Allegories

I was so impressed with everyone's allegory projects. There were so many different projects and ideas. I loved the creativity from everyone. I was especially impressed with Sophia and Casen's project. Not only was the film different, but it was passionate and very visual. I really enjoyed watching it and it made me think deeply about the connection to the original allegory.

I was also really impressed with Spencer and Brandon's presentation. The pictures were entertaining and they were followed up with an entertaining script as well. I really like the story that you guys outlined. The character was generic and allowed me to put myself in the character's shoes and relate to his position.

There were so many impressive projects that really made me ponder my understanding of and relationship with the allegory of Lehi's dream and the iron rod. It was interesting to see different people's interpretation of the project and I think that everyone created a remarkable project.

Comments on Allegories

Nephi -

I thought your story was great, and the visual was spectacular. It was very interesting to me that you chose to have the masses moving to the great and spacious building be faceless. That gave a very meaningful connection for me as to the nature of that building. It doesn't really matter who these other people are- it only matters that everyone is doing it. That is all that the boy needs in order to be enticed to enter the building. The story was very well executed, very professional looking, and I loved the idea of following one of the wayward people. Well done.

Sophia/Casen -

This was a very inventive project. I would love to know how you managed to pull it all together with the time and budget constraints we had. You made great use of the different people and how they reacted to the music; it tied in nicely to the allegory of the tree of life. On top of all that, I just have to say that I loved that you used Arcade Fire as the song of the righteous. It is stirring, and it brings to mind that there are more ways to honor God than traditional gospel choirs. The project really made me think about these connections, and I thought it was very well executed. Great work.

Allegory Response [Nephi and Brandon/Spencer]

Nephi, I really enjoyed the idea of viewing the story of the Tree of Life from the viewpoint of someone in the building. This twist on the notion that we are all at various points in the story was refreshing. I like the idea that those who are in the building have a chance to get out still, and go to the tree. Thank you.

Brandon and Spencer, I like the humor in your telling of the story. It was still serious enough to get the point across, but the notion of pursuing good grades being likened to the tree of life was an entertaining and refreshing new view. I especially liked the scenes with the girl carrying/dragging the main character away.

#6

Coincidentally, superheroes are some of my favorite pop icons. This made the readings very interesting. I find it interesting that one of the articles referred to superheroes as projections of the hopes and dream of Americans. I think it goes even deeper. Superheroes are a projection of American itself. For this reason, the just-post-9/11 Spiderman and Superman share the same strong patriotic spirit. America is going to triumph all evil, even after taking a blow. In today's political culture, however, we call for a different type of hero. The Dark Knight explores the political turmoil through the ethical questions of being a superhero when no one wants one. We used to believe (almost unanimously) that we were here to solve all of the world's problems. Now, however, there is nation dissent about whether rescuing dictatorships is our job, especially when the people of those nations don't seem to want someone with a mask and cape to come solve all of their problems. Batman has to go into hiding for awhile, posing the question "is it time for America to hang up it's cape and take a rest?". Superheros reflect who we are as a nation, which is what makes them icons.

Blog Post 6

Finishing up the reading, I certainly explored the profound movement popular culture has placed icons in this fabric of the everyday. It is so interesting to see the establishments of icons, and the landmarks that are created due to this phenomenon. In many ways, I find that “icons” connect the everyday because these “symbols” are used for identification. Icons identify the mundane, the values, and ultimately icons identify with people. An excerpt from the reading, says, “Icons are magnets of meaning onto which we can project our memories, our hopes, and our sense of self.” This probably explains why there are so many icons that nudge the wind this way and that way, or surrounds us in the everyday. This is actually a little daunting, in light. Perhaps, it is daunting because icons have continually changed through the century, and has an authority to represent something, or define another thing. This, to me, is fine. I think there should be great sensitivity, though. But again, I think, icons can be artistically, symbolically, and beautifully deep. And I do love a good representation of something that can be described without words, in a visual, even simplistic way.

            As an artistic and the art that I create, I find myself intrigued with the powerful impact icons, and popular culture has on the everyday, on an individual, and the meanings that come from this world. These ideas can bring people to think, to follow, to motivate to inspire. Again, it can be beautiful, but I find with this artistic power- the world can become vulnerable with so many icons and symbols that bombard their presence in the world. I love Chip Kidd’s story of the apple. With the beauty, the fun, masterpiece of design, and art of pop culture, or as artist, we need to make sure to “either just have the word, or [just] have the picture. But don’t do both.” As an artist, creating art (with the view of popular culture) can be intriguing, engaging, and artistic; however, sensitivity to this is essential as a creator. 

Is this post 6? Time flies.

The readings this week explored pop culture in a very effective manner. For myself, I began to realize that pop-culture is more than just popular people in culture. The first story we read talked more about icons such as the boys and girls signs in public bathrooms. As I looked at the pictures for this chapter, I realized perhaps a dozen of them were icons for public restrooms. This is something that is very unavoidable. Everyone will see icons for how they should act, dress, and to an extent, look like. I never thought that pop culture would include something like that, so it got my wheels turning. Many things that we see every day contribute to society’s perception of our reality, whether we realize it or not. I always figured that pop-icons were just people, but symbols and drawings contribute as well, perhaps more than anything else.

The pop icons I see have influenced the way that I assisted the kindergartners in the elementary school I used to work at. I would draw a girl on the white board, and to show that it was a girl, I always gave her a bow. I did this mainly because I am a bad artist, but it’s not until now that I realize how it affects the kids thinking. Kids soak up these things like a sponge, whether we realize it or not. How many girls did I ever actually see wearing a bow in their hair? Probably only a handful, yet that’s how I chose to portray girls in the classrooms. I don’t know the extent that something so simple really affected these kids, but it’s never just the one thing. It’s a combination of all the icons that we see every day that give us our perceptions (true or false) of how society functions every day.

Blog Sixy

Popular culture and the icons created by it have a profound and yet interesting effect on us as viewers. Though the ideas behind the icons influence each individual differently, collectively they create a background, a space if you will, that we can share. For instance, the reading talked about superman and superwoman. Neither of them were really a part of my life. I haven't really cared for the idea of an all powerful super hero or his counterpart. It just hasn't really been something that I have been attracted to. Yet, when others talk about them or who they are, I am not left in the black. Even with never seeing a superman film or comic I know the basis of his stories. People can make kryptonite references and I know what they are talking about and what it means. I know other characters besides superman that are involved in the story. The readings especially explore this idea that these characters influence us. The ideas that superman represents, whether his righteousness or humanity, I can connect with. I think this is the true power of an icon. Whether I want to or not, I know who and what superman is.

These icons influence us. There is no denying that. The way I perceive the world is dependent on what I take from the icons, and more importantly, the ideas that those icons represent. Some of those ideas I accept and choose to proliferate and expand. Others I reject, but even those ones influence what I choose or choose not to create. As the reading noted, things as simple as bathroom signs may show what ideologies we accept as members of a society. There is no way to escape this influence, but at the same time, I don't think that would be good. We can draw upon those same ideas to connect and reach others more deeply and more powerfully. Because I can safely assume you know about superman, I can write a story about a superhero knowing you will understand some of the underlying ideas that that icon creates.

The more we understand about the influences that effect us, the more carefully and precisely we can determine how we use those same influences to communicate with others. We can create beautiful works of art, but if others don't understand, they will miss the beauty. So we have to try to create in a vein that others will appreciate. Branching out and trying new things has its place as long as we understand how others have been influenced and thus will be influenced by our continued additions to modern culture.