Jessica post 1

Part I:

I chose the following images from my everyday surroundings: the portrait of my family that sits on my desk, the poster of a grand piano that hangs in my bedroom, a Degas inspired postcard that I keep in my keepsake box, a photograph of my Grandmother on her wedding day, and my R-Card.

Image #1: Portrait of my family

The portrait of my family serves to be both a historical and sentimental record of my immediate and extended family. This still photograph serves to be a permanent record of an important event in my family’s history. It also is able to acutely capture and convey to all viewers the strong emotional connection and attachment my family has for one another.

Image #2: Poster of a grand piano

The poster of the grand piano functions as both an educational and emotional representation to me. This poster is able to represent the knowledge I am constantly acquiring from playing and practicing the piano daily. It also serves to embody the passion, dedication, and enthusiasm I have for music.

http://www.pianoprice.com/images/kawai_grand_piano1.jpg

Image #3: Degas inspired postcard

If someone opened my keepsake box and came across this postcard, they would just think that they were looking at a beautiful postcard with a dancer on it. However, this particular postcard is of memorable value to me for several reasons. Firstly, it was sent to me by my Russian ballet instructor and therefore reminds me of the many years of ballet lessons I took from him as a pupil. It also serves to represent the devotion I had and still have for the performing arts and more specifically ballet.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/nl/e/e9/Degas.etoile.jpg

Image #4: Photograph of my Grandmother

I chose to talk about this particular photo because it is of deep sentimental significance to me. If someone were to simply take a look at this photo, they would just see a photo of a stereotypical bride beaming on her wedding day. However, as a loving granddaughter, I am able to extract so much more from this age worn photo. It is a living testament to a confident, philanthropic, dedicated, passionate, assiduous, intelligent, and courageous woman, who has lived each and everyday of her life to the fullest. This photo is also a concrete representation of the many values, ideals, and virtues my Grandmother has instilled in me since birth.

Image #5: My R-Card

After much consideration, the last image I have chosen is my R-Card. On a denotative level, it represents a multi-purpose medium that allows me to be identified, get into my residence hall and dorm, buy food and books, and even exit the parking garage. However, on a connotative level this simple rectangular piece of plastic serves to represent so much more to me. It is a valid representation of my status as a Rollins College student and also functions to symbolize the freedom and privilege I know have as a college student.

In my family portrait, the image of my family lined up along a staircase banister serves to be the signifier. The physical and emotional connection of the family unit is the signified. The combination of each family member’s facial and body language all help to promote and maintain this ideology.

The image of my R-Card functions to be the signifier. The privileges, freedom, responsibility, and new experiences that come along with being a college student are the signified.

An example of “low” art on the Rollins College campus would be the Explorations 007 banner that hangs in the Cornell Campus Center. Though this particular piece of art may be aesthetically appealing, it was produced purely to advertise the arrival of the new incoming class of students.

The Knowles Memorial Chapel is an excellent example of “high” art on the Rollins College campus. The chapel’s exquisite architecture, impressive entrance, breathtaking stained glass windows, and eminent presence, all serve to contribute to its classification as “high” art.

Part II:

While mass media does have a role as an oppressive function in our society, I believe the role it plays as a democratic function is much stronger in our modern day society. The advance of modern technologies in this past century have allowed for the constant and rapid exchange of ideas, values, beliefs, and information, between people from all different countries and nations. These new resources have also helped to further solidify the connection between individuals from across the globe. For example, the internet provides individuals of all different ages, ethnicities, socioeconomic levels, and cultural backgrounds, the opportunity to freely express and exchange their ideas through on-line chat rooms, blogs, and websites. It also enables them the freedom to research information on every topic ranging from the exact dates of the Civil War to an authentic Italian recipe for tiramisu. I also believe that newspapers are an amazing medium that serve to create a public sphere through which people can be constantly informed about a plethora of different political, cultural, and social topics. Fortunately, there are so many different newspapers that individuals are able to be exposed to a wide variety of different takes on a particular topic and therefore are allowed the freedom and opportunity to make their own informed conclusions based on the information they have been presented with.