WASTELAND

Vik Muniz used his talent in art to show the lives of the hidden people at Jardim Gramacho, the largest landfill in the world. At Jardim Gramacho people who want to earn a decent wage but have nowhere to go come to pick trash for a living. Althouh some like Valtor are proud of their humble work others such as Isis have a hard time dealing with their situation. Vik pays a few of the pickers to come and help him create his art masterpieces made entirely oof trash they themselves have picked. These people are temporarily removed from all the chaos and filth that comes witht their job and are placed inside of a quiet art studio. As their worlds alter and they step back and look at the other things life has to offer there is questioning as to whether or not it is moral to only temporarily remove someone from reality then suddenly take them back to what they know best.

Vik and his wife both argued over this ethical reasoning and I am on Vik's side. The people he choose had all been through some traumatic times and I believe they deserved a break. Vik's wife is right that it is unfair to give someone hope and happiness and then suddenly take it away. However i believe that it was the people choice and they all wanted a moment of something better, even if it couldnt last forever. This is possibly the best thing that couldve ever appened to these people. When given a glimpse of something in life thats better than what you have to go through you generally tend to find anyway possible to exceed your own standards of life and become something youve dreamed of. This is exactly what happened to some of the people Vik used in his artwork. Isis herself came from this experience and said "I don't see myself as trash anymore. I don't want to go back to the garbage.". Vik provided a sense of worthiness to these people and they were now more than just the trash they picked.

Kirshenbaun bond senecal and partners (KBS+P)

Kirshenbaun bond senecal and partners (KBS+P)-
founded in 1987. It is named after founders Richard Kirshenbaum, Jon Bond and Lori Senecal
Vision
We create modern engagement platforms that drive transformational growth for our clients. Our approach is characterized by integrated, accountable teams that focus on getting to the heart of what matters quickly, and then move on to making real, executable and compelling programs that can make a difference.
Location
headquartered in New York, with offices also in Atlanta,Montreal and Toronto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7yD3HLQvOg


A. What is the setting of the ad (where and when in time).
This ad is set in middles class suburbian America during the day time. Most likely this is set between 2pm and 5m when kids are out of school. The family in the video is in their living room doing day to day tasks.
B. Who are the subjects in the ad (where are they from).
The subjects are a middle class african american family (Father, Mother, two sons, one daughter)
C. Identify any other key images in ad other than main subjects.
The key element of the ad is the bird that flys into their living room through the window
D. What is the story or meaning behind ad.The meaning of this ad is to persuade men in America that they do not have to be perfect to adopt a child.
E. What year was this ad made?
This Ad was created in 2010.
F. What relation is there between the ad and you, (the audience), viewing it.
I do not have much relation to this ad because I am not a male or a person looking to be a parent antime soon.
G. Who is the target audience and what cultural assumptions and values are built into the ad (what kind of person is meant to see it?)
The target audience for this commercial are middle aged middle class or higher people willing to adopt a child. This commercial focuses mostly on finding men who are willing to be a parent even if they think they are not perfect enough to do so.
H. Are the makers of the ad trying to draw a different kind of consumer with this ad?
Because there was humor in the ad it draws the attention of not only the target group but also anyone watching who finds it funny will leave with the message from the ad council in mind.
I. Are there "markers" of race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, class, sexuality?
There are many markers in this video. First the family in the video were middle class, suburbian, african americans. When I watched this video and others like it I reaized that all the parents in these videos were portrayed as african american middle class citizens. This tells me that this group is trying to speaking mostly to the african american population of america on the importance of adopting kids who need help. The main actor in the commercial was the father is a big and strong male. When the bird flys in he plays the role of the stereotypical father being calm, collected, and manly in the presence of an emergency, knowing exactly what to do.
J. What about the relationship between the text and the imagery?
The texts backs up the main point of the commercial by suggesting adopting a child in the USA.
K. Is the product shown or is it promoting a lifestyle or both? Explain.
I would say it is promoting the lifestyle of being a parent. It is basically saying that you may not be a perfect parent but a child never asks for perfect they just want someone who cares and is willing to look after them and love them.
L. Why did you choose the ad? And were you persuaded by it?
I choose this ad because I thought it was hilarious and humor always draws my attention in ads. I also liked the message being conveyed by the ad.

Gender in Advertising

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R2cnxz27LI&feature=BFa&list=SPB9F260CE56D04E73&lf=list_related
This product is for men however the ad is directed towards woman and more inderectly towards men. In the woman viewer eye if her man is not wearing this brand then he isnt good enough and most definitely isnt manly enough. For the male viewer it seems that he is very feminine if he doesnt use old spice and not only this but he may loose his woman to someone who is quite possibly more manly and can give her expensive things and take her where ever she wants to go.

Gender, Gaze, and Privacy

Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock exhibits many aspects of chapter 3. In the movie the main character Jeffries is wheel chair bound in  his home. "To gaze is to enter into a relational activity of looking" (94, practices of looking)He uses his time to gaze through his window into the neighboring buildins windows, "Like characters in a movie, his neighbors are apparently unaware that this audience of one exists." (125, Practices of looking).His neighbors cannot see Jeffries although he can clearly see them. Much like Chapter 3 states, Jeffries window acts as a metaphor for our day to day viewing. Everyday we see other people and in a way peer into their lives momentarily. Some would call this privacy invasion, I call this however curiosity. It is natural to be curious about other people and what they are doing, most importantly what they are doing wrong. In the movie Jeffries could care less about the people doing nothing wrong but only the ones ho acted peculiar recieved constant attention. As humans we have a natural need to pick out each others inadequacies and compare them to our own actions to determine if they are in fact strange.

Gender plays a huge role in this movie also. Jeffries sits back and watches his girlfriend Lisa as she sets out and does the things he isn't capable of. Jeffries is in fact the viewer. Much like it states in the book women have always been seen used in art and media as only a pleasing image to the viewers eye. Although Lisa was not naked in the movie she was at many times a pretty image for those watching her through the window. Not only was Lisa used in this way but the other women portrayed were for the pleasure of the viewer. One woman Jeffries often viewed was constantly in a leotard dancing sentually. This woman epitamizes the use of male gaze upon a woman. She is beautiful and young and only for the viewers (Jeffries) pleasure. "Yet as the example of Lisas investigation suggests, the male gaze is not as powerful and controlling asthe interpretation suggests." (126, Practices of looking). Being confined to the chair gave Jeffries a very passive role. He was somewhat emasculated because he had to rely on the women around him to accomplish what he wanted and needed. The women in Rear Window were in the direct line of harm while Jeffries was able to sit by and watch out of harms way.
 "We've become a race of peeping toms. What people ought to do is get out of their house and look in for a change."
I completely agree witht this statement. We always have our own judgement s and opinions of the people around us but we never take a moment to look back at ourselves and make judgement. We are so afraid of being judged we would rather ignore our flaws than to just face them head on. However we are becoming worse because as technology becomes more advanced we have more opportunities to view other people in privacy. We enjoy it so much that we even make shows to simulate people living real lives for our own ammusement. We know these as "reality television shows. Although these shows are mostly staged and make no sense in context with real life, we cling to them and become fans of the people as if this is what real life truly is and we are the ones living the fairy tale.

State Farm Commercial video #2

I was slightly suprised by this behind the scenes video. It definitely proved my theory that it might have been staged wrong. The kids who they showed seemed very genuine. I was even more confirmed when I saw that Spike Lee was one of the directors of the commercials. Spike Lee does many true life documentaries and usually direct things that have an overall positive or informative message much like this video. I thought it was very heartfelt when they showed the firefighters behind the scenes also because they are the true heroes and to know they get a thanks like this is a great feeling.

State Farm Commercial video #1

This commercial made me feel very joyful that a group of New York student would come together to put a smile on the face of some of the most amazing heroes America has ever seen. It seemed a bit iffy however if this commercial was actually real because afterall it is still an Ad for one of the leading companies in insurance. Companies will do anything to gain new customers and I think that might even include using a group of 10 year olds to stage a "sentimental" moment.

Miller Gallery Visit

This piece was done by Diane Miller and I think it was one of the best at drawing emotion from the viewer. On the recent anniversary of 9/11 I woke up at 9am and turned the T.V on see nothing but tributes to the terrible event. Im not normally an emotional person however when it comes to 9/11 something is struck that makes me overcome with sadness. This picture depicts exactly what makes me grieve for the people who died that day. The red hands are a good use of emphasis to show the helplessness of the people stuck in the towers. Not only does it symbolize the helplesness but is also a literall interpretation of the people who were physically reaching and climbing out for any sign of help because even though they may fall, staying in was iminent death. There principle of shape was used in the depiction of the twin towers. I find it amazing how the simplicity of this piece can inflict such strong emotions.