Em's Blog

After the class discussion about the concept of “remix”, I started thinking about what remixes out there I really liked. First I thought of the collages I did when I was ten years old of Leonardo DiCaprio. Then I remembered a video someone showed me that I think is a really great example of a remix. This 19 year old australian editing wiz kid took audio from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland and made a song with the audio (90% of it). I assume he added the drum beat himself. I think the song is pretty catchy and dreamy. He also edited the footage from the movie nicely to correspond with his song.

I would like to do something similiar without being too ambitious. I was thinking of doing a simple part from the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I was thinking of using Wizard of Oz footage. I don’t think I would be able to do a whole song, but perhaps just a part of one wouldn’t be too bad. I noticed in the kid’s video he had a nice mix of layers. I wonder how long it took him to do it. Maybe I should stick with a Leo DiCaprio collage instead…..

I wonder if there are other songs I should try to remix and make my own also. There are quite a few Alice in Wonderland remixes on youtube. I can’t wait for the Tim Burton remix!

Here is the link!

Another remix phenomenon, is Parry Grip videos. He is trained musician who uses other people’s video footage to make a collage and creates the music for it. The music is pretty annoying but its funny. He makes money off the videos apparently. Here is my favorite;

As I am happy that Disney has returned to 2-D animation, the subject of the story I am disappointed with. When I first got word of a black princess in a disney movie, I got excited. In my mind, Disney has glorified royalty characters in many races and cultures. The races include Asians (Mulan), Arabian/Middle eastern (Aladin), Native American (Pocahantas), even Greeks (Hercules) just not African or blacks in general.

So I was extremely excited with the prospect of an African tribe princess or Egyptian princess. However, the movie poster shows a black girl in Eurpean style princess clothes. I don’t like historical inaccuracy but when I saw the trailer, I was frankly disappointed.

Here is the description of the movie;

“The film, which began production under the working title The Frog Princess, will be an American fairy tale, Broadway-style musical set in the French Quarter of New Orleans. A prince named Naveen (Bruno Campos) from the land of Maldonia[6] is transformed into a frog by the evil scheming voodoo magician Dr. Facilier (Keith David). The frog prince mistakes a girl named Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) for a princess and has her kiss him to break the spell. However, the kiss doesn’t break the spell, but instead turns Tiana into a frog as well. Together, the two of them must reach the good voodoo priestess of the Bayou, Mama Odie, while befriending a trumpet-playing alligator and a hopelessly romantic firefly along the way. “-Wikipedia’s synopsis

The girl is mistaken for a princess. So….she’s not a princess. I personally feel that Disney is missing an opportunity to tell the story of African royalty while almost slighting the black community by ignoring them from a varied Princess Royalty collection. Egyptians have been very important in human development and record keeping. Cleopatra is a world famous Egyptian queen. Why don’t they animate her story?

The story is sent in New Orleans french corridor which has an extensive black history dating back to slavery. I am wondering how Disney can juggle a story set in the 1920′s without confronting the obvious cultural turmoil for blacks.

It’s about time Disney creates a true black princess story and not a “mistaken” one.

Here’s a link to a site about how the film is important for young black girls to see; http://www.680news.com/news/entertainment/more.jsp?content=e117894336

One mom wrote “”I wanted her to understand that princesses come in all colours,” said Jackson, a mom of five in Snellville, Ga

One young girl said: “When I heard that Tiana was going to be an African-American princess that made me more proud to be black,” she said. “Tiana is my role model. I want to be like her.”

The story is about a poor black girl working at a restaurant. She is mistaken for a princess. This may be accurate portrayal of a black girl in the 1920′s south, but I think it’s short of inspiring when there are indeed black princesses in history. Disney is not representing the story of black royalty. What is this film which is intended for young children going to teach them? The only black royalty is a mistaken one? A false and unreal majesty? What a shame is what I say.

I see no reason to be happy about this film other than it’s 2-D.

Here is the teaser trailer. See for yourself.