Creating to the sound of "the Seven Sweet Sciences of Ghettomation"

About a month ago (maybe almost two months, now) after the fabulously fun MoMA event with Alexia Anastasio's film Adventures in Plymptoons, I connected to the Ghettomation podcast. I guess the connection was when, during the event Bill Plympton was asked by a woman in the audience about African-American and Latino animators that could be role models currently to African-American and Latino students of animation she was teaching. Bill thought a moment and said, "I don't know any." Alexia quickly interjected, "What about Jim Lujan?" "Oh, yeah," replied Bill, obviously knowing Jim Lujan, but seemingly not sure about the category. So, yeah! What ABOUT Jim Lujan?
It was about a week or so after that, I was looking at photos of the event on Alexia's Facebook, and there was Jim Lujan in a photo from an earlier event (maybe Comic Con). And I thought, "What about Jim Lujan?" A short search landed me on jimlujan.com, and in the sidebar was a podcast widget. I was preparing to go on a longish road trip, so BOOM, now I had some listening goodness. First, I listened to the latest podcast, We Don't Need No Stinkin' Badges, then I went to the initial Ghettomation podcast, The Seven Sweet Sciences of Ghettomation.
The heavens opened . . . I saw a ladder going up into heaven with angels ascending and descending the ladder. In the hands of the heavenly host were The Seven Sweet Sciences of Ghettomation.
What are The Seven Sweet Sciences of Ghettomation? If you have not already clicked the links or listened to the podcast, I am listing them here for your quick perusal:

1) KEEP THE FLOW: Most important of all...keep your original energy and excitement and CAPTURE it in your work. People can feel the vibe you give off in your films. Go with it. Run with it....HAVE FUN CREATING!
2) CONTENT IS KING:Remember, the CONCEPTS and CONTENT win the audience, not just fancy animation. Ghettomation believes that STYLE goes hand in hand with SUBSTANCE. Abuse neither, but use both!
3) ACTING: Use your art to make the viewer think there is more movement than there really is. Make your characters ACT through dynamic poses, body language, and facial expressions. You'll save time, trouble, and energy by making your characters ACT when drawing.
4) ECONOMIZE: Save your energy for creating. Why do a lot when a little serves the audience just as well. Enjoy the process, but don't kill yourself on the technical aspects. Cheating is fine in Ghettomation.
5) AUDIO-Your ambient sound,music, and sound effects not only COLOR your animation, but build the world your characters live in. The audience is captured with your sound. Thats a basic pilar to build on.
6) RESOURCEFULNESS: Think on the fly. Pull from whatever resources and influences you can to tell a great story and make a cool movie. It doesn't matter HOW you get there, just GET there.
7) SWAGGER: It is what it is. Don't fret about what you DONT have. Celebrate what you DO have. Be confident and have fun with it!

I have been creating recently to the tune of these, oh so sweet sciences. Many thanks to the hosts: Jim Lujan, Kevin Cross and Raul Aguirre, Jr.

Check out the Ghettomation podcast at the Ghettomation site or on iTunes. Also, check out their different Ghettomation styles - they have links to their work all through the site. I particularly enjoyed Seven Smiles - Check it out (also on the jimlujan youtube channel):