On Murray Gold and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

I'm sure most people (if not everyone) knows that my favourite show is Doctor Who. For those who don't know what it's about it's about space and time travel across the universe in a blue box, that's bigger on the inside.

I'd normally be happy to go on endlessly, I do have a specific goal in mind though: the music. I'm a classical junkie, same applies to those movie soundtracks. This brings me to my attempt: I shall attempt to critique an album from the Doctor Who Series.

There are the Series's Albums avalable on iTunes; and each contains most of the music featured on that particular Series. The Album in question, is the first one I fell in love with. The Doctor Who - Series 3 (Original Television Soundtrack) contains 28 tracks, about an hour or so long.

The first track "All the Strange Strange Creatures (The Trailer Music)" effectively sums up that Series. Bombastic, expansive, firey and the lack of a better term, epic. I like how Gold uses all the segments of the orchestra.

The second track is titled "Martha's Theme". Martha Jones played by Freema Agyeman, is the Tenth Doctor's second compion. (the first being Rose Tyler) Martha's Theme is waltz-ey, and its overall mood fits Martha perfectly: somber, uplifting and empowering.

Aside from the first two tracks, the ones that really define the series, are found in the last three episdoes of the Series. The main track is the mildly creepy "The Master Vainglorious". The Master is the Doctor's nemesis; his archenemy. (one of them)

The Master Vainglorious plays heavily on his source of his insanity: the neverending drumbeat. Four taps; 1234, 1234, 1234, 1234. Throughout the track you hear the beat.

Another key track is "Martha Triumphant", after the Paradox Machine is destroyed (it was capable of maintaining the paradox of the Futurekind killing their ancestors: the human race), and the Master stopped; you hear it playing when Martha leaves the Doctor.

I'll have to stop here, it's getting to wibbly-wobbly, I don't want to blow a hole in 2/3rds of the known universe. More to come!

The Role of Music?

      How does music fit in with Western culture? It's easy enough to assume that our culture is heavily immersed in music, you can see that most people have some sort portable music player. Music has become commonplace in our minds, it's intoxicating. While music has became so common place, I think that many people don't really consider why it is so seemingly necessary.

A typical answer (I agree as well), I imagine would be simply: it would be boring. Music has been part of our species all throughout time; from back in the primordial days, through the Medieval Ages, through war, famine, plague, peace and prosperity.

What are the benefits of having music in our lives? What do we gain? What is it that only music can offer that nothing else can?

Music is an art. Different from visual arts (painting, sculpting, etc), music is an auditory art. We hear music; feel it if it's loud enough. Visual art is universal in humanity, and so is music. What is it that seperates music from a painting?
If you ignore the difference in media (canvas to violin, clay to drums, etc), in essence, there is next to no difference. I believe that the only difference between those two art forms is how "much" people can interpret them. I believe that visual arts are more open to interpretation than music.
For example, in a written song (usually) has a clear intent in it's composition ("I'm better than her/him, "go out with me instead", "slap me with a shovel", etc); whereas an oil on canvas is much more to interpretation. (especially nowadays; all those modern art movements)

Does music tap into that deep, primordial part of ourselves? Do we ritualize ourselves in the rhythm, tone, pitch and beat of music?

Of course with that being said, I'm listening to Yo-Yo Ma's Bach: The Cello Suites. Music, go figure. Whether or not there are benefits to listening to music, there is something undeniable: music is deep within our various cultures and civilizations.

The Olympic Problem?

The Olympics, who hasn't seen them; or at least a few events? There are two kinds of Olympic Games: Summer and Winter. They alternate every two years, from different cities across the world. As we know, the most recent was here in Canada; Vancouver to be precise. The next Olympic Games will be held in London, Great Britain, 2012.

No words can describe the excitement I feel during the Opening Ceremonies, and during the Events. However, from what I heard from various news sites, (CBC, BBC for example) "It has also been revealed that surface-to-air missiles could be deployed at six sites during the games."-(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17891223) I understand the need for security in such an internationally public event; however, I do not understand why surface-to-air missiles are needed in a heavily populated civilian area.

I was outraged when I heard about the security measures for the 2012 Olympics. In the highly unlikely event that the missiles are needed, what about the aftermath? Consider this: there are multiple explosions in a major metropolitan area; what about the shrapnel and ricochet?

Grr. I have always believed that fighting violence with violence is never the answer. If such defence mechanisms are necessary, could they not station such systems just outside of London? Somewhere the resulting damage would not be so serious.

Five boys, nine kidneys, twelve nipples, one direction...

"Double double toil and trouble", memorable lines indeed, from Shakespeare's Macbeth. I was on a grad trip to Australia/New Zealand/Hawaii, and during that trip our group seen Macbeth at the Sydney Opera Theatre. Macbeth is a famous tragedy, in which Macbeth kills his king so that he can that the throne. (on advice of (a) witch(s)

I feel that people get too caght up by the negative aspects during Shakespeare's plays.(Shakespearian language, plot ines, etc) While Macbeth isn't exactly all smiles and laughter, it does warn against the dangers of ambition, the effects guilt has on people, and of the all importancy of balance.(or karma)

The cast of the play had a few modern inpretations (wearing skinny jeans, polos; there was one witch instead of three), everything else aside from that remain true to the play. (dialog and so on) I liked how they varied up the performance with comedic moments; Macbeth took an exaggeratedly slow step then walked normally off stage for example.


As much as I loved the play, I felt that it was a bit... drawn out. There was a huge wind up in killing the king, post death after a little guilt, Macbeth has no problems abusing his authority. Personally I felt that some scenes could've been worked on; such as Macbeth's final fight with Banquo. I felt that more emphasis should've been placed that Banquo was technically "not of woman borne".

Overall I felt that the play was exactly how I imagined it; with little twists from what I was expecting. The play was one of my main highlights of the gradtrip. (others including rolling in a hampster ball and seeing a sheep show.)

A subtle observation

Stareotypes?

Just earlier a few weeks ago, I opened a page in the iTunes store under 'Classical', and I've noticed a simularity in the albums. The majority of the album artworks are of young(ish) people either alone or with their instruments.
Ordinarily I would not have had a problem with that, but I remembered a podcast episode from 'The Age of Pursuation' (a CBC podcast on iTunes, that is about the media; in succinct. It covers some issues in marketing, such as women in the workforce in the 1900's, ageism, and so on).

Ageism is as defined by Wikipedia: "Ageism, or age discrimination is stereotyping and discriminating against individuals or groups because of their age. It is a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, and values used to justify age based prejudice, discrimination, and subordination."

Example: how are old people portrayed in television? We see them typically as derranged, senile, boring, loud, technologically illiterate and well... old. Some examples include: that old guy from Disney's Up (initially), "that crazy grandma in the attic", and so on.

It seems that the mass media prefers young people 18-35-ish to market their products or services. It seems that the only way for an older person to be placed in an advertisement is either in a retirement commercial, or in an ad advertising something relating to famillial matters.

Television commercials asside, how are older people portrayed in movies and in television? Take the classic example in a martial arts movie, where that random old guy knows anything and everything about combat. Or that old lady 'kicks everyones' asses', where as a moment earlier she seemed helpless.

Are these not stareotypical images of people?

I am not endorsing or promoting to cast older people; but wouldn't it be more of an advantage for an older person to play in a movie? They do have more experience with codes and conventions, how to portray one's self and the like. I'm not saying that there aren't talented, young people; it's just that I find it a bit unfair for young(er) people seem to hold the spotlight in the media.

Concerning bias

What is bias? According to "Lord Wikipedia"; it is defined as: "inclination to present or hold a partial perspective at the expense of (possibly equally valid) alternatives. Bias can come in many forms."

I find that very fitting. Which leads me to a question: is it possible to be completely unbiased? Can one make judgements without any sort of predisposition?
I don't think that it is possible to be comepletely unbiased. Everyone has their own motives or desires, and it can usually be seen through their actions.

I meant to have some sort of point to this post, but I forgot.... I left this entry too long; I'll get back to you guys...

Concerning the mass media..

There are some Youtube accounts that are made specifically made to mock the mass media and/or pop culture.
I found this video funny:

http://www.youtube.com/user/jonlajoie#p/search/0/ijr4rwb2WbE
I am sorry if this video offends anyone. All credit goes to the artist.

This video is a bit coarse.