http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2496357.stm
Image 1: Walmart Store
This image functions as a representation of the enormity and ubiquity of Walmart stores. The angle at which the aisles are shown makes it seem as though the rows continue endlessly. Also, the image is framed such that the “Roll Back” price signs are in clear view, which represents Walmart as a store where consumers can shop to receive sales and discounts. The photographer aims to purport the truth by taking a picture of a typical view of the inside of a Walmart store, a view that one would see upon entering the main aisle. From the image, the setup of the aisles in uniform rows and the warehouse-like ceilings can be taken as truth, as well as the fact that the store has many large signs displaying prices.
http://www.lib.unc.edu/instruct/community_tutorials/web/searching/interface.html
Image 2: Google Homepage
This image of the Google homepage represents the powerful technology that has advanced in our time and the expansion of basic search engines to include those headings above the search box such as images, groups, news and much more. The image furthers the idea that the internet offers endless possibilities for both recreational and scholarly use. The image tells the truth in the sense that it supports the fact that Google is indeed a search engine that offers multiple tools and preferences.
Image 3: Digital Alarm Clock
This image of a digital alarm clock represents the struggle of sleep deprivation and unwillingness to wake up. For example, the red dot indicates that the alarm is turned on and set to wake up the sleeper. However, the time reads that it is only 4:21a.m. Such an early hour is not typical for a wake up call and is generally still considered the wee hours of the morning. However, the person who took such an image was awake but did not shut off the alarm, indicating that he or she was unwilling to wake up and most likely had trouble sleeping. This image has truth value in demonstrating the basic structure and function of the typical digital alarm clock. For example, it uses red dots to indicate p.m. and the alarm and it forms numbers by lighting up lines in the basic number block composed of seven lines. The alarm clock also includes a radio, as shown by the tuner located below the time display.
http://brainstorm-services.com/dccc-comp1/comparison-contrast.html
Image 4: State Farm advertisement
This image of a State Farm Insurance advertisement represents the busy working mother. In the image, it shows a woman dressed in business attire most likely for work, talking on the phone with the facial expression as though she is dealing with an important problem and trying to put her child’s shoes on as another child runs in the background. The caption and State Farm Insurance logo indicate that the image is meant to represent the State Farm Insurance agency as an empathetic group that understands the problems and stresses of busy moms. The image tells the truth in that there are moms who deal with the same problem as presented in this image: juggling work and family. The advertisement is aimed at these moms in an effort to sell their insurance coverage.
http://www.duncans.tv/2005/09/
Image 5:
This image represents Philadelphia Cream Cheese to be a “heavenly” food. Today we typically associate sinful foods with those that are unhealthy and high in calories. On the opposite end of the spectrum, heavenly foods are typically considered better for you with fewer calories. Thus, the bright lighting and soft colors are used to indicate the cream cheese’s heavenly status. The advertisement even includes angels eating the cream cheese. However, it is important to note that the angels look like average middle-aged people, the target group for this advertisement. This image does little to tell the truth as the background clouds are simulated and the angels are most likely actors. Thus, the only truth that can be drawn from such an image is that at one point in time a middle-aged man and a middle-aged woman dressed up in white gowns and wings and spread cream cheese together.
Semiotic Analysis
Image 4:
Signifier- State Farm Insurance, we live where you live
Signified- Busy working mother
Sign- State Farm Insurance understands the needs of busy working mothers.
Promotes the ideology of the working mom as having a stressful job of attempting to balance her duties in the home and in the workplace in contrast to the homemaking mothers of past decades.Image 5:
Signifier- Philadelphia Cream Cheese
Signified- Heavenly
Sign- Philadelphia Cream Cheese is a heavenly food.
This ad promotes the ideology of heaven as a place up above where angels dwell in the clouds.
High Art versus Low Art
Franz de Paula Ferg (1689-1740), Austrian
The Building of Noah's Ark, c.1730
Oil on canvas
CFAM Collection at
http://www.rollins.edu/cfam/exhibitions/
http://www.advertnews.com/?cat=4
The painting by Franz de Paula Ferg is considered high art as it is on display in a museum, is an authentic oil painting from the 18th century and portrays the biblical allusion of the story of Noah’s
Part II:
I think that mass media is a democratic force in society. Through radio, newspaper, television and the internet various groups are able to express their opinions. For example, the Internet and television recently combined forces in the presentation of two primary presidential debates. Youtube and CNN partnered to sponsor the debate. Through the internet, citizens were able to pose questions to the presidential candidates via video on Youtube. People asked questions about everything from war to social security and the videos of the questioners were aired on television and then the candidates would respond to each question. Thus, both the Internet and television took on a highly democratic role in allowing average citizens to directly communicate with the presidential candidates and voice their concerns. Also, all mass communication modes offer information to citizens on news developments and candidate positions concerning political issues, thus furthering the democratic process. For example, OnTheIssues.org allows one to search for candidates by state and then see their position on issues such as abortion, budget and economy, civil rights, crime, drugs, welfare and many more.
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