1. American Eagle Outfitters Ad
http://www.koaa.com/resource/image.asp?adv_no=877&type=adv_main
This image is of a young man jumping from the railing of a staircase wearing American Eagle Outfitters apparel and also includes the slogan “Live your Life.” This represents the carefree attitude of young men and women in this country. As the young man disregards the conventional way of walking down stairs, the ad seems to encourage a rebellion or revolution against restrictions placed on the individual and instead inspires within young minds the idea of living without regard for consequences whether good or bad. This image attempts to tell the truth that young individuals are free spirits by showing their aversion to rules and conventions on a smaller scale.
2. Statue of
http://www.willisms.com/archives/liberty-thumb.jpg
This image is of the statue of liberty in
3.
http://www.artsales.com/ARTistory/angelic_journey/angel_images/Victoria's%20Secret.jpg
This image is of a
4. Budweiser Ad
http://www.molechocolate.com/wp-content/uploads/budweiser.jpg
5. Jeep
Low versus high art:
In the Cornell Fine Arts Museum on campus, there is a painting titled Anna Pavlova as a Bacchante from 1910 by Sir John Lavery. This image is of a goddess-like woman in a white gown throwing red rose pedals around her as she dances gracefully. The fact alone that she seems so goddess-like merits the high value. The fact that it is in a college art museum also grants it the title of high art. In addition, this image represents an icon of traditional femininity and romance.
In contrast to this high art, a non-smoking sign is an example of low art as it is not displayed in a museum or similar institution and is not very unique. No smoking signs are found in numerous locations ranging from bathrooms to airplanes to restaurants.
PART II
The mass media has a not only oppressive but also a manipulative function in our society. The corporations that provide the information have the ability to frame, sensationalize, and choose which information to provide or withhold. For example, television news corporations like Fox News have the capability of choosing which stories to air and often use the most extreme ways to convey information to attract an audience, which is their main motive. In this way, these news corporations’ motives are to attract the most viewers in order to make the largest profit. Despite the ability for anyone to post news over the internet and have their fame, individuals in the United States are far more likely to watch the seemingly trustworthy news station where everything is audible and ready to watch, as opposed to a website that anyone could make.
Another example of the oppression of the media can be found in magazines or television shows and commercials in which young men and women are shown to have the perfect body, style, and life in general. This dictates a norm in society that all young men and women should look, act, and feel perfect. The media also oftentimes depicts men and women in stereotypical and/ or degrading ways by portraying them in extremely sexual or scandalous ads and commercials solely to attract an audience. The media in this way is not representing the
1 comment:
I liked all the images that you chose to use! One thing that I noticed was the way in which you connected your interpretations of the Budweiser and Jeep Liberty ads to the fact that they were created and used for the purpose of trying to sell the product. This approach could also be utilized in the other advertisements that you chose (for American Eagle and Victoria's Secret). Since a lot of the meaning of an image resides in the way in which it is shown to others, the AE ad may connote the idea that there is a connection between their clothing and the ability to be rebellious (and "cool"; part of the "in" crowd"). The Victoria's Secret ad in turn conveys the idea that women who do buy the brand name are able to play both the roles you talked about that are assigned to them as females- naughty and nice. Your explanations of the images connotative meanings were good!
I also really liked the image of the Statue of Liberty which you chose. As a picture it holds great truth value, but as our reading said, the way in which it is framed also has great impact. When I first saw the image, it seemed to emphasize the idea of the great importance of liberty and everything else the statue itself stands for which you talked about through the angle in which the picture was taken. It seems as though the person is standing below Lady Liberty and looking up at her (literally and figuratively).
Your section on High vs. Low art was also very good and to the point. You seemed to latch right onto the fact that a lot of the value of an image depends on what other people think of it (what they would be willing to pay for it, and if they would actually stop to look at the image/crowd around it like they would an original piece by a famous artist).
As for part 2... I think you talked about it all. Good job!
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