Blog Entry #6: Logo Parodies that Speak the Truth

1. Describe the logo using the language of the Elements and Principles of Design.

In the background of this image we can see the notorious BP Flower. In the foreground of the logo we can see 2 men standing side by side. One of these men is holding a gas pump, similar to the way one would hold a firearm if they intended on using it to execute the other. This is in some sense comical because the gas pump also looks like a firearm as it has a trigger as well. The characters in the image are all black, this is most certainly in reference to the gigantic oil spill that BP had between the months of April and July of 2010.

2. Describe the symbols used in the logo. Why did the graphic artist use such imagery? 
A symbol in this logo is the gas pump. It is pointed at the man's head, symbolizing death. This is ironic, considering how BP caused the deaths of many animals, and polluted a major waterway. 

3. What does this logo say of BP's coroporate identity?
This logo says a lot about BP's corporate identity. It makes it seem as though the company does not care about the environment.

Blog Entry #5: Digital Actors

Digital acting is a technique that has been used in many different types of media. Whether it be movies, video games or television shows, digital acting has been a technique known for creating amazing cinematic effects.


1. I believe that digital acting is an example of acting as well as animation. This is because when using this technique, the voice acting is still present and so is the body language, the only difference is that the images are computerized to portray that of a cartoon.

2. I do believe that animated characters should be considered for awards because of the voice and bodily acting they do. Though, it would be fair to create another category of awards if other actors and actresses disagreed.

3. I do not believe that human actors will ever become obsolete because no animation can show as much emotion as a human being, so even if the roles of human actors becomes limited to only voice acting, that is as obsolete as they will ever become.

Blog Entry #4: From Spray Can to Light: Graffiti Revisited

Street Graffiti

This photo is my favorite example of street graffiti. The main thing that appeals to me about this photo is the 3D effect it offers. It also find the image created quite comical. It is a picture of a giant baby in a large hole, being fed another human by what appears to be the baby's mother. The picture taken shows two pedestrians pretending to be a part of the image as it is so realistic. 

Light Graffiti

This photo is one of my favourite examples of light graffiti because of the simplicity and elegant feel it offers. It consists of 2 colours which keeps the image simple, but at the same time the 2 colours used mesh together so well and create the shape of a flower. The beauty of the image is in the simplicity and the co-ordination. 

Blog Entry #3: Mashups and Copyright Law

Mashups and Copyright Law:


A fair(y) Use Tale


1. This mashup is a political commentary. It is used to express the author's negative feelings about copyright and mashup. The author uses work from a large company (Disney) and explains that the reason for his choice is because Disney is such an intimidating company, that nobody would ever mess with. The author demonstrates that when Fair use is achieved large companies and movies would require legal protection in order to prevent others from making a profit from their product and/or service.


2. The creator did not break any copyright laws in the production of this Mashup. They used material that was found in a public domain, and therefore used the media legally. The creator intentionally used material that would cause slight controversy by attempting to "stand up" to such a large company.


3. I do not believe that a mashup like this would require any legal permission for a few reasons. Firstly, the author of the media does not seem to be gaining a profit from the mashup. Secondly, because little bits of material was combined to give the author's critical opinion, rather than do anything to demote sales of the products.

Blog Entry #2: A Look at Music Videos

Initial Reaction
When I first saw this video, I focused on the excellent vocals and flow of the song. I did not appreciate the music video for what it was about as much. As I continued to watch the video for the music, I began to start to listen to the lyrics and appreciate the music video for the video part of it as well. I thought that the video added a whole other meaning to this video.


Analysis and Interpretation
The song "Runaway Love" is a very literal song. In it, it tells the story of many young women who go day-to-day living incredibly difficult lives and not being able to escape them. These children, some at the age of 9 or 10 decide the only way to escape their current lifestyle is to run away. The song does a great job of expressing the pain of the girls and what they are going through, although many of us have not or will not ever have to deal with such a thing. Towards the end of the song, Ludacris, the artist who raps throughout most of the song begins to preach to all of these conflicted children about running away together, and while he does this, posters and newspapers with missing person information are carried away by the wind. I believe this scene signifies the rebirth of these young women, as if they were never born into the lives they ran away from. This video is aligned with Gospel values because in it we see sorrow and help being given towards these lost children. I believe the ultimate purpose of this video is to raise awareness for all of the young women and children who seem trapped in their own homes, and without the video aspect of this piece, the purpose would not be fulfilled.

Consideration of Cultural Context
This vehicle was most likely inspired by young women and children who live in environments which do not allow them to perform to their full capabilities. We can make this assumption because the entire video is the exposure of different daily issues that conflicted teens and children across North America must face. 


Expression of Aesthetic Judgement 
Cinematography in this song is a great addition to it. It is recorded in many different slums of America to demonstrate the living conditions in them. The acting in this video, done mostly by children is genuine. It makes the view of the video feel remorseful for the children. There are several story lines in the video, all of which are about young women, being raised in poor environments, being trapped in different situations and not being able to escape. The lyrics of the song are ultimately a narration of what is happening in the video, and that aspect of the video keeps the viewer very interested. The visuals in this song make me admire it even more as the visual along with the audio creates a story with great meaning as well as a great rhythm. 


Ongoing Reflection 
My chosen music video influenced the reception of the song greatly. Originally, the song was a telling of many  occurrences of young women that were going through difficult times. The telling was also accompanied by a good beat, but with the added video, we can see what these women are going through and it helps us understand the meaning and cause of the song better.

Blog Entry #1: Art Imitating Media Imitating Life

Earlier this year, a major social networking site known as Facebook, had a large privacy update in order to better disperse their advertisements and make a larger profit. This update created many security issues, which resulted in a new privacy system. Many privacy updates such as this, have caused 81 percent of people using social networking websites to be concerned about the safety of their personal information online and 65 percent to be reluctant to interact or share information on social networks due to their growing security concerns (social networking). These people are quite wise, as privacy is very essential on the internet. It is very important to do protect your privacy from people you do not know because if you do not know them, you can never be sure what they are capable of. It is necessary to do so because of predators, and other online threats. As long as personal information is only shared to family and close friends, it is alright, but even then, it is wise to be cautious when posting potentially dangerous information. If people that do not know you, get a hold of your personal information, there is a potential threat of being stalked, raped and/or harassed.

To summarize, personal information posted on social networking websites pose a potential threat as under certain circumstances it can be used as a gateway into your life by an unwanted party, and although it is safe to share with family and friends, cautious networking should be exercised.

Works Cited

Johnson, Anna. "Social Networking on the Rise." Internet marketing news and comment. 5 Oct. 2010. Kikabink News. 28 Jan. 2010 <http://www.kikabink.com/news/social-networking-crime-on-the-rise/>.

Introduction Post :)

I did this for Media. I want the credit. :)