no, how do YOU communicate?

Okay, okay, I don't really use a tin can phone (although my neighbour Yvonne and I did try to set up a line between our bedroom windows when we were kiddies). Ironically, I've never been much of a phone person. That's changed a bit since my acquisition of a mobile, but not much--it's just made it possible to text, my speed at which has (sadly) been noted as a talent. I definitely prefer communicating physically (nothing touchy-feely, I mean face-to-face) or somewhat visually (as in email/text messaging). It's not that I try to avoid human contact on the phone; I just find that when communicating something specific, a written message is far more efficient and effective. For more social/general communication, sure, a phone call is okay, but as mentioned earlier, I'd much rather just meet up and have a real, live, in-person chat.

[image souce: http://flickr.com/photos/kitcowan/2103850699/]

poor george w...I mean, PC...

While watching a few recent Apple ads tonight, I was struck by the amount of coded meaning present. I'd noticed some of the more obvious symbolism watching Sad Song in class, but hadn't really realized just how funny and striking some of the deeper stuff was. Right off the bat, at the beginning of Sad Song, there's some pretty funny visual imagery going on--PC guy seems to be representing a hardcore Republican (check out his cowboy hat, beige suit/burgundy tie combo, tinted glasses; not to mention the fact that he's "playing" a bluesy country tune), and Mac guy's putting out a very Democratic vibe (in comparison) with his preppy blue button-down, trendy skinny jeans, and hip long-ish hair.

Aside from the more political symbolism, PC and Mac are both representing very different cultural stereotypes with their visual semiotic images. Let's start with PC guy. His ensemble, in combination with the five-o'clock shadow, receding hairline, and tendency to ignore Mac guy's (very polite) protests, put out very strong middle-management/corporate signs. These are not pleasant connotations for the typical Mac user, and viewers of Sad Song will definitely learn to associate PCs with this uncool corporate image, and everything that goes along with it.

Mac guy, on the other hand, puts out a cooler and more casual image: the above-mentioned outfit, the fact that he's at least a decade younger than PC guy, and the fact that he's got his hands casually in his pockets at the start of every Mac ad all connote a decidedly friendly, smart, and trendy personality. And the attitude Mac guy has when chatting with PC guy is a huge part of these ads: slightly condescending but always politely friendly, Mac guy takes on the oft-wanted personality of a huge number of Gen Y/Gen Next-ers. All of this combined gives Mac (the brand, not the guy) a number of coded messages that subliminally affect the viewer's perception of both Macs and PCs.

speaking of media control...

I've come across an artist by the name of Scott Blake, who creates art using barcodes--a funny coincidence that we've been talking about the media's control lately, and this guy turns an element of that into something strangely neat. You can create a barcode for yourself on his site, too (the one above is mine). But if you head over there, be sure to check out his art--my favourite is his hilariously ironic 10' x 10' Bar Code Jesus.

[image source: http://www.barcodeart.com/art/yourself/yourself_frames.html]

my analysis of Ben...

Visual: Ben generally looks very clean and healthy; lean (could be a sprinter), well-dressed

Tactile: Holds things carefully and usually with a sense of purpose. Usually careful not to disturb his immediate environment

Auditory: Ben's got a smooth alto, definitely not a smoker, and quite a range when it comes to humming and whistling in and out of class. He's full of other percussion-sounds, and generally gives off quite a strong auditory presence; trails of sounds that are almost always musical seem to follow him

Olfactory: While Ben's scent is certainly not unpleasant, he does not give off much discernible odor except for the occasional morning coffee on his breath

Gustatory: Data unavailable. If Ben were a type of food, he's be a whole wheat organic chicken and veggie wrap--contained, with a whole bunch of colourful and exciting ingredients just below the surface

Ben through different types of media:

Natural: Ben leaves a very strong impression through natural media. Quite impactful transmission through auditory modes, though slightly less effective through visual means--mainly facial expressions

Artifactual: Communicates well through visual artifactual media--Ben has many design forms and expressions by which he may communicate strongly and effectively

Mechanical: Ben also boasts strong mechanical communication--specifically in terms of musical/auditory mechanical means. Buy his album. His mechanical presence is not overly strong in other ways; for instance, he does not use social networking tools

10 things...

10 The strange/awful/wonderful people I meet when I bartend
9 The feeling I get when I make something amazing
8 Coffee
7 Reading a great book that makes me think or feel
6 The first part of spring when everything starts popping out of the ground and turning green
5 The hugs I get from people I actually care about--not those people who feel it's their duty to hug every single person they say hello to
4 Bach's cello concertos
3 Really long drives with really good music
2 Doing yoga until I feel like my face is going to melt right off
1 Lying in the field behind my house at 3am, completely exhausted after a really productive day, feeling like I'm melting into the ground

And my five favourite items...

5 The very first hat I knit
4 My copy of The Fountainhead
3 My glasses
2 My collection of Beatles cds
1 The star earring in my right ear

are you being brainwashed right now?

Are the media moguls controlling us?

Oh god yes. In the sense that they are the ones who control what we get to read about and watch on the news everyday, of course they control some aspect of us in choosing which tidbits of information we're allowed to gain access to, and how they'd like us to react to them. I'd like to say that this information manipulation only controls us to the extent that we allow it, but how can we avoid being controlled by it when we're only allowed to have knowledge of the tip of the iceberg? This forced submissiveness is already a huge step in the direction of the media's control.

Are they controlling our minds and souls?

Trickier. This question begs a multitude of other (somewhat depressing and existential) questions: do we have control over our own minds in the first place? Have we ever had control over them? Is the way we react to media based on opinions that have already been placed in our minds subconsciously by these media moguls?

I'd like to say that my reaction is based on a sense of indignation to the initial question, but could it not also be a defensive reaction to the knowledge that in some way, my mind has been controlled by these media moguls? Consider this: I'm currently typing away on my very old, very slow PC laptop, cursing the fact that I'm not sitting in front of my beloved Mac. Why is that? I'm not doing anything that requires the use of design software, I'm posting a blog. This crappy PC is as good as anything for that purpose. The moguls of Apple media have put this idea into my head that I'm slumming, in a way, by working away on a PC. I can't say that I feel that strongly about being away from my Mac, but that thought it still in my head. Which means, in some sense, that I have indeed been conditioned and controlled by these media moguls.

The thought of delving into the full extent of the media's grasp on me (or anyone, for that matter)
is just a little too much. You win, John.