Gutters, Technique, and Transitions
In class, we discussed Scott McCloud's "Understanding Comics," which is really the seminal work in well, understanding comics.
Judge by the Cover: Trap and Trance
Trap. The combination of the genres of trance and rap usually through sound mixing and editing, has become a staple of parties and festival shows. They share similar use of synth, heavy base and spoken words to create music.
The Pervasiveness of Mickey Mouse
Arguably one of the most recognizable symbols in the Western cultural lexicon, or even that of Eastern cultures, is the silhouette of Mickey Mouse.
Seriously: A James Joyce Comic
The above comic by Robert Berry appears in his Ulysses “Seen” adaptation of the James Joyce novel Ulysses.
Un-novel?
We watched "The Machine is Us/ing Us" and had an interesting class discussion on whether it was a scholarly work or not. It was not, perhaps, “scholarly”; but it was an argument, and it made me think about the sociology of internet communication.
Gutter Space
During our in-class discussion of Scott McCloud's "Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art," the composer brought up gutters, the space in between frames of a comic (or newspaper, cartoon or other media).
Craigslist usability
When we talked in class about usability and the internet, it sounded like the conclusion as to what makes a usable website is simplicity. Creating a website to serve a very obvious purpose is the key to usability.
Usability Nightmare: Hidden Login Links
In Vitaly Friedman's article "10 Usability Nightmares You Should Be Aware Of," the first item listed is problematic hidden login links on websites.
Nielsen's Hypocrisies
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Of the recent readings for this course, I feel most compelled to comment on the writings of Jakob Nielsen. I had heard of him before, touted as the leading expert of usability.
Comics in Visual Rhetoric Class 2013
Professor John Logie teaches us that comics have a place in academia. He teaches it in Visual Rhetoric. Why not? Comics are visual and they are graphic and they are certainly full of rhetoric. Comics teach us to engage ourselves with the comic we are viewing, on our own time, in our own space.
The Limitations of PowerPoint in Today's World
As of 2013, most people have encountered or used PowerPoint in a business or academic setting. Anyone who has sat through a PowerPoint presentation can most likely recall an instance when it was ineffective, i.e. too little or too much information; watered-down content; reliance on poor visual aids.
Red, White and Black=Target
Many product images and icons with the color combinations red, white and black have been constructed throughout modern history: The Target bulls-eye, Coca-Cola and Wisconsin’s Bucky Badger are just a few examples.
Creme Brulee, Anyone?
Every day we are faced with multiple typefaces: the good, the bad and the ugly. Some help us to read faster and more clearly, some to invoke a specific feeling or emotion, all the while persuading us to do something (or buy something).
Top 8 Mistakes Made in PowerPoint?
The very same day after we discussed Edward Tufte's "The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint", I was subjected to a PowerPoint presentation in which the student committed many of the mistakes this comedian points out in the video "How NOT to use powerpoint".
Lack of Usability: ESPN
Web site usability
While discussing web design and website usability, the websites that were deemed “most usable,” all had one common trait, and that was simplicity. Simple web designs allow the visitor of the website to be in total control over the page.
The Cultural Significances of Black, White, and Red...
... and how clashing implications continue to shape our reactions to these colors.
Depending on the region and cultural upbringing, one may have different connotations associated with the colors black, white, and red.
Usability Blunders
In our recent discussions of usability of websites, I can’t help but want to critique the website of Pine Lake Pastures, where I take horse riding lessons.
Helping Hand of Another
For the previous two assignments, I have analyzed typography, which has proved very interesting to me. However, this is the last blog, so I thought I would try a different media.
This is an advertisement from a non-profit organization in reference to second hand smoke.
Data Sets Displays and Cognates
I think that one of the flaws in data display is the lack of devotion to showing the visual verbal interdependence of the Cognate Strategies. (Kostelnick 326) There is so much data is in this world to display.
(Y)OUR MAP IS WRONG
When talking about the ethics and rhetoric of data displays in class, I brought up the example of geographic information system (GIS) and their technique of interpolation.
Teaching and Engaging versus Marketing
"The Cognitive Style of Powerpoint" makes the assertion that:
The core ideas of teaching- explanation, reasoning, finding
things out, questioning, content, evidence, credible authority not patronizing
authoritarianism-are contrary to the cognitive style of PowerPoint.
Is pecha-kucha the future?
When I first pulled out Tufte's packet on Power Point, it looked like one of the most boring texts on the planet. 30 pages on the style of Power Point? But as I read, I started to see his point and even found myself laughing at certain parts (talking about the “stupefied audience”).
Middle Schoolers, Pecha-Kucha and Edward Tufte
Maybe it's just me, but as I read Tufte's "The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint," I couldn't help but feel that it was directed at me, especially between the ages of eleven and fifteen.
Understanding Visual Rhetoric in Digital Writing Environments.
VISUAL ARGUMENTS BLOG (Understanding Visual Rhetoric in Digital Writing Environments.)
Mary E.
Logos
Updating your company's logo: prepare to hit or miss
In Richard and Davis's article " "Decorative Color as a Rhetorical Enhancement on the World Wide Web", the authors say "Omnipresent on the World Wide Web, decorative logos appeal both to ethos and pathos because they attempt to generate a positiv
Keep Calm and Do What, Now?
Posters featuring the slogan Keep Calm and Carry On, once distributed throughout London during World War II, have seen resurgence in popularity. The iconic design is recognized by its recognized by the capital lettering set against a bold red backdrop with a crown atop the text.
April 8th, 2013
To Display, or Not Display, Data that is the Question?
When choosing to represent data in graphical form there are many options one has at hand. There are pie charts, Gantt charts, bar charts, line graphs, linear regressions, normal distributions, and countless others; the list really is endless.
Transparency
In "Understanding Visual Rhetoric in Digital Writing Environments," Hocks discusses the importance of transparency when creating digital and visual documents.
Visual Rhetoric in Persuasive Digital Images
Since media technology has advanced past the typewriter, the capabilities of visual, and eventually digital, rhetoric using images have grown exponentially. By appealing to different human attitudes and emotions, digital images have the ability of persuasion and gaining compliance alike.
black and white advertising
After reading the article “The rhetoric of black, white and red: Responsibility and aesthetics to persuade with color” by Jose Luis Caivano and Mabel A. Lopez the section on ritual and religious persuasion and intimidation stood out the most.
Kept My Locus
Despite my better judgment I watched the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards show on CBS last night. The band Little Big Town performed their “Your Side of the Bed” song with interesting theatrics.
The song is a slow-moving traditional ballad with predictable lyrics.
Street-art and Style
Often referred to as graffiti, tagging, or more negatively as vandalism, street-art has been around for 40ish years as it was birthed in the 70 but only gained a real popularity in the mid-80’s.
Black, White, and Red
The colors black, white, and red have been associated with human feelings since the beginning of time.
Academic Videos
I couldn't help but wonder, when the class was viewing those videos on Wednesday and debating what counts as being scholarly, if we aren't a bit biased.
Problems with PowerPoint
Edward Tufte’s The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint lobbies some legitimate criticisms. The medium of visual presentations has always been one that I have found difficult to approach, execute, or understand.
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