, hopefully inspiring other people to check out the ground and look at the images of hope dispersed throughout it.
Coney Island and its Transformations
This image was taken on the boardwalk of Coney Island. When an average person thinks about Coney Island they think about the beach, the boardwalk, the amusement park and the food available there. They might not necessarily remember the abundance of murals and art found in Coney Island. This picture includes both of these aspects on Coney Island. Coney Island is a diverse area which contains landmarks which are cultural and for entertainment. This image contains the rides in the background, the boardwalk, the beach the stores and the murals which are why this picture to me seems like a comprehensive and fair way to picture Coney Island. This picture is fair, especially to display this time of year because so much of the picture consists of the expansive sky which is a calming sight, this is relaxing nature is exactly what one feels at this time of year and this time of day when visiting Coney Island.
My group visited Coney Island in the afternoon on Saturday, it was a lot more populated than the last time we visited which was before noon on Sunday, there were definitely more people and the stores were now open. The arcade was open and there was music blasting from many stores and on the boardwalk. There were many families and elderly people taking walks and some people were exercising or jogging. Although, we know that the population on Saturday wouldn’t compare to that during the summer; there was, however, a significant amount of activity going on here which we were able to get footage of like of stores and shops like Nathan’s which were full and had long lines of people waiting to order. The arcade just opened and was filled with several families. We already had pictures and some footage of the murals, but now we also have footage of activity in stores, the beach, and the boardwalk. We came across many families either sharing food or taking a walk with younger kids. In my picture, there were seagulls caught mid-flight, and often we saw kids there chasing the birds while their parents watch over them. Despite the colder weather Coney Island still had activity, this tells us that Coney Island caters to a different demographic of people depending on the day of the week, time of day, and season. It practically transforms between seasons and we were able to capture the peacefulness and relaxing nature of Coney Island during autumn.
