Conceptual – Carter Cox

Introduction

The Conceptual Unit is a way for students to be able to answer the question, “How can I use unconventional forms to express myself?” The units gets students to advance their ability to create and increase their potential by getting them to understand the basics of many different formats from music to photography. By teaching students new electronic communication skills through webpage design and professional equipment such as DSLR Cameras, students are given the knowledge and tools to find how they want to creatively express themselves.

Over this first quarter in the Freestyle program I’ve learned that there is a great amount of potential to be unlocked, but it doesn’t come easy. While this is an alternative learning style, it is still rigorous and organized in a way that makes it easily comparable to stand programs at Mountain View High School. Through English III, I’ve had the chance to build on what I’ve done in my previous english courses at MVHS. In Digital Media, I’ve quickly learned how to use multiple different professional softwares and equipment pieces.

Art Reflection

The SF MOMA Field Trip was a Freestyle Academy-wide trip to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art where we would gain our source material for one of our first assignments we were to complete. The Art Reflection Assignment spanned both English and Digital Media, with us writing a thoughtful piece based off the image we chose in English and converting it into a small video in Digital Media. Through this first assignment I gained multiple skills in writing a short yet power message to me based on an image, as well as the ability to create media through professional softwares such as Adobe Premiere Pro.

This project taught me the basics of making videos in professional productions softwares while also teaching me how to write an important message in so few words. The skills this project taught me in both digital media and english are incredibly important, as there is a lot that I am now able to make in the future as a result of gaining these abilities.

Music Production

To create the Parody Song, I needed to start with the basics of creating a parody song; having a song to parody. I planned on making it with a friend of mine, so we endeavored to find the “perfect song” to parody. While we kept coming up with ideas, we ended up deciding on the perfect one based on a communication error. Once we came up with a song to parody, almost everything else came easily. We created lyrics and a topic for our song, In Audition, we realized how difficult it was to sing a song; even if it was supposed to be bad.

Parody Lyrics

It’s been a long day without you, my chef
And I’ll tell you all about it when we cook it again
We’ve come a long way from where we began
Oh, I’ll tell you all about it when we cook it again
When we cook it again

Damn, who knew?
All the blues we grew, bad things we did too
That I’d be standing right here begging to you
‘Bout another path, I know we loved to hit the blue and laugh
But something told me that it wouldn’t last
Had to switch up, look at things different, see the bigger picture
Those were the days, hard work forever pays
Now I see you in a very bad place (see you in a very bad place)
Uh

How can we not talk about Gustavo when Gustavo’s all that we got?
Everything I went through, you were cooking there by my side
And now you gon’ be with me for the last heist

It’s been a long day without you, my chef
And I’ll tell you all about it when we cook it again (We’ll cook it again)
We’ve come a long way (yeah, we came a long way)
From where we began (you know we cooking)
Oh, I’ll tell you all about it when we cook it again (We’ll cook it)
When we cook it again

First, we both go out your way and the glass is looking strong
And what’s small turned to a business, a business turned to a bond
And that bond will never be broken, the hate will never get lost
(The hate will never get lost)
And when brotherhood come first, then the line will never be crossed
Established it on our own when that line had to be drawn
And that line is what we reached, so remember me when I’m gone
(Remember me when I’m gone)

How can we not talk about Gustavo when Gustavo’s all that we got?
Everything I went through, you were cooking there by my side
And now you gon’ be with me for the last heist
So let Jack control your life, yeah
Retain all of your trauma as you go
And every road you take
Will always lead you back, t’Jack