For project 2, I am planning on analyzing different movie review websites. I love going to the movies. One thing I like to do before going is look to see what everyone else thought of the movie.
I usually like using Rotten Tomatoes at http://www.rottentomatoes.com/ This site has easy access to critics reviews, the overall ratings and the box office numbers. I like how interactive this site is and how easy it is to use. This site also promotes upcoming movies by providing previews and interviews with stars for the new movies.
Another movie review site I found is Movie Review Query Engine at http://www.mrqe.com/ This site provides more reviews from critics than the general public. It also gives a lot of reviews on previous movies, DVDs and new releases. You can watch previews and look at upcoming movie reviews as well.
http://www.moviereviews.com/ allows more of the public to provide the reviews. It shows what the public thinks of the movie and how it is doing in the box office. The site shows new previews and any new news or releases.
These sites have a lot in common, however the layout of each site is very different. The ease of use also differs between each site. Even though they have some of the same elements, all of the sites have a different way of achieving each one.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
Blog Post 3!
EMPHASIS:
1. Describe where your attention is visually drawn in this text. What strategies does the author use to emphasize this element? Given that this text is essentially a title page for a larger project, does this emphasis seem effective to you? Why or why not?
My attention is automatically drawn to the unusual way of drawing the text. Even though the background is a little bit busy, since the text is moving it makes the viewer continue to watch the movements. The emphasis does seem effective. Based on the opening credits, it seems like it would be an interesting project.
2. Between composing the two different pages ("Digital Rights Management/Digital Robbing Maniacs" and "Criminal") the woman disappears from the screen and the jumpy stop-motion effect ceases. Describe how this moment of stillness can be understood as "emphasis" and explain if it seems like an effective strategy? What is emphasized by stopping the movement?
The stillness emphasizes the first page by letting it sink in a little bit, like pausing in between sentences or paragraphs. It separates the two ideas. It is an effective strategy because it makes the viewer want to keep watching and figure out what is going to come next. By stopping the movement, the creator emphasizes the distinction from the main title of the project and the rest of the story.
3. Consider the role sound plays in emphasis. How does the soundtrack to this clip help to (a) emphasize certain moments in the clip, and (b) place a particular emotional emphasis on the meaning of the clip?
The music makes the clip much more dramatic. When the writer crosses out 'Digital Rights Management' writes 'Digital Robbing Maniacs' the key changes in the music making it sound much more intense. The emotions that come from the emphasis of the music are drama or fear from the unknown. The music really makes you want to keep watching and find out what's going to happen next.
CONTRAST:
1. Watch 0:22-0:36 of The JUMP's "Call for Papers." Notice the words, the gray box, the cartoon background, and the sound. Do you think any of these elements contrast? If so, which ones and how so (specifically, what makes them different from one another)? What effects do you think this use of contrast has on the audience and the purpose? Consider how the text's effectiveness might change if these elements did not contrast.
I think there is a lot of contrast between all of these elements. Since the words are shown on the screen and are contrasting against the movement in the cartoon background, I think that the emphasis is put on the words, especially since there is a narrator reading the words on the screen. This could be effective because it's almost like an example of the creators are asking for. If these elements did not contrast against each other, the clip would be very flat and boring to watch. The message they are trying to get across wouldn't be as effective.
2. Watch 0:55-1:08 of The JUMP's "Call for Papers." Notice how this is similar to the clip from question 1, yet the background no longer includes the cartoon. First, describe what elements are contrasting. Next, explain why you think the cartoon background was deleted from this section. What happens to the contrast now that the background is black? Which element is now the most emphasized, and how do you think this helps convey the purpose of the text?
The contrasting elements in this clip are the white writing against the black background. Perhaps the cartoon background was taken out of this section because the creators are talking about the papers that need to be written to go along with the clip, so they only used writing to emphasize that point. The contrast of the words to the background is enhanced because there is no movement behind the writing. The words are now the most important part of the text, the purpose of the section is to explain the writing portion of the project and using text does that effectively.
3. Imagine you've been asked to design a flyer to post around your campus advertising The JUMP. What would the flyer look like? Which element(s) would contrast and to what effect?
When designing a flyer for The JUMP, I would still use the cartoon. But maybe make it a comic or create movement somehow. I would definitely emphasize what the project is about and the writing portion and contrast that against the background of the flyer.
ORGANIZATION:
1. Choose 5 of the 15 images to drag into the empty timeline. Make a note about each of the 5 photos to explain what each one signifies, and how one leads to another. How does your organization convey your purpose?
I chose the 1+1 picture, the modern barn, the elevators, the parking meters and the crushed cars. These images show how much technology has progressed in the last hundred years. By organizing the images in this order, the purpose is shown because of the advancement of each photo.
2. Are there different arguments that you could have made by organizing your 5 photos in different ways?
Yes, maybe organizing them backwards would have had a different effect, or putting the barn photo at the back as more of an explanation of the first four images.
3. Are there other elements you could add to make your argument stronger—for example, playing music with the slide show or adding text?
Sound would definitely make this argument stronger. Text would also. Emphasizing the points that I made in my head with words would help the purpose. Some people might get different interpretations of each image.
ALIGNMENT:
1. How would you describe alignment of the words "murmuring" and "insects" in the opening scene? How does the unusual alignment (reflected on screen and timed) add to your interpretation of the text?
The words are moving from top to bottom. The alignment changes, it is not exactly read left to right. The letters fall out of place. This shows me that this is more of an unusual text and the meaning can be interpreted many ways. It is not the standard left to right, top to bottom style.
2. Now watch the "Earth" scene. What other elements are aligned in this scene? How does the consistent alignment of elements across screens (and also across some of the scenes) affect how you read these scenes? What elements do you end up focusing on? Would the scene seem as effective if all of the elements on the page (upside-down moon, contrails, words, background color, etc.) had no shared alignment?
The plane jet stream runs across the top of the scene, while the half moon rests right on top of where the text lands. The alignment of these things makes you focus on the movement of the words and makes the static elements more of an afterthought. If all these elements did not share any alignment, it would change the effectiveness of the page. The consistency gives the scene more of an artistic meaning.
3. Now watch the "Air" scene, paying attention to the lines of poetry and the audio tracks. The poem doesn't settle on the same horizontal axis as the other scenes do, and the two phrases in the audio track are aligned (synced) to appear with each line of poetry. Why do you think the alignments of the words are different between the Earth and Air scenes? What is the significance of the audio track's content in relation to that difference?
The words could be aligned higher on the page because of the 'Air' title. Maybe the author wanted the text to look more like it was up in the air with the geese. The audio explains how the people were jumping. Each line of audio aligned with each text line. This could be to align the meaning of the words with the meaning of the text.
4. Now watch the "Water" scene. How does the curvature of the words, aligning with the background image of an eye, relate to what the man in the audio track is saying?
The man in the audio track is reciting lines from America the Beautiful. He's talking about how even with all the hurt in the world there is always somewhere to look to for hope. The words are imitating tears on the face which go along with the audio track as well.
5. Based on the alignment (or lack of alignment) between elements in a scene and across scenes, why are the three menu options ("Air," "Earth," and "Water") on the main screen of this text not aligned? What does this lack of alignment tell you about the emphasis, sequence, and purpose of this text?
Since the menu options are not aligned, it tells me it is not the average poem. It has many more elements combined to get the message across. Since the options are aligned somewhat from top to bottom, it almost provides a sequence for the clips to be shown. Also, the clip is arranged in clips, which shows me that it could be viewed individually and not all in one sequence. There could also be multiple interpretations of the purpose based on the order of the clips.
PROXIMITY:
1. Did you group certain categories of information together? How did you group them—typographically, by placing them closer together, or in some other way?
I grouped the information by how important each element was. Starting with the title at the top and going on to the explanation and the author.
2. What do you think is the most important piece of information on your cover? What choices did you make about typeface or size to convey that sense of importance? How does the layout of your book cover reflect your sense of how the information should be organized?
I think the most important piece on the cover is the title. I made the title the largest, and in the boldest font so it is the first thing the reader sees. The cover is basically organized by importance of information.
3. What are some limitations you've encountered in laying out visual elements in a traditional way? What are some other ways you might want to organize the information on a book cover that might work better in a non-traditional format?
Some limitations include looking the same as everything else. To make the book stand out you have to have a new creative idea. Maybe putting the title sideways or having some kind of graphic that draws attention. Maybe leaving out some necessary information and making the reader open the book to find out more.
1. Describe where your attention is visually drawn in this text. What strategies does the author use to emphasize this element? Given that this text is essentially a title page for a larger project, does this emphasis seem effective to you? Why or why not?
My attention is automatically drawn to the unusual way of drawing the text. Even though the background is a little bit busy, since the text is moving it makes the viewer continue to watch the movements. The emphasis does seem effective. Based on the opening credits, it seems like it would be an interesting project.
2. Between composing the two different pages ("Digital Rights Management/Digital Robbing Maniacs" and "Criminal") the woman disappears from the screen and the jumpy stop-motion effect ceases. Describe how this moment of stillness can be understood as "emphasis" and explain if it seems like an effective strategy? What is emphasized by stopping the movement?
The stillness emphasizes the first page by letting it sink in a little bit, like pausing in between sentences or paragraphs. It separates the two ideas. It is an effective strategy because it makes the viewer want to keep watching and figure out what is going to come next. By stopping the movement, the creator emphasizes the distinction from the main title of the project and the rest of the story.
3. Consider the role sound plays in emphasis. How does the soundtrack to this clip help to (a) emphasize certain moments in the clip, and (b) place a particular emotional emphasis on the meaning of the clip?
The music makes the clip much more dramatic. When the writer crosses out 'Digital Rights Management' writes 'Digital Robbing Maniacs' the key changes in the music making it sound much more intense. The emotions that come from the emphasis of the music are drama or fear from the unknown. The music really makes you want to keep watching and find out what's going to happen next.
CONTRAST:
1. Watch 0:22-0:36 of The JUMP's "Call for Papers." Notice the words, the gray box, the cartoon background, and the sound. Do you think any of these elements contrast? If so, which ones and how so (specifically, what makes them different from one another)? What effects do you think this use of contrast has on the audience and the purpose? Consider how the text's effectiveness might change if these elements did not contrast.
I think there is a lot of contrast between all of these elements. Since the words are shown on the screen and are contrasting against the movement in the cartoon background, I think that the emphasis is put on the words, especially since there is a narrator reading the words on the screen. This could be effective because it's almost like an example of the creators are asking for. If these elements did not contrast against each other, the clip would be very flat and boring to watch. The message they are trying to get across wouldn't be as effective.
2. Watch 0:55-1:08 of The JUMP's "Call for Papers." Notice how this is similar to the clip from question 1, yet the background no longer includes the cartoon. First, describe what elements are contrasting. Next, explain why you think the cartoon background was deleted from this section. What happens to the contrast now that the background is black? Which element is now the most emphasized, and how do you think this helps convey the purpose of the text?
The contrasting elements in this clip are the white writing against the black background. Perhaps the cartoon background was taken out of this section because the creators are talking about the papers that need to be written to go along with the clip, so they only used writing to emphasize that point. The contrast of the words to the background is enhanced because there is no movement behind the writing. The words are now the most important part of the text, the purpose of the section is to explain the writing portion of the project and using text does that effectively.
3. Imagine you've been asked to design a flyer to post around your campus advertising The JUMP. What would the flyer look like? Which element(s) would contrast and to what effect?
When designing a flyer for The JUMP, I would still use the cartoon. But maybe make it a comic or create movement somehow. I would definitely emphasize what the project is about and the writing portion and contrast that against the background of the flyer.
ORGANIZATION:
1. Choose 5 of the 15 images to drag into the empty timeline. Make a note about each of the 5 photos to explain what each one signifies, and how one leads to another. How does your organization convey your purpose?
I chose the 1+1 picture, the modern barn, the elevators, the parking meters and the crushed cars. These images show how much technology has progressed in the last hundred years. By organizing the images in this order, the purpose is shown because of the advancement of each photo.
2. Are there different arguments that you could have made by organizing your 5 photos in different ways?
Yes, maybe organizing them backwards would have had a different effect, or putting the barn photo at the back as more of an explanation of the first four images.
3. Are there other elements you could add to make your argument stronger—for example, playing music with the slide show or adding text?
Sound would definitely make this argument stronger. Text would also. Emphasizing the points that I made in my head with words would help the purpose. Some people might get different interpretations of each image.
ALIGNMENT:
1. How would you describe alignment of the words "murmuring" and "insects" in the opening scene? How does the unusual alignment (reflected on screen and timed) add to your interpretation of the text?
The words are moving from top to bottom. The alignment changes, it is not exactly read left to right. The letters fall out of place. This shows me that this is more of an unusual text and the meaning can be interpreted many ways. It is not the standard left to right, top to bottom style.
2. Now watch the "Earth" scene. What other elements are aligned in this scene? How does the consistent alignment of elements across screens (and also across some of the scenes) affect how you read these scenes? What elements do you end up focusing on? Would the scene seem as effective if all of the elements on the page (upside-down moon, contrails, words, background color, etc.) had no shared alignment?
The plane jet stream runs across the top of the scene, while the half moon rests right on top of where the text lands. The alignment of these things makes you focus on the movement of the words and makes the static elements more of an afterthought. If all these elements did not share any alignment, it would change the effectiveness of the page. The consistency gives the scene more of an artistic meaning.
3. Now watch the "Air" scene, paying attention to the lines of poetry and the audio tracks. The poem doesn't settle on the same horizontal axis as the other scenes do, and the two phrases in the audio track are aligned (synced) to appear with each line of poetry. Why do you think the alignments of the words are different between the Earth and Air scenes? What is the significance of the audio track's content in relation to that difference?
The words could be aligned higher on the page because of the 'Air' title. Maybe the author wanted the text to look more like it was up in the air with the geese. The audio explains how the people were jumping. Each line of audio aligned with each text line. This could be to align the meaning of the words with the meaning of the text.
4. Now watch the "Water" scene. How does the curvature of the words, aligning with the background image of an eye, relate to what the man in the audio track is saying?
The man in the audio track is reciting lines from America the Beautiful. He's talking about how even with all the hurt in the world there is always somewhere to look to for hope. The words are imitating tears on the face which go along with the audio track as well.
5. Based on the alignment (or lack of alignment) between elements in a scene and across scenes, why are the three menu options ("Air," "Earth," and "Water") on the main screen of this text not aligned? What does this lack of alignment tell you about the emphasis, sequence, and purpose of this text?
Since the menu options are not aligned, it tells me it is not the average poem. It has many more elements combined to get the message across. Since the options are aligned somewhat from top to bottom, it almost provides a sequence for the clips to be shown. Also, the clip is arranged in clips, which shows me that it could be viewed individually and not all in one sequence. There could also be multiple interpretations of the purpose based on the order of the clips.
PROXIMITY:
1. Did you group certain categories of information together? How did you group them—typographically, by placing them closer together, or in some other way?
I grouped the information by how important each element was. Starting with the title at the top and going on to the explanation and the author.
2. What do you think is the most important piece of information on your cover? What choices did you make about typeface or size to convey that sense of importance? How does the layout of your book cover reflect your sense of how the information should be organized?
I think the most important piece on the cover is the title. I made the title the largest, and in the boldest font so it is the first thing the reader sees. The cover is basically organized by importance of information.
3. What are some limitations you've encountered in laying out visual elements in a traditional way? What are some other ways you might want to organize the information on a book cover that might work better in a non-traditional format?
Some limitations include looking the same as everything else. To make the book stand out you have to have a new creative idea. Maybe putting the title sideways or having some kind of graphic that draws attention. Maybe leaving out some necessary information and making the reader open the book to find out more.
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