Kyle @artgr512vand - Tumblr Blog

week 10- visual essay

Post number 9- in class activity

Journal entry 8-Daily propaganda

Last week, we spent time talking about propaganda. It's a confusing and touchy subject, though why is it? We semi-came to an agreement that propaganda is about intentionally trying to control the subject's narrative and twisting it into the direction that betters that side of the narrative. This seems a solid definition, making us wonder if advertisements are just a form of propaganda. Why even stop there? Even journalism could be.

I've been TA for the class design one 183 - context of Design, and one of the readings we use in the fall is about Richard Cross and John Hoagland. In short, they were taking photos of the war in Central America, and after their death, a journalist collected examples of the media using their photos and how they used those photos to change the narrative. Similar to the propaganda film we watched, the angles, the shots for the film, and the order of the said film shots all contributed to intentionally trying to change the story's narrative. Richard and John's photos were no different; they wanted to show the story, what they took photos of, the time of day, angle, and distance from the action all contribute to the story, as the photographer wanted to tell. This then gets even messier when articles use these photos and surround them with another story, making one think about the image and text.

No matter how you look at it, media is a form of propaganda; it's not as evil as we think propaganda is, but it's still dangerous. The Fairness Doctrine Act was meant to make media tell both sides of the argument but not apply to cable; we see why only one-half of the story is being told. This is modern-day propaganda; it's not meant to be scary; it just means the responsibility for the audience now needs to be aware your not just seeing both sides; you seeing a custom story meant to make you feel, believe, and elementally get your trust that one side of the story. Awareness of this makes it much easier to see their things allowing you to know when to look for more about that story.

Addition information:

Fairness act: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FCC_fairness_doctrine#:~:text=The%20Restore%20the%20Fairness%20Doctrine,1949%20to%201987%20…%20.

Library of Richard and Johns photos: https://digital-library.csun.edu/bradley-center-photographs/richard-cross

Modern-day propaganda: look for any publication with image and words, see how the words affect the image and then reverse it. See how much the image and the text change the story.

Clarifications: this approach and view are not to say we can't trust the media; all of it is fake news. However, the fake aspect believes the news wants to tell you 100 percent of the story. Why else would there be so many different forms of media, CNN, FOX, and your local newspaper? Why do you think they are so different, yet saying the same stories.

#artgr520

Journal 06

The classes have shown much power coming from Semiotics. One popular topic in the class connection is "icons and iconic." We've used current and older singers, actors, seeds packets, and branding examples. Like John Berg's way of seeing, there seems to be a missing piece of discussion perception and culture on how that changes the meaning of this imagery. Some of these can be lost in language and historical context. I guess the result we see in iconic Art and icons have been purposed by the artist, or are we just looking too deep into the meaning of things? One such sample was the first reading we read about the Arnolfini Portrait. If you look at the painting alone; like I did for the reading; why yes, there are parts that seem off but seem like traditional paintings. Though paint gains meaning using Semiotics, we unlocked a whole new meaning behind it; the color isn't just a painting anymore. It's telling a story. However, were the object, the posing of two people, or even the choice of clothing in the painting put there intentionally to tell this meaning, or was this just how people dressed normally around their homes? Now, this isn't a call out on people who think celebrities are iconic or not, but it makes questions for people who have not heard of these people, do others think of them as iconic? It makes the question balance from the artist's perspective, how some people can see Nike's signature swoosh thinking of just the brand, or does a normal person see what someone with the context of semiotics sees?

From map reading, we see how much power artists have in giving meaning to symbols on a map; if you saw some maps examples in class without any context behind them, you'd not understand those might even be maps. I think that's the only issue I have with semiotics as a whole, that it's putting a lot out there for people except this, but as cultures change, so does the perception of things. You intentionally put the user's or observers' responsibility to understand these hidden meanings. To artists and art critics, these semiotics are wonderful, but what is the use of semiotics to normal people outside these roles? I would call semiotics the philosophy of Art or one of the philosophies. It's something many might be using but not know; once understood, it gives the context to what you're doing unintentionally.

#artgr520

Journal entry 5- kyle

Journal Entry 4: comparing maps- Kyle v

In this entry, I'll compare my map; the map focuses on the movement and usage of space and time, to another fellow student named Lexi, whose map focuses on springtime's emotional time and feel.

Both our maps capture aspects of time, but with Lexi's, the map stretches the full length of time of spring. While mine did take most of the day to analyze the use of space, it's still a snapshot of one particular set of time and day. Both maps use color to show something meaningful on the maps. However, the use differs; my map has set colors of the gradient of red, orange, yellow, and soft grey. Each color represents "hot spots" of usage on average, with soft grey being less used. Lexi's map uses color linking to meanings; both capture the darker feelings of spring and the happier times. Colors of green, yellows, browns, black, and light reds. The medium was also watercolors. As time goes on for the spring map, the feelings and emotions bleed together, representing the gradual changing of emotions as the time of spring goes on. My maps have that Lexi's map doesn't use symbols, but her map doesn't need symbols, as both the usage of our maps and who the map is for are very different. My map is more kin to the traditional map; you could see the location or given to use people who will be using the space more. Lexi's map is more open for interpretation. Even the colors being used, there is no key to how the colors equal emotions or the circle shape showing you how to read it. It's a map that makes question who feels of spring.

#ArtGr520

Project one's map project

Journal entry 3: arts influence.

I've been listening more to Bergs' 4 part series of ways of seeing; it never accorded to me the real power art has over us. He started with the traditional paintings; there was a sense of ownership, not only the painting but the items in the painting. You can call them first-version advertisements. Many paintings have imagery of mansions, gold objects, jewelry, a dog, and many things people want. It's important to understand even then, the only high-class people would be getting these paintings, though the sense of belonging and ownership that comes from owning one painting from the 14th century continues with some folk.

I comment that art ideas of ownership have trickled down to the heart of our buying culture. In the 1920s, many ads showed products off-camera, speaking about how wonderful it is to own this. Now in our time, we still use that sense of ownership, but messages link back to other aspects. We now focus on more than just the product but also the brand or icon of the product. It's not just shoes. It's the show of Nike, a brand linked to athleticism and speed.

#ArtGr520

Journal entry 2: what is an icon?

I was re-watching John Berge's way of seeing #ep 1, And after seeing this now for the third time (0thers for a job-related reason), this one word stood out to me; ICON. John was saying this word was linked to religious meaning. I thought this was outdated, but no, Webster's dictionary says: 1. a painting of Jesus Christ or another holy figure, typically in a traditional style on wood, venerated and used as an aid to devotion in the Byzantine and other Eastern Churches.

2. a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol or worthy of veneration.

3: COMPUTING: A symbol or graphic representation on a screen of a program, option, or window, especially one of several for selection.

---------------------------------------------------

So I was curious how many people would pick which definition, so I ask 10 friends;

7/10 friends computer icon

3/10 said someone with great importance

Clearly, now in this vacuum, more people think of the computing definition, but how could a word take that leap? I think an important aspect that never changed about the word is "meaning" there is some connection when seeing this object or symbol that means something. Going back to Reading about the power of rethinking maps, it becomes relevant to how they view icons or iconic symbols. When viewing a map, the iconic symbols link to the meaning that is either given by the map maker or visual clues for the reader to understand the meaning behind the symbols. Say, see the large cylinder next to the pier. If there is know the answer in the legend, say you draw a light and a boat next to it, which clues to the audience that it is a light house.

#ArtGr520

The in-class activity of making a map of campus. 1/23/2023

The block map: was more normal map, focusing on breaking the campus up in chunks.

The castle was a doodle since the campus always seemed walled off from the town and larger the town itself. So I drew then the city of Ames to be smaller towns outside of the castle walls.

#ArtGr520

Journal entry #1

When I think of a map, I’ll form a road map in my mind, but when I sit down and think hard about what a map is, it opens the doors political side of power. I’ve been an older movie fan for a few years, and now, the map room is a common scene for war films. This was where the general marked out one map of the locations on paper, signifying not only the location of troops but the war plan that was ready to be taken. I didn’t think the concept was important, but this is a map. It’s not giving directions in a traditional sense like the road map but is giving a claim of an area. These ideas were shared by Harley, JB; The New Nature of Maps; Johns Hopkins, ISBN-10: 0801870909. Hopkins shares the theory of the political side of the art of maps. He gives detailed and historical examples of how maps are not just tools for geography but show context ownership, claiming land, and division of power. So, what does that mean to us as artists? It was an artist who made these maps, cartographer might not be what you call a traditional artist, but each thing being shown on a map has meaning. Knowledge being given is what the artist wants you to see. Though this only means that the influence of power can limit that knowledge. Every artist needs to make a living, and powerful leaders and patrons can influence what is being put on the map. Taking this concept into account, it’s important to read each map from its separate perspective; the shared knowledge of one map will only confuse you reading another. Now there are ways to help your audience to understand your map. Many maps will have what is called a legend. Reading a guide for symbols, colors, lines, etc., helps your audience decode what they see. Sometimes much information needed to be told about location, and it would become even more of a mess, writing all out on the map, so using simple symbols help make space. These still can’t be just something random. Symbols must give meaning to what you’re trying to tell the audience. A good example is a capital star on the map. The star not only separates the location from all the other towns but the star links to the destination. Follow the star to your destination or its prime location to go to. The Cleary of language and symbols will help give information to our audience.

-Kyle v

#ArtGr520

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Kyle