Visible Rhetoric Blog

Globalization

sflewis — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:24:26 +0000

Reading about the way the satellite images of Earth were supposed to inspire feelings of oneness amongst mankind is both inspirational and sad. I feel the same way about the Internet. Instantly exchanging information with anyone on the globe seems like one of those ‘save the world’ ideas. But we all know the web is for downloading porn, shopping online, and settling arguments with Wikipedia. Also not everyone has access to a computer, much less the Internet. Are these technological advances leading us anywhere worth going? Maybe it’s just late and I need to go to sleep. Still, I don’t think these efforts accomplish anything worthwhile. Has modern medicine provided us with an ample average lifespan that affords us the opportunity to discover our life’s meaning? Nope.

Indie Media

sflewis — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:05:24 +0000

I’m a bit of a hipster. I’m a film and music snob. This means that I am entrenched in independent art. I do not question the value of mainstream art like many hipsters, instead I look to indie artists for different, genre defying approaches to their medium.

I’m also a cynic like the authors describe in the text. It is very difficult for independent artists to be successful without selling out. However, I don’t like the way the text seems to equate financial success with the quality of art. My hope is that the business of popular music and film will crumble. If bands and filmmakers could no longer make a reasonable living producing their craft, then it seems to me that the only ones that would continue to do so would do it because they love it, not because it’s lucrative. That wouldn’t be so bad, would it?

Figure/ground

sflewis — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:36:02 +0000

The figure/ground relationship is interesting. I suppose there isn’t much to comment on. The Dali painting in Practices of Looking that shows slaves being traded and also Voltaire’s portrait using this technique. It’s something very useful to consider when doing design work.

Matmos, modularity, and myself

sflewis — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:26:33 +0000

One of my favorite bands is the experimental group, Matmos. They are masters of modularity in music. They have an album that was created with only sounds one would hear during a surgical procedure. Another record they did was made entirely with vintage Civil War instruments.

I was inspired by this and wrote a poem by writing lines inspired by photos on my camera that were chosen at random. It certainly isn’t the greatest verse ever committed to paper but it IS the best thing I’ve written. Maybe there’s something to this modularity business.

Modularity

sflewis — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:02:12 +0000

I like the idea of modularity because it reflects my feelings about the creative process. Using a constraint in creating art typically yields better results. The artist can be more focused with so many possibilities already eliminated for them. Picasso said “Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.” It seems as though modular design sets the designer on the right track.

Socially responsible restaurant

sflewis — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:40:44 +0000

I really like my job. I wait tables and love it (usually). I also love the restaurant I work at. I like the chef’s commitment to using fresh ingredients, I like the fact that my bosses are very friendly, genuine, down to Earth people. I like the fact that we eliminated the use of styrofoam in the restaurant.

However, I don’t think we are saving the world. We feed comfort food to spoiled, complacent, conservative State Farm employees that would sooner nuke the third world than try to help it. Our attitude is admirable at least. We donate money to people around town. No big deal. We are the only building in the town of Normal that meets the electricity standards they set forth. We’re into sustainable agriculture. We still buy seafood that is being overfished. OK, you get the idea, right? I’m a cynical jerk that likes to rain on everyone’s slappin’ each other on the back party. I just think everyone (OK, many people) in this country needs to wake up and realize that their piddly contributions to the planet and its inhabitants are worthless. You keep talking about making a difference. Go join the Peace Corps. I wish I was that selfless but I also realize I am not. Stop kidding yourselves. Not using plastic won’t change the fact that 1.5 million people dies of AIDS in Africa last year.

Socially responsible design

sflewis — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:24:40 +0000

I like the idea of socially responsible design. It is yet another step toward making the world a better place, no? No. Well, it may be a painfully small step but certainly not significant. In my opinion, it is simply a way for designers to both make themselves feel better about what they’re doing (seldom spending time actually helping anyone) and to make consumers feel better about the product they’re purchasing. I do applaud those that print soy ink on recycled paper because they want the world to be a better place. It’s a noble yet ultimately inconsequential contribution. Really, I just think people do it because they think it will sell more units (I DO realize that some designers may be producing pamphlets for NGOs or other noble causes). Earth friendly tactics are very popular right now and lots of businesses are using this phenomenon to their advantage.

I’m certainly not against socially responsible design. I’m just cynical, that’s all. Instead of choosing not to work for Lockheed Martin, try doing something more proactive if you really care so much. Admittedly, I do very little to help people in need aside from voting Democratic. I just don’t like people patting themselves on the back when they haven’t done anything worthy of congratulating.

Depression cure

sflewis — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:54:12 +0000

My mom is a perfect example of the way people are being victimized by the drug companies like Pfizer. She started taking an anti-depressant a while back. It seemed to be helping her a bit so she kept taking it although the pill never helped her figure out why she was sad in the first place. The pill had side effects. One of these side effects was high blood pressure. Unwilling to part with the anti-depressant, she started taking blood pressure medication. I think you see where this is going. She now takes 7 different pills all stemming from the anti-depressant that I don’t think really helps her. Her high blood pressure puts her at a greater risk for a heart attack. The drug companies may be killing my mother. I realize I’m being a bit dramatic but these meds have definitely had an adverse effect on her health. It makes me so angry.

Pharmaceutical advertising

sflewis — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:42:21 +0000

Drug companies aren’t selling temporary relief from acid reflux or pills to combat depression. They are selling a better life. A better life for everyone. There seems to be a pill for everything. The companies seem to be making up conditions to sell pills for. It’s disgusting. People watching Prozac ads may get the idea that “normal” people are happy all the time. “Why aren’t I happy all the time? There must be something wrong with me.” Bullshit. Nobody is happy all the time. It’s a fucking lie. If we weren’t sad from time to time, we wouldn’t appreciate the times when we were happy. Other companies seem to mrket happiness as well and it is also sickening but at least wearing Nike’s shoes won’t cause me to vomit or bleed internally. These drug companies are poisoning us with their products and people need to wake up and stop buying into their false promises.

Advertising is for morons

sflewis — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:19:44 +0000

I’m self-aware. I’m not an idiot. I realize that ads often depict products in an unrealistic manner, making them seem much better than they are. So why do I fall for it? I’m such a sucker. The iPhone ad campaign is a perfect example. I saw the ads for the phone and slowly got more and more excited about it. Eventually I was counting the days until it came out and I actually waited in line to buy one. I’m so stupid (although I have to say that I love it)!

I suppose it has to do with the fact that our country is based on a capitalist economy. In order to live here and not hate yourself, you have to buy into it a bit. We can’t be on guard all the time. I don’t even have TV and I am constantly bombarded by advertisements. I really want to believe that the bullshit I have available to me in America really DOES make my life better even though deep down I know it doesn’t. I need to lose all my belongings in a fire (except for my cat) so that I can realize how silly it all is. Wait. Just kidding. Please don’t take my records away!