Blog Three: Text and Image; Studium/Punctum

Part One:

Select one of the historic photojournalism images provided and transform it into a text-image composite in the style of artist Barbara Kruger. Remember that the technical execution of this composite is only part of the challenge – Kruger’s work makes careful use of strategies such as irony, scale, composition and wordplay.

Original:

My take on it:

My intention with this image was to create a feeling of isolation - that is why I converted it to black and white and got rid of the reflection in the astronaut's helmet. It seemed more lonely that way.

As for the text, I meant to point out how people in general are always searching for something more. They are constantly searching for answers and explanations to their existence, whether they turn to religion or science.

Such as the creation of the universe - did God create it or was it the big bang? Is there a God out there? Are there other planets out there with life on them? Or are we all alone?

These are basically the ideas I played around while completing this part of the assignment.

Part Two: Studium/Punctum

We know that images can bear multiple meanings, some overt and widely accepted, others that are subtle, contrary or idiosyncratic. Drawing on your understanding of Roland Barthes’ analysis of photographic meaning in Camera Lucida and your own interpretation of the images provided, select an image (or images) from Robert Frank's photo essay, The Americans and use Photoshop to create an image that suggests at least two potential interpretations (this could be a studium/punctum relationship described by Roland Barthes, or a hegemonic/oppositional response described by Stuart Hall).

Original:

My take on it:

Studium:

This image shows a happy couple locked in an embrace. It looks like they're in a really elegant place mostly because of the way they're dressed. The place they are in looks really nice, too. What drew me to this image was the expression on their faces and their hands. Overall, it gave me a really warm feeling - love as a timeless emotion. This is the punctum I tried to highlight.

Punctum:

Perhaps the biggest change is the background. This was achieved with a couple of overlay and gaussian blur filters, as well as a dark stroke filter. The purpose behind this was to make the couple stand out more because when I first started playing around with the image, the background was distracting from what I wanted to focus on - their hands.

I wanted to emphasize the couple as a whole, in particular their hands. I lightened this area to make it stand out more. I wanted to capture the emotion and passion of their embrace. This is what really got to me about the photograph. That moment captured in time. Even now, years later after the photograph has been taken, the love is still there. It's almost surreal - even if their surroundings were to be completely erased, they would still be there.

The overall meaning I meant to convey is that love is a timeless emotion which I hopefully accomplished.

Blog Two: Brain's Permission

By Rodney White

Often times we hold ourselves back from doing what really makes us happy. There are a lot of reasons for this but the one I find is most relevant to my life is that my brain is afraid of letting my heart go. When you think about it, the brain is something that represents intelligence and knowledge. It is sound and concrete. The heart, on the other hand, is full of emotions.

The brain is something factual. The heart is something spiritual.

I think this is what the artist was trying to get at. That sometimes we don't reach our full potential because one part of us is held back by another, and we should just let ourselves go sometimes.

The typeface of words like "heart" and "do things" is a lot more fluid than the typeface used for the word "brain's" - I think this further reflects this concept of the heart vs. mind.

The main focus of the image is "Do Things" - it's the biggest font and really stands out among the rest of the image. The fluidity of this counteracts the solidness of the part that says "brain's" - perhaps this is to mean that one should be more spontaneous and free.

One thing I also find interesting in the image are the peaches. (I think they're peaches...in any case, they're some kind of fruit.) Fruit is something natural and organic. Something pure...something that just is. This is a lot like the heart. I think that's why the artist chose to include the fruit in his image.

The heart is just something that is naturally free. In the brain - this is where everything's broken down and categorized to the tiniest detail. I think the typography in the image does a really good job of showing just the fluidity of being able to do things without being held back. The colors also connote something relaxing and natural - they are warm colors. This gives the overall image a really good rhythm and flow.

Blog One: His Afternoon Nap

By Sue Anna Joe

Upon looking at this picture, I automatically assume that it is a picture of a homeless man.

The denotative meaning of the photograph is indeed that - a man sleeping on some stairs in some nice area - all the buildings look clean. He seems isolated and alone - like he has no home. This is what the image connotes to me. The fact that the image is in black and white makes me feel that even more.

To me, this images supports the myth that all people you see sleeping in public places are homeless but challenges the myth that the only place you see homeless people is in the bad parts of the city.

The actual description of the photograph is this:

I went to the city today, Kuala Lumpur. I'm not a big fan of it though, it's just too busy, and too many people. Not that I don't like people, but it gives me such a headache to struggle through the crowd. However though, I just LOVE taking pictures there. The buildings,the scene, and especially the people. Huhu. Nways, this old man, was most probably waiting for someone, he was sleeping on the stairs of a bank, and in front of this bank was this very busy read with alotta people crossing it. He must've mean so tired, that the noise didn't bother him a bit.

I think that it is the black and whiteness of the photo and just how it's centered around the man sleeping that supports the ideology about homelessness. It is only after I read the description that I realized that just because someone is sleeping on some stairs doesn't mean they're homeless - they could just be very tired. It is also very interesting that although the description says it was very busy near this bank yet chose not to photograph the commotion - only the man sleeping on the stairs.

SecondLife

Today I learned about SecondLife.

I had never heard of it before.

It's basically a multiuser interface where you can create your own avatar and interact with others. You can create your own identity, your own worlds, your own everything.

Many people seem to be drawn to these sorts of applications.

I guess I can see why. It's alluring, really. A world where anything is possible and you are not bound by the limitations of real life.

You can be whoever you want - you create your own identity. Which makes me wonder - just what is identity? Is it who you are in real life, or who you are in virtual reality? Is virtual reality isn't really real, then does that mean your identity is fake?

It's such an interesting concept.