Is Taxing Pop Really a Solution?

Over the course of the last few years - we have seen a new initiative coming from many different sources - where their goal is to get everyone healthy. We have seen it in movies, like Super Size Me - where the main character sets out to eat nothing but McDonalds for a whole month. Of course in the end there were many health repercussions from doing this and it probably turned many people off from eating at McDonald's ever again. From there - we have seen a lot of fast food chains introduceing healthy menu choices - like salads and apples and oranges instead of french fries. Now don't get me wrong - all of these are good steps towards becoming a healthier nation - but is it enough?

This initiative has recently been observed in schools. Elementary schools started instituting a regular physical activity time and in the high schools they stopped stocking pops and chips and candies in all but one place in the school. In the United States some schools don't even have vending machines. Even this year our own cafeteria has started to cook in a healthier way as they have a mandate to meet that was set out by our school board. And have you noticed the vending machine on the first floor - most of the chocolate bars and chips have been replaced with granola bars and crackers.

Recently I was listening to the radio and came across a news segment that was reporting that the state of New York wants to impose a new tax on pop. Their reason - pop is extremely unhealthy and causes so many health issues that then result in high health care costs. You can read the article from the New York Times here. Here are a few other articles that may be of interest as well:

- Studies
- Tax Proposal
- President Obama

Now although this tax isn't for sure, in the meantime - the New York Health Department has started a campaign against pop. They even produced a video that has many people turning away in disgust:




Now you tell me.
Is this kind of scare campaign effective? Does it make you want to become a healthier person? Do you think that the growing obesity in our nation is an epidemic of large proportions? Tell us how you responded to the video above? If the new tax goes through in America - what's to say that it won't happen here? If it does - would you continue to pay a large sum of money for something like pop or chips?

Photo Manipulation on Hiatus in the Media?

OK - so we all know very well that pretty much every image in the media that we see has been magically touched by Photoshop. Photoshop can be a great tool - but it can also be an evil weapon. I would argue that most images that are used in the media have been photoshopped just a bit too much. Here are a few examples:

Back in October, the National Post had an article in their paper titled "Picture-Perfect Manipulation" by Nathalie Atkinson. In this article the writer discusses some major ethical concerns when it comes to using photoshop and the media. One of the main culprits that she talks about is Ralph Lauren. The campaign: Ralph Lauren Blue Label starring model Filippa Hamilton. In this image it is clearly a case of photoshopping gone bad. Here is a before and after picture of the model;



And yet another example here - of Jessica Simpson being shaved down to the point where her hair is wider than her waist!



These are just two examples - there are uncountable amounts of magazines and advertising companies that do the very same thing - shave off a little bit here, push up a little bit there - and in the end sometimes crossing the line. What kind of message is being pushed onto us if this is the kind of examples we are starting to see each day.

Using Photoshop in this manner is such an easy thing to do. Here is a little example of how one of the photo editors did the same thing to one of their colleagues at the National Post:




Now for the good news! It seems that many are simply saying enough is enough! People are tired of seeing images of unrealistic people. This then sparked an idea for photographer Peter Lindbergh. In September 2009 he did a photoshoot with 9 supermodels - all of whom bared their true faces - with no make-up - to prove that real beauty is within! These images were printed in Bazzar Magazine as their main fashion spread for the month.







And since then, more and more celebrities are starting to follow this trend! These images were taken and published in People magazine for their "50 Most Beautiful People" spread.




And finally - some magazines and fashion shows are taking that extra step and are using "normal" people on the runway and in fashion spreads: here is one example from V Magazine.



After reading this post - and all the links that are connected - tell us what you think! How do you feel about the photoshopped images gone bad? Can you think of any other examples where you have seen this and thought to yourself - "wow that looks strange!". Share one of those examples with us in your blog. Does it bother you that companies are constantly crossing the line with their manipulations - or do you see it as just the way it is? How about this new trend where models and celebrities are baring their make-up free faces and saying "no" to photoshop? Is it a trend that will stick? What about the idea of magazines and runways using "normal" people, like the young, the old and the size 16 ladies? What is your reaction when you look at a magazine spread that isn't all glammed up like we are used to seeing? Share any of your thoughts and ideas on any of these issues.

Website Credits:
http://www.trendhunter.com/
http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com/

The Changing Face of Video Games

In the past, games were solely created for the purpose of entertainment. Instead of going to the arcade, you could play Pong right at home. Later, Mario Bros. took homes by storm as Mario and Luigi embarked on adventures in living rooms. Later still, parents everywhere fretted that their children were spending way too much time playing video games and what kind of impact those games were having on their children. Games are definately evolving. They have changed drastically over the past three decades, not only in content, but in quality.



Nintendo, especially, has taken strides to attract specific audiences that were not catered to in the past. For example, the Wii Fit was the first of what has now become a new genre in the video game world, "exergames," where the gamer becomes a physical participant in the game. A few other innovative themes include cooking, brain training, educational, as well as living a virtual life and keeping virtual pets.



The question is, have games evolved enough to the point that they are beneficial to you, rather than detrimental? Or are they merely wolves in sheep's clothing? If they appear too good to be true, maybe they are. Are these new game genres still considered games or have they evolved into something new? What do you think?

Social Awareness Contradiction

Some of you may recall Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty from our Unit 3 Media Madness Seminar or from your own experience. So just to review, back in 2004, Dove launched this compelling campaign, targeting women, reminding us that everyone is beautiful in their unique way. A powerful message is sent to all those who listen to the campaign. Here is their mission statement. Dove truly wants women to realize the kind of effects that the media has and how often we are all bombarded with images that make us question our own beauty and make our self-esteem plummet.



You may also be familiar with the Axe Body Spray Axe Effect Campaign Ads. In these commercials, you can see men using Axe Body Spray, which results in women chasing, sometimes frantically and irresistibly after them. Leading men to believe that this would actually happen if only they used this product! (Seriously?!)



Axe and Dove seem to have contradicting messages, but here's the kicker: they are owned by the same parent company - UNILEVER!! This is a company that has been named as one of the World's Most Ethical companies in 2009 by the Ethisphere Institute. So how can this be right? One parent company overseeing two "kid" companies with completely opposing viewpoints.

Here's something to blog about:

1) How do you feel about the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty? Does it make you feel better about yourself or do you see it as just another marketing grab?

2) How do you feel about the Axe Effect Campaign? Does it make you laugh hysterically or roll your eyes in disgust? Explain.

3) Do you think a "parent" company has some ethical responsibilty to ensure that all of its different sectors uphold the same sort of beliefs and values? Why or why not?

ADS OF THE PAST - DID THEY REALLY SAY THAT?

We all know that ads have been around longer than many of us. Some ads in the 50's and 60's used some great design concepts and had some pretty good messages, whereas other ads, make one wonder and ask, "were they joking?" Take a look at these ads closely and comment on each message that you see. Some will surprise you. Give us your opinion of the ads telling us whether or not you think the messages are appropriate. What do you think allowed these types of ads to run? What might these ads suggest about society in America at the time? Can you compare these ads with the ads that are running today? What do you suppose these ads say about gender roles? Use your analytical skills to process what you see.

Hey Guess What? I Can See You...

On Oct 7 2009 Google launched their new application called Google Street View. This application allows people to search addresses and view from street level, photographs that were taken of the area, Google decided to drive around selected cities with vans that had a 360 degree view video camera attached to the top. When completed, they compiled all these images to create one large 360 degree photographic map.

Although this is very exciting technology - there are a lot of issues at stake. Take a moment and look up your personal address. What do you see? Is there a photograph of you online that was taken without your permission? If you are in a public space - does your likeness become a public domain? What kind of privacy laws are being broken? Do you agree or disagree with what google has done? Google claims to be protecting your privacy by blurring out the faces on people and the numbers on license plates. Do you think that this really helps to deal with the privacy concerns that many will have if they see their likeness online? Tell us what you think of the new Google Street View - do you agree or disagree with what they are doing?

WELCOME MEDIA ARTS CLASS OF 2009 - 2010 !

As part of your media arts course you will be required to create and maintain your own blog. Blogging has quickly become a very popular form of communication, expression and online journaling.

Throughout this course you will be required to reply to 6 different media/communications issues or topics that will be posted here for you to respond to on your own blog page. Each response must be no less that 300 words and should have some supporting visuals. This blog that you create is going to be specifically for our course; any additional items that do not pertain to the course material are not acceptable. You may however post additional entries provided that they are discussions relevant to media arts and communications technology. You will also be required to respond to 6 other people's blogs with thoughtful ideas and comments.

So go forth and blog!