Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
reading images: introduction & Ch1
In the first chapter the author described the relationship between visual communication and linguists. Spoken and Written language have been used for communicate in our society as well as visual image. Images have different functions between illustration, decoration and information. In order to produce message easily interpretation and to make suitable form for its participants, communication and representation play important role in semiotics. The major notation in semiotics is the sign making including signifiers (the form) and signified (the meaning). The concept of denotation relates to the signified that an image denotes something to communicate with participants. In our society, we use a variety of visual signs to represent and communication. The meaning of visual sign may be interpreted or constructed differently across culture.
A sign may mean one thing to a certain affinity people, may have an entirely different meaning to different people. For example, the following sign have different meanings across countries.
A sign may also have common meaning in different culture such as the signs of rest room. Whenever we travel to different countries, we could easily find the restroom by looking the sign.
A sign may mean one thing to a certain affinity people, may have an entirely different meaning to different people. For example, the following sign have different meanings across countries.
A sign may also have common meaning in different culture such as the signs of rest room. Whenever we travel to different countries, we could easily find the restroom by looking the sign.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Ch9-10
In chapter nine, the author discussed scientific images and its means of representing knowledge in science. Scientific images are a visual way and expert representation to know the world. With the growth of image technology, scientific images could see the truth beyond the human eye and provide insight into the humankind body interior such as X ray, ultrasound image. The images of body’s interior interpret by medical professional to understand how the physical body function and have evoked the transcendence of the real that contribute a sense of the readable and transformable body . Further, the scientific images develop the mapping of the human genome to identify the genes that constitute the human chromosome. Struken & Cartwright stated that “now we live in a “reality” we understand to exist at the molecular, invisible level” (p.376). The mapping of human genome can be used in not only changing disease-causing genes but also changing difference of mental capacity and other attributes of human being that present an evident of improvement of human life. The mapping of human genome has also raised the argument about the cloning and selective breeding. The genetic images allow us to control over our body to change appearance and cognitive abilities and I wonder how the genetic images influence on social value and culture in contemporary society.
In tenth chapter, the author described the global visual culture, and how visual culture contributes to the process of globalization. The image circulated through print media, broadcast TV, and films around the world with the development of satellite and web. Through the communication technologies, the long distance connection facilitates the global flow of visual culture that increases the circulation of concepts, ideas, politics and cultural product. The movement of globalization make possible for people, products and culture to across nation boundaries that result in the trade liberalization and the emergence of global market. The global brands company used local strategies to market their brand differently in different places as an aspect of emergent cultural and national identities in different contexts. Struken & Cartwright pointed out that “two aspects of identity –the global and the local are inter dependent” (p404). With global trade liberalization and cultural exchange in a world moving toward a global village, I was wondering will the development of globalization facilitate the global culture that make difficult to identify national culture.
In tenth chapter, the author described the global visual culture, and how visual culture contributes to the process of globalization. The image circulated through print media, broadcast TV, and films around the world with the development of satellite and web. Through the communication technologies, the long distance connection facilitates the global flow of visual culture that increases the circulation of concepts, ideas, politics and cultural product. The movement of globalization make possible for people, products and culture to across nation boundaries that result in the trade liberalization and the emergence of global market. The global brands company used local strategies to market their brand differently in different places as an aspect of emergent cultural and national identities in different contexts. Struken & Cartwright pointed out that “two aspects of identity –the global and the local are inter dependent” (p404). With global trade liberalization and cultural exchange in a world moving toward a global village, I was wondering will the development of globalization facilitate the global culture that make difficult to identify national culture.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
avatar appearance
The initial appearance
The initial appearance is an avatar with black jacket and blue jeans including a white t-shirt. He has tattoos in his both arms and a long hair style.
standard avatar appearance
The digital version of my standard avatar appearance showed his characteristics as a digital traveler whose pastime is to travel different place to discover something different to everyday life, something new, worthy seeing site in this virtual environment.
summer outfit
A short sleeve polo shirt made by Nike, a pair of short blue jeans with matched tennis shoes and a pair of sunglassbecomes his summer outfit.
winter outfit
In winter time, my avatar wears a long sleeve white shirt and black formal pants as well as a black overcoat. He always layer two or three when it is cold so he won't freeze.
formal dress
In traditional western style of formal wear, he has a dark black suit and a white formal shirt with a gray tie. The formal dress will be suitable for him to participate in formal social events.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
ch 7-8
In chapter seven, the author discussed the relationship between advertising image and customer culture. Through the message of advertising, consumers receive different perceptions about brands and products. Because in consumerism, people are under the physical and mental exhaustion, the consuming of commodities can offer therapeutic function to enhance self-fulfillment or personal improvement. Usually the advertising explicitly or implicitly convey the image of better live, health lifestyle, better appearance, self improvement that create consumer relationship to brands and establish the brand or product is necessary to daily life. In addition, the advertising also attaches personal emotion and cultural affection to connote specific meaning for consumer like belonging, prestige, style. For instance, in modern society people will buy certain brands to show their prestige or in upper class like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada.
In addition, the author also discussed viral marketing. Advertisers employed marketing techniques to disseminate their brand awareness through consumer’s social network or to sell their products by word of mouth. The product information communicated by word of mouth also has an added layer of credibility. For example, when we decide to take a trip, we search information on the travel blog to get some personal travel experience or we will ask our friend or family members to get some recommendation on our tourism decision making. With the development of computer technology, the online discussion forum or online communities will create new forms of distributing advertising message to target niche consumers. In today consumer society full of commercial and advertising information I am wondering would the viral marketing be more effective than traditional marketing like TV, newspaper, or radio.
In eighth chapter, the author discussed the postmodernism and the relationship with popular culture. Sturken and Cartwright stated that “the postmodern is characterized by the questioning of the supposed universality of structural knowledge as well as skepticism the modern belief in the universality of progress” (p312). In postmodernism, we rethink the traditional paradigm and there is no absolutely truth in postmodernism’s world. Postmodernism remake or rework mass and popular culture as an approach to reflex to our real life activity. Sturken and Cartwright also declared that “postmodern style redefined the notion of authorship and the relationship of production, distribution and consumption that has been enabled by changing technologies and new cultural practices” (p334). Rework or remark became a style of postmodernism to create art and I wonder if the ides of originality in art and the value of true are no longer important for postmodern artist.
In addition, the author also described the growing of digital technologies and virtual experience, postmodern space emphases on the “non-space” like Second Life. Second Life, which is an online world and simulated space, can create virtual identities for user and provide the function of virtual society, economics, and community similar to real world. The avatar represents actual body in real world to engage in the social interaction and activities in online space. How do we think about the impact of virtual reality in social structure of the real world through psychological, and other types of interactions?
In addition, the author also discussed viral marketing. Advertisers employed marketing techniques to disseminate their brand awareness through consumer’s social network or to sell their products by word of mouth. The product information communicated by word of mouth also has an added layer of credibility. For example, when we decide to take a trip, we search information on the travel blog to get some personal travel experience or we will ask our friend or family members to get some recommendation on our tourism decision making. With the development of computer technology, the online discussion forum or online communities will create new forms of distributing advertising message to target niche consumers. In today consumer society full of commercial and advertising information I am wondering would the viral marketing be more effective than traditional marketing like TV, newspaper, or radio.
In eighth chapter, the author discussed the postmodernism and the relationship with popular culture. Sturken and Cartwright stated that “the postmodern is characterized by the questioning of the supposed universality of structural knowledge as well as skepticism the modern belief in the universality of progress” (p312). In postmodernism, we rethink the traditional paradigm and there is no absolutely truth in postmodernism’s world. Postmodernism remake or rework mass and popular culture as an approach to reflex to our real life activity. Sturken and Cartwright also declared that “postmodern style redefined the notion of authorship and the relationship of production, distribution and consumption that has been enabled by changing technologies and new cultural practices” (p334). Rework or remark became a style of postmodernism to create art and I wonder if the ides of originality in art and the value of true are no longer important for postmodern artist.
In addition, the author also described the growing of digital technologies and virtual experience, postmodern space emphases on the “non-space” like Second Life. Second Life, which is an online world and simulated space, can create virtual identities for user and provide the function of virtual society, economics, and community similar to real world. The avatar represents actual body in real world to engage in the social interaction and activities in online space. How do we think about the impact of virtual reality in social structure of the real world through psychological, and other types of interactions?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Ch 5-6
In fifth chapter, the visual technologies, image reproduction and the copy, the author discussed the relationship between visual technologies and image reproduction and how the relationship affects our life and social meaning. The development of visual technologies such as photography, cinema, television, and digital image techniques influenced the image reproduction. The reproduction of images affects society including the impacts on the way we see the world, and the way we use the image. The meaning and value of image will be produced instead of generated when technology, “invisible editing, manipulation”, comes into play. Sturken & Cartwright declared that “it has always been possible to fake realism in photographs”. The digital technology may change our belief that “seeing is believing”. A question come to mind is that if realism could be fake, what the value of real is. Sturken & Cartwright also discussed the relationships between value, original, and reproduction and asserted that “the easy reproducibility of the unique work of fine art in photographic era has altered the way value is assigned in the art market, but not to the degree we might have anticipated”. They also stated that despite the availability of reproduction, the value of original work still hold in art market. For instance, the reproductions of Mona Lisa’s paintings facilitate the enhancement of the value in the art market and became famous around the world. In addition, Sturken & Cartwright described that because of the reproduction of images, the issue of copyright, ownership and intellectual property have been raised. However, there is not clear distinction between the ownership and copyright and the unclear boundaries create a lot of controversial issues. The question about the nature of creativity and reproducibility is still blurred. I was thinking that if a painting imitates only some portions of Mona Lisa’s painting, will it be see a creative or plagiarism and if the copyright prohibit the reproduction of Mona Lisa’s painting, will the painting become so widespread?
In chapter six, media in everyday life, Sturken & Cartwright discussed how the mass media such as TV, radio, web media affect our everyday life and society. Some people believed that because of the rise of mass media, people lose the sense of community and interpersonal life while others argued that mass media provide more opportunity to connect with community and gain more information about local regions. I think that mass media provide privacy sphere for family and the information access to local issue connect to their communities. Moreover, Sturken & Cartwright also described the relationship between media and public sphere. Through broadcast media such as call in talk show, webcast forums, people participated in the discussion of public issue to create a public sphere that could produce social change. In addition, mass media could affect viewer as a part of national audience thinking to foster the sense of national identify. Furthermore, Sturken & Cartwright also talked about the emergence of webcast media. Without going out, people can access local, national, global information to increase the individual experience of the world simultaneously through webcast media. The experiences of global media help us to connect to geographically distant community and people. In tourism, there are a lot of researches going on how the webcast media influence traveler behavior. For instance, the webcast media like travel blog provide information for tourist to interact with others that influences on their travel decision and travel blog also can record what happen in their journey instantly to share with family or friends. For marketing point of view, I am wondering how business applies the power of web media to marketing their products and services.
In chapter six, media in everyday life, Sturken & Cartwright discussed how the mass media such as TV, radio, web media affect our everyday life and society. Some people believed that because of the rise of mass media, people lose the sense of community and interpersonal life while others argued that mass media provide more opportunity to connect with community and gain more information about local regions. I think that mass media provide privacy sphere for family and the information access to local issue connect to their communities. Moreover, Sturken & Cartwright also described the relationship between media and public sphere. Through broadcast media such as call in talk show, webcast forums, people participated in the discussion of public issue to create a public sphere that could produce social change. In addition, mass media could affect viewer as a part of national audience thinking to foster the sense of national identify. Furthermore, Sturken & Cartwright also talked about the emergence of webcast media. Without going out, people can access local, national, global information to increase the individual experience of the world simultaneously through webcast media. The experiences of global media help us to connect to geographically distant community and people. In tourism, there are a lot of researches going on how the webcast media influence traveler behavior. For instance, the webcast media like travel blog provide information for tourist to interact with others that influences on their travel decision and travel blog also can record what happen in their journey instantly to share with family or friends. For marketing point of view, I am wondering how business applies the power of web media to marketing their products and services.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
chapter 3 & 4
In the chapter three, Sturken & Cartwright discussed how the gaze integrates to the system of power. Photographs and other forms media influence on people’s participation in social norm and sticking to dominant social value. Furthermore, they also talked the relationship between spectatorship and gaze to understand how viewers respond to an image in a historical and cultural context. Sturken & Cartwright asserted that “the unconscious and the symbolic activity that gives rise to representations, linking personal feeling to the world, are considered to be important components of that network” (p.120). The term of Gaze let me link to the idea of “tourist gaze” which is one kind of travel experience that captures the visual perception of a particular place, landscape, or a mega-event through photographs, films, postcards or guidebooks. For travelers, something different to everyday life, something new, worthy seeing site will draw their attention to take photographs to record the journey. The tourist gaze provides important connection to the traveler’s feeling and tourism destinations. In the concept of tourist gaze, taking photographs is also a good way to catch particular live political, celebratory and sporting events that what happens at a specific moment such as US president Obama’s inauguration, Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
In chapter four, Sturken & Cartwright discussed the convention of realism and abstract. There is no clear distinction between realism and abstract. The art or representations of realism reflect the truth about society and can reproduce historical meaning in contemporary context. Sturken & Cartwright talked about the role of perspective in visual system to understand that images can perform as not only reproductions of the world but also of ways of seeing and emphasized that “reproducibility in images is not just about the capacity of art works and images to be copied but also about the aim to copy or reproduce the real” (p.143). Furthermore, they discussed the change of convention of realism in the context of digital media. For instance, video game places viewers in interactively creating environment and the players are afforded the experience of seeing as if the eyes of character. Sturken & Cartwright asserted that the term of virtual provides misconception of not real or only exits in imaginations and stated that “virtual reality systems create simulations that attempt to provide an experience in which players feel as if they are physically incorporated into the world on all sensory levels” (P.177). Digital media bring different kinds of perspectives and provide more interactive interactions with viewers. I was wondering comparing to the photographs and films, would the digital media be more realistic.
In chapter four, Sturken & Cartwright discussed the convention of realism and abstract. There is no clear distinction between realism and abstract. The art or representations of realism reflect the truth about society and can reproduce historical meaning in contemporary context. Sturken & Cartwright talked about the role of perspective in visual system to understand that images can perform as not only reproductions of the world but also of ways of seeing and emphasized that “reproducibility in images is not just about the capacity of art works and images to be copied but also about the aim to copy or reproduce the real” (p.143). Furthermore, they discussed the change of convention of realism in the context of digital media. For instance, video game places viewers in interactively creating environment and the players are afforded the experience of seeing as if the eyes of character. Sturken & Cartwright asserted that the term of virtual provides misconception of not real or only exits in imaginations and stated that “virtual reality systems create simulations that attempt to provide an experience in which players feel as if they are physically incorporated into the world on all sensory levels” (P.177). Digital media bring different kinds of perspectives and provide more interactive interactions with viewers. I was wondering comparing to the photographs and films, would the digital media be more realistic.
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