RockBlog

Something that I recently noticed was at the Omnimax theater in Duluth. The opening graphics appeared to be really advanced and elaborated by the projected size of the screen. It felt like you were being sucked into the graphics... pretty cool.

here is a link to the stickers I talked about in class that aim to sabotage advertising.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52904685@N00/2146586273/

Also I stayed in Chicago over break and I noticed that there are posted advertisements for bands, bar specials, events, and anything you could think of. Most of these were like individual pieces of art. One artist in particular named Jay Ryan does screen printed posters for bands that come to Chicago. These posters look like they should be hanging in a gallery and instead they are hanging on places like hot dog stands in Millennium Park.

http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/screenscene/jayryan/

The things that i noticed is how the culture in CO. is very different, although i can not find exactly what i was talking about at the meeting of how the culture was different. This will show that there are still different things that are being done that is indeed different than what the Duluth city has.

One of the things I have noticed is how incredibly advanced technology is becoming. Our laptops, computers hand held items, ipods, just about everything are becoming thinner and thinner. The question is, is how thing will it get before it becomes less successful? The new apple mac is amazingly thin. There is nothing to it. Its smaller than carrying around an actual pad of paper now. Yet it stores so much. I find it fascinating on how fast technology is growing, and curious to what will happen 15 years down the road.

The one thing I noticed in visual culture recently was the fact that movies are becoming way too intense. The shaking of video footage, flickering of the screen, and some of the effects are just too much for my eye to handle. I attached a clip of the movie Cloverfield that I watched over break. This clip shows you exactly what I am talking about. 5 minutes of this on a big screen sitting in the front row will give you nausea

The one thing that I've noticed recently in digital art, using my roommate's boyfriend as an example, is how video games are so life-like now that thousands of people across the country are putting as many hours into them as they do with their schoolwork or jobs. This seems to be a trend more with the male population and they spend hours creating characters for themselves, which may be an outlet for them to create the person that they wish they were in real life. Some games are so intense now that if a player steps out of character, they will be kicked out of the game. http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi/59943

A trend that I have recently noticed in visual culture is the rise in technology as the method of communication. In particular, text messaging has become very popular and it seems people are becoming more distant and less personable and relying heavily on the technology. Furthermore, everything seems to becoming more and more simplified. With texting in mind, people no longer type out complete sentences and words, instead they use common abbreviations such as lol, wtf, jk, etc.

http://wcco.com/seenon/target.online.controversy.2.629817.html

Something that I have noticed recently with visual culture is how sensitive people are becoming with advertising, and how far they are looking into things. I like to keep up to date with news from rest of the state, so I check WCCO's website every day and I found this article/video about a lady that was so offended with a target ad that she says she will not shop there anymore. The ad shows people doing winter activities on the target logo. One girl is supposed to be making a snow angel, but the lady feels as though she is "spread eagle" in the logo (which is "offending" to her). Someone else is shown as ice skating in the logo for another reference. They interviewed people and almost all of them didn't think anything of it until the reporter pointed out to them the spread eagle position she was in and then they all laughed. I just think it's funny that she is making such a big deal about something so stupid. This ad is nothing compared to most ads found anywhere. As a designer I would have put this out to the public as well.

Recently I have noticed some changes in advertising, specifically large corporations and their use of color to possibly try to get people to think of their store or product when seeing the color. Target commercials using red, Apple using white and Best Buy using blue are some examples.

Another thing i've noticed in visual culture is that billboards are taking the add to another level by making objects protrude outwards.

http://www.saynotocrack.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/irresistible.jpg

Recently I have been noticing how logos have been changing over the years. One company I noticed the most change in their logo is Hoffman BMX Products. Their logo has change big time. It use to be two standard colors with no curves, just plan and simple. Now its a 4 color logo with more organic colors. It also has more unique texts and a lot more curves and angle to the logo. I just thought that was cool how its has change the logo to stay up with the times.

I’m seeing a greater use of patterns and especially bold patterns with more over-lapping and seemingly incongruous combinations. Like maybe old country floral prints with bold silhouettes of rhinoceroses mixed in, or “block-printed� over the top.

Sample: http://bp0.blogger.com/_kwZVnO9cmMY/RlX3qlt_ptI/AAAAAAAAEnw/63uHLqYlurY/s1600-h/rice+melamine.jpg

One interesting website with print samples over the last few years is here:
http://printpattern.blogspot.com/

Over break, I've noticed how many advertisements have become digital. At the mall specifically, the advertisements that would normally be in print have now changed to digital images that can change on a timer. I also saw (and was amazed when I first saw this) at the movie theater, where the concessions are listed they, too, have become digital with motion (the popcorn jumping out of the bucket).

We are definitely in the direction of a digital age!

Just found this and wanted to share it with you all, Pantone color cell phones.. I want one.

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/product/3g/812sh/index.html

I have noticed how much advertisements are attempting to sell you an idea or a lifestyle more than they are trying to sell you a product. For instance, beer ads with attractive women: trying to sell you the girl associated with the beer rather than the beer itself. This isn't necessarily always a visual thing, but often is.

http://www.ciadvertising.org/SA/summer_03/dc454/FinalReport/BudLightlowest2.jpg

Or other liquor ads, like this one for hennessy:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rPD7jOXAcx8

'nother example: this rock band ad which really doesn't show the actual game, it shows a bunch of rock stars, suggesting that if you can play the game you will be a rock star... dude, that video crowd loves you.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Tv8YnrXvFOw