Entry 15 - Historic Raging Hippies

I was asked to think of words/images that came immediately to mind when given the following words.

RAGE – Primal Rage
ORDER – Court room drama
JUSTICE – Lady Justice
EVIL – Skeletor
PEACE - Hippies
GOD - Thor
HISTORY – WWII/101st Airborne
PAIN - Knees
SMART – Smart car


Next, I was asked to provide a pair of images for each. My first image is one that I believe is a denotation of the image, the second image would be my connotation of the image.



RAGE – when most of us think of “rage” – likely we might think or road rage or perhaps yelling at telemarketers like the denotation image of this raging woman?



Though my first connotation was of an old video game that feature fighting dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts called “Primal Rage.” Although if you want to see some hard core raging by a little German kid – check out this youtube classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbcctWbC8Q0





ORDER – I think a picture to represent order is an image from the TV show Law and Order:



Do you want the truth of what connotes ORDER to me? YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!! (Sorry – couldn’t help it). Yes… it’s courtroom marine/naval drama, “A Few Good Men.”




JUSTICE is usually depicted by police or other anti-criminal action – or perhaps, like Order, in another courtroom drama.


When I think of justice – I always imagine lady justice, complete with blindfold, scales and sword.




EVIL – like the other words so far, Evil is an ideal – and not something easily to picture as a denotation. Though I think we can readily agree that satanic images such as this devil picture often denote evil:


The image my mind immediately came up with was Skeletor from the comic and cartoon franchise, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. The original cartoon was a little cheesy, but I always felt that Skelotor, with his grim reaperesque appearance made for a great evil villain.




PEACE – there are some uniform symbols for peace – such as doves and the V symbol made with a hand – and of course – what most of us just refer to as the peace symbol:

My first connotation of peace is hippies. And when I thought of hippies, I thought about how Eric Cartman from South Park hates hippies…




GOD - I feel the general denotation for God (in American culture) is an old, bearded, wizened-looking fellow. Such as from Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam:”

Personally, I have often wondered what daily life would be like if we still worshiped a pantheon of gods, such as the Greeks, Romans and the Celts. I’ve always been enamored with the Norse gods, and immediately thought of Thor, Norse god of thunder and lightning, when given the word, “god.” (Bit of news: they are making a big budget Thor movie (based on the Marvel Comics character) due out next year).




HISTORY is such a symbolist word, it’s hard to conjure just one image that be a denotation of it. I think collages of historical figures or timelines might best represent the word. Here’s a collage that indicates US history:

I think due to my personal history, I immediately thought of the 101st Airborne in WWII (ala Band of Brothers). I served nearly 3 years with the 101st Airborne and they were some great years indeed. Band of Brothers remains my favorite of any wartime TV or movie drama. Another connection I have is that Richard Winters, one of the real-life people that were reenacted, lives in Hershey, PA – which is where I was born and spent most of my childhood and adolescence.





PAIN is another tough word to denote. I think this image representing back pain does a good job though:

I have some ongoing pains in my knees which started (and was misdiagnosed) with childhood arthritis. It gets a little worse every year. Last consult I had, the docs wanted to cut me open… so I until it really changes my standard of living, I will just keep with stretching and anti-inflammatory meds...




SMART or brainpower or IQ and the like are typically portrayed by brainy looking images such as this:

When I think of SMART – I think of the Smart, a small car made by Mercedes Benz. I like the car’s size, but wish they did better on gas (they get about 30mpg, where as one of my two Mini’s gets nearly 40mpg). One thing I don’t like, is that now that Smarts are sold in the USA, my Minis are not the smallest, most endearing things on the road. (Well, Mini's are still more endearing (and faster!)).

Entry 12-14 - iPads, Fast Cars, and Tequila (oh my!)

I wanted to start this assignment by defining some terms I might use in my discussion about some magazine ads. I will use these terms and others learned in my VC 101 course to answer some guided questions regarding each of three ads.

Denotation - What is pictured, first order of signification referring the physical reality of the object that is being signified.

Connotation - How it is pictured, second level of signification where the reader of the sign plays a part in the process.

Myth - Myths are a type of speech, a system of communications that is a message that allows one to perceive that myth cannot possibly be an object, concept or an idea. It is another mode of signification. In our lecture, Professor Melhus provides the example of, "Advertisements make us believe that a picture of a full, dark bottle of wine is a robust and healthy habit when really, wine can be unhealthy and inebriating."

Metaphor - Per our lecture by Professor Melhus: "Where we substitute one word or image in a sequence for another we can transfer the characteristics of one object to another."

Metonym - "A metonym works in a similar way except that it is used to represent a totality. Where we want to signify reality in some way then we are forced to choose one piece of reality to represent it. For example, if we want to represent all children we might use an image of a child. In this case the image of one child is being used as a metonym to represent the whole-- all children" (Melhus, 2010, "How meaning is formed").

Signifier - a component of a word, the word itself is the signifier. When signifier and signified come together, we get a sign.

Signified - a component of a word, the object the word represents is the signified. When signifier and signified come together, we get a sign.

Icon - 1 of 3 of defined categories of symbols, an icon is an image that actually represents well what it means. For example, a pedestrian walk sign - the pedestrian in the image looks like a person.

Index - 1 of 3 of defined categories of symbols, an index creates a direct link between the sign and the object.

Symbol - 1 of 3 of defined categories of symbols, symbols are signs that have no logical connection between the sign and what it means - like the American flag.





Entry 12 - Apple iPad (Source - National Geographic, May 2010)
1. What cultural myths are invoked in the ad? That an iPad is a simple and nice computer device that anybody can use. The ad also features a well-groomed woman’s hands. I don’t want to stereotype, but there is a typical male-geek image when people think of computer users. I think using a woman for this ad furthers the myth that anybody could use an iPad. Lastly, they user seems to be on a couch or chair with slippers on, and with their feet up. Not a usual position for using a computer.

2. What relationship do you see between those myths and the target audience for the product? How is the myth conveyed or hinted at? First, connotation for this ad is important. This is not a PC or gaming magazine, it was in National Geographic, which tends to cater to a more educated audience. I think that is their target audience. I don’t feel the ad would be appropriate to some of the PC/Gaming magazines I subscribe to, as most ‘techies’ know the true abilities of the iPad and how underpowered it is compared to competitive devices at lower costs.

3. How do the characters in the ad function as signs? I can put my feet up and read a book, surf the web, and play a few games using my iPad. As I mentioned above, the character in this ad connotes an image (or myth actually) that anybody could use an iPad, that it’s relaxing and maybe even a sophisticated thing to do.

4. What story does this ad tell about how happiness is achieved? Buy an iPad, read a digital book, relax, and you will be a happy.

5. How is this ad playing off its audience's desires and/or fears? This ad is playing playing to the desires of the audience. Typical home PC users have a bulky laptop or a desktop PC or Mac computer. I think if there is a metaphor in this as, it’s that an iPad frees a person from their stuffy office space and lets them curl up with a 1000 books on their comfy recliner.




Entry 13 - Lexus IS F (Source - Motor Trend, July, 2010 (centerfold of a 4-page ad))

1. What cultural myths are invoked in the ad? Vrrroooomm!! Red leather and carbon fiber on the steering wheel and paddle shifters – nice! This car – whatever Lexus it is – is FAST! Overall, this image is very cockpit-like, and like jets, giving a denotation of speed. Red is iconic with fast cars as well.

2. What relationship do you see between those myths and the target audience for the product? How is the myth conveyed or hinted at? This is appeared in a Motor Trend magazine, so the audience was me – that is – a driving enthusiast. Red has long been a color associated with excitement, passion and speed. The metaphor in the steering wheel with lit up displays (symbolizing a fast car) is explained to those that don’t readily get it: “Adrenaline in your hands.”

3. How do the characters in the ad function as signs? As there were no people in this ad, this question is not relevant.

4. What story does this ad tell about how happiness is achieved? Buy an expensive and fast Lexus – and you will be the newest-speedy-yuppie-trendsetter in your neighborhood.

5. How is this ad playing off its audience's desires and/or fears? The red in this ad, to me, is just delicious. I can almost feel that supple leather grip, and can I just imagine that speed go up from 0 to 65 in just a couple heart beats.




Entry 14 - Patron Tequila (Source - Maxim, August 2010)

1. What cultural myths are invoked in the ad? When friends show up unexpected, it’s best to get drunk so you can better withstand their company? Friends are more fun when you are buzzed? Most likely it’s just: your friends are worth $50 tequila.

2. What relationship do you see between those myths and the target audience for the product? This ad comes out of Maxim magazine which, I feel, advertises to men aged 18 to 40. In particular, this ad is geared towards an over 21 crowd, but some with either an appreciation for fine spirits, or ones with a higher income. The myth is easily dispelled when one considers the dangers of alcohol to the body or one’s impairment to operate machinery like their car, or worst, their cell phone.

3. How do the characters in the ad function as signs? As there were no people in this ad, this question is not totally relevant – THOUGH – there is a suggestion of people. They use words such as “simply perfect” and “friends.” This, to me, is iconic of some my simple friends… and some of my perfect friends. Or perhaps it means you can take your perfect friends, feed them refined tequila, and they become simple.

4. What story does this ad tell about how happiness is achieved? A certain Jimmy Buffet song about “adult situations” and alcohol comes to mind.

5. How is this ad playing off its audience's desires and/or fears? Everybody likes being a good friend. At a recent party I attended, a friend did offer Patron, and I must say, I was touched that he shared with us the “good stuff.” There is little that plays off of one’s fears – unless you fear not being a good friend.

Extra: I chose this ad as it was quite simple, just a product picture and a few choice words. I like tequila, but I don’t want to give an image to my classmates that I’m some lush or anything. Follow the advice of ads: Drink Responsibility.

Entry 11 - Decisions... Decisions... Decisions...

The following are conceptual signs that I might see throughout the day if more of my decisions came down to following signs such as walk/don't walk like you might find on a busy street corner.



Image 1)
This would be the first sign I see each day. When that I alarm goes off - do I listen to the radio and drag my butt out of bed? Or do I turn it off and go back to sleep? Well, I usually don't mind going to work - so it's usually up and into the shower I go.




Image 2)
This might be the second major decision I make each day - do I use my bike to commute - or do I take the Mini. As it's typically about 95 degrees when I am leaving for work - I tend to take the car most of these hot summer days. Once summer eases up, the bike will be the primary mode of transportation to and from the office.




Image 3)
This is an image I think should be on car dashboards. When ever the car is in gear, than the "NO!" image should appear. But if the driver has the car in park, or neutral with the e-break on, then they driver would get the "OK!" symbol. Personally, I think texting and driving is very irresponsible.






Image 4)
I'm on a diet right now - so food is often on my mind. I keep a cabinet at work stocked with cereal, but often times coworkers will bring in donuts to share. It's a tough call when I get into the office between that yummy donut or my Special K with strawberries.





Image 5)
Another food choice - I am surrounded by fastfood restaurants. Within a 1/4 mile I have a Burger King, McDonalds, a Jack in the Box, a Wendy's, a Panda Express, a Chick-fil-A, a subway, a Boston Market and a Taco Bell. Then there are all the mom & pop restuarants within walking distance. It's tough to stick to a packed lunch when you have all these yummy (though unhealthy) fast food places so close to you at the workplace.





Image 6)
My final image. This was the hardest for me to conceptualize in a simplistic manner. I wanted to show the choice some of us have at work to 'Surf the Web' or to remain busy and productive. I think I did a good job. (The lower PC screen pays homage to a particular favorite movie of mine).

Entry 10: Metaphor

To represent a good use metaphor in an ad image, I chose this French ad. Roughly translated from my two years of high school French: "Without a condom, with AIDS do you make love. Protect yourself.

Entry 9 - Inventions

The goal of this assignment was to showcase twenty inventions - the first 10 were to be inventions you believed to be important inventions; the second 10 were to be inventions which I really appreciate having in my life.

Image 1 - Clockwise from top left:
1) Lights - if we were stuck in a world whose only light came from the sun, I think things would be pretty dull. These lights are compact fluorescent lights. Fluorescent lights were invented by Arthur Compton in 1934.

2) Electricity - This is not exactly an invention, but many inventors were involved in harnessing it. Ben Franklin did many experiments and of course we have erratic Nikola Tesla.

3) Glass - could you even begin to imagine a world without windows? Without mirrors? (Without fiber optics?). Credit goes to the Egyptians or Phoenicians way back around 2500 BC.

4) Photographs - I love my camera - and enjoy collecting images of my family from the past. Invented by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre in 1837.

5) Books - actually - books, paper, and printing. Three amazing inventions. I could not imagine learning in a world without books. And my love for fiction is likely apparent in this picture. It was around 1450 when Johannes Gutenberg demonstrated his printing press with movable type.



Image 2 - Clockwise from top-left
6) Clocks - Christiaan Huygens gave us the pendulum clock in 1656 - the clock in my photo though is of a Quartz clock, invented by Warren A. Marrison in 1927.

7) Metal (Steel) - My grandfather brought these swords home from Italy after WWII. I thought they would represent metal/steel/iron very well. Henry Bessemer of the United Kingdom, in 1856, invented the techniques for mass steel production. My step-father is a retired steel worker.

8) Medicine - I've been enjoying The Tutors, a Showtime Channel drama based around King Henry the VIIIth. That show really makes me appreciate modern medicine and medical techniques. Sir Frederick Grant Banting and Charles H. Best, of Canada, invented the extraction and preparation of insulin in 1921.

9) Maps/Cartography - We'd be lost without maps. In 2004, Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof created and launched the TV Series, "Lost."

10) Refrigeration - I love ice cream. Period. American John Gorrie created the 'fridge in 1842.



Image 3) Clockwise from top-left:
1) Air Conditioning - This photo represents my air conditioning. Tomorrow it will be 105 degrees in Tucson. The next day? 108. 'Nuff said. Willis Haviland Carrier created AC in 1902. Bless you, Willis. Bless you.

2) Modern Oral Care - Remember my comment above about The Tudors. Those folk had some nasty teeth. Thank goodness for fluoride! The Chinese created toothbrush's in the 1400's.

3) Indoor Plumbing - because outhouses stink. I'm also thankful for Joseph Gayetty - who in 1857 invented toilet tissue.

4) My daily meds - Nexium was about the 10th in a long chain of medicines my docs had me on for acid reflux problems. It's the the one that worked. The Aller-Tec is a Costco-brand Zyrtec - which makes living my two cats possible.

5) Safety Razor - I don't think I'd trust myself with a straight razor. I cut myself enough as it is. American King Camp Gillette created the safety razor right at the turn of the 20th century.

6) Clothing - because fur is just not cool. Eli Whitney gave us the Cotton Gin in 1793.



Image 4)
7) Evil Dave!!! - this one of my self-built PCs. Isn't she a beaut. I can't be a techie-boy without techie-toys. Contrary to what he might have said - Al Gore did not create the Internet (though Man-Bear-Pig may actually exist). Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) at the Dept. of Defense created the Interwebs in 1969.

8) My rides - Trek road bike and Mini Cooper S. Minis were first made by British Motor Company in 1959. 1999, the Mini cooper was ranked a close 2nd as Car of the Century, behind the Model T Ford.

9) Tivo - Tivo has totally transformed my TV-viewing experience. Being a half to 3/4-time student and a full-time worker, it allows me to watch over the air programming when I choose to, not when the networks choose. I also can skip commercials - and add to it that I can stream 1000's of movies via Netflix through my Tivo to my TV. Tivo is awesome. Well - I guess I still need a TV - it is given mixed credit for its invention: Russia's Vladimir Kosma Zworykin in 1923, and American Philo Taylor Farnsworth in 1927.

10) Mobile Phone/Smart Phone - another life transforming device. I can read my email, send short messages, surf the web, take photographs... oh. And call people. From nearly anywhere. Bell Labs invented mobile phones in 1946.


Sources:
"Greatest Inventions of All Time" retrieved from http://www.i-dineout.com/pages2003/inventions1.html
Wikipedia.

Entry 8 - Word/Image Association

In this entry, I will be discussing my the images I chose to associate with particular emotional words.

Anger - Clockwise from the bottom right:
1) I started with several images of Marvel Comics' Incredible Hulk. I chose this one as it's iconic of "Hulk get Mad - Hulk get Angry - Hulk Smash" which is near about his registered trademark.
2) Angry Robot - this the actual icon for the publisher, Angry Robot. Most of their publications are horror, sci-fi, urban fantasy and traditional fantasy fiction. I just really like their icon - and am a fan of their printed genres. Liking sci-fi, I was tempted to use an Anakin/Darth Vader image (Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to blah blah cookies blah blah...)
3) Mr. Grumble. This is one of the many Mr Men, which is a series of children books. I recall an old teacher of mine in Sunnymead (or Armada?) Elementary School (California) would read these to us at recess if you did not want to go out for recess. There's also a Mr Moody - he'd also be fitting for this collage.
4) Metallica's St. Anger album cover. I'm not a really big Metallica fan, but I do like some of their stuff from the late 80's and early 90's. Their symphony album was also pretty neat. This album is from 2003. The album art I think fairly represents its name, St. Anger.
5) Angry Wolf image. I found this image googling the interwebs. It's fairly iconic of anger in nature. Wild dogs and other animals often show their teeth as a sign of aggression.


Sad - clockwise from bottom right:
1) This is an Army solider playing taps in a military cemetery. I've twice served on funeral detail while serving in the Army. Taps would always choke me up, even though I did not know the soldier/airman/sailor/corpsman that passed away. Its a proud sadness of honoring one whose served their country, but a sadness nonetheless.
2) Daisy. I liked this one as it was a lone daisy which almost seems to have tears coming from it.
3) Orangutan - 'Tangs' have a natural down-turned/saggy face which gives them a sad-looking appearance. I think a lot of animals, especially mammals, often look sad. I believe it's their big eyes, especially when they look up at you with a lowered head.
4) Mufasa - This is image to which I am sure conjures sad emotions in most people, that of the proud king and father, Mufasa, the male patriarch in Disney's The Lion King. This is an artist's rendition of Mufasa after he was murdered by his brother, Scar.
5) Golden Era Comic - a traditional (1950's?) take on a female comic character.



Joyous - Clockwise from bottom right
1) I love Bill Waterson's Calvin and Hobbes. I think we can all relate to Calvin on some level. This image is just the two them caught in a fit of laughter.
2) LOLCats. Laugh-out-loud Cats is an internet sensation, and this is the primary image that started this online trend. LOL has become iconic to today's technology and its used to express happiness, joy and laughter.
3) Manhiem Streamroller's Christmas album art - Christmas, to me, is synonymous with joy. I chose this image as it also has the innocent and happy child.
4) Joyous Respite - This is a painting by the artist Rebecca Guay. She's done a lot of fantasy style artwork for different games and magazines. The title of this picture of Joyous Respite, and is well-named for the image of harmonious natural environment.
5) Snoopy! - I was doing a search for "dance" think I might find some happy dancer image, and came across dancing snoopy. I thought this a good image as it shows a very happy snoopy - and often times people are very happy dancing.



Uninspired - Clockwise from bottom:
1) First we have an old telephone. Notice all the fancy features of this phone. We have a rotary dial... and... um... that sleek corded handset. I picked this one as it was a reflection of the work I do every day, a lot of which involves configuring phones with over 100 features. Even when touch-tone phnes were later sold and leased by AT&T, they were still absent of any extra features we find on our phones and cellular phones today.
2) TV Dinner. Food does not get more uninspired than this.
3) Despair poster - Lazy. Laziness is synonymous with uninspired. This is one of many of Despair.com's demotivational series of posters.
4) The Office - Even though I've worked for many "Office-like" environments over the years, I only just started watching this show via Netflix about 4 months ago. I love it. It cracks me up. The workers at Dunder Mifflin paper company are often left uninspired by their manager, Michael Scott.
5) Rubik's Cube - I thought this an ideal gift for the uninspired, unmotivated friend.



Scared - Clockwise from bottom right:
1) "Scardy-Cat" - Halloween or anytime icon of a scared cat.
2) Mini Cooper - I love my Mini Coopers. This image, to me, is terrifying.
3) Scared Eggs - I could not help but to include this one, as it cracked me up.
4) Blair Witch Project - Many of us enjoy horror movies. And this was the first item I searched the web for when given the word, "scared."
5) 40. For some of us it's 30... others it's 50, 60, 70... ... it seems like with each decade we live, we fear the following decade even more.

Entry 7 - A Day of Morning in the Marboro Family

This is a illustration I recently completed where I was to choose from a short list of "charged topics" and design an image only using the topic item itself - something that would express my opinion.

I am not much of an illustrator... It is a skill to which I am working on, and I'm hoping elective courses such as this (Vis Com 101) help improve my limited skills.


This image pretty much sums up my opinion on cigarettes: They will kill you. You're be dead, and your family will be sad. (Though, they might not miss you too much as your house/clothes/breath always stank of cigarettes. I've lost my grandmother recently, and she was a heavy smoker up until she was forced to quit in her later years. My mother also smokes... she's tried to quit so many times. She's 'off again' right now, but this must be the 20th time, so my hopes don't get too get high about it.


My opinion on smoking? - It stinks.