Blogs I've Commented On

Andrew Philip's Blog:
http://mediaredundant.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-entry-1-privacy-on-social.html?showComment=1302888166407#c2737547407917832518

Elias Regala's Blog:

http://ehhlias.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-entry-2-look-at-music-videos.html?showComment=1302889847301#c8438620225100328894

Robel Tesfai's Blog:

http://robellerd.blogspot.com/2010/12/blog-entry-3-mashups-and-copyright-law.html?showComment=1302888888429#c5348307293805514017

Ryan Noronha's Blog 

http://epicryan.blogspot.com/2011/02/from-spray-can-to-light-graffit.html 

Karan Shetty's Blog:
http://karanberrysaresweet.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-entry-5-digital-actors.html

Brandon Abas' Blog:

http://brandonfma.blogspot.com/2011/01/blog-entry-6-logo-parodies-that-speak.html

Blog Entry #6: Logo Parodies that speak the truth

Logo By Greenpeace UK

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

The space between the original logo and the oil spill is there to represent what the Earth looks like right now. The lines in the image are used to show the lands of the Earth and the seas of the Earth as well. The colours that are used are black representing the oil spill, and yellow, green and white which all represent BP's original logo. The only shares that were used are the shapes of the seas and the shapes of the land.

2. Describe the symbols used in the logo. Why did the graphic artist use such imagery?

One symbol that was used in this logo was the sea full of BP oil. This symbol represents what BP has done to our seas and oceans. Instead of them being filled with water, they are filled with 4.9 million barrels of crude oil. The graphic artist used such imagery because in reality, it is true. BP has not done anything to fix the problem and now our oceans are filled with oil. Another symbol that was used in this logo is

3. What does this logo say of BP's coroporate identity?

This logo says that BP does not care about us and our seas. Many animals have suffered and we have suffered as well. It also shows that they cannot control anything. 4.9 million barrels of crude oil was spilled into the ocean and BP could've made that number smaller if they would've done something and controlled the spill.

Blog Entry #5: Digital Actors

1. Is this acting or is this animation?
I believe that this all of it is acting. The only part that is animation is the look of the Avatar creature itself. All of the Avatar's movements, expressions, and sayings are all captured from an actual actor attached to a "motion capture" device and they all get transfered to a computer where they all get animated into the Avatar. Without the actor, the Avatar wouldn't be able to do anything.

2. Do you think that animated character should be eligible for acting awards?
I think that animated characters should not be eligible for acting awards. With the help of technology and computer programs, the original feelings and movements could be tweaked and it would not compare to movies where they use real actors with real feelings and movements. However, I do believe that the actors playing the characters should be eligible for acting awards since they put so much hard work and effort into their jobs.

3. Do you think that human actors will ever become obsolete? Why or why not? 
I don't think that human actors will ever become obsolete because there is no computer program that can capture the emotions and feelings that an actual humans have. Even human speech can never become obsolete because there is no computer in the world today that can imitate human speech.

Blog Entry #4: From Spray Can to light: Graffiti Revisited.

Street Graffiti

In this picture, there are elements and principles of design that are present. Lines and shapes are used in the artwork to create the person itself. Value is used in the picture to make the artwork look three dimensional. Many colours are used to match the artist of the artwork and to make the artwork not look boring. I really like this picture because I like what the artist did with the art. He made it look like there were two of himself parallel to each other and that they are drawing each other. I also like the three dimensional effect the artist put on it.


Light Graffiti

In this artwork, the elements and principles of design are also present. Space is used to show that the buildings are very close together just like in real life. Lines and shape are used to create the buildings in the artwork. There are few colours that are used in the artwork and they represent the lights of the buildings and the outlines of the buildings. I really like this artwork because it represents the city of Toronto which is where I live and where I am proud to live in. I also like how the background of the picture because it's very dark and the art work is emphasized.

Contrast and Compare
Street graffiti and light graffiti are the same and different in many ways. They are the same because they are both graffiti and a lot of hard work is put into both of these. They are very different from each other. Street graffiti is permanent while light graffiti is not. I think that street graffiti needs more time to create whereas light graffiti can be done in very little time. I also think that street graffiti is harder to do since you cannot re-do anything.

Blog Entry #3: Mashups and Copyright Law

1. What is this mashup trying to communicate? Is it technical experiment, social or political commentary, a comedic parody, or an abstract work of media art?
This mashup is trying to explain what American copyright laws are. The author, Eric Faden of Bucknell University, uses clips from Disney movies to help him explain what they are. The reason why he chose to do Disney movies is because Disney is a very big company and it is also very intimidating. He also explains that through the use of Fair Use, copyright can be countered. This piece of media could be described as a comedic parody because it mocks Disney with its own video clips.


2. Did its creator follow or break copyright laws in its production?
Eric Faden followed copyright laws in his production. during the credits of the video, it says that Eric Faden did have permission to create the production. He also credited Disney by including all of the video clips that he used in the production. 

3. Do you think that mashup like this requires copyright permission? Why or why not.
I believe that a mashup like this does require copyright permission. Because he used clips from such a big company, I think that without Disney's permission, Eric Faden would get into a lot of legal trouble. 

Blog Entry #2: A Look at Music Videos

Initial reaction
My immediate thoughts and observations when I viewed the music video is why did the video look so depressing and sad. I also wondered why they kept on putting those signs up everywhere.

Analysis and interpretation
I think the Black Eyed Peas created this music video to show us how our world has now turned into. Themes that are promoted in this video are racism, violence, and suffering. These themes are all shown through the lyrics of the song and the visuals of the video. The themes counter Gospel Values because the themes in the music video are all the opposite from love, justice, hope, etc.

Consideration of cultural context
Events that may have influenced the Black Eyed Peas to create this music video were the events happening today. The lyrics have a lot of meaning to them and that is what the music video is about. The lyrics explain the bad things that are happening and that is what I believe influenced the Black Eyed Peas to create this music video.

Expression of aesthetic judgment
With the mixture of the lyrics of the song and the cinematography, they work together to create a feeling that there is a lot of bad things that are happening in our world right now like racism and violence. The visuals affect my admiration for the song because they way the video looks and feels make me think hard about what the lyrics are trying to communicate.


Ongoing reflection
My chosen music video influenced my reception of the song. Before I saw the music video, I was only familiar with the song and its lyrics. When I listened to the lyrics, it made me have mixed feelings because there were many horrible things the song is communicating. Then, when I saw the music video, it made me think even harder about the issues that were occurring today. 

Blog Entry#1: Art Imitating Media Imitating Life

Earlier this year, the popular social networking site, Facebook, put up a new privacy setting allowing many strangers to access your personal information and pictures. By doing this, Facebook could put up more advertisements making them even more money. This new setting scared many people and users started to become more aware of what they put on their profiles. This new privacy setting also made me become more aware of what I put on all of the social networking sites I go on such as Facebook, Twitter, and Friendster. Instead of putting all of the information about myself on these social networking sites, I limit what I put on them. I only include mandatory information like my name, age, e-mail address, and sex. By including these, I can access these social networking sites, but at the same time, unwanted people looking at my profile cannot access all of the information about me. It is every important to limit what information you put onto the internet because there are many strangers and unwanted people that can manipulate the information you put and use it against you. Some examples of what they can do to that information is identity theft, if you put your address, people can stalk, harass or do even more worse things than that.    

            In summary, it is very important not to put personal information about yourself such as your address and full name because there are many people that can access that information and use it against you by finding out where you live and stalk you.