Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Globalization of an Icon

A: The Icon was the KFC logo,
B:  It became Iconic after its huge commercial success of offering cheap home-cooked style food with the iconography which resembled a loving view of the south.
C) It was modified to be OFC for Obama Fried Chicken in Beijing.
D) The Beijing community is dismissive on the issue, claiming it doesn't disrupt their daily lives and rather see it as novel place to eat. The KFC executives are outraged and appalled that they would make a spin off like that, even going so far as to use a caricature of a leader of the free world, as a mockery.
E) Even if they had used a sign with the American flag and some chickens it would have sent a message that this was an eating establishment that specialized in American chicken. And it would have caused way less controversy

http://behindthewall.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/30/8055460-obama-fried-chicken-in-china-its-on-the-menu

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Pastiche Exercise 2

A: This graph is a re-working of the past because even though the man portrayed in the graph is in today's culture a non-approachable man, he completely looks like a guy taken straight out of an 80's rock music video.
B: This is a pastiche only because even though he may look atrocious now, That look will come back as being "hipster". History makes a full circle once again.
C: This style questions the work of the original era by saying "Yeah, these are all cool things which history shouldn't forget about. Here I am, bigger and badder than ever before." None of these things are true of course.
D: http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/funny-graphs-mandles-shudder.png

Pastiche Exercise 1

"Meet the Spartans"
A:  This is a pastiche of another movie named "300", that in turn is another pastiche of a graphic novel, which  was a romanticized version, of a real historical battle.
B: This pastiche is a parody of real current events in today's culture. This film, I regret to say is something I was tricked into seeing. It speaks volumes of the kind of culture we live in, and it is a horrible movie...You know what?...just forget that I said I saw this.
C: This work questions the status of the original by vying for most popular film at the time. When 300 came out it was an instant success due to it featuring muscular men, gore and violence. "Meet the Spartans" attempted to capitalize on their success by focusing on another aspect that some movie-goers enjoy, slapstick humor.
D: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tpbAeUXUzE

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Art was used as a tool in ancient times by showing the masses images that everyone in the culture could relate to or knew of. They would portray themselves as peaceful, yet powerful rulers in times of peace, or they would use cultural figures such as the "archer" that conveyed prowess and patience, such as King Darius did.

It is used in current day politics by the arrangement of seating, viewing, and colors. An example of this is when President George W. Bush was running for his second term he used iconic imagery as a soldier and man of the people to get him elected.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Media Tracking

A: My telephone; for a minimum of at least 4 hours everyday.
B: The television; I use it the least because most of my time is spent at school, but even then I would spend at least a couple hours on it.
C: As an average I would use it to communicate for 4 hours per day
D: Only a few hours per day. I do not spend too much time in front of the television.
E: I was not exactly too surprised, I knew that I spent a lot of time keeping connected with friends and family using my phone and facebook.
F: Probably not, I realize how much time I am spending using social mediums, but at the same time I don't feel my results are very radical compared to the "average user" and I enjoy staying connected.
G: I will strive to maintain my current media input because I still feel like I am very connected with those that I want to connect with, and am keeping informed with what is happening in the world. Therefore, I don't feel like I have to saturate myself with media, when I get the information I want at the level of immersion.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Appropriation in Popular Culture

A: The original intended meaning was a fellow as he was talking to his mother.
B. It has found its way through the internet in today's world as a famous meme, known as "Scumbag Steve".
C: The new meaning is that this guy is the most scummy guy that you know, and will be a complete jerk.
D: http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/35s9wv/#by=ad

A: http://memegenerator.net/instance/13655222

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

What or who is Iconic?

B. The Breguet watch
C.  It hold the tradition stigmas of elegance and class.
D. By the subtlety of of the script in the background along with the portrait of Alexander Pushkin.
E. No, historically I have not worn a watch, so it does not persuade me too much.
F.