Andrew's Media Literacy Blog

Postmodern Flash

2008-04-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

Modernism and Postmodernism

2008-04-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

Modernism
People in the modernist movement emphasized humanism over nationalism. These people also challenged the idea that God played an active role in the world. Modernist writers try to make some radical experiments with poems too. People tried to introduce free verse. Others tried to change ideas with stream of consciousness and elaborate language games.

"Postmodernism is "post" because it is denies the existence of any ultimate principles, and it lacks the optimism of there being a scientific, philosophical, or religious truth which will explain everything for everybody- a characteristic of the so-called "modern" mind."

Fooling Around in Flash

2008-04-13T18:43:00.000-07:00

Here is just the practice using flash we did in class. I used the motion tween and the shape tween.

New Coke vs. Coca Cola

2008-04-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

In the 1980s, the Coca Cola Company was facing some stiff competition with Pepsi. In order to be able to compete with Pepsi, the company decided to change the recipe of Coke and make it taste more like Pepsi. They launched their product after a test run showed that the majority of the people preferred the New Coke. When the product hit the shelves, people were in uproars. It turns out that the testers that approved the new recipe for coke, where not people that are loyal to the Coca Cola brand. They would be fine drinking Pepsi. The people that felt strongly for Coke were furious that the recipe had changed. They were so up in arms that the Coca Cola Company was forced to revert back to their original recipe. New Coke stayed around for a while, but was eventually no competition for Pepsi. Researchers actually had done tests similar to the Pepsi-Coke challenge using New Coke and the results showed that, no matter if the person preferred Coke or Pepsi, the majority of the people preferred New Coke. These people just wanted to remain loyal to what they know and are not willing to accept change.

Subadvertisement

2008-04-07T12:48:00.001-07:00

I chose a lego ad for my subadvertisemt. I took the L off of the Lego logo and then it reminded me of eggo waffles. So then, since the shadow of the lego was already different then what it was, I decided to change the shadow into a shape resembling a waffle. I used the spot healing brush to cover up the original shadow and then I made the circle and used a layer mask to make it appear as though it was coming off of the lego shape.

Recreation of Ad

2008-03-31T12:45:00.001-07:00

The ad at the top was the original image. I searched online but could not find a cubicle setting that looked like the one in the original ad. I found this one and liked it because I could still make it look like the guy playing the guitar was coming out from behind. To cut the guy out of the picture he was originally in, I used the magic wand tool and then I used a layer mask to erase the parts that would be behind the wall. I used the most similar fonts I could find on my computer, and all though they were not exactly the same, I think that the same idea was presented.

Strategies and Tactics #2

2008-03-25T07:30:00.001-07:00

Strategy: A&E has come up with a new form of billboard advertising. They have the typical billboard, but at the top, they have speakers. When in a certain distance from the speakers, a person can hear loud whispering sounds, making them look around to see what is causing it. The viewer then sees the billboard and the job is completed.

Tactics: As an advertising ploy, this ad works really well. However, most people would probably find this obnoxious and annoying. The viewer will see the ad but they might also associate this ad with annoyance and remember not to watch that show or tell people how obnoxious they found the ad.

Strategies and Tactics

2008-03-25T07:24:00.001-07:00

CBS is now trying out a new form of advertising. They laser imprinted ads for their television programs on 35 million eggs. Their thought in this is that people have to check their eggs for cracks before purchase and use, so there is no way that they will not look at the ad. Since this has not really been done before, they will be curious as to what it says on the egg, and they will read it.

New Context

2008-03-25T06:27:00.001-07:00

I chose the "Go Green" Ads. This is a new context for people to see because it seems that now people are starting to care about the environment. Back in the day people did not care as much about the environment because they knew that nothing bad would come during their lifetime. Now with the threats of global warming, people are concerned with energy consumption. The strategy used in this ad is to get people's attention by stating that they are able to help just by doing simple things that can make a big impact. The ads are simple to interpret; they have a short saying of "Go Green." Going green could mean a variety of things and if, after viewing the ad, the person changes one thing in their life to help the environment, then the ad was successful.

Photoshop Assignment #3

2008-03-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

I chose to do this picture for the Kruger assignment. My first thought was to do a picture of Marilyn Monroe and write "Don't Do Drugs," however, the exact picture that I was thinking of was taken by Kruger as we looked at more of her work. So I decided to choose a picture of Anna Nicole Smith. I was hoping that, even with covering her eyes, the picture would be well known enough that it was obvious that it was Anna Nicole Smith. I think that since I used a thinner line, and with the Trimspa necklace she is wearing, it is still apparent who it is. I thought the phrase "Don't Do Drugs" was short and simple enough to follow along the lines of Kruger's works as well. It was also a big story last year and still is talked about today so it still has a lot of cultural significance.

Photoshop Assignment #2

2008-02-27T14:57:00.001-08:00

In the cropped version of this ad, it does not really appear to be an ad for anything. There is no visible brand of any type of clothing or anything. It just looks like a kid urinating on the wall. Even in the full image, it doesn't really appear to make sense. How is this ad selling Nike Shoes? What makes this ad so effective in the full version is that there doesn't even need to be a pair of shoes in the picture for the potential customer to know what it is advertising. Nike is such as popular phrase and symbol that the ad is still successful.

Advertisement #3

2008-02-21T10:55:00.000-08:00

I chose an Abercrombie and Fitch ad for my last advertisement. Abercrombie and Fitch used naked models in their ad campaign to sell clothes. I do not see how this ad shows the product that they are trying to sell; clothes. There has been much controversy dealing with these ads and it has even come to having to ID people in order to get a copy of the catalog. However, with all of this controversy surrounding these ads it has probably only helped the sales of their clothes. Just by using attractive naked people, they are able to remain one of the top clothing stores for the younger generations. The ads do not even have to say Abercrombie on it for the general public to understand what the advertisement is for.

Advertisement #2

2008-02-21T10:31:00.000-08:00

For my second advertisement I chose an anti-smoking ad. This ad was originally a commercial showing the effects smoking can have on people; such as having to use a voice box in order to speak. This ad was incredibly effective and I remember people talking about it for months after it aired. The creators of this used a scare tactic to try to get a response from the public. Even if it did not deter people from smoking like it was intended to do, it definetely left an impact in most people about what could happen to them in the future.

Advertisement #1

2008-02-21T10:23:00.000-08:00

I chose this advertisement for Camel Cigarettes for my first ad. I know at the time that this ad came out featuring a cartoon camel named Joe, it was a big controversy. People argued that this ad made kids want to buy cigarettes because it featured a cartoon, much like the cartoons on television shows that they watch. This ad makes me remember all of the debates and arguments that went along with it, and the movement to try to stop underage smoking as well as smoking all together. This came around the time that people were getting serious about warning smokers of the dangers that cigarettes cause and here is a company, using a cartoon to sell their hazardous product.

Icon #2

2008-02-19T06:28:00.001-08:00

I originally chose to just make a question mark for my second icon but it seemed too simple. I then changed my mind and made it like a symbol for "No Questions Allowed" and put the red X on it. I also like the border that I made around it and I think that it looks cool to have a border as well as the background transparent. Then, to make it more interesting and to draw more attention to it, I animated the question mark so it was expand and contact repeatedly. I had no trouble with the basic Photoshop tools for this icon either. I did not know anything about the animation palette in Photoshop but I did not really have any trouble with it once it was explained. I am familiar with Flash so that background experience helped me with it.

Icon #1

2008-02-19T06:25:00.002-08:00

I chose to make a globe for this icon because it was the simple circle shape that we were shown in class and it seemed something that was feasible for me to do. I didn't want it to be so simple as just a circle, so I made it have different colors and look more like a globe. I did not have any trouble with the Photoshop tools - I am pretty proficient in that field I think. The only slight hesitation I had was making sure it looked good on such a small level. It looked weird while I was making it because the pixels were so big but I am happy with the end result.

having some trouble

2008-02-14T20:47:00.000-08:00

I am having some trouble saving my icons in the gif format on my computer. Every time I try, the program shuts down. Everything is done and hopefully I can get in class early tomorrow and post it.

Medium 3

2008-02-04T17:06:00.000-08:00

Medium: Movie Trailers
Content: Audio
Video
Type
Message: To come see the movie that is being advertised
could determine what's popular for certain age groups
if good, people will be talking about it for weeks

Medium 2

2008-02-04T16:55:00.000-08:00

Medium: Billboard
Content: Words
Images
Movement (sometimes)
Message: to buy the product that is being advertised / watch TV show or movie
gives the information necessary for purchase
to catch the drivers eye while driving

Medium 1

2008-02-04T16:44:00.000-08:00

Medium: Podcast
Content: Audio
Message: new form of public discourse
allows people to share opinions on specific subjects