Chapter 10--"Is Google Making Us Stupid"

I printed out the article “Is Google Making Us Stupid” because I like to read printed matter I can hold rather than trying to read on a computer screen. I find I tend to skim over articles when I read them on the computer, and I think part of the problem with not being able to concentrate on what we are reading when we read something on the computer is the fact that it is on the computer.

What do we generally do when we are on the Internet? We jump from web site to web site searching for information as quickly as we can. At work I have a T-1 connection and can download and jump from web site to web site very quickly. At home, I have a slower connection and become frustrated because the Internet is slower than what I am used to working with all day.

Leisurely reading went hand-in-hand with a more leisurely lifestyle. Today we live in a fast pace society. We rush to drop the kids off at school, then we rush to work, take a quick lunch, rush back to work and at the end of the day rush to pick up kids and hurry home to make dinner. I find myself rushing so much during the week that the few times I don’t have something I have to hurry to do I don’t know how to slow down and not feel stressed about having to do something by a certain time.While the author of the article writes about how much easier the Internet has made his work as a writer, he also blames the Internet for making us unable to concentrate for any length of time reading. His article was written in a weak sense and was one-sided. He only focused on what his opinion and feelings of the downside of using the Internet and not the positive side of being able to access tons of information in minutes that would have taken days if we were doing it the old-fashioned way in a library.

Chapter 9 Blog Assignment—Scientific Looking

Here is a great example of a scientific image from an old Popular Science Monthly magazine that is an article about people being able to “see the unseen” of the human body via a “peep show” that shows how the human body works. What is interesting about this image is that it uses the term “peep show” which as we all knows is reference to the sexually oriented peep shows of the era (this would have been good for Tina’s blog) which appears to be from the late 1950’s.

This image also shows how science and culture go hand-in-hand. They are using sex to sell science and one of the photos shows a man sticking his head into the scientific “peep show”. Perhaps because science may have been boring to most people or that mainly men were interested in science they used the term “peep show” to draw attention to the exhibit.

Chapter 8 Blog--Song Remake

Neil Diamond wrote the song, Red Red Wine and recorded and released it in 1968. It reached number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968. The song is about a man who is heartbroken over losing his girlfriend and drinks wine to try and forget her. Listening to Neil Diamond’s version you can feel his hurt and pain.
The group UB40 recorded their reggae version in 1983 and it was a number 1 hit in the UK and number 34 in the U.S. Their version is light and bouncy. You don’t feel the pain and there is nothing sad about it; a nice bouncy reggae beat.
Neil Diamond’s version is the best hands down. A song about losing someone you love should make you feel the loss, which his version does very well. UB40’s version kills the song and the lyrics. :[

Chapter 8 Blog--Remake 1

An example of a remake of a movie is the movie called Sabrina, which kept the same title with the remake. The original movie was released in 1954 and starred Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. The movie is about a young woman whose father is a chauffeur for a wealthy family. She and her father live above the garage on the estate. Her father sends her away to Paris to school and when she returns she is grown up and more sophisticated. She is still in love with the younger of two brothers of the family her father works for. In the end she ends up with the older brother who falls in love with her while trying to keep his younger brother away from her because she is poor and not from a “good” family.
The 1995 remake stars Harrison Ford and Julia Ormand. The movie is the same except for different actors and different time period. I thought the remake was terrible. You can hardly compare Julia Ormand with Audrey Hepburn even though Harrison Ford did play a good Linus (the older brother).

Chapter 7 Blog Ad 3

This ad for a Sony camera shows a well endowed female dressed in sexy lingerie holding the camera. She, like the camera, is perfect, with beautiful hair, skin and breasts. If you buy this camera you will be ready at any moment to take pictures of stunning women who might come your way. Even if you are taking pictures of women that don’t have large breasts, with this camera you will still be able to take a great picture of good looking women.

Even if you don’t have a perfect looking woman in your life if one comes your way you’ll be ready to take her picture and it will be perfect if you have this camera.

This ad will definitely catch the eye of men, but women will find this add offensive, and once again, what does a woman wearing a sexy bra have to do with selecting a camera? In fact, if I was looking for a camera that takes picture perfect photos, and were looking for one that could take pictures of small and large objects I would want to see an ad that showed a photo of a small object (like a ladybug on a flower) and a large object (like a mountain) that had been taken with this camera.

Chapter 7 Blog Ad 2

Everyone recognizes the PC/Mac commercials. The PC computer guy is an old fashioned type of guy who dresses in a proper suit, has a clean-cut haircut, and wears glasses. This is what you would think of as your average middle-aged worker. He is dependable and probably a good worker, but uptight and not very innovative or willing to think outside the box. He has trouble with this new technology and can’t keep up with it. Apple computers want you to think of the older PC computers as being slow and not too with it.

The Mac computer guy is young, dressed comfortably, and relaxed. Like the younger generation he is very with it and knows how to use the quick, versatile Mac computer and all its functions which are faster. This computer is modern and up-to-date and if you buy a Mac computer you will be modern and up-to-date too.

The younger generation will be drawn to the Mac computer and will relate to the differences between the “old” slower PC and the newer and “young” Mac computer. Certain members of the older generation who want to be up-to-date and keep up with modernity and technology will be drawn to a Mac computer. Your older, die-hard PC computer guys will not be convinced that this hip, new Mac computer will perform like the regular PC they are accustomed to.

Chapter 7 Blog Ad 1

This ad for a Penril modem that shows a young, modern (for the era) woman holding a modem. The ad focuses on the fact that even though modems may appear dull they can be considered sexy and cool.

Without a doubt, this ad was targeted towards men and the company wants men to think of their modem as a good female companion that is versatile, dependable, and compatible. It wants to make the “geeky” computer guys feel that computers can be thought of as not only a dependable product, but one that is sexy too.

Women would be turned off by this ad because of the product being touted as “sexy” and will wonder what a woman in hot pants and go go boots have to do with a modem.

The use of a newspaper to get news to the general public first began in 1702 in London. In 1833 a New York newspaper sold for one cent and with the rise of the middle class population in the 1800’s newspapers were the means to get news to the masses. The first illustrated daily newspaper in New York came out in 1872 followed in 1878 by the first full-page advertisements. Photographs first appeared in newspapers in 1880. Other than word of mouth (i.e., the town crier, the local gossip) the printed medium was the only way to get information to the public.
However, through the printed medium you could only reach the literate masses. As newspapers were only able to reach the literate members of society, this left out the poor. These members of society still had to rely on word of mouth to receive the news and left the illiterate population in the dark and dependent upon literate people they knew to keep them informed. Who knows how much was lost in the transfer? The illiterate and minorities had no means of accessing reliable news, which meant they could be taken advantage of. Minorities also had no means to communicate via newspapers what was occurring to them because the newspapers were controlled by wealthy people or corporations who had no interest in reporting issues dealing with minorities.
The use of newspapers began to decline noticeably at the turn of the 21st century, with the increased use of the Internet and cell phones with Web access, hundreds of newspapers across America have ceased to publish and/or are Internet based. Our society today is on fast track and the younger generation is not the only generation that wants instant news. We want our news now and don’t want to wait until the newspaper arrives at our door. With the growth of technology and the Internet, many members of the younger generation haven’t ever picked up a newspaper and totally rely on either the television or Internet (blogs and twitters) to receive up-to-the minute updates on not only what is going on in the world, but with their family and friends.

The "Charged" Image

The painting by Edvard Munch titled “ The Scream” is an emotionally charged image painted in 1893, and is said to be one of the most recognized paintings in all art. This painting acquired iconic status in popular culture during the late 20th century comparable to the iconic status gained by other recognizable paintings such as the Mona Lisa and American Gothic. The Scream has been used as book covers, in advertising, and cartoons. Perhaps the most famous spinoff of this work of art is the Halloween mask inspired by the painting which shows up every year in the costume aisle.

When Edvard Munch was asked how the painting came to be he was quoted as follows: “I was walking down the road with two friends when the sun set; suddenly, the sky turned as red as blood. I stopped and leaned against the fence, feeling unspeakably tired. Tongues of fire and blood stretched over the bluish black fjord. My friends went on walking, while I lagged behind, shivering with fear. Then I heard the enormous, infinite scream of nature.”

What I find interesting about this painting is that Munch felt nature was screaming (the color of the sky was attributed to the ash from a volcanic eruption in Europe). If Munch felt nature was screaming in 1893, how much more would he have felt nature screaming over a hundred years later? We’ve had tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes and floods of magnitude force the past few years alone. I think nature is screaming even louder today because of the pollution and poison mankind has dumped upon her the last hundred years.

Besides Munch feeling that nature was screaming, he himself felt he was in turmoil and going mad. The angst that comes through this painting is the angst that I feel our high paced society is currently in. It seems we all are stretched to the limit and trying to juggle work, family, and for those of us taking this class, homework too, so I think this painting could be the logo for modern society.

Barbie Wild Horse Rescue

Produced by: Vivendi Universal Games (vivendiuniversal.com)

The “Barbie Wild Horse Rescue” video game was the first Barbie game created for the Xbox video game system. This game uses the “point-of-view” perspective in that you feel you are riding a horse and guiding it through different areas that simulate your horse jumping over trees that have fallen across the path you are riding, crossing rivers, and climbing ledges. The virtual space created in this game through the use of real-time 3-D images make you feel as if you are actually riding and controlling your horse.

Blackhawk Striker 2 by Gateway

Produced by: Gateway (gatewaygames.com)

The Blackhawk Striker 2 game that is loaded in Gateway computers is an example of a game that is produced using the isometric perspective. You are in control of a military helicopter and flying above images of tanks, anti-aircraft weapons, and boats that the helicopter passes over. There is no real perception of depth, but rather more like the objects below are moving on a conveyor belt as the image of the helicopter passes over it. There is no real virtual space feeling in this game. You see the helicopter on the screen moving over the images below, but don’t get a feel of actually being in the helicopter.

This game is probably one of the more basic varieties of games available because no special controller or game system “box” is used other than certain keys on the computer keyboard.

Norms & Otherness Ads

This Louis Vitton ad portrays the “norm” that society has for centuries placed women in. Men are meant to be the master, dominant figure and women are meant to be subjective objects who submit to male dominance and whose role in life is to defer to men.

Here we have the dominant male seated in a chair towering above the woman while the woman lies docile at his feet gazing adoringly at the man. The man holds sheets of paper in his hand which make it appear that he is some knowledgeable professor who is out in the country side studying his notes and practicing his lecture while the woman listens intently, hanging on his every word. He is surrounded by his notes and books which indicate that he is the intelligent one, while the woman lies at his feet like a faithful dog awaiting its master’s command.The concept of superiority and the power of men over women are very prevalent in this ad. The message it sends is that men are smarter than women and women are unintelligent playthings men keep around for their amusement.

This ad by American Apparel is a form of “otherness” in ads. It advocates for a change to immigration law and outlines the importance of immigrant labor to the economy. It states that working immigrants are valuable members of American society who should be allowed to stay in this country and become what native born Americans are—valued members of American society instead of criminals who are breaking the law. This goes against what the media reports that the majority of Americans are against immigration reform. This ad goes against the “norm” by standing up for immigration reform by an American company instead of denouncing “illegals” that are supposedly stealing American jobs.
Actually, this ad also establishes a sort of “norm” in that one of the immigrants in the photo is what society thinks of an immigrant as being—dark skinned and very ethnic looking. Even though the ad relays American Apparel’s support of immigration reform it’s probably only because the clothing industry has historically used immigrant and minority workers as cheap labor. Of course they want immigration reform; the crackdown on illegal immigrant workers has lead to a shortage of workers for the industry and cut into their profits. They can’t find “legal” Americans who want to work in their sweat factories for less than minimum wage.

This ad for clothing for dogs definitely perpetuates discourse. It reads, “When you look this good who can blame you for licking your own crotch.” This company wants to make you want to know who would say something in their ad that polite society would not mention. Definitely not the most tasteful (no pun intended) ad around.

I think it is abnormal for people to want to dress their dogs. But then again maybe it’s becoming the norm in wealthy people’s society. Look at Paris Hilton being photographed with her little dog dressed up to match her outfit. There are stores in Los Angeles and New York that all they carry are outfits and accessories for dogs.This ad certainly draws the viewer in by making the viewer take a second look at the ad and trying to figure out what it is advertising and then using a slogan that is not what you normally find in ads.

Blog 3 Assignment

Blog 3 Assignment

The image of wild mustangs running free across an open range conjures up the image of the untamed, last frontier of the American west. This is what people typically think of when they see a photo of wild mustangs or hear the word "mustang".

What most people don't know, especially if you don't live in the western part of the United States and aren't familiar with horses, is that the number of wild mustangs is dwindling rapidly and they are being forced out of the open range by ranchers who say they compete for feed by the cattle they graze. Mustangs are now rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and kept in facilities. The BLM offers the mustangs for "adoption" in different areas throughout the year.

No longer are the wild mustangs allowed to freely live and roam as they have for centuries. They are thought of as nuisances to be dealt with and penned up in facilities with the hope they will be adopted and taken care of by someone. So even though a typical person thinks of the wild west when they see a photo of a herd of wild mustangs, I see the last remnants of the wild west that is falling prey to the encroachment of man into the dwindling land of open space that remains in America.

Blog 2: Image and Ideologies

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/LIVING/09/11/homeless.blogger/art.homeless.blogger.cnn.jpg

If the headline of “Blogging begins turnaround of homeless woman.” were not above the photo of a woman standing in front of her travel trailer, one would be lead to believe that the image is of a woman who is partaking of the great American outdoor pastime of camping.

In the photo the woman appears to be healthy and eating well (she may even appear to be a little overweight to some people). She is cleanly dressed and is standing in front of a travel trailer that does not look broken down or appear to be falling apart. We can even see her pet dog standing in front of the travel trailer’s door. For all we know, she is parked in a campground or RV park and posing for a photo for her vacation scrapbook. The images in the photo give no indication that the woman is homeless and living in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart store.

To be homeless conjures the image of a person living in the street, in a park, or in our area, in a wash. The homeless people that are regularly portrayed in photos and television look unclean, are wearing clothes that are torn and dirty, and have a look of despair and emptiness in their eyes. In comparison, this woman has a travel trailer and appears to be standing nonchalantly in front of it.

When we look at her photo we think that she is a woman who is either camping or touring the country. None of the images of a homeless person we have been fed by the press leads us to believe that she is indeed homeless.

Test Post

This is a test blog posting.

First Post

This is my first post for JRN131 class.