What are the claims of critics of television ?
Televisions...
-doesn't facilitate literacy
-doesn't encourage intellectual engagement
- encourages a sedentary lifestyle
Advertisements
-the bulk of money made by networks comes from ads
-ads last 60 to 90 seconds
-ads increase in frequency towards the end of the show
-ads are strategically placed within the storyline of a show to ensure that the viewers watch the
entire show
Differences between TV and Film
-tv is more casual entertainment
-there is no investment to be made in tv
-film requires an investment to be made (i.e. 2 hours in a movie theater)
-we become more invested in the characters on tv
-we care about what happens to them
Reality Television
-infatuation with the lives of real people
-more infatuated with how real people deal with real life problems
-millions made in reality television
-some of my favorite reality shows are America's Next Top Model, Survivor, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The Darkside of the American Dream
“Blow”
The “American Dream” isn't real and the ideology that with money comes happiness is an illusion that quickly deteriorates in Blow just as it does in Citizen Kane, The God Father and Carlito’s Way. In Blow, Jung (Johnny Depp) watched his parents continuously fight over their financial problems. Not wanting to fall into the same trap that his father was in (living paycheck to paycheck) he vowed to never let himself become poor. Despite being told by his father that money isn't real and only an illusion, Jung still craved it. In fact, Jung not only craved money but he craved easy money and when he got it he only wanted more and more of it. As a result, Jung became one of the biggest drug traffickers in American history. He had all the money to afford all the pleasures of life that most people will never see actualized. Even in lieu of his wealth, however, Jung was never really happy with his life of wealth and ultimately it is his greed for more wealth that results in his imprisonment and his separation from his daughter.
So in the end, was it worth it? Jesus Christ. How irreparably changed my life has become. It's always the last day of summer and I've been left out in the cold with no door to get back in. I'll grant you I've had more than my share of poignant moments. Life passes most people by while they're making grand plans for it. Throughout my lifetime, I've left pieces of my heart here and there. And now, there's almost not enough to stay alive. But I force a smile, knowing that my ambition far exceeded my talent. There are no more white horses or pretty ladies at my door.
--George in Blow
The “American Dream” isn't real and the ideology that with money comes happiness is an illusion that quickly deteriorates in Blow just as it does in Citizen Kane, The God Father and Carlito’s Way. In Blow, Jung (Johnny Depp) watched his parents continuously fight over their financial problems. Not wanting to fall into the same trap that his father was in (living paycheck to paycheck) he vowed to never let himself become poor. Despite being told by his father that money isn't real and only an illusion, Jung still craved it. In fact, Jung not only craved money but he craved easy money and when he got it he only wanted more and more of it. As a result, Jung became one of the biggest drug traffickers in American history. He had all the money to afford all the pleasures of life that most people will never see actualized. Even in lieu of his wealth, however, Jung was never really happy with his life of wealth and ultimately it is his greed for more wealth that results in his imprisonment and his separation from his daughter.
So in the end, was it worth it? Jesus Christ. How irreparably changed my life has become. It's always the last day of summer and I've been left out in the cold with no door to get back in. I'll grant you I've had more than my share of poignant moments. Life passes most people by while they're making grand plans for it. Throughout my lifetime, I've left pieces of my heart here and there. And now, there's almost not enough to stay alive. But I force a smile, knowing that my ambition far exceeded my talent. There are no more white horses or pretty ladies at my door.
--George in Blow
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Notes from Movie 10/25
What visual elements of the film help transport you into the film?
-The wardrobe
-The glass of water on the night stand vibrating from the bombs
-The papers falling from the building, books, etc. The fires outside the building
-The model of the third reich
-Civilians in the streets running
-Kids dressed as soldiers "playing" war in the streets
-Debris and chaos in the streets
-The clouds of smoke that fills the air
-The faces of the wounded crying out for help
-The fact that the children did not cry out for help
-The bare bodies of the dead piled on top of one another
-The elders lying in bed defeated
-The bullet shot through the soldiers head
-The child's face when he realized war is not a game (when he saw the soldier he had just talked with dead from a bullet to the head)
-The two men shooting themselves after learning of their surrender
-The blank faces/blank stares
**The statistics/ at the end (white font against black background) "...50 million lives lost**
-The wardrobe
-The glass of water on the night stand vibrating from the bombs
-The papers falling from the building, books, etc. The fires outside the building
-The model of the third reich
-Civilians in the streets running
-Kids dressed as soldiers "playing" war in the streets
-Debris and chaos in the streets
-The clouds of smoke that fills the air
-The faces of the wounded crying out for help
-The fact that the children did not cry out for help
-The bare bodies of the dead piled on top of one another
-The elders lying in bed defeated
-The bullet shot through the soldiers head
-The child's face when he realized war is not a game (when he saw the soldier he had just talked with dead from a bullet to the head)
-The two men shooting themselves after learning of their surrender
-The blank faces/blank stares
**The statistics/ at the end (white font against black background) "...50 million lives lost**
Progress Report 10/18-10/25
Overview
My partner Jennifer and I will be planning and executing a fundraiser for Providence Christian Academy’s library. The fundraiser will not be a formal or elaborate one; rather it will be simple and effective and we will end it with a “drop-in” type of event. Making the fundraiser a success (i.e. collecting numerous books for PCA’s library) is going to take a lot of preparation and diligence by both Jennifer and myself. For this reason, Jennifer and I have come up with numerous ways in which we will utilize visual communication in generating buzz around this fundraiser.
Work Completed
Jennifer and I had our first face-to-face meeting this week. During this meeting we shared our ideas for possible event names. After much deliberation we decided that it would be more advantageous if we utilized the creative minds in our visual communication class. Accordingly, we met with Professor Holmevik Tuesday and discussed with him the possibility of having a brainstorming session at the beginning of class. We are very optimistic that with the help of all of you, we’ll leave class today with an official event name. In lieu of our lack of an event name Jenn and I made sure to keep pressing full speed ahead. Since Jennifer is also doing an individual progress report I will let her discuss in detail her contributions to the project this week while I focus on mine.
Since last week I’ve been setting a lot of things in motion. For instance, I visited PCA and met with the librarian, 2nd and 3rd students, and their teacher. I sent a letter home with the 2nd and 3rd graders asking their parents permission to photograph them reading at school and to utilize these photographs for our project/event. I asked that their parents return the signed permission slips Monday of next week. Wednesday of next week I will be visiting PCA and taking pictures. Additionally, I contacted Papa Johns and Pizza Hut about possibly donating pizzas for our fundraising event. I’ve also contacted a graphics design company about printing t-shirts for the event.
Next Steps
Next week we hope to complete the following: add event name to flyers and t-shirt designs, place t-shirt order, take photos at PCA, finalize event location, and finalize our event budget.
Brief Conclusion
This project so far has been all about planning and now we FINALLY get to start implementing!!! As you can see, I’m elated to finally set this event in motion. Get excited, we are!
My partner Jennifer and I will be planning and executing a fundraiser for Providence Christian Academy’s library. The fundraiser will not be a formal or elaborate one; rather it will be simple and effective and we will end it with a “drop-in” type of event. Making the fundraiser a success (i.e. collecting numerous books for PCA’s library) is going to take a lot of preparation and diligence by both Jennifer and myself. For this reason, Jennifer and I have come up with numerous ways in which we will utilize visual communication in generating buzz around this fundraiser.
Work Completed
Jennifer and I had our first face-to-face meeting this week. During this meeting we shared our ideas for possible event names. After much deliberation we decided that it would be more advantageous if we utilized the creative minds in our visual communication class. Accordingly, we met with Professor Holmevik Tuesday and discussed with him the possibility of having a brainstorming session at the beginning of class. We are very optimistic that with the help of all of you, we’ll leave class today with an official event name. In lieu of our lack of an event name Jenn and I made sure to keep pressing full speed ahead. Since Jennifer is also doing an individual progress report I will let her discuss in detail her contributions to the project this week while I focus on mine.
Since last week I’ve been setting a lot of things in motion. For instance, I visited PCA and met with the librarian, 2nd and 3rd students, and their teacher. I sent a letter home with the 2nd and 3rd graders asking their parents permission to photograph them reading at school and to utilize these photographs for our project/event. I asked that their parents return the signed permission slips Monday of next week. Wednesday of next week I will be visiting PCA and taking pictures. Additionally, I contacted Papa Johns and Pizza Hut about possibly donating pizzas for our fundraising event. I’ve also contacted a graphics design company about printing t-shirts for the event.
Next Steps
Next week we hope to complete the following: add event name to flyers and t-shirt designs, place t-shirt order, take photos at PCA, finalize event location, and finalize our event budget.
Brief Conclusion
This project so far has been all about planning and now we FINALLY get to start implementing!!! As you can see, I’m elated to finally set this event in motion. Get excited, we are!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
My Ocean Hotties!!!
I told you all how much I love the guys of Ocean's 12 but seeing as how this is a visual communication class I figured showing is better than telling so....check them out (see the video clip in the post below)!!!
ps. Remember ladies, I loved them first!
ps. Remember ladies, I loved them first!
Reflection on Tuesday's Class Discussion
Who couldn't talk about films all day? That's what I was thinking as I walked out of English 332 Tuesday afternoon. We all have our favorite films and just as diverse as our collection of favorites so are the reasons by which we decide which films make the cut and which do not. Accordingly, our varying responses to the question, "What makes a person really want to go see a movie?" aren't at all surprising. Some people in our class seek out movies that portray to them the quintessential iconic hero think Bruce Willis in "Die Hard." Then you have people, such as myself, whom decide whether or not to see a movie based on whether or not the actors and/or actresses on the silverscreen are HOT. For instance, consider any and all of the Ocean movies...let's see you have George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon--come on, who doesn't love these guys?!? Who would want to see any of them fail? Who wouldn't rob a casino or anything else they wanted you to if they asked? I mean if any of them called me I'd be searching through my closet for my catwoman costume from Halloween a couple of years back and catching the redline to the Bellagio. In short, seeing on screen hot bad guys that come out on top, to me is 120 mins of heaven :)
Monday, October 22, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Progress Report 10/11-10/18
Overview
My partner Jennifer and I will be planning and executing a fundraiser for Providence Christian Academy’s library. The fundraiser will not be a formal or elaborate one; rather it will be simple and effective and we will end it with a “drop-in” type of event. Making the fundraiser a success (i.e. collecting numerous books for PCA’s library) is going to take a lot of preparation and diligence by both Jennifer and myself. For this reason, Jennifer and I have come up with numerous ways in which we will utilize visual communication in generating buzz around this fundraiser.
Work Completed
Jennifer and I have done a great deal of brainstorming independently over the last couple of weeks. We decided to push our event date back. Our new project date did not result in a week off from our project. In fact, this week we focused not so much on brainstorming independently but rather we focused on collaborating our ideas and efforts. For instance, we began pitching ideas for an event name for our fundraiser. We set a goal of coming up with 3 options each and selecting our final choice from the list of 6. Locking down an event name is important because it will be utilized throughout our campaign (i.e. on the flyers, t-shirts, banners, Facebook, etc.). In addition to the before mentioned, Jennifer and I have also discussed ideas for possible t-shirt designs. We plan on selecting our top 3 t-shirt designs by the end of the week. Additionally, Jennifer put the first ad for our fundraiser in the Tiger Newspaper.
Next Steps
Next week we hope to complete the following: design logo for flyers and t-shirts, choose an event name, place t-shirt order, take before photos of PCA library, take pictures of students at PCA, reserve studio for the drop-in, and contact pizza companies and decide on company that we’ll use for the event. This week I personally plan on coming up with 3 designs utilizing proven elements of effective visual communication that we’ve discussed in class. For example, when coming up with my designs I will consider font style, font size, color scheme, and the layout (i.e. where the logo should be placed, etc.). As mentioned previously, Jennifer placed an ad that will run this Friday, October 19 in The Tiger. I’m a bit concerned that more of our fundraiser details should have been finalized prior to running the ad and that an ad right now would not be advantageous to promoting our fundraiser since the “Trick-or-Treat Charity Book Drive” commenced this week and is being heavily publicized throughout campus. I will, therefore, discuss with Jennifer the possibility of purchasing ad space in additional print sources and online sources the week prior and/or the week of our fundraiser.
Brief Conclusion
The work that Jennifer and I have completed so far has enabled us to remain on task with meeting the deadlines for the major milestones of our project. We decided during a phone conference, that every Sunday we’d select a date and time that we’ll meet during the upcoming week. This diligence along with our passion for sharing our love of literature with students at PCA is an integral part of why our fundraiser WILL be a success. Get excited, we are!
My partner Jennifer and I will be planning and executing a fundraiser for Providence Christian Academy’s library. The fundraiser will not be a formal or elaborate one; rather it will be simple and effective and we will end it with a “drop-in” type of event. Making the fundraiser a success (i.e. collecting numerous books for PCA’s library) is going to take a lot of preparation and diligence by both Jennifer and myself. For this reason, Jennifer and I have come up with numerous ways in which we will utilize visual communication in generating buzz around this fundraiser.
Work Completed
Jennifer and I have done a great deal of brainstorming independently over the last couple of weeks. We decided to push our event date back. Our new project date did not result in a week off from our project. In fact, this week we focused not so much on brainstorming independently but rather we focused on collaborating our ideas and efforts. For instance, we began pitching ideas for an event name for our fundraiser. We set a goal of coming up with 3 options each and selecting our final choice from the list of 6. Locking down an event name is important because it will be utilized throughout our campaign (i.e. on the flyers, t-shirts, banners, Facebook, etc.). In addition to the before mentioned, Jennifer and I have also discussed ideas for possible t-shirt designs. We plan on selecting our top 3 t-shirt designs by the end of the week. Additionally, Jennifer put the first ad for our fundraiser in the Tiger Newspaper.
Next Steps
Next week we hope to complete the following: design logo for flyers and t-shirts, choose an event name, place t-shirt order, take before photos of PCA library, take pictures of students at PCA, reserve studio for the drop-in, and contact pizza companies and decide on company that we’ll use for the event. This week I personally plan on coming up with 3 designs utilizing proven elements of effective visual communication that we’ve discussed in class. For example, when coming up with my designs I will consider font style, font size, color scheme, and the layout (i.e. where the logo should be placed, etc.). As mentioned previously, Jennifer placed an ad that will run this Friday, October 19 in The Tiger. I’m a bit concerned that more of our fundraiser details should have been finalized prior to running the ad and that an ad right now would not be advantageous to promoting our fundraiser since the “Trick-or-Treat Charity Book Drive” commenced this week and is being heavily publicized throughout campus. I will, therefore, discuss with Jennifer the possibility of purchasing ad space in additional print sources and online sources the week prior and/or the week of our fundraiser.
Brief Conclusion
The work that Jennifer and I have completed so far has enabled us to remain on task with meeting the deadlines for the major milestones of our project. We decided during a phone conference, that every Sunday we’d select a date and time that we’ll meet during the upcoming week. This diligence along with our passion for sharing our love of literature with students at PCA is an integral part of why our fundraiser WILL be a success. Get excited, we are!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Final Proposal
What, Why, How & When... Semester Project Proposal
by
Sharon Reese and Jennifer Salane
Sharon Reese and Jennifer Salane
What:
We will be planning and executing a fundraiser for Providence Christian Academy’s library. The fundraiser will not be a formal or elaborate one; rather it will be simple and effective. We are going for a casual “drop-in” type of event.
Why:
To collect books to donate to Providence Christian Academy’s library thus aiding the school in its endeavor to provide free access to books for all students hence encouraging a more literate youth. Additionally, since both Jennifer and I are both English majors we both love literature and the idea of sharing our love of literature through this fundraiser is gratifying both personally and professionally (i.e. with future internships and employment).
How:
A drop-in. Finding a location for the drop-in itself will be a fairly simple task. It’s just a matter of reserving the Communication Studio. Making the drop-in a success (i.e. collecting numerous books for PCA’s library), however, is going to take a lot of preparation and diligence in following through. For this reason, Jennifer and I have come up with numerous ways to utilize visual communication in generating buzz around this fundraiser. See below.
Collection sites/Drop-in:
College communities are filled with students who love to eat (at least for the most part). The only thing that they love more than eating is eating for free. That being said, we plan to offer free pizza and drinks (donated by a local franchise) to anyone who stops by our drop-in and donates at least one book (appropriate for grades k5 – 12th ) to our cause.
Generating Buzz:
We will be placing an advertisement in The Tiger newspaper
We will be sending out an event invite to all of our Clemson Facebook friends. The invite will be on Facebook and those invited will receive notification that they have been invited as soon as they log onto Facebook. The link that they receive will then take them to our event page which will tell our guest what event they have been invited to, why the event is taking place, where, when, etc. The event page also allows for pictures, etc. to be posted. Hence the visual communication mediums utilized throughout our project can be easily displayed on this page as well. Furthermore, the event pages on Facebook make it easy for those invited to RSVP to events and for those throwing them to keep a headcount. They are able to select attending, maybe attending, or not attending. They are also allowed to type in a friend’s name and invite them to the event all from this location. There is a “wall” on the page where people can post questions and/or comments about the event. In the same way, we can inform the Clemson community of any changes that have been made.
Additionally, we will be purchasing a flyer that will be shown on http://www.facebook.com/ . This flyer will be visible to everyone in the Clemson network.
We will also create and distribute “real-world” flyers throughout high traffic locations on campus.
Everyone involved in the fundraiser will be wearing shirts designed specifically for the event (think relay for life) when distributing flyers and at the event itself.
E-mail:
Clemson listserv
Where:
The drop-in will be held in the Communication’s Studio on the first floor of Daniel. Pizza and drinks will be provided.
When:
November 2, 2007
Production:
Portfolio Two, one for each partner highlighting each partner’s respective contributions Paper
Two, one produced by each partner
Working Time Line:
~October 10- Octorber 12
Come up with a “catch phrase”
Reserve Communication Studio (Jennifer)
Work on t-shirt design (Sharon and Jennifer)
~October 15- October 19
Order t-shirts (Sharon)
Work on flyer design (Jennifer)
Take pictures of library at PCA (Sharon)
Create a slideshow of pictures set to music (Sharon)
~October 22- October 26
Create Event Group/flyer on Facebook (Sharon)
Pick-up t-shirts (Sharon)
Print flyers (Jennifer)
Create ad for the Tiger/Publish ad (Jennifer)
~October 29- November 1
Decide where we are ordering pizza from (Jennifer)
Purchase drinks, cups, napkins, etc. (Jennifer and/or Sharon)
Wear t-shirts while distributing flyers throughout campus (Sharon and Jennifer)
~November 2
Drop-in/collect books (Sharon and Jennifer)
Progress Report
Jennifer and I haven't done a lot of work as far as our actual document goes but we have, however, gotten together a few times to outline our individual contributions to this project as well as contributions we will be making together. Similarly, we also discussed our personal goal (i.e. to share our love for literature with the youth at a local school) for the project and our academic goal (i.e. to not only fulfill the requirements of our Engl 332 project but rather to exceed the expectations for this project by employing visual communication theories and ideologies in creating our project documents). Keeping in mind our personal and academic goals for this project, we finalized our project proposal with the addition of a working timeline. The working timeline specifies who is responsible for what and when. At the end of this week, for instance, we will have completed the following: 1.) come up with a "catch phrase" for our drop-in (Jennifer and I), 2.) find out who the contact person is for reserving the Communication studio and reserve it for November 2 (Jennifer), and 3.) work on a t-shirt design for our event (Jennifer and I).
KT Tunstall - Suddenly I See
This is the song playing during the opening sequence of "The Devil Wears Prada."
Thursday, October 4, 2007
The Devil Wears Prada...and so will Anne...and so shall I
From the moment The Devil Wears Prada's opening credits commenced I knew exactly what this film was all about. It forcasted so perfectly the film's story line. The first image we see during the opening scene is Anne Hathaway--a young woman whom is frumpy, unfashionable and by Hollywood's standards fat--brushing her teeth in the bathroom of her apartment (an apartment I might add that lacks just as much in decor as she in style). In juxtaposition to Anne Hathaway sifting through a drawer of cotton granny panties we're shown a montage of beautiful model thin girls (you know the kind you see in magazine ads) sifting through their drawers of La Perla (I'm sure) delicates and opting for laced thongs, selecting couture clothes from their custom closets and applying designer makeup to their designer faces. The sequences of this opening scene are all set to K.T. Tunstall’s "Suddenly I See" and low and behold before the opening credits even conclude "suddenly I see"; I see that Anne Hathaway isn't going to survive the fashion world as is. Anne Hathaway will have to swap her frumpy and plain style (and I'm being generous by calling what she throws together "style") for couture and elegance. In short, after watching the opening scene I know that if Anne Hathaway is going to survive hell, like the Devil, she will wear Prada. She'll wear Prada and she'll wear it well. Tuesday, October 2, 2007
The Death Penalty: Questions for Discussion
Do you feel that negative visual images associated with messages (i.e. messages in movies) are similar to negative visual images in the press (i.e. tabloid photos) in regard to the publicity they generate?
In other words, do you believe that all images--regardless of whether or not they are perceived as being good/accurate/bad/false--are advantageous because like the buzz generated around Hollywood's new "A-List," it is facilitative of discourse and discourse in regard to George's article is the basis of change.
In other words, do you believe that all images--regardless of whether or not they are perceived as being good/accurate/bad/false--are advantageous because like the buzz generated around Hollywood's new "A-List," it is facilitative of discourse and discourse in regard to George's article is the basis of change.
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