Visual Vehicle- Telling the Story of You

Created with flickr slideshow.
So this project was a bit of a challenge for me because I wanted to find something that I'm interested in but at the same time was able to have a visual argument. Therefore, I chose to show how cars can be a visual representation of their owners. Each car displays aspects of its owner's life based on the type of car chosen, what is on the outside, and what they keep on the inside. I hope that you could tell this from my images. Each person has their own story told after their initial picture. I wanted to show the person that went along with each car though rather than just present the car. 
Editing Editing was a challenge for me because I'm pretty picky about how things look but sadly I don't have good visualization skills. (This presents for a lot of late nights spent on projects since I just can't get things to look like I want.) I've done minimal editing before, but I honestly didn't care that much about how pretty my Facebook pictures looked. It was cool learn how colors work together to appeal to the eye and to learn new tricks on Photoshop.  This first pairing of pictures was one where I overlaid a license plate in the corner, a new technique I was trying. I hope you can see the editing differences.

This pair I focused on saturation and on cropping the picture so that the shoes had the primary focus. 

The next pair shows my lei and Mayan month icon that are special to me. I really liked the angle but wanted to bring out the colors. 

The final two pairs add clarity and saturation to the images. I really like color.

Providing a Visual Guide: Helping a Reader Understand Visual Design

Visual Directive

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The purpose of images and text in newspapers, magazines, text books, etc. is to effectively communicate their information. Authors can aid this process by providing a visual map for the reader/viewer that allows him/her to logically follow the sequence that the information is being presented in. This map directs a reader's attention from one piece of information as it guides them along the path to the conclusion. Kress and van Leeuwen in chapter 6, "The Meaning of Composition," in their book Reading Images discuss the techniques that authors may utilize while deciding how to best achieve this.

Given and New
The first characteristic of direction that Kress and van Leeuwen mention is that of the "given" and the "new." The given information is information that the readers are assumed to be familiar with and already know. When presenting given information, authors usually place it on the left since our culture reads from left to right. This tactic allows the reader to ground themselves in the context before moving on to new information or claim. The new information is placed on the right and is usually a presentation of the author's claim. 

The ad above is one for Bose headphones that is arguing that they are so good at canceling out noise that this rower can't even hear the waterfall behind him. In this instance, the "given" is on the left: a man rowing on the water without a care in the world; people universally understand relaxation. The focus, however, is on the "new" located to the right. Here lies the giant waterfall, the twist in the assumed story. Thus, the advertisement makes a great visual argument by making use of the left-right, given to new, strategy. I found this ad among many others in a blogpost about humorous ads, which has many other great visual arguments. That's essentially what makes advertisements effective. This website describes very well what makes up good advertising on their site.

Ideal and Reality
Another way to make a visual argument is to have the ideal part of the information on the top of the image with the reality part of the information located at the bottom of the image. This allows the readers eyes to move from top to the bottom as they do while reading. In doing this, combined with the strategy above, a reader is guided through information rather than left wading through the information themselves. 

Salience
Salience is something that most people don't usually think about because it is intuitive to us, but usually one image in a presentation is prominent and draws our eyes. Of course, you don't think about this because you do what is natural. If the designer  has done their job, then your eye should go to the image that is biggest and in central focus.

For example in this Listermint ad, the pastor is the central focus and the reader then notices the congregation cowering in the back corner after they take in the central scene of the preaching pastor. This also makes great use of the given and new as mentioned above. 

Linear vs. Non-linear Reading
This has been a topic in other blog posts, but society seems to be moving away from reading blocks of texts to scanning and power-reading based off of headlines and sub-headings. People have the ability to access more of the information that they want to read and more ability to sift out that information in which they are not interested. So instead of reading an entire article, a reader can scan down until they see a sub-heading that applies to what they were searching for. As Kress and van Leeuwen say, the reader is able to "use" the text rather than read it. I would agree with this. That would be why my blog is formatted with bolded subheadings, for reader ease and accessibility. Visual images also help to break up the linear reading since they provide an interest for the eye and require different thought processes to occur in order to interpret the argument. 

Sensory Overload

Communication Channels
One of the first things I learned in my communications classes here at Furman was how communication works. The basic idea is that an idea needs to be successfully transferred from one person to another.

As shown in the image above, the producer of the message had to make sure that they provided the receiver of the message with the proper tools in order to decode the message. While this specific instance is dealing with words, I think that this idea is applicable to the message of the chapter "Viewers Make Meaning" by Sturken and Cartwright. In this chapter, the authors discussed how every individual would decode an image differently using their own set of cultural and moral codes. Therefore, images that reach a mass audience are difficult to target towards an individual, but the hope is that enough of the audience is able to relate that somehow they can draw a meaning. Advertisers in particular hope that they eventually come to the conclusion that they want to buy the product. How can images that are directed at mass audiences still take an individualized approach?

Interpellation
In the chapter, "to interpellate" is defined "to interrupt a procedure in order to question someone or something formaly." Based on this description, I gathered that to be interpellated by images meant that I had a sensory overload by the image/s in front of me. The best example that I could imagine right now would be Pinterest.

 As displayed by this screen shot, the entire website is a collective of photos that are to be representative snapshots of either a product or a website. However, none of the pictures are necessarily remotely related to each other. On the site, a viewer does have the ability to go to specific boards that have categorized the "pins." But the homepage is a collage of pictures that pertain to many different topics. In my understanding of the concept, this would be interpellation because my mind is constantly interrupted by one image after another to decide whether I can pull meaning from it. I also really like this example because it shows that everyone truly does interpret images in their own way. For example, I could look at the green purse that one of my friends apparently thought was stylish and decided for myself whether or not I agree with that. If not, then I probably wouldn't repin it. Same goes for the food. If I decide that the spinach and artichoke pasta reminds me of my grandmother's recipe, then I am pulling meaning from past experience that others wouldn't have. Then, depending on whether or not I like my grandmother's spinach and artichoke pasta, I choose to make that recipe or not. 

Classy Taste

I would agree with the Sturken and Cartwright that the idea of having "taste" implies a higher social status that allows one to be educated and "cultured." They also say that culture is a evolving, growing process that is subject to change. Taking both of those points, I couldn't help but think of Duck Dynasty, the new-ish and popular show on A&E. Before this show, a still to a large extent, red-neck culture was classified as one that was not educated and that they did a lot of manual labor, hence the name. However, I believe that entire connotation of that name will never go away, Duck Dynasty is a show that is changing it. It shows other aspects of the country culture such as strong family values and an appreciation of nature. It may also help that these men are quite humorous. The image that they have made theirs is one of camouflage. Everywhere they go, they are wearing camouflage. If you have not yet experienced the new Duck Dynasty fad, here's a quick a preview. You can catch on Wednesdays at 10 EST on A&E. 

Granted, maybe it's my taste that isn't classy, but that's up for interpretation isn't it?

Appropriation

Towards the end of the chapter, Sturken and Cartwright refer to "cultural appropriation." This was defined as "the process of 'borrowing' and changing the meaning of cultural products, slogans, images, or elements of fashion." I immediately thought of the use of Uncle Sam as a slogan. While there is the traditional Uncle Sam image that recruits for the Army, many others have been made that are intended to recruit or encourage others to participate in some activity. In this way, the core meaning was used but the slogan was borrowed to promote something other than what that image was intended for. 

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And then, there's this:

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Is this an effective method of spreading other messages since a foundation meaning has already been set? 

As stated earlier, people interpret images and space differently, so I leave you with this final question. Do you see a duck or a rabbit?

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Sporting a New Look

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Action Images
When asked about a famous action sports shot, this picture is the first that popped into my head. It is one that is hanging in the basement of my house, along with many other sports related images. My family as been avid Alabama fans since before I was born; in fact, my mom was having contractions with me while the SEC championship was on in December of 1992, but my parents didn't go to the hospital until after the game was over (Bama won, and I still claim that must make me a lucky charm). This picture,  titled "The Kick," features kicker, Van Tiffin, attempting a 52 yard field goal with only 6 seconds left in the rival game against Auburn. He made it, and the Crimson Tide won 25-23. Believe me, I've heard the story told many times because Dad was watching the television as it happened. Across the nation, Alabama fans still herald this image as the most famous kick in Alabama football. I love this picture because it captures the action of the shot while maintaining the tension of the unknown. An Auburn player is in the air. Does he block it? The kicker is mid-kick. Has he yanked it left or right? The spectators can be seen, blurred, in the background, standing motionless, waiting. In essence, I believe that this picture shows all the sports media used to embody: the experience and the action. Now, however, it is shifting to a more sexualized, more erotic view of the human body. 

The Body Shift: Technical to Sexy
Until recently, the human body in sports photography was appreciated more for its ability to perform difficult technical skills than it was for how it looked while performing. Now, the body is being praised for its physical beauty as it performs muscular feats. For example, after a Google search with the key words "Male Athlete" in images, the first picture was one of a man running without a shirt and with clearly defined abs. The website held the title of "Hottest Male Triathletes of 2008." 

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Instead of being lauded for his triathlon time or for his ability to adeptly participate in many different sports, this young man is being looked at for his appearance while competing. This is completely opposite from the picture below. 

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This shot features Michael Phelps as he competes in one of his many Olympic races. However, Phelps is pictured on the front of magazine covers like this: 

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Gender Differences

Women, however, have been objectified sexually in sports for years. As the Rowe said in his chapter "Framed and Mounted: Sport Through the Photographic Eye," women are more frequently photographed as displaying some kind of emotion or outside of their sport. Rarely are they pictured while in action, if they are featured at all. One of the questions raised in the article was, "Is the shift towards viewing men sexually a move towards gender equality?" I would like to raise that one, too. But I would also like to ask how can society get more recognition for women in sports? Some say they aren't because they don't sell, but if the media decided to sell them, then maybe women's sports would begin to be just as popular as men's. 

Women can be just as intense as men. Take Serena Williams for example.

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Or Shawn Johnson. 

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Both of these women have incredible skills that can also be captured in photograph. What would it take for our society to recognize the beauty of the skills outside the sexuality of a physically fit body? 

The Universal Language

Of all our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language- Walt Disney.

One of the most life changing experiences that I have had was the medical missions trip that I was blessed enough to go on this past spring break. Our team went to Nicaragua where we set up a medical clinic in the impoverished village of Tepeyac. Here, we got to be the doctors and diagnose the patients after listening to the symptoms and asking more in-depth questions. So while I learned a ton, that was not the most touching part of the trip. What impacted me the most was the heart of the people. We had lines and lines who brought their children long distances to get medicine because Advil and ibuprofen simply aren't available to them. As people on most mission trips say, I realized how blessed I was. But even more so, I was confirmed in my ambition to one be a doctor that might be able to make a lasting impression on lives like these rather than have a week clinic that can't address long term problems. 


However, I remember this trip not only through what I learned, but also through my pictures. These are near and dear to my heart. The girl in this picture was named Kelly, and for some reason, she took a liking to me. When I look at this picture, it brings back memories of that time, of how we played games like "London Bridges," how I completely wiped out on the path and she laughed at me, and just the pure joy of being able to spend time with kids who didn't get the attention I had my entire life. I think that leads well into the power that images can have. In this case, this image is powerful for me, an individual, but other photos are able to touch a whole audience.

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A picture like this would touch many Americans as they remember what happened on September 11, 2001. Every year images such as these are played on repeat in order to remember. An image such as this is always taken in historical context as Sturken and Cartwright suggest in their chapter, "Images, Power, and Politics." When Americans see this, they not only think of those who died, but also of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. They think of how terrorists became a real threat to the American public. They think of how this was the first major attack on American soil since that of Pearl Harbor. The context plays an important role in how Americans view this image because we are also seeing it from an American perspective. The site that I pulled this image from also contained a self-written poem titled Twin Towers, which is a prime example of the power of the image since Derec Jones was compelled enough to write his personal thoughts about it.

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Advertisements make use of images in a very compelling way. The one above is actually a public service announcement, but it really makes a statement by showing a fossil from the ocean that contains a plastic bag. When I first saw this image, I was struck by the fact that we do leave a lasting impact on our environment. I stopped to pause, to think about this, because this image showed the direct impact that humans have. And this, like actions, can be louder than words. I would say that an effective advertisement would be able to use an image and cause me to act upon it, i. e. go buy a product. So though this picture may not make me want to rally for clean oceans, it does cause me to be more conscientious of where I put my trash and how I treat the environment around me. Therefore, this is once again proves the power of the image.

Discussion Questions
How can the image be effectively used in the blogging community to make a point? Are pictures like the one above objective yet subjective at the same time? If not, where is the balance between presenting the image and how it is portrayed?

Redefining Journalism

So I was definitely one of the uninformed public that was under the impression that journalists were always trying to take an objective perspective while reporting the events. I believed that their whole purpose was to come across as unbiased to the public. After reading "Journalism of Verification," which Chapter 4 of Kovach and Rosentiel's book The Elements of Journalism, I have learned that their real purpose is to obtain and verify information objectively, but they do not have to write objectively at all. 

Methodology to Verification
Personally, I'm a very gullible person. I tend to always believe what people tell me, even if it's a bit ridiculous because I trust very easily, especially my friends. However, I have learned to question what I read in the media, which naturally means that I question what I read in the newspapers or hear on the news. Journalists want to present their audience with the truth that they have uncovered. And in order to this, they must have a method to ensure that the information they have is verifiable. I really liked this comparison to a methodology because I am a double major with biology, so I'm very methodical in how I go about my life. I usually have at least two To-Do lists running at once, I always make my bed the exact same way, and I have a routine that I follow strictly while getting ready for bed. I know these methods work for my lifestyle, so I stick to them. Therefore, this analogy really made sense for me. If reporters don't have a checklist to run through that clearly shows they are pulling information from a reliable source, then they may be selling something that is false.

Respect the Reader
I try to respect my readers by not boring you too badly. My life just really isn't that interesting, especially pertaining to digital communications. However, if you want a relevant anecdote, I did meet a cute boy in physics class today because I was incapable of connecting my iPhone to my email. 

So I acknowledged my lack of technological abilities and used them to my advantage. While I don't mean to offend any of you feminists out there, pretending to be inept (or actually being inept) at using technology is pretty good way to flirt. So there, I respect my readers by providing them with funny, engaging material. I really enjoyed the fact that this chapter pointed out that journalists should first and foremost respect their audience. They shouldn't deceive or hide anything, but rather should be as transparent as possible. I really like that idea because then not only do I trust the stories that I read from them, but I also want to continue to buy their news. 

Citizen Expectations
"What should citizens expect from the press as a reasonable discipline of reporting?" The authors posed this question as one left up to the reader. I'd like to leave that one for you as well. But I want to add on to it. What do we not tolerate from the press as a discipline of reporting? Are mockumentaries and docudramas still an acceptable form of journalism even though events are altered or modified? I think it is important that while information has become a commodity, the public still looks at it with a critical eye. Even though an information overload may be peppering the screen, are you still reading it with a grain of salt? 

Breaking News: Blogs can be informational resources or marketing opportunities

When I first read Chapter Four, "Citizen Journalists?" and Chapter Six, "Blogging Brands," I was first struck by how much I didn't know about the blogging world. I like to think that I'm pretty aware of social media sites, regardless of whether I'm a frequent user or not, but I know little about the website opportunities available to bloggers. 

Citizen Journalists

While there can be arguments for or against bloggers as journalists, I think that there is something compelling about reading a blogger's experiences in real-time. The excerpts from the blog about the Virginia Tech shootings really touched me, even years later, because they were so genuine. I'd never thought about war zone blogs, but hearing a perspective from people directly involved, not the government or other outside sources, really adds a new dynamic. So maybe, rather than looking at bloggers as journalists or not journalists, we can look at bloggers as adding a new dynamic to the art of journalism. By blogging real-time, there is no reason for a witness to fact check what they have witnessed and the emotions are still raw. I believe that this can give readers a better insight into the feel of a situation rather than just a relay of events that news companies usually give. Rhettburg makes a great point at the end of his chapter about how news sources and blogs are able to work together in a symbiotic relationship to promote news in the most efficient and effective manner. 

Gatewatching

Gatewatching was a whole new concept for me, though it makes sense as to why it would be a successful blogging technique. Bloggers are able to filter information on a topic and present a narrowly focused set of information that is very up-to-date. I hadn't heard of Slashdot before, but after looking at the site, it truly is tailored to its audience and offers easy-to-find information on technology updates. Before looking at this chapter, I hadn't really looked at blogs as an information resource before. I realize that they are still public forums on which anyone can post, but they can stand as a wealth of information as well. In school I've always been so used to analyzing validity of sources that I never considered blogs as anything more than personal diaries. 

Making Money

In the section about advertisements, I could see how bloggers who are truly devoted to posting could opt for this extra bonus cash, but I would think that having enough advertisements on one's blog to be able to support themselves would be a bit overwhelming for readers. The sponsorships, though, seem worse to me. I don't like the concept that bloggers are being hired out to give their "opinion" on a product. It makes me not trust them, whether or not I know about it, because they are being hired to say or promote something they may not truly believe in. I would be upset as a reader to find out about this as well.

Corporation Blogs

I do support corporations using blogs to their advantage. A key component to be competitive is being able to keep up with the ever advancing technology. As Rhettburg says, corporations can effectively participate in active discussions about their product on blogs that have already been created, they can directly speak with their customers and patrons, as well as promote new products or provide their supporters with breaking news. This gives a more genuine feel to companies because it provides that transparent nature that is becoming more popular for building credibility. I think blogs can also be seen as an effective form of customer service because someone from the company can respond and at least try to get readers to the person they need to talk to. I personally haven't read many corporate blogs, but I think that Oracle's blog is a great example of everything Rhettburg is talking about (Oracle is a company that provides business software and hardware systems). This is definitely an effective marketing technique in my eyes.

Discussion Questions
How can blogs be viewed more as an informational resource rather than solely personal opinions? How do bloggers that view themselves as journalists convince their readers that they are reliable?