Pittsburgh Arts, Regional Theatre, New Work, Producing, Copyright, Labor Unions,
New Products, Coping Skills, J-O-Bs...
Theatre industry news, University & School of Drama Announcements, plus occasional course support for
Carnegie Mellon School of Drama Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni.
CMU School of Drama
Monday, February 13, 2017
Rube Goldberg museum exhibit reminds us why his name is in the dictionary
Ars Technica: When most Americans think of the dawn of the engineering era, they probably think less of specific devices or factories and more of one pop-culture icon who was obsessed with them: Rube Goldberg.
The images in this article are so intriguing as I did not know the element of comedy that plays such a large part in the success of a Rube Goldberg machine. After scrolling through these photographs I found myself laughing and smiling at the ridiculousness quality of the work, despite the fear I have for such a task this spring. Machines such as this can use this element of humor to play such an important role in the lives of children. The games and puzzles depicting Rube Goldberg machines in this exhibit can show children fun in innovation and discovery as well as engineering and creative thinking skills. That is the purpose I hope this exhibit serves: to promote innovation through entertainment to children both by age and at heart. So, despite the fear I have for the upcoming rube project I see purpose and desire to achieve not only for myself and classmates, but also the future creators of tomorrow.
I never knew that Rube Goldberg himself, never had a real machine. I knew that he did work in comics and included humor, but I thought from those he created the machines. If only he was still around today to come see the Freshmen studio each year for the PTM Rube assignment. I think that their is certainly a lot of humor in the idea of completely over complicating a task, but also from a more adult view, a sad reality to it. Often times their is a simple answer to questions and problems that arise, and we find the solutions that take 10 steps rather than the direct easy or stupid fix. As for the museum exhibit I don't really see much of an attraction to it if they don't have any of the machines. I would be interested in seeing the sketches of his, however that is not going to draw as much of a crowd to come see as an interactive exhibit would. Honestly a big missed opportunity, but a new celebration of Goldberg's original work.
What fascination for the mind! I did not know that Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist or that his name was in the dictionary. The illustrations shown in the article were fascinating and got me very excited for our upcoming project in PTM. What I really liked about the exhibit is the fact that they have a special build-your-own Rube Goldberg area for children. I think that art and innovation can only be transformative if it is passed through the generations. Exposing children to innovative thinking, outside of the box logic and a bit of humor in the process is a immense part of creating the future. Although Rube's contraptions seem like an unnecessary struggle I think it reminds us that there is not a "right way" to do anything. Instead, sometimes the most creative way can take a bit of ingenuity. Seeing this gets me very excited for the upcoming exploration of creativity and innovation in our PTM class Rube Goldberg project.
I always loved Rube Goldberg. When I was little I could stand for hours (ok, probably not hours ever but I could've) and watch the Rube Goldberg machine that stood in Port Authority at the top of the escalators off 42nd Street. I loved watching the chain reactions and I loved recreating them with those marble sets for kids that would mimic his style albeit in a vague sort of association. As much as I love his machines, I really know nothing about him. I didn't know that he didn't build anything and was just a cartoonist, or even that his machines were closer to Mouse Trap than to my marble game. I never really bothered to find out because he became such a common knowledge sort of character. Now I wonder how many people who use his name and refer to his work actually know if what they're talking about is less his work and more his brainchild. I find it interesting how certain things become quickly obscured when they join the pool of general knowledge.
It's a little confusing that we use the term "Rube Goldberg Machine" even though he didn't create a physical machine. Like many others, I had no idea that he started out as a cartoonist or that he had his own dictionary definition. I'd love to meet the man himself cause he seems like he would've been a wild, quirky guy (and maybe get some advice on the Rube project that's being assigned THIS WEEK). It must've taken some real brain power to come up with these machines, document them in a 2-D medium, and never build them. I'm glad that people have come together to bring his creations to life and come up with creations of their very own. His machines serve a big purpose, just like the Marshmallow challenge, in terms of teaching participants what it means to be a part of a team as well as technical skills that come together into something but greater. Can you even get a better definition of the theater industry in any other artists' works?
5 comments:
The images in this article are so intriguing as I did not know the element of comedy that plays such a large part in the success of a Rube Goldberg machine. After scrolling through these photographs I found myself laughing and smiling at the ridiculousness quality of the work, despite the fear I have for such a task this spring. Machines such as this can use this element of humor to play such an important role in the lives of children. The games and puzzles depicting Rube Goldberg machines in this exhibit can show children fun in innovation and discovery as well as engineering and creative thinking skills. That is the purpose I hope this exhibit serves: to promote innovation through entertainment to children both by age and at heart. So, despite the fear I have for the upcoming rube project I see purpose and desire to achieve not only for myself and classmates, but also the future creators of tomorrow.
I never knew that Rube Goldberg himself, never had a real machine. I knew that he did work in comics and included humor, but I thought from those he created the machines. If only he was still around today to come see the Freshmen studio each year for the PTM Rube assignment. I think that their is certainly a lot of humor in the idea of completely over complicating a task, but also from a more adult view, a sad reality to it. Often times their is a simple answer to questions and problems that arise, and we find the solutions that take 10 steps rather than the direct easy or stupid fix. As for the museum exhibit I don't really see much of an attraction to it if they don't have any of the machines. I would be interested in seeing the sketches of his, however that is not going to draw as much of a crowd to come see as an interactive exhibit would. Honestly a big missed opportunity, but a new celebration of Goldberg's original work.
What fascination for the mind! I did not know that Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist or that his name was in the dictionary. The illustrations shown in the article were fascinating and got me very excited for our upcoming project in PTM. What I really liked about the exhibit is the fact that they have a special build-your-own Rube Goldberg area for children. I think that art and innovation can only be transformative if it is passed through the generations. Exposing children to innovative thinking, outside of the box logic and a bit of humor in the process is a immense part of creating the future. Although Rube's contraptions seem like an unnecessary struggle I think it reminds us that there is not a "right way" to do anything. Instead, sometimes the most creative way can take a bit of ingenuity. Seeing this gets me very excited for the upcoming exploration of creativity and innovation in our PTM class Rube Goldberg project.
I always loved Rube Goldberg. When I was little I could stand for hours (ok, probably not hours ever but I could've) and watch the Rube Goldberg machine that stood in Port Authority at the top of the escalators off 42nd Street. I loved watching the chain reactions and I loved recreating them with those marble sets for kids that would mimic his style albeit in a vague sort of association. As much as I love his machines, I really know nothing about him. I didn't know that he didn't build anything and was just a cartoonist, or even that his machines were closer to Mouse Trap than to my marble game. I never really bothered to find out because he became such a common knowledge sort of character. Now I wonder how many people who use his name and refer to his work actually know if what they're talking about is less his work and more his brainchild. I find it interesting how certain things become quickly obscured when they join the pool of general knowledge.
It's a little confusing that we use the term "Rube Goldberg Machine" even though he didn't create a physical machine. Like many others, I had no idea that he started out as a cartoonist or that he had his own dictionary definition. I'd love to meet the man himself cause he seems like he would've been a wild, quirky guy (and maybe get some advice on the Rube project that's being assigned THIS WEEK). It must've taken some real brain power to come up with these machines, document them in a 2-D medium, and never build them. I'm glad that people have come together to bring his creations to life and come up with creations of their very own. His machines serve a big purpose, just like the Marshmallow challenge, in terms of teaching participants what it means to be a part of a team as well as technical skills that come together into something but greater. Can you even get a better definition of the theater industry in any other artists' works?
Post a Comment