Discovery: Avatars

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Profile: Ayano

What I Observe:

  • An Adorable Anime Character
  • Japanese Lettering

Interpretation:

Though its a very simple avatar, it could still speak volumes on the individual. I observe a grey-haired, red-eyed, fierce yet cute looking character drawn in the style of anime, a very popular style of art. This image gives me a sense of fierceness and adventure. I interpret a character that at a glance seems to have an adventurous spirit, and who isn’t afraid of anything. By the object in the characters hand, i inference the character to be Japanese in origin, due to the lettering. Based on all of this, i can make the inference that Ayano is a big fan of anime, and that she chose this character as her avatar because she defines herself as fierce, adventurous, and fearless. I can also infer that her nationality is Japanese.

After Reading Bio:

My inferences seemed to be pretty spot on, as Ayanos bio comfirms most of my assumptions. She is, matter fact, from Japan. She is a big fan of anime, and even aspires to pursue anime as a career in her future.

ENG 1101 9/10 Class and Lab

I have asked everyone to read selections of the first chapter of Ways of Seeing. Please read from page 7 (the first page of the chapter) to page 11 (stop just before the last paragraph) and from the middle of page 16 through the end of the chapter, or the best you can.

During class we will watch the first episode of the BBC production of “Ways of Seeing.” This groundbreaking television series was the basis for the book of the same name, which is the source of our reading for this class and subsequent classes. (note: some of the words in the captions are incorrect.)

Focused freewrite: What remains with you after watching Part 1 of “Ways of Seeing”? What questions do you have?

We will continue our conversation about how we read images in light of the video and reading from Ways of Seeing.

We will also work on note-taking and annotation of a text, using Ways of Seeing as our example.

*     *     *

In our lab, we will work in small groups to provide peer feedback for Project #1. In pairs:

  • Review your draft on your own, adding anything you want to add. (5 minutes)
  • Partners then swap projects and read the other partner’s work.
  • After reading, everyone will respond to questions about the draft:
    1. What does this bio provide so you learn about this person in an academic, pre-professional context?
    2. What are the author’s goals, interests, and aesthetics?
    3. Does the author describe his or her avatar in detail? Try to imagine it just from the description–what do you understand and what is missing?
    4. Does the author identify meaningful ways in which someone might misunderstand their avatar? Offer your own possible interpretation.
    5. What does the author say this OpenLab profile will do to represent him or her? What is missing? What does not come across to you in terms of the assessment of the profile’s purpose?
    6. Is there anything about the way this was written that you want to comment on? Remember that this is a draft, so some pointers can be helpful, but some might be too specific for this stage in the writing process.
  • After answering the questions, swap back and review the responses to your project.
  • After reviewing the responses, take turns asking any questions you have about your reviewer’s experience reading.
  • Collaborate on making an action plan for each partner’s revision.

It would be helpful if you upload your latest iteration before class on Wednesday, 9/16, so we can discuss any issues that arise as you continue to work on your projects. Final versions are due on Monday, 9/21, by the start of our 9:00am lab.

*     *     *

In class we brainstormed some techniques for annotating a text. As you read “Univers Strikes Back” by Ellen Lupton and Julia Lupton, use as many of these techniques to annotate your copy of their essay:

  • highlighting or underlining for things that stand out
  • squiggly underlining for things you aren’t sure about
  • circling words that you need to define (possible glossary entries!)
  • using the margins or space on the page to
    • ask questions
    • agree
    • disagree
    • summarize
    • define words
    • explain

Discovery: Avatar

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Profile: Brandy Ortiz

What I Observe:

  • A Young Girl
  • Hills in the Distance
  • Celestial Lights
  • Plants, Water
  • A Pedestal of some sort
  • Flower petals scattering

Interpretation:

What I see in Brandy’s Avatar is a very complex and beautiful illustration of a very young looking girl in a fantasy-like setting. The girl seems to be holding something of mystical or magical essence, while positioned under a starry sky. I also see her surrounded by flowers, potted plants, and crystal water. She is alone, and looks to be very happy, blissful and feel independent about it. I depict the image as very magical and spiritual, with a sense of mystery as well.  Based on this avatar, I infer that Brandy is regularly a fan of genres like fantasy and science fiction. She may be into books, movies or TV shows about fantasy and magic. I can also infer that her avatar can be a reflection of her character. Perhaps she herself feels like an independent person, who loves the night and connects with everything around her in a very spiritual way.

After Reading Bio:

Most off my inferences were not really confirmed within her bio. Though the Avatar seems very complex and deep (to me), Brandy seems to be a more laid back, and simple individual. Although she IS a fan of anime. Which, being a fan myself, i know consists of a lot of fantasy, therefore sort of confirming my inference on her being a fan of such things

 

Project #1 Introducing Yourself Draft

Jaichan Kirty (Jay) graduated from high school, Hillside Arts and Letters Academy in 2015. He is now nineteen years old and a freshman in college. Jay was born in Guyana but moved to the United States eight years ago. He is a shy and quiet person at first, but when you get to know him that’s when he does not stop talking. Jay major is Graphic Design. He chose this as my major because this is something He really like doing, and he like to expressing myself by designing what he think of. Jaichan is very good at computer graphics. He does numerous of designs. For plays, random videos, and power point. Many people consider his skill is “graphic designing” although Jaichan thinks otherwise. Jaichan claims he does this for “fun” but he is an amazing artist and has a great sense of creativity. His drawing are beyond imaginable. He is the most caring, most wonderful person you’ve ever met.

Jaichan is known for his graphic designing on facebook, and what he has done in high school. The administrators at his high school even asked him to create the official website for the school, which he had the honor of doing all by himself. That is something he is very proud of. You can check it out, its http://hillsidearts.org/ I also created and managed my high school’s facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/HillsideArtsAndLettersAcademy) He created all the material posted on the page. He is mostly proud of the videos he created for my school. You can watch some of them on the facebook page. Many people tells him he’s talented when it come to that. Jay is very passionate about his works, especially graphic designs, his style is random really. He creates what inspires him. When you are down in the dumps Jaichan is always the one to make you rise like the sun bursting with joy and happiness. Although it may rain on Jaichan end, he never lets the rainy days get the best of him. He’s super smart, fun to be around, likes to mingle and always the one to laugh or make a sound. In five to ten years Jay sees himself owning his own designing company and starting to be known around the country.

Avatar

The avatar I chose to represent myself is a hot-air-balloon. Firstly this picture of the balloon is not a photograph, it has been graphically designed, which is my passion. This picture means more to me than just it being graphically designed. The balloon is rising in the air just like how I will not give up on something that I put my mind to accomplish. The balloon is rising just like how I like to soar in life.  I said I am very creative and as you can see in this picture this graphic is also very creative. I like how the designer uses the colors to make the subject pop out. This balloon is by itself, just like how I like to be by myself sometimes. I like to work in a peaceful and quiet place with no distractions. This balloon is the only thing recognized just like how I like to be recognized also. This is why I choose this subject as my profile avatar.

My avatar could be misleading to some because you really need to dig deep and think deep to understand how it connect to me. People may see this picture and think I like to ride on hot-air-balloons, which I never even tried in my life but something I can see myself doing for fun.

My complete profile will convey that I am a very creative and hard working person. My passion is graphic design and I have a lot of experience is this field already. I will not give up on something that I put my mind to accomplish. I express myself throughout my works because that’s the best way I know how. This matters because if someone is to hire me for a job they need to know that I give my best. I will work day and night if I have to do give the best product the client will love. They need to know I am very good at what I do and that will give me recommendations and more jobs.

 

 

Discovery: Avatar

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Members avatar:

Brandy Ortiz

Observations:

  • Majestic
  • Colorful
  • fantasy
  • calm

Interpretation:

  • She is out going
  • She is calm
  • She likes to fantasias
  • She likes things that stand out of the ordinary

This avatar caught my eye because it seems like a lot is going on in it. It speaks to me and says, I am a free person. The way the girl is letting go of, to what looks like glitter or gold, feels like to me that it represents she is outgoing and adventurous. Since it also looks like the girl is on a cliff way high in the clouds it makes me feel like Brandy might be a bit of a day dreamer and enjoys fantasy stuff, which we have in common. The background is very easing to the eye because it looks like a beautiful sunset, which makes me also think Brandy is a calm girl that enjoys her alone time even if it is watching the sun set.

How do we read an image?

  • color
  • lighting: natural or artificial
  • point of view, angle, vantage point: where is the subject in relation to the camera?
  • focus: where the viewers’ eyes are drawn
  • foreground
    • space, complexity
  • background
  • location: urban/rural,
  • time: era (history), time of day, season,
  • subject:
    • people in it
    • their clothing
    • features, facial expressions –>emotions
  • actions: what are they doing
    • is there a narrative that the image tells?
  • objects
  • context
  • metadata: artist, collection