Blog Three -- Though Provoking Images

            The media uses many thought provoking images in order to emphasize and strengthen the meaning behind a message.  In many instances, two apparently unconnected objects are placed together in an image in order to get the viewer to think.  Also in images objects, even if they are apparently connected, are used in unexpected ways in order to raise thought.  In many cases, the image gives the central message and if text is present, it is used to back up what the picture is representing. 

            Banksy, an individual who uses art to express political and societal issues, places objects together in his images that appear to have no connection.  One image where this use can be seen is in the shopping cart image.  In this image, there are shopping carts in the middle of a field with people acting as animals.  Both the placement of the shopping carts and the behavior of the people come across as bizarre to the viewer.  This seemingly strange situation presented in the image initiates thought and analysis in the viewer.  Once the people looking at the image put deeper thought into the meaning, different conclusions can be made regarding the message Banksy was attempting to get across.  These messages could be something along the line of how consumerism affects society today.

            Another instance where images are used to emphasize meaning in a message is in the Kony 2012 video.  It is quite apparent how the images used in the video are connected to the central message.  Though, because they are used at unexpected times, the viewer is faced with an emotional response that leaves them deep in thought.  The images used were horrific pictures showing the suffering and abuse of children and other people under the control of Kony.  Although the man who made the video Jason Russell is talking along with the video and there is some text along with the images, the pictures are what bring the whole idea to life.  Text alone in cases like this can have little effect without the support of thought provoking images.     

            The uses of these images provide an example for how placement of objects within a pictures and how pairing text with an image can strengthen the message being presented.  In many instances, pictures speak louder than words.

Blog Two -- Machine Stops and Mondello Claim

            In the twenty first century, many societies have turned towards technology in order to function and enjoy everyday life.  By turning towards different forms of technology people have lost the things that make them unique.  The advancements in technology have removed the materialistic things from people’s lives that make them an individual and that give them an identity apart from others.

            In the article Our Media, Ourselves: Are We Headed For A Matrix?, author Bob Mondello explores the issue at hand.  As he states in the article: “humanity has abandoned all of what makes us human.”  In past generations, the collection of materialistic items has allowed other people to see physical representations of who we were as individuals because “isn’t accumulated mess what defines us as individuals?” (Mondello).  When arriving at someone’s household, it used to be possible to see shelves full of literature, music, movies and other entertainment methods that exemplified the person’s personality.  Today’s generation compiles these large amounts of entertainment interests into technological devices such as the Kindle, the iPad and mp3 players.

            It may be common thought that these advancements in technology actually allow people to deepen the definition of their identity.  It may appear that the wide range of technological devices gives individuals more options in picking out different entertainment sources and choosing what their likes and dislikes will be.  Although it is true that technology opens up many new doors for people regarding the things they can access, E.M. Forster, author of The Machine Stops addresses this idea in his story.  When addressing the use of a “Skype-like” machine, one of the characters in the story says: “He broke off, and she fancied that he looked sad.  She could not be sure, for the Machine did not transmit nuances of expression.  It only gave a general idea of people.”  This statement addresses the issue of technology in an eye opening manner.  If we are given the ability to pick and choose what we hide from others beneath the surface of technological devices, and what we allow people to see, we are hiding our identity.  By choosing what people can see, we are only allowing a partial representation of our personality and individual characteristics to be seen.

            We are given the ability to hide our identity behind technology, and this ability raises a legitimate fear of “losing ourselves as we lose our stuff.”  When people do not have the ability to see the many things, such as clutter, that define us, every individual begins to appear the same.  It has begun to take effort to show who we truly are.  Forster explores this idea in his story when he describes the lives of the people in society.  He states: “beds were of the same dimension all over the world, and to have had an alternative size would have involved vast alterations in the Machine.”  Not only do we all appear to be equal in our characteristics, but it is a strain in order to uncover those things that do make us unique.

            When exploring this issue, it becomes apparent that although technology has opened many doors in the things we are able to explore, it has also close many doors that allow people access to the things that define who we are and what makes us unique.  

Blog One: Blood Diamonds

            In the image, there is a hand that has been severed from a human body.  This hand has been cut off at the wrist and the bloody, jagged cuts can be seen.  The hand is wearing a large diamond ring on the left hand ring finger.  Above and below the hand there is text and towards the bottom corner of the page there is the outline of the continent of Africa with a red diamond in the center.

            There are several colors that stand out in the image and many of these colors create a depressing feeling in the viewer.  The color red is seen in the cuts on the human wrist and is seen in the color of the diamond placed in the center of the outline of Africa.  This color red clearly represents blood in the image, though the significance of blood has an even deeper meaning.  These two symbols, the color red and blood, can represent pain, suffering, fighting and even death.  The color black is used for the text present on the image and to fill in the shape of Africa.  This dark color symbolizes sorrow, sadness, hopelessness and even death.  When combining the representations of each of these colors with the presence of the human hand, it can be inferred that these negative situations, such as fighting, death and suffering have been placed upon human lives.

            There are also several colors in the image that have either a positive or neutral representation.  The ring on the finger of the human hand is a very light color and has a white tint to it.  The color of the ring represents purity, innocence and peace, three things which are positive.  The presence of the ring on the left hand also represents the idea of marriage.  Marriage symbolizes the unity and love between two people.  Purity and innocence can also be represented in the white background of the image.  The color brown is also present in the image and shows the race that is being represented.  Brown represents the African American race and this idea is supported by the outline of Africa that is in the bottom corner of the image.

            Although the text on the image is in small font in order to allow the image to speak for itself, the words give strong meaning to the image.  The text uses contrast in order to explain what is going on in the image.  There are words with a positive connotation in the text, such as “marriage” and “beauty”, and there are also words with negative connotations in the text, such as “taken away”, “enslaved,” “cut,” and death.  These contrasting words allow the viewer to realize that although something may appear good and beautiful to them, like the ring, there may be an unfair and unjust history beneath the surface of these materialistic things.  The text also pertains to the viewer because it mentions an act that is very common among all people: marriage.  It allows the viewer to realize that the symbol that represents marriage between themselves and their spouse may symbolize slavery, the loss of a limb and even death for another person.  The idea that “For every hand taken in marriage, another hand is taken away” is not only saying that a person in Africa loses their limb for every ring that is made, but it also represents that for every ring that is made a person in Africa is enslaved and taken away from their own potential spouse.  These people not only lose their limbs, but also the chance at marriage and a normal life.     

            The words at the bottom of the image are used to further inform the viewer on the issue presented in the image.  It explains why, how, and in what context these people’s hands are cut off.  This explanation describes a life of abuse, unfairness and fear.  The text at the bottom of the page also introduces the idea of beauty versus death.  This pertains to the viewer because it makes them think and realize that the beauty of a piece of jewelry, a materialistic item, is not worth the death of another human being.

            The outline of Africa at the bottom of the page is used to tell the reader where the issue of blood diamonds is taking place.  In the middle of the shape of Africa there is a red diamond.  The color red of the diamond represents suffering, blood and death.  Also, the placement of the diamond makes it appear as if it is the heart of Africa.  This placement is used to represent that the issue of enslavement and abuse for the mining of diamonds is at the heart of many problems in Africa and is a large problem in the continent.

            The image represents an idea and persuades people to take action regarding the issue that is presented in the image.  It persuades people to live a lifestyle in which they research the history behind materialistic items and take responsibility to make sure the products they buy do not come from unjust systems.  It also is used to educate people of the suffering people face in creating products that otherwise seem beautiful.