The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me
"Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul." This image suggests the idea that music is a healer of the soul and could even in some cases be a form of religion or salvation. Exploring the linguistic, coded iconic, and non-coded iconic messages of this image help to examine the practice of interpreting meaning from images as well as to understand and appreciate the overall intended message.
The words, "fight off your demons" incorporated into this image, signify the linguistic meaning....
Everything But
“I swear, she packed everything for the trip but the kitchen sink.”
With regards to the blog I created, “Everything but the kitchen sink” meant more than just a catchy phrase to me; it provided me with the creative flexibility to put up whatever I wanted on my blog, without worrying about any restrictions. I think, to get a little philosophical for a moment, that in life if we want to really feel like we have lived it to the fullest, I would hope that the experiences were limitless, without boundaries, and included everything but the kitchen sink, figuratively speaking. I wanted my...
Govern Yourself and You Can Govern the World
There is a Chinese proverb that says “govern yourself and you can govern the world”, even centuries later simple words of advice still hold meaning in our modern “carry-out” message oriented world. A recurring theme in the lives of many is the eternal quest for good fortune and success, but oftentimes the means used to achieve these are simple life lessons taken to heart paired with diligence and a willingness to shape one’s own path. The image I have created is a snapshot of the modern search for meaning in which convenience has become a necessity and self-improvement can start in your...
Carmelo Anthony is this Summer's The Decision
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but does that age old statement take into consideration who is speaking. Did the author mean that an image spawns discussion from thousands of perspectives or does the image tell its own story by itself? In actuality, neither answer is incorrect and it probably depends on the picture in question; some tend to be more abstract allowing for multiple interpretations while others are simple like the United States Forest Service’s lovable bear that reminds us of our responsibilities. Regardless pictures have messages that they are trying to get the...
A Change in Time
Images are rich sources of information. Advertisements, propaganda, and newspaper all use images to send messages and influence people’s attitudes and behaviors. There are multiple messages communicated through a picture, Roland Barthes’ Rhetoric of the Image describes three different types of messages. Barthes’ analysis of a photograph can be demonstrated on the collage created above; the examination of an image is a tool that allows viewers to better understand how a message is communicated.
The first message Barthes describes is called the linguistic message, which...
Peace
Yoga is a practice of serenity. This image argues that the practice of yoga creates peace and contentment in one’s life. The use of coded and non-coded messages work together to show the benefits of this practice by combining multiple cultural connotations that make a universal argument for all of humankind.
The coded messages of the image express symbolic meaning. Looking first at the background, a sunset in New Mexico’s mountainside, shows the romanticized vision of life itself. The sun sets and rises as we move through days, showing a passage of time. The vibrancy of the...
Highschool
Looking at High School now it is easy to see all the things we loved about it all the glimmering memories that we felt were worth remembering. It is hard though for us to think back and really remember how melodramatic we were how intense it all seemed. The break ups, the acne, the uncertainty of whether or not you made the team, and the over all insecurity.
This collage was made for the graduating class of 2008, who would now be college Juniors. This is reminding me and others of how outdated we already are but how consistent the main struggles and worries are with the young...
The Belgian Federation
Belgium is considered by most people to be a relatively insignificant country tucked into northwestern continental Europe. And while the country is indeed small, it is far from insignificant. In fact, this little patch of land has been the focus of conquest for almost every European empire since Julius Caesar’s armies drove out the Celts from the area around 54 AD. Belgium, as a result, never really developed a singular national identity. Instead, two very distinct cultural groups arose that were often at odds with one another, but decided to enter into the “marriage contract” that defines...
Home Away From Home
At the age of five, I remember being on the beach of Emerald Isle, North Carolina. 18 years later, Emerald Isle has become my home away from home. I am overwhelmed with joy when I reminisce through all the memories that my summers spent in North Carolina have given me. The image I have uploaded and modified is a picture taken by my Aunt Mary of the beautiful August sunset in Emerald Isle. In the horizon, you can see the faces of my family members who I have spent these amazing summers with. When I look at the image I see the picture of my family "looking down" on the place where we...
Protests Rock the Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, Egypt and Yemen specifically, have suffered major government protests in the recent weeks. These protests come after a wave of democratic, regime change fervor swept over Tunisia. Many in Egypt are disenchanted with the Mubarek presidency and are exercising their freedom of expression in response. While there have not been any significant breakthroughs, the situation is slowly building to a point of unimaginable tension. The people of Egypt want their voices to be heard, and they are doing all they can to ensure that they are a catalyst of change.
Other...