Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Graffiti Case Study



 

Graffiti: Case Study

Who would ever think that beauty could be created?..... Illegally. Using a couple cans of spray paint and the backside of an abandon building as a canvas. For centuries people have been expressing themselves through various forms of art. From cave drawings to the Graffiti. Creating is just another form of text and composition.

1.     What is Graffiti

a.     (TO ME) very cool but mysterious spray, painted artwork on walls.

b.     (TO WORLD) Artwork created illegally because it is usually on private property.

c.      (TO ARTISTS) a way to express themselves and mark their territory

2.     Where is Graffiti

a.     Usually on building, vehicles, the Ghetto, Government buildings.

b.     Big Cities, such as New York City and Los Angles.

3.     When was Graffiti created

a.     Some say Cave men started it with cave drawings as early as 30,000 B.C.E.

b.     Others believe in 1949 when spray pain was created.

4.     Why is graffiti done?

a.     It is a way for people to express themselves.

b.     People use it to mark their territory

c.      It is done just to do it.

d.     It is art.

In conclusion Graffiti is worldwide and is advancing everyday. People will use graffiti to express themselves, whether it is to get the word out or to give props to a gang. It was created to make statement and to this day it is everywhere. It might be illegal but people find their ways around it and people have actually made it a profession, such as the Tag Cru.  Graffiti is art and is a form of text and composition. 

Friday, November 21, 2008


It is hard to admit that without this computer that I am typing on right now, my life would be a disaster. Everything from my school assignments to my calender and my pictures to my music. This computer controls my life. It is crazy to think that 3o years ago computers weren't even around and people lived just fine, but ever since technology advanced it changed peoples lives, some for the better and some for the worse. A good example is my parents. They were both born in the early 60's and lived from what I hear, had awesome times in the younger years. But, as they grew older and technology advanced it changed them into who they are today. My Dad is a successful business man and he seriously not live without the some source of the Internet. If hes not at work hes on the couch with his laptop and if hes not on the couch hes on a ski lift with his I phone. Basically the Internet is is life source. On the other hand, my mom doesn't even know how to turn on a computer. And it sounds crazy but she gets by just fine. 

Now when I read Peter Halls essay and about his experience "Living the Virtual Life," I am not surprised at all about the things he saw. There are a lot of people in the world and a lot of them are just like my old man, and need the Internet to get by. I know girls who check their face book every 5 minutes, so why should I think its weird that Peter saw a giant robot or a cat person. When he said "nothing prepares the uninformed, which I was at the time, for the mind boggling appearances of the SL-ites who openly greet you at your destination." I almost could have guessed what some of the people looked like. I mean its just like an ordinary guy trying to talk business with my Dad. He is going to be confused out of his mind if he asks my Dad about the stock market, i know i was. 

As for the other two readings I agree with Christina Haas when she claims that "technology of words, is a technology that changes how written language is produced, processed, transported and used." But then again this is 2009 not 1815. We don't have to write with feathers and ink or used candles to see our paper. The world changes everyday so of course the writing  will too. And she does a good job a describing this process. She makes it clear in her writing that "writing is technology."

Honestly the last reading is very confusing but I'm going to give it a shot. I want to think that Rashke is saying that no matter how hard we try technology is going to change the course of writing and we just have to adjust to it. All the people trying to prevent it are "attempting to retard the entire course of Western history."

I think Rashke and Haas are dead on.  They both agree that as technology advances so will writing and for the better. Yes I agree with them. I think that with out a doubt that the computers in this class have influenced how I think and how I write in more ways than one. Yes I have advanced my learning. 

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Cold



As he stood in the bitter cold not knowing anyone surrounding him, he caught the eyes of a beautiful young woman across the way. It was crowded and noisy, and before he could make his move, the question had been asked. "Hey, are you in a Frat? Being proud of who he was and what he was not, he responded boldly with a "No, but my name is Steve," extending his hand for a formal introduction. She looked down at his hand then at him and qucikly responded with an "Oh!" as she vanished leaving him cold, alone and now confused. As he stood there thinking of a witty response he realized that she was long gone and that the Greeks had won yet another battle. But, let the story be told of the brave young man who would not be known by the name of an organization but by the name in which his parents proudly gave him on the day he was born. That name is Steve.

First off. I have no IDEA how to arrange the photos on this site, but they do represent the story in more ways than one. The top photo is of Steve after the battle. He might have been wounded but in the end he won through pride. The other photo also represents Steve. Its of a tree standing tall and strong ready to take on the storm. In the story the girls words were the storm and even though he might of not been prepared, he stood strong and took the blow. In the end he was victorious. 

Monday, November 3, 2008

Portfolio

My portfolio presents my work to readers in a way that I want them to understand my writing as well as get to know me as the author. I like to think that I have a unique style of writing and it was not until I made a portfolio that I could fully express my writing. Like I said earlier I want my readers to get to know who I am through my style of writing and my way of designing my portfolio. For example, I like to use expressions in my writing that I use in everyday conversations. I like to let my readers think I am talking to them. I also like to try and add little funny remarks to make the reader feel comfortable. 
When it comes to designing the portfolio I also have my own unique ways. I like to keep the colors simple and make the photos stand out. I am big into photography as well as music and like to express my writing through the two. Through Mac I can apply music to a photo, and most of my writing is pretty laid back, so I use laid back music. I like the reader to feel relaxed and ready to read what I have to say. I like them to feel like they don't have to read it, but I want them to want to read it. 
Having my paper online makes me feel important. I have always loved writing but never been too excited on it. Maybe because after the extreme type festival, all I do is print it out, wait for a grade and then never se it again. But, once I have my own website I always look at my pages and always want to improve it. Like I said I feel important and its cool. 
Having my own portfolio and my own website encourages me to be a better writer and present my ideas in a way that encourages people to want to read.  

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Webpage

When it comes to designing a web page you don't have to be Bill Gates. It is simple an easy and buy following a couple tips in the reading you can go from admiring other websites to creating you own. There are four "basic" principles that will play big roles in the creation of a website. These four principles re alignment, proximity, repetition, an contrast.
 
When you are ready to make your website you first start off with alignment. This means that all the content of the website should be all in order and lined up with each other. This allows your website to look organized as well as avoid any problems or mistakes. Next is proximity, which is " the relationships that items develop when they are close together, in close proximity." So making sure that the items on the web page "belong together," allow the websites appearance to look professional and neat. Then there is repetition. The purpose of repetition is to make the pages of a website look as if the belong together. It helps viewers avoid confusion by serving as a guide by liking everything together. Last is contrast. In my opinion contrast is the most important. It "is what draws your eye into the page." It is the color, style, and the overall appearance of your website. Without any contrast your website will be boring. Color is everything and it sets the mood of the site for the viewer. 

After critiquing my own page I realized that I subconsciously already knew the four basic elements of design. I think all four elements are very important and without knowing them a person would have no idea on how to create a webpage. After reading this I want to make sure my site is perfect. 

Sunday, October 19, 2008

The Audience



I believe that the two essays that I just read both target completely different audiences, but have the same message. Trask targets a broad audience and wants to get her point across to millions of exact people where as Kniers essay targets a small group of "tech and gadget nerds." 
 Trask, A a native Hawaiian, writes her essay and targets an a broad audience of people whom she wants to feel and understand the pain and agony that her and her people are going through. She wrote this paper in order to get a point across. The tone she uses is forceful yet compassionate as if she is trying to show that she is angry, but doesn't want to solve the problem with violence, she just wants people to understand why she is s upset. She goes on to tell how "The predatory reality of tourism is visible everywhere." Again she is trying to get a point across. That her people are sick and tired of having their home destroyed and taken over by tourists. 

On the other hand Knier's essay targets a small audience of people who can will only understand what it is like to want something little and when you finally get it you want i to bet better. He starts off by letting his audience know all about him and his obsession with best buy. He is trying to prove a point that if you wait long enough you will eventually get what you want. His tone on the other hand is humorous and witty. At times he pokes fun at himself, " Truth is, I just liked being around all that tech." he just explains how he loves technology and spends a lot of time around it. 

In "Determine the appropriate tone" it says how " In writing, content, style, and word choice communicate tone. I agree with this, because in order to set the tone of your writing you have to throw in all of your own content, style and word choice. 

Now, ahh the two wonderful movies I cant wait to see. Bride & Prejudice and Pride & Prejudice target way different audiences. The Bride Movie is more of a family, love story comedy, that a Mom and Dad can take the family too and have laugh as well as a cute love story. But the Pride movie is a serious love story that a girlfriend would punish her boyfriend by making him watch it. The plot could in someway be similar but the characters are different and the tones are too.