For my example of pastiche, I chose the song Dare To Be Stupid by Weird Al Yankovic. The original song was by the band Devo and was also featured in the movie Transformers. The song was written several years ago (1985) and was reworked by Weird Al, including the music video. He kept the same beat and instrumentals, but completely re-wrote the lyrics to be much funnier. It's a trend he is ultimately known for, crazy, unpredictable songs from an array of genres. This particular examples is pastiche with parody because it's a spook of the original work by means of humor. It's a questioning of the status of the original because of all the different elements and the extremely different direction the song took. Part of the video looks reminiscent of other Devo music videos, the tune resembles Big Mess, the video has weird and bizarre imagery completely irrelevant to the words, they use Demo-like images throughout the video and the video references other bands or logos. It is completely different, yet similar to the original work.
Here are the lyrics:
"Dare To Be Stupid"
Put down your chainsaw and listen to me
It's time for us to join in the fight
It's time to let your babies grow up to be cowboys
It's time to let the bedbugs bite
You better put all your eggs in one basket
You better count your chickens before they hatch
You better sell some wine before it's/its time
You better find yourself an itch to scratch
You better squeeze all the Charmin you can while Mr. Wimpole's not around
Stick your head in the microwave and get yourself a tan
Talk with your mouth full
Bite the hand that feeds you
Bite on more than you chew
What can you do
Dare to be stupid
Take some wooden nickles
Look for Mr. Goodbar
Get your mojo working now
I'll show you how
You can dare to be stupid
You can turn the other cheek
You can just give up the ship
You can eat a bunch of sushi and forget to leave a tip
Dare to be stupid
Come on and dare to be stupid
It's so easy to do
Dare to be stupid
We're all waiting for you
Let's go
It's time to make a mountain out of a molehill
So can I have a volunteer
There's no more time for crying over spilled milk
Now it's time for crying in your beer
Settle down, raise a family, join the PTA
Buy some sensible shoes and a Chevyrolet
And party 'till you're broke and they drive you away
It's OK, you can dare to be stupid
It's like spitting on a fish
It's like barking up a tree
It's like I said you gotta buy one if you wanna get one free
Dare to be stupid (yes)
Why don't you dare to be stupid
It's so easy to do
Dare to be stupid
We're all waiting for you
Dare to be stupid
Burn your candle at both ends
Look a gift horse in the mouth
Mashed potatoes can be your friends
You can be a coffee achiever
You can sit around the house and watch Leave It To Beaver
The future's up to you
So what you gonna do
Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
What did I say
Dare to be stupid
Tell me, what did I say
Dare to be stupid
It's alright
Dare to be stupid
We can be stupid all night
Dare to be stupid
Come on, join the crowd
Dare to be stupid
Shout it out loud
Dare to be stupid
I can't hear you
Dare to be stupid
OK, I can hear you now
Dare to be stupid
Let's go, Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
Dare to be stupid
Monday, April 19, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Extra Credit Journal Entry
1. What was your response to The Persuaders video? Do you think this is an accurate assessment of the persuasion industries? Why or why not?
I thought the video was interesting. My favorite part was when they talked about consumers being bombarded with advertising forcing companies to break through the clutter in order to continually catch their attention. They also talked about how advertisers had to make products an experience instead of just a product that cleans. It had to set itself apart of its competition. I also think it’s an accurate assessment of the persuasion industries. People need to be shown a product or experience and eventually they will persuade themselves that that’s what they need.
2. How does the film portray social awareness and coolness marketing?
I personally saw social awareness portrayed through the Song campaign. The campaign targeted women who had to deal with day-to-day struggles of travel, by offering low prices, organic meals and a chic brand. They wanted to cater to women and make their travels as enjoyable and efficient as possible. On the other hand, iPod did a great job of using coolness marketing. Their colors, music and overall feel really makes you feel like you could be the one in the commercial. You feel connected with the product and cool when using it.
3. How do the practitioners in the film promote commodity fetishism?
They tried to sell to the heart not the head. Any product could get the job done, but they really wanted to make you feel connected while having a positive and enjoyable experience. They want you to feel as though YOU are the focus and YOU have the power to make a decision. The author of LoveMark said that people make such a strong relationship with a product that they don’t just like it or use it, they LOVE it. They do research to figure out how you connect with the product and what will allow you to make that intimate and lasting connection.
I thought the video was interesting. My favorite part was when they talked about consumers being bombarded with advertising forcing companies to break through the clutter in order to continually catch their attention. They also talked about how advertisers had to make products an experience instead of just a product that cleans. It had to set itself apart of its competition. I also think it’s an accurate assessment of the persuasion industries. People need to be shown a product or experience and eventually they will persuade themselves that that’s what they need.
2. How does the film portray social awareness and coolness marketing?
I personally saw social awareness portrayed through the Song campaign. The campaign targeted women who had to deal with day-to-day struggles of travel, by offering low prices, organic meals and a chic brand. They wanted to cater to women and make their travels as enjoyable and efficient as possible. On the other hand, iPod did a great job of using coolness marketing. Their colors, music and overall feel really makes you feel like you could be the one in the commercial. You feel connected with the product and cool when using it.
3. How do the practitioners in the film promote commodity fetishism?
They tried to sell to the heart not the head. Any product could get the job done, but they really wanted to make you feel connected while having a positive and enjoyable experience. They want you to feel as though YOU are the focus and YOU have the power to make a decision. The author of LoveMark said that people make such a strong relationship with a product that they don’t just like it or use it, they LOVE it. They do research to figure out how you connect with the product and what will allow you to make that intimate and lasting connection.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Journal #7
a. I used my cell phone the most to text message. It averaged out to about six hours a day.
b. I used the radio the least. This was about two hours a day while doing homework.
c. I communicated with people all day long either through online sources or my cell phone. This averaged about 10 hours a day.
d. I used the tv about three hours a day. The only radio I used was an online source.
e. I was surprised that I had my cell phone so much. I guess sometimes I don’t realize how much I text throughout the day.
f. I don’t know if I will change my phone habits, but I probably should. It might help me focus on my homework better.
b. I used the radio the least. This was about two hours a day while doing homework.
c. I communicated with people all day long either through online sources or my cell phone. This averaged about 10 hours a day.
d. I used the tv about three hours a day. The only radio I used was an online source.
e. I was surprised that I had my cell phone so much. I guess sometimes I don’t realize how much I text throughout the day.
f. I don’t know if I will change my phone habits, but I probably should. It might help me focus on my homework better.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Journal #5
Why did you choose the symbols you did?
The symbols I choose make up who I am as a person. They describe the things I like to do, places I want to go, things about my family and who I am as a person. They are the very essence of who "Tegan Ellis" really is on the inside. For example, I love to play tennis, listen to music and play with my dog. I also love to smile, am proud to be an American and have a birthday in October. These various symbols are signs of those things.
How does your photo differ from your rational and/or symbolic representation?
My photo is very black and white. You can see me and everything that is visual to the outside eye. It only tells simple things like what I look like, my ethnicity, how I do my hair, what clothes I wear and what color my eyes are. Beyond that, there is no depth. You don't know what I love, what makes me tick or what makes me who I am. The picture is very one sided whereas the symbols have more meaning. Meaning which might not make sense to an outsider, but to me they may mean everything.
*pictures were found on Flickr and Google images, not a product of my own
The symbols I choose make up who I am as a person. They describe the things I like to do, places I want to go, things about my family and who I am as a person. They are the very essence of who "Tegan Ellis" really is on the inside. For example, I love to play tennis, listen to music and play with my dog. I also love to smile, am proud to be an American and have a birthday in October. These various symbols are signs of those things.
How does your photo differ from your rational and/or symbolic representation?
My photo is very black and white. You can see me and everything that is visual to the outside eye. It only tells simple things like what I look like, my ethnicity, how I do my hair, what clothes I wear and what color my eyes are. Beyond that, there is no depth. You don't know what I love, what makes me tick or what makes me who I am. The picture is very one sided whereas the symbols have more meaning. Meaning which might not make sense to an outsider, but to me they may mean everything.
*pictures were found on Flickr and Google images, not a product of my own
Friday, March 19, 2010
Lester's Six Perspectives for Analyzing Images
For this picture I chose the "personal" perspective.
I first studied the image. My instinctual reaction almost puts me in awe of the picture, realizing this natural phenomenon is seen all around the world.
Primary Words: Lightening, Dark, Tree, Funnel, Clouds, Radio Tower, Sky, Storm, Tornado, Black
Associative Words: Destruction, Fear, Danger, Hide, Wind, Powerful, Shelter, Beautiful, Natural Disaster, Death, Omniscient, Unstoppable, Strike at any time, heat etc.
Pairs: Lightening & Heat, Dark & Fear, Funnel & Power, Sky & Beautiful, Tornado & Destruction
Tornado, Beautiful and Unstoppable relate to me the most. These words explain how I feel about these storms. Personally, I think they are beautiful from a distance yet scary when they get close. They can bring death and destruction and demand "respect" from onlookers. They are not to be messed with, as they cannot be stopped or controlled by humans. No one knows when they will strike, we can simply prepare for what is to come.
My personal story with tornadoes happen when I was a little kid. The day we moved into our brand new house the weather started to get extremely bad. The wind began to increase, the sky got dark and things just seemed quiet. The moving man asked if he could come in out of the rain. We all went to the basement and waited for it to pass. I thought we were going to loose our house before we even moved the whole way in. When it was all over, we came outside to find the spray on grass a mess but the house unharmed.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
True or False? Journal Entry #1
After looking over three different photos (which can be found on Web CT) I was able to come up with the following information about each.
The questions were:
A)Are you familiar with the image? If so, how?
B)Do you think the image is true or false? Why?
C)What evidence do you have to support your conclusion?
Photo #1: Air France Crash
A)No
B)I think the image is false. There is no way someone could have taken this picture if the plane was about to crash. They would have been in a panic, trying to save their lives, not worried about the next front page cover for TIME magazine. Plus, the pressure would have been so strong there would have been no way to turn around and get that particular view.
C)The man in the back is flying out of the plane. Realistically, people would be trying to save him. The person taking the picture wouldn't have been able to hold on to the camera if the man in the back couldn't even stay in the plane. I also believe they wouldn't have been able to get to their camera. All their bags would have been blowing around the plane.
Photo #2: Hurricane Katrina Blows Car by Red Light Camera
A)No, although I feel as though I have seen something similar on the news.
B)I think the background image is real, but I feel as though the car was phottoshopped in. The color of the car looks off. It just doesn't fit with the rest of the picture.
C)The level at which the picture was taken would not be where a street light hung. It was too low to the ground. Also, if the winds were really up to 130 mph I think the electricity would have been out, thus resulting in no actual photo being taken. Lastly, the palm trees through me off. I didn't think they had any in New Orleans.
Photo #3: Luxury Yacht
A)No
B)I think the image looks false. It looks like a drawing or a painting an architect drew up for a client.
C)The water is too peaceful, the boat looks to large to have even been built yet and it just looks overall fake in my eyes. It looks like something I would see in a James Bond movie.
These are solely my own thoughts, no research was done in order to come to a conclusion. All my ideas are therefore subjective and could be wrong. What do you think?
The questions were:
A)Are you familiar with the image? If so, how?
B)Do you think the image is true or false? Why?
C)What evidence do you have to support your conclusion?
Photo #1: Air France Crash
A)No
B)I think the image is false. There is no way someone could have taken this picture if the plane was about to crash. They would have been in a panic, trying to save their lives, not worried about the next front page cover for TIME magazine. Plus, the pressure would have been so strong there would have been no way to turn around and get that particular view.
C)The man in the back is flying out of the plane. Realistically, people would be trying to save him. The person taking the picture wouldn't have been able to hold on to the camera if the man in the back couldn't even stay in the plane. I also believe they wouldn't have been able to get to their camera. All their bags would have been blowing around the plane.
Photo #2: Hurricane Katrina Blows Car by Red Light Camera
A)No, although I feel as though I have seen something similar on the news.
B)I think the background image is real, but I feel as though the car was phottoshopped in. The color of the car looks off. It just doesn't fit with the rest of the picture.
C)The level at which the picture was taken would not be where a street light hung. It was too low to the ground. Also, if the winds were really up to 130 mph I think the electricity would have been out, thus resulting in no actual photo being taken. Lastly, the palm trees through me off. I didn't think they had any in New Orleans.
Photo #3: Luxury Yacht
A)No
B)I think the image looks false. It looks like a drawing or a painting an architect drew up for a client.
C)The water is too peaceful, the boat looks to large to have even been built yet and it just looks overall fake in my eyes. It looks like something I would see in a James Bond movie.
These are solely my own thoughts, no research was done in order to come to a conclusion. All my ideas are therefore subjective and could be wrong. What do you think?
Monday, March 16, 2009
ok, so this is a little creepy....
So, I have finally jumped on the Twitter bandwagon. However, I am now hearing more and more about this Second Life or Avitar business. Hmmm...I don't know how I feel about all of this virtual life shinanigans. Not to call anyone out, but let's face it kids. This is a bit creepy, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Now, I firmly believe to each his own but where does the madness stop. I feel like in only a few years down the road kids won't even know how to function in "real life".
Ok, so I won't lie. Back in the day I played a Sims, but I was 15 and had no life. Plus, the people I was talking or associating with were computers not other 15 year olds.
I guess I got really freaked out when I heard actual people are being put on trial for stealing from this quote on quote world and as a result being tried in real life. I'm sorry but that's just sad. What next, are people just going to permanently live at home and create their entire world online? Clearly, I'm not one to judge ;) so what do you think?
Ok, so I won't lie. Back in the day I played a Sims, but I was 15 and had no life. Plus, the people I was talking or associating with were computers not other 15 year olds.
I guess I got really freaked out when I heard actual people are being put on trial for stealing from this quote on quote world and as a result being tried in real life. I'm sorry but that's just sad. What next, are people just going to permanently live at home and create their entire world online? Clearly, I'm not one to judge ;) so what do you think?
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