Steven Spielberg: Pop Culture's Declining and Fallen God

Steven Spielberg: that name could not be any more familiar to film goers both casual and hardcore. Regarded as one of the greats of the film industry, Spielberg was responsible for many great movies of our time. Jaws, Indiana Jones, E.T., Saving Private Ryan, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park, and Schindler's List. If there was a movie he was involved with, it would be considered a classic.

Nowadays, however, he's something of a past-his-prime entity. His first movie outing in years is Ready Player One, a movie based off of a book that rides on the success of one pop culture reference too many and now has faced backlash due to the whole GamerGate debacle. Even with critical success, it's not going to be a movie that's going to light up the charts. It'll be remembered for a month tops before it gets crushed by Avengers: Infinity War and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Even before taking his latest theater offering into account, Spielberg has devolved into the equivalent of the typical stubborn old timer lamenting on the days of old and how everything in the 21st century is the work of the devil. He whines about how Netflix movies should not be considered eligible for the Oscars, how television is a threat to film goers, and the same old 'media corrupts youth' routine with attacking computer games.

First off, Martin Scorsese is working on a movie for Netflix right now. By that logic, a Netflix film directed by someone as legendary as him is not worthy of awards of any kind. What if other famous directors get into Netflix? Are their films not considered eligible for awards, either? To me, films made for Netflix should be deserving of Oscars. Nay, they ARE deserving of Oscars if they're worthwhile.

Also, when he said that television was a threat to film goers I facepalmed and started doing thorough research on his works. Here's some history that Spielberg hopes you forget about. Steven Spielberg has been involved with multiple television shows, ranging from all ages fare like Animaniacs, Freakazoid, Pinky and the Brain, and Tiny Toon Adventures, to dramatic yet condensed war movie fare like Band of Brothers and Five Came Back, and science fiction works such as Invasion America
and Falling Skies.

He was also the producer for Under the Dome, a CBS show based off of the Stephen King novel of the same title. Spielberg even founded Amblin Television, which more or less was the production company for many of the shows that I mention. So to say that television threatens film goers while being behind both television shows and starting a studio ranges on hypocrisy that most politicians wish they had.

Here's a hint, Spielberg: how about your films as of late have not been relevant since the nineties, and that going to the movies nowadays has the fun factor of a kidney stone while being twice as painful? Most of your movies after that time were either average at best or downright forgettable. Ready Player One may have a fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but that means nothing when it doesn't rake in the cash. Not to mention the stress of getting to a theater in the first place, the high cost of tickets and food, and putting up with a volatile audience. Oh, and god help you if you need to hit the restroom. You miss an important scene? Nope, too bad, no pause or rewinds for you.

Lastly, his statement on computer games also assumes people forgot about his prior legacy in the interactive media realm. He was one of the founders of Dreamworks Interactive, which paved the way for the Medal of Honor franchise. The studio also brought in titles like Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair, BoomBots, T'ai Fu: Wrath of the Tiger, and Skullmonkeys.

Dreamworks Interactive later became Electronic Arts Los Angeles, continuing the Medal of Honor Legacy as well as producing Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars and Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. They then became Danger Close Games with the reboot of Medal of Honor and finally named DICE Los Angeles with the Battlefield series.

In addition, Steven Spielberg was one of three writers (the other two being Orson Scott Card and Brian Moriarty) for the LucasArts point and click sci-fi adventure game The Dig. The Dig was originally going to be an episode of Amazing Stories, which is another television product courtesy of Spielberg, followed by a movie before becoming a game. Again, this idea was from Spielberg himself. It became a game because it was too expensive to make into a movie or TV episode. When the game was released, it became a best selling classic; it was not without delays and troubles.

In a way, it saddens me to write this blog post and what Spielberg has become. It's basically the film director's version of the Detroit Red Wings, Gwyn from Dark Souls, or the Roman Empire's legacy. In the case of Spielberg, he was a great director in his hey-day and produced great works even in the nineties. Unfortunately, starting in the 2000s his work started to decline in quality. By the time of the new tens, he has all but become irrelevant in the age of video streaming, Disney the media juggernaut, and an increase in television programming equaling or surpassing the cinema experience. Unfortunately, Spielberg sees the likes of television and Netflix as a threat rather than an opportunity. His need to cling to the past will eventually ruin him in the long run. He's obsessed with trying to protect the traditions of the past while still thinking that he will stay on top. He's wrong in this regard.

This reminds us of an awful truth: we ALL have an expiration date. No matter how great or talented we all are, we are not forever. Though our legacies will be remembered, we are all but parts to be replaced in the great machine. Spielberg and a few other directors are, unfortunately, a harsh reminder of the unwillingness to adapt quickly. Society and Technology goes on, and unless you adapt to current trends, you will die. What happens if you DON'T adapt? You become Steven Spielberg.

This is also a reminder to stay on top of these famous and/or powerful people in case they slip up. Spielberg has become afraid of the legacies he's created, and how he feels they've turned against him. This is a mistake that, unfortunately, he is not aware of. Sooner or later, he'll be gone for good, and without a legacy to continue on. Spielberg, do yourself a favor: evolve, or prepare to die.

Websites referenced:
https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/3/26/17148350/ready-player-one-book-backlash-controversy-gamergate-explained
http://deadline.com/2018/03/steven-spielberg-netflix-oscars-tv-clear-and-present-danger-to-filmgoers-1202353123/
http://www.indiewire.com/2018/03/martin-scorsese-the-irishman-netflix-theatrical-story-of-film-1201944963/
https://lifehacker.com/what-would-make-you-actually-go-to-the-movies-1821605002
http://variety.com/2017/film/features/movie-business-changing-consumer-demand-studios-exhibitors-1202016699/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DICE_Los_Angeles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dig

Wunderlist: A wunderful way to keep track of tasks

Daily life has always been filled with tasks both big and small. Not once does a day go by without having a chore to do or an important task that's not in the workplace. Traditionally, notepads written down with lists were used. This was before the age of the smartphone, however, and that method is on life support at best. Yet, people need to keep track of tasks and chores so they don't repeat themselves doing the same thing.

Wunderlist, one such app, is responsible for fulfilling the job of keeping track of tasks. Developed by German company 6Wunderkinder, now owned by Microsoft, Wunderlist is a task management program for both the PC and mobile devices. The app features scheduling tasks, repeating tasks, creating folders and lists, sharing lists, and other abilities. You can also print out your list of tasks and
even insert files in those lists, but considering there's online cloud drives and external flash drives as well as the app being available on mobile devices, those features are pointless.

I use this app every day to keep track of tasks that I've done and needed to do. If there's a homework assignment to complete, I put it in a school list and put a due date on it. If I need to complete a chapter in my novel by a certain date, I set it in a dedicated novel list and set a date. Even if it's something mundane like taking pictures of myself or writing a number of Twitter postings, those tasks go in to the Wundelist app. This app has done me more than one favor, and has kept me on track of completing tasks when need be.

The best part about this app is that, again, it's not exclusive to a PC despite being owned by Microsoft. Android and iOS users have the luxury of being able to use this app, and even Amazon Kindle and Smartwatch users get to have access to this app. This means a lot, since managing completed tasks on the go helps with those that are trying to multitask.

The app in question is a freemium program, that is, it's free to download and use but certain features are exclusive to paid owners. Said features include unlimited file sharing; unlimited assigning; unlimited sub-tasks; and backgrounds for pro-only users. Most of these features are irrelevant, though, and users are better off just sticking to the free version.

Overall, this is a great app to have when you feel overwhelmed with everyday or rare tasks. Not only will users be able to complete tasks in a timely fashion, but you'll feel great about it when you start crossing off items from your lists. I started using this app again to finish tasks in weekly periods, and I've gotten things done because of it. It makes the old notepad writing tasks obsolete, and it motivates me greatly to actually get work done.

Download the app for android here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wunderkinder.wunderlistandroid&hl=en
Download the app for chrome here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/wunderlist-for-chrome/ojcflmmmcfpacggndoaaflkmcoblhnbh?hl=en
Download the app for iOS here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wunderlist-to-do-list-tasks/id406644151?mt=8

Photoshop Freeware: GIMP

When you think of a computer program used for graphic design, the first that comes to mind is Adobe's Photoshop. Accessible to newbies; artists and professionals, Photoshop has access to multiple tools and effects that allow for high quality pictures and designs. It even has other capabilities such as 3D designs and limited animation. With great power, however, comes a great price; with prices starting at $500 and some outlets selling Photoshop at $1,000, this is no bargain. While Adobe offers Photoshop in their Creative Cloud suite, a monthly subscription is required to use the program. This is an option some aren't willing to accept or can't afford. Granted, there's Photoshop Elements also by Adobe but that program doesn't hold a candle compared to the main event. Still, graphic artists and designers of all kinds need a photo and art program of some kind to earn a living.

Fortunately, there's someone who believes in the spirit of free software. That someone made GIMP; short for GNU Image Manipulation Program, it serves to be a freeware alternative to Photoshop for those not willing to pay massive prices or monthly subscriptions. While it works closely like Photoshop, there are some features that make it stand out from its commercial bretheren.

First, GIMP has support for PSD files out of the box; PSD is the native Photoshop file, and if one doesn't have Photoshop at home they can use GIMP to continue working on projects. GIMP also has features similar to or even equal with Photoshop, such as lasso tools; clone stamps and even healing tools. GIMP also has line stroking tools and effects, great for making line art scanned to the computer.

GIMP can also save in a variety of formats like .JPEG; .GIF; .PNG; .TIFF, and many more. This is a plus for those that need Photoshop but want to save money. It also has support for plug-ins that add to GIMP further, which is also an advantage because it gives extra features not found in GIMP. In rare cases the latter turns GIMP into a completely different program altogether.

The only bad thing about GIMP is that it can do things just as well as Photoshop, but not everything. For one thing, GIMP won't be able to do 3D graphics, and you'd have to get plugins to do basic animations.

Overall, if you want an alternative to Photoshop and are intimidated by massive price tags or subscriptions GIMP is for you. While not as powerful, GIMP is a program marked by its versatility and community support. I strongly recommend it.

Download GIMP here: http://www.gimp.org/downloads/