“The Evil Other” April 24, 2008

Personal:

When I think of evil I usually think of a dark scary face that belongs to someone that is about to attack, but I thought about it and discovered it is not always embodied in a person rather it can be the evil that we cause ourselves. The seven deadly sins are a perfect example of the evil that is in our own lives. A perfect example of all of these sins was the movie Seven (Se7en). This movie was about a serial killer that was on a spree killing one person that was committing each of the deadly sins. I think that in most cases the average person does not encounter a kidnapper, killer, or other life threatening predator but each of us has experienced at least one of the deadly sins. The sins are lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. These sins are what makes are person life miserable on a daily basis and are the evil inside each of us. I think that this is a real evil because it is something we put on ourselves and have to suffer for it. Just like that saying, ” you are your own worst enemy”. 

Technical: 

The movie Seven is centered around the seven deadly sins. The picture of Morgan Freeman holding the pictures of the words of greed shows how the killer identified each of the sins with his victims. The movie was in color but his photo is black and white and I think it as a dramatic element to the scene. 

Lighting: 

The lighting is very strong because it is a classic police department scene where the light is very bright so it seems dramatic and important scene in the movie. The key light is coming from the intense overhead florescent lights. There is a light over Freeman’s head because there is a fast fall off on his face where his nose and mouth are dark and there is a glare on his forehead. The black and white photo makes the white light in the photo intense like the lamp in the front gives off a fuzzy bright light. 

Framing and Composition:

The photo is framed around the character to draw attention to him but he is not centered because he is not the main focus of the scene rather the photos are the main concern. The depth of field in this picture is incredibility short because the objects in front are out of focus and so is the background. 

Meaning:

The meaning behind this photo is quite shallow without the context of the movie but it does show the main plot of the film. The photos are the in the scene are the only clues that the killer leaves behind, so the pictures are a very important part of the movie. 

Historical:

The historical roots of the seven sins go very deep. The seven deadly sins were used by the Roman Catholic church in teaching and lessons about the tendanacy for man’s sins. The seven sins were never mentioned in the Christian Bible, but similar sins are mentioned throughout. The link to the modern deadly sins was Pope Greogory I in the 6th century. The sins have been committed by each living person since the first sin of Adam and Eve. 

Cultural, Ethical, and Critical: 

The cultural significance of the seven deadly sins is very alive and well in our world today. The reason for the sex and promiscuity in the media and entertainment world is caused by the sin of lust. The issue of obesity in our country is at an unhealthy high and the cause is gluttony. The greedy pursuit of money is the goal of many individuals in this world today, but they are left in a dissatisfying job with a void that no amount of money can fill. These and the rest of the sins are the real down falls that our lives face everyday. Through these sins are lives are made miserable and we have no one to blame but ourselves. 

That’s Questionable! April 18, 2008

In class, we watched a short video on the depiction of evil throughout the years. The main focus was on the the way in which evil is displayed in during war time. The poster and ads make the heroines look strong, yet sometimes small compared to the monster/ evil villain. This type of proportion is the first part of my question, why would they do that to build moral among there citizens? The other questionable issue I found with this commentary was that these ads were made to persuade the population that the other side was evil and the commentator, Sean Keen, said these ads did just that. I am not sure that the ads and posters all had the effect on the public that was intended. Which is the next subject we are studying so the question to look at would be, why did some of these monsters work and others were a flop?

Arabic Femininity April 16, 2008

Personal:

I choose a photo of Arabic women playing football/ rugby. I liked this depiction of life for these women, because it is very different than the idea we have. Movies and TV have made these women out to be terrorists and killers but they are just like you and me. I think that the Western idea of Arabic women is not the same way they view their own world. This picture gives a peak into the lighter brighter side of life. When I look at this photo I feel as though the women don’t have the same feeling of oppression that we think of when we look at other pictures of Arab women. I like that the photo shows that these women can play and have fun just like we do in our lives. 

I think that the Western idea that the women dress they way they do only because they are oppressed I think is stereotype we have given the culture. The women are proud of their faith and are willing to dress accordingly. The fine silks and bright beautiful colors they use to make it obvious that they take pride in what they wear and how they look. 

Technical: 

Light- 

The source of light in this picture is the sun, therefore the light is natural. This goes right along with the activity in the photo and gives the setting the lighting that would be most natural. Because this is not a set this is the key light and there is no other type of light. 

Framing- 

I like the way in which this photo was framed, even though it might not have been on purpose. The action in centered in the photo along with players in the background. This give the photo a central idea/ action with interest surrounding it. The photo also has movement because it can only be anticipated that the figures are going to collide. There is also movement with their body and face language. The figure with ball has made index vectors with her eyes and that indicates the direction she intends to travel. The other figures use index vectors (their eyes) to indicate the main part of the photo.  

Meaning-

I think that this photo does not necessarily any meaning coming from the lighting and framing/ composition. The reason for this is that the photo is a fast snapshot or a serious of photos and this one was chosen for the action it portrayed. 

Historical- 

The historical meaning behind this picture is more than seen on the surface. Religion of the women has a lot to do with they way they live their lives and the way they dress. This picture shows that times have changed and not every single inch of the skin has to covered and women can be active and play sports. 

Cultural, Critical, and Ethical- 

This photo shows a lot about the current culture the women live in today. Their religion orders them to cover all of their skin, but in this picture it can be seen that they are not completely covered. Even more interesting to me is that they are still wearing cover at all. They are playing rugby and they are still wearing their headdress. I also think it is surprising that they are playing rugby because they are sometimes not allowed to do activities. 

That’s Questionable! April 11, 2008

In Lester, its says “Will people continue to go to the movies? Of course they will.” I have to say I have mixed feelings about the question, but I also find it a very interesting to see the changing times and how it effects movie ticket sales. I think that the new advances in technology have led to a better home theater experience. It used to be that only the rich and famous had home theater that rivaled the public theater equipped with popcorn makers and all, but with the way technology has advanced I have many friends that have home theaters that seat 15 or more. These theaters still cost a pretty penny but for that you get a movie theater feel in the comfort of your own home. This might be a small step in the direction of the movie theater losing steam. Another factor that might have an affect on the movie industry popularity is the price of tickets. It cost $10 to go to a movie these days and its only going to rise. This fact has definately had an effect on how often I go to the theater, not to mention if someone is paying $50 dollars for a family to see a movie. I think the fact that live theater has not lost its appeal has to do with the fact that the human talent and physical presence of the actors is right in front of your face as oppose to actors in a film. Movies are repeatable and have the option of watching at home at a later time. I think the test of time will be the only answer to this question. 

Motion Picture: Babel April 10, 2008

I watched the 2006 blockbuster Babel starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. The movie is set in  places around the world Morocco, the US, Mexico and Japan. This movie shows the interaction and relationships of individuals around the world. I choose the scene where Richard, played by Brad Pitt, is in the hospital with his wife, who had been shot while on vacation in Morocco, and makes a phone call to his son back in America. 

Personal:

I enjoyed watching the movie because it made you think instead of mainly just sitting there mindlessly. The movie showed relationships in different cultures. It was interesting to see the interaction of different cultures when they are together in stress. The movie showed the struggles that arise when traveling to another country. I liked that the movie jumped from time frames to keep your attention. The film also looked at the personal relationships between wife and husband, father and son, men and women, and friends. This was not a nice view of the connection between these individuals. This movie was a look at the nasty unpredictable side of life, real life. 

As for the specific scene, this scene was placed in the perfect part of the movie. Richard had to be the strong male up until this point. He had to protect and fight for the life of his wife because she was hurt and helpless. By this point, he was so emotional worn down that when he heard his son’s voice all he could do was break down and release all the tension. I felt for his man that had just been through a horrible life changing experience not to mention it happened in a foreign country where he could not communicate with anyone. 

Technical:

First, the lighting in the shot is high key light coming from the overhead florescent light. The light is both very strong and bright. The scene is in a hospital and therefore is the classic stark bright hospital light. This type of light gives the feeling of a non-friendly, isolated waiting room where bad news is delivered. As for framing, I think that this scene is best analyzed from the two different angles it is shot at. The camera is first focused in on his profile while he starts the phone conversation with his son. As the conversation continues the emotion begins to build until he is crying uncontrollably. From this point, since all that can be heard is the character crying the camera backs up to frame him and view down the hallway. I really liked how the scene was shot because the first angle was personal like the relationship between a father and his son, while the second angle showed him form a point that he was alone and isolated in the dreary hospital hallway. This represented the fact that he was alone in a foreign country and this was the first time he had the chance to show his built up emotion.

Historical:

From the historical perspective, the movie is looking at the cultural struggles that are encountered in everyday life, but even more with traveling to a foreign country. Through travel the interaction of different cultures are seen when they are in a stressful situation. In this movie, the middle east is the travel destination which today is especially relevant to the world we live in. The format of the movie is broke up into 3 locations that are all related in the end. This is used to give a give a glimpse into 3 different cultures around the world. The movie seems to run back and forth through time without repeating a beat. 

The historical perspective of this scene is not new for movies or television. The classic emotional hospital scene has been used time and time again. When you think of any medical show or movie such as Grey’s Anatomy, the hospital is always a place of emotion and loneliness. The bright lights and stark white walls are both a typical part of hospital scenes. 

Cultural, Critical, and Ethical:

The cultural signifacance of this movie is very relevant to our world today. With the state the middle east in today, the movie shows a not so nice side of life there and the experiences that a couple has when they are trapped in the middle of an unstable economy and in this instance the medical care. Our cultural today, struggles with the interaction of different cultures. The movie also shows the relationships between individuals and the difficult decisions they have to make when concerning their love ones. The ethical point of this movie are very evident and in most incidents the individuals make the right choice in the end. All of the characters have to make choices that will effect people that are unseen to them. The story is not pretty in that the people have to reap the consequences of their bad choice and take a stand to make the wrong they have done right. 

 

That’s Questionable! March 13, 2008

“Cluture is ordinary”

I am not sure I agree with this statement. The reason there is culture is that each of these groups is different and therefore identified with a certain culture. One of the several definitions of culture is “the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group”. Culture is made up of indiviuals of that have the same taste, likes , and feelings on a subject area, but there are multiple cultures that are individualistic, unique, and different. We look at many different subcultures this week seeing that they all have their own ideas and concerns. These subcultures are unique, distictive, and have their own flair, I would say none of these charateristics sound ordinary to me.

Reno Subculture March 13, 2008

Personal

I choose to snap a shoot of a pair of friends having a cup of coffee.The fact that they were having coffee was not the point but where instead. The cute urban cafe Java Jungle downtown was their choice of coffee shops. The walls are paint with bright jungle sences that make the place seem lively. This place is both a java shop and an place to display art. This gets me to the subculture that I have chosen to exhibit. The art population in Reno is small compared to places like Berkeley and Seattle, but still can be found very strong in some hidden areas of the biggest little city. I am drawn towards this population because of first their talent, which some of them do have true talent here in Reno, and also their layed back attitude towards the hustle and bustle of life.

Historical

The historical signifigance of art is hard to discribe. Art has been evolving since the caveman ages and today it is all over our world. As we study in this class art, such as photography and even the “art of advertising” is to envoke an emotion or feeling in the viewer. With the fact that art has been around for such along time then I guess there has been a group of individuals that not only produced it but embraced it as well.

Technical

The technical aspects of this photo are limited because it was taken by me and I don’t have much of an eye for that kind stuff (that is why I am outsider looking in on this subculture of art). The key light of this photo is natural outdoor light but very diffeused becasue of the overcast day that it was. Taking the photo is very different than analyzing a picture that some else took because you know what was going on in the background rather then only seeing it through the lens. The framing was suppose to catch friends chatting under the big mural at the coffee shop. Showing both the art and those that are part in the subculture. Now achieving this was questionable both because of my lack of talent and the fact that they were giving me funny looks. With that what came out was itty bitty people and mural.

Cultural, Ethical, and Critical

Well, the cutural aspect of the subject was explained briefly above. The cultural of art is very extensive although it might be a little more hidden in Reno it is still alive and strong. This is a group of people that not only have the love of art in common but today have grown into a population that is usely associated with things that have to do with the enviroment and inward thinking. This group of people has become the New Age population among us. I am not saying that all people that love art are like this but this is the type of subculture I am looking at in this assignment.

That’s Questionable! March 6, 2008

I am a little confused about the 6th step of the anaylsis process that we are studying this week. The critical step of analyzing the photo is the step that I got hung up on. What aspects of the photo are critical to the meaning or the interpretation? Is the critcal part of the photo a visual part or is this section directly related to the historical part of the process? I was also confused on how the ethical side of the photo came in. Was this in answer to the photo it self or about the story and history of the subjects in the photo? Does the ethics of the individuals or the way the photo was taken? These were both confusing for me. I am glad that we could anaylze the last three as a whole and I see why we did it that way.

My Zeitgeist March 6, 2008

My Zeitgeist is the show “Friends” Here is a picture of the whole cast.

1. Personal

When I was in high school I remember all of the times that all we could think of during the long boring history classes was the new episode of Friends. Every thursday night nothing else could be planned because we had a date with six of our best friends. The fact that they led funny, dramatic lives was a draw because the show was of nothing else but the crazy lives of these six New Yorkers. The show was just a half an hour break from the hustle and bustle of the school week and the drama that was going on in our lives, to focus on the comedic lives of others.

2. Historical

The picture I choose is actually a some what pulled together piece of the hectic lives of the six “Friends”. This was acutally taken near the end of the “Friend” ten seasons. The reason for the more sophisticated and serious look was that we as an audience had already fallen in love with their humor and now felt like they were our friends. Towards the end of the series the comedy got more serious and emotional events such as love, children, and life came into play.

Just to see how much “Friends” was a part of America’s pasttime was the series finale that was watch by 51.1 million US tv watchers. The reruns still gather quite a crowd even today. The reruns are played in over 100 countries all over the world. The show has won over 21 awards and been nominated for 14 others.

3. Technical

The techniques that are used in this photo are much like many of the others we have been looking at. The photo has been taking outside therefore the key light is natural light source being the sun. It seems to be that the sun is very low on the horizon because there is long shawdows cast in the background. There is back light that is making their hair have a slight glow, but the light is counteracted with lights from the front, most likely those are highly diffused but intense stage lights. This is proably one of many poses and takes for the shoot. The composition and framing is to focus on the cast and draw the attention to the poeple in the photo and have the surrondings be complementay. They are positioned closely together to emphasize the close relationship that they have.

4. Cutural, Ethical, Critical

“Friends” had a profound inpact on our cultural. There are many aspects of the show that have become a mainstream part of our life for instance langauge and fashion. From sayings such as “How you doin’?” to “The Rachel” hairstyle that was a staple hairstyle around the world during the 90’s. One of the main settings is that of Central Perk Cafe. This is the place were gossip and friends are met. This cafe has been imitated throughout the country many times. There has been even a few opened with the word “perk” in the title and have admitted that they got the idea from the show. Even the song by Phebee “Smelly Cat” was used in a stage show and there have beeen referances to the show in many other comedies such as Scrubs and The Simpsons.

Back to the Basics February 28, 2008

http://justjared.buzznet.com/images/2006/06/christina-aguilera-back-to-basics-cover.jpg 

I choose to look at the album cover of Christina Aguliera’s “Back to the Basics” cover. First, the light in the photo is very bright which makes it very hard to see the specific sources. The key light is coming from above on the left and there is a fill light that is coming from the upper right. Both of the lights are highly diffused but still very bright making her skin look smooth and soft. The is minimal fall off on this picture because of the amount of light, but the little shadows that are under her nose and on her neck have slow fall off because of the diffused lighting.

As for the framing and compostion goes there is a lot of the meaning that is found here. She is laying down and framed in a horizontal manner. She is cut off at her wast and I think that this is done a purpose because then more is left to the imagination. She doesnt seem to be wearing all that much as clothing goes and I think that it is cropped that way to keep the viewer wondering. The fact that she is looking up at the camera while laying down makes her seem very submissive and suductive at the same time. The depth of field is very short in this picture and the reason for that is so the focus is literally and figuatively on her face. Her eyes are also color enhanced so that there minimal other color in the photo and the attention is drawn there. This pose was much like that of rock legend Madonna’s “Bedtime Stories” cover. She is posed in the same laying down submissive position . This has to do with the title of the cd because the basics of music and the pure sound were all apart of the music of Madonna and her time.

Thirdly, is the meaning behind this photo. For such a simple picture there is so much meaning and background in it. Starting with the title or signifier, “Back to the Basics”, is signifing to starting over and getting rid of all the meaningless stuff that crowds our mind and life. This idea is very common around all stars because it is so easy to get caught up in all the excitement of fame, but keeping grounded is the only way to stay sane. Classics tend to be the basis of new and inventive tools and ideas, that is the reason she is sporting a classic simple look of white and light colors. She wants to set aside the things that she is caught up in and get back to the reasons she likes to make music and that is for the love of the song, just like Madonna and so many other musicians. The basic and classic source of her music was to sing and this is the way she wants people to see her. She is also in a submissive position to make sure the sex appeal is not loss in the meaning.