Kim post 1

Part 1

One image that we all see everyday is a stop sign. Its recognizable shape and coloring inform us to stop our vehicles and check our surroundings before proceeding. The four letters, S-T-O-P, on the stop sign merely spell out a word and yet nearly every American knows what is expected of them when they happen upon them. Literally, a stop sign is a sheet of metal but its representational meaning enforces an action. The word “STOP” and the bright red background command us to stop, without a verbal word having to be spoken.

Like a stop sign, a no-smoking sign is representational of an action, or lack of action. Instead of instructing the viewer to do something though, the sign instructs the viewer not to do something. The image of a cigarette inscribed in a circle with a line through it is universal. It is representation of a smoke-free area, possibly an area where people are often gathered. A no-smoking sign sends the message of the law. One is required to respect the orders of the sign and extinguish their cigarette whenever a no-smoking sign is visible.

Another image that I see everyday is a Zephyrhills water bottle label. It reads, “Zephyrhills Brand Natural Spring Water,” and its audience is expected to believe the assertion. The words on the label represent the truth of the bottle’s contents, its manufacturer and its location of collection. The emphasis on the word “spring” calls attention to area where the water was taken from, noting to the public of the water’s purity and therefore, appealing nature. In addition, the label features an image of a calm spring, complete with colors of relaxation and comfort.

One of the most prevalent images in Western culture is a crucifix. They can be made of anything, but the particular crucifix in my mind is made of wood, with a bronze figure of Jesus Christ hanging on it. The crucifix stands for Christianity, and the popular belief that Jesus, the son of God, died to forgive the sins of all Christians. It is a symbol of the ultimate sacrifice, entailing a great deal of love. It is the main symbol for Catholicism, reminding believers of all aspects of their faith, and most importantly their gratitude for Jesus Christ, their Savior.

My last image is the clock outside of Olin Library. The two hands on the clock represent the abstract idea of time. As the hands move around their fixed central point, hours and minutes change— the means of which we determine exactly what time of the day it is. The clock reminds its viewers of their obligations and causes them to hurry up or slow down, depending on how accurately they are following their own personal schedules.

The image of a crucifix can be classified as a signifier. Along with its meaning: the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the image of God and Christianity are portrayed. With personal interpretation the image of a crucifix can have many secondary meaning, allowing for many secondary images. For example, one may see a crucifix and feel guilty for missing the last few weeks of Church. In this case, the image of the crucifix and its meaning of guilt for the viewer act as a sign of the viewer’s shame or disappointment in his or herself.

A clock is also a signifier: it signifies the passing of time. The image of moving hands on the face of a clock and its meaning of time will mean different things for different people. To one person, the clock may be a sign that they are late for their class, and to another, it may be a sign to go to lunch.

One example of high art in my life is Vincent van Gogh’s Vincent’s Bedroom in Arles. It is one of my favorite paintings and I see it nearly every single day because I brought a reproduction of it to school with me. This painting exemplifies high art for several reasons: it is created with a high level or technique and style and was created by a well-accredited artist. The name Van Gogh is recognizable all around the world, as are many of his pieces. His elevated and unique style was innovative for his time period and his paintings continue to draw crowds of people to museums all over the world.

An example of low art is Chester Cheetah. The animated icon of the Cheetoh’s brand munchies is also a widely recognizable image, though for completely different reasons. The image was created to be used in the promotion of a product, rather than solely for self-expression. Created with a relatively low level of skill and by an artist of lesser notoriety, Chester Cheetoh can be described as a citation of low art.

Part 2

Mass media, simply, is a means through which information from all sources travels down through all the echelons of people in a given society. In today’s culture, technology is readily available, and thus radio, television and the internet are extremely popular ways to spread information. In my opinion, mass media is a hugely democratic part of our world. For example, on the website You Tube, you can find Barack Obama and other presidential candidates speaking about their issues and plans. With this new facet of technology, presidential campaigns can target new audiences, including young adults and teens. Without this fairly new addition to mass media, less people would be exposed to crucial information necessary for electing our nation’s next president. Similarly to the internet, the radio provides the general public with a multitude of much-needed information. For example, almost every radio station has a traffic report in the morning. The traffic report warns commuters to avoid certain roads and to expect backups on others. Without this luxury, many people would be stuck in traffic for a lot longer than they would like. Programs such as traffic reports on the radio may seem to be tedious or unimportant to democratic America, but in fact, they are crucial. The open flow of information provided on the radio and on the internet enables any human being with internet and radio access to hear about the things that are most important to them, and that is in no way, oppressive.