Tawny post 1

Blog Critical Reflection # 1

Part I: Find at least 5 images from your everyday surroundings. For each one, discuss how they function as representations, focusing on their truth value. How do they purport to tell the truth, and what truth is it?

1. American Eagle clothing store – eagle and quote

The American Eagle clothing line uses visual images to promote its products, as well as to depict how the ideal person should appear. The advertisements always use attractive male and female models, to subtly hint that if one bought their clothes, one could imitate this model and improve one’s appearance. Its symbol, an eagle with its wings spread, accompanies their quote, “Live Your Life,” implying that one should live in the moment and capture every second of the day. They subtly claim to provide clothes for the “all-american” girls and boys.

http://www.ae.com

2. Olympic Rings

The Olympic rings are always used at the Olympic Games. There are five rings, each of which is a different color, which represents the diversity of people who compete in the Games. The rings are all linked together, to signify unity. This image implies that the Olympic Games are a way for people of different backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles to come together, interact, and be unified.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=olympic+rings&btnG=Search

3. Nike shoes (“Just do it”) check

Nike uses the check mark as its symbol, along with the quote, “Just do it.” This implies that one should not think so much about what they do. Instead of thinking of all the reasons why one should not exercise or enjoy oneself, Nike is saying that people should do activities that benefit them, and not worry about the consequences or other troubling factors. Nike provides items to help people exercise and be healthy, thus promoting a healthier, happier way of life.

http://www.nike.com

4. Windows Vista – opening up to a whole new world

Windows has recently developed Windows Vista, which far surpassed its previous capabilities. Its symbol, the window, signifies how Windows is opening people up to a whole new world, a world of which the technology is much more efficient and helpful than ever before. Instead of opening doors, they are opening a big window for people to see how advanced the technology has become.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/default.mspx

5. Tag body spray for men

Tag body spray mainly uses television commercials to advertise its products. In every commercial, a male, usually somewhat unattractive, sprays on Tag, and immediately attracts the attention of some random beauty, who flings herself on him. This commercial implies that if a male uses their body spray, he will attract the attention and affection of the female population, despite the male’s appearance and demeanor, as well as any previous rejection. Tag uses sex to lure males into purchasing their product.

http://www.tagbodyspray.com

Select 2 of these images and, following the discussion on pp. 25-31, with diagram p. 29, carry out a semiotic analysis of the images in order to discern what ideology they could be promoting.

1. Olympic Rings

Signifier: 5 Olympic Rings (colors: blue, black, red, yellow, and green)

Signified: Unity among diversified groups, collaboration

Sign: The Olympic Games are a way to bring the countries of the world together, striving to reach a common goal.

The five Olympic Rings are all different colors, and are all linked to each other. The five colors are blue, black, red, yellow, and green. The meaning of this image, used in the Olympic Games, means that while the competitors are of different races, cultures, and backgrounds, they are all unified, and are all grouped into one category as well: The Olympic Competitors. The Olympic Games uses the image of these five rings to signify that these games work to unify the world and give the countries a common goal: to achieve fame and recognition by winning a medal. The Olympics is the most widely known event in which almost every country in the world participates, and at which, new bonds and relationships are formed. The Olympic rings symbolize that bond between different people.

2. American Eagle clothing line

Signifier: flying eagle, "Live your life"

Signified: freedom, innocence, happiness

Sign: American Eagle supports the idea of teenagers having freedom to enjoy themselves and live in the moment.

American Eagle uses the image of an eagle as its trademark. It also uses the quote, “Live your life,” implying that one should live in the moment and take advantage of each day. It advertises its products mainly in magazines, hiring attractive males and females to model their clothing. Their picture advertisements always depict a girl and a boy, who are always smiling or laughing, completely caught up in the moment. The mood is light-hearted, and the models always look like they are having the time of their lives. They are either running on the shore of a beach, dancing through a sprinkler, kissing behind a bookshelf, or driving down a road with the car top down, hair blowing in the wind. The advertisements make the viewer long to be in the model’s shoes, or rather, their clothes. The eagle, symbolic of freedom, further supports the store’s theme of being free to live one’s life the way that one wants to live it – to retain that youth and innocence. American Eagle claims to provide clothes for the “All-American” boy and girl.

Find 2 more images, one of which should fall into the category of “high” art, using a work of art on campus (outdoor sculpture, museum, the library, offices, etc), and the other “lower” art. Discuss how they can be classified as “high” or “low.” (p. 31-35)

1. High Art: The two arches in the entrance of Rollins College

The two arches at the college’s entrance have two different meanings. One arch signifies the entrance for incoming students, a welcome to new knowledge and understanding. Rollins College prides itself on giving its students a well-rounded, multi-faceted education, concentrating on many diverse areas. The other arch represents the door to the world, one the student’s education is completed at Rollins. After passing through this symbolic arch, the graduate is now on their own to bring their ideas and knowledge to the rest of the world, shining like a candle. It is now their obligation to share their wisdom and leave their mark, wherever that may be. These two arches represent the mission and purpose of Rollins College.

3. Low art: The picture collage in my dorm room

I made a picture collage of all of my friends and family, which I brought up to Rollins College to put in my dorm room. The pictures are all of different people, places, and activities, ranging from skiing with my little brother to going out for dinner with my close friends. It is something that has a lot of value to me, and helps me remember the wonderful memories that I have had in the past years. It keeps those loved ones fresh in my mind, and reminds me that though I am no longer around them, there are many exciting times coming in the future, and there will be many more priceless pictures that will be taken.

Higher and lower art are classified using several criteria. Some art is viewed as being more valuable than other art pieces. Some criteria that determine an art work’s value are its authenticity and uniqueness, its aesthetic style, and the social mythology that surrounds a work of art or the artist. To be authentic, a work of art must be verified to be an original work by the artist. Art can also be viewed to be valuable if it is in a museum, or on display. High art is also valued because it can be reproduced for popular consumption. The two arches in the entrance of Rollins are commonly used in pictures on brochures or other forms of media used to represent the college. High art is also valued based on its ability to provide information to people. The arches are known to represent the integration of students into the academic world and the outside world. They inform people of the college’s purpose and mission. Low art is still valued, but it is not valued by people on such a large scale. My picture collage is very valuable to me and some of my friends and family, but it is not important to outsiders and people who do not know me. It does not clearly provide information to strangers who may see it, and it is only on display in my tiny dorm room.

Part II: In response to chpt 5, on mass media, discuss whether you think mass media has a democratic or an oppressive function in our society. Use examples of any kind of mass media to make your points, but be specific. We will return to this issue in Critical Reflection # 8.

While I believe that mass media has been used on both sides of the spectrum, supporting both sides, I believe that lately, it has been used In a negative fashion, rather than a beneficial one. Whenever I pick up the newspaper or watch the news, the media is always focusing on the negative aspects of today’s society. I read all of these stories about domestic problems, and criticism of the leaders in our country, yet the stories mainly talk about what the problem is, rather than how people should try to fix them. In the New York Times, there was an article about how the governor of Louisiana was refusing blame for the deaths caused by Hurricane Katrina. This article puts doubt into people’s minds about the competency of the leaders in the United States.

Another example of how mass media is having a negative impact on society is television. Many shows, especially cartoons that are aimed toward a more mature audience, constantly make wisecracks about the incompetence of leaders, or make fun of many controversial issues in America. The Simpsons and Family Guy, two cartoon shows, always slip in comments about President Bush’s “mess-ups,” or make fun of gay rights, abortion, and different religions. While many of the comments are amusing, they also have an adverse effect, because, by laughing at the comments made on the show, people are in a way accepting them as partial truth, and thus belittle many important issues in today’s society. These television shows belittle the controversies about gay rights, abortion, war, and religions, making them seem trivial and unimportant. However, these issues have caused great stirs in today’s society, and by making them seem like a joke, people are less likely to try to come up with a solution to the problem.