Simulacra and Simulations

OK, this reading was probably the most confusing article we have read so far. I was very, very lost and I didn't think that anything really tied together from beginning to end. Jean Baudrillard begins by talking about simulations and the definition of simulation. "The real is produced from miniaturized units, from matrices, memory banks and command models - and with these it can be reproduced an indefinite number of times. It no longer has to be rational, since it is no longer measured against some ideal or negative instance. It is nothing more than operational. In fact, since it is no longer enveloped by an imaginary, it is no longer real at all. It is a hyperreal: the product of an irradiating synthesis of combinatory models in a hyperspace without atmosphere."

Then, Baudrillard explains dissimulation and simulations as having either "presence or absence," and with that babbles about dreaming. Am I missing something hear? I mean, seriously, who is his audience because I couldn't understand where he was going with that at all.

Shortly after, he describes Disneyland-which he explains, "the imaginary is neither true of false"- and the Watergate scandal-"an imaginary effect concealing that reality no more exists
outside than inside the bounds of the artificial perimeter." So, so far we have an outlandish definition of simulations and dreaming, and Disneyland and Watergate, which are real but not?

And how does communism tie into all of this?

Maybe I'm just not apt to reading material like this and it all, in fact, makes sense but I don't think I'm going to be reading and Jean Baudrillard for the hell of it.

In the final section of this article, he concludes by writing, "This is ultimately why power is so in accord with ideological discourses and discourses on ideology, for these are all discourses of truth- always good, even and especially if they are revolutionary, to counter the mortal blows of simulation." And after this, I still have to ask, so, this makes the Disneyland parking lot and concentration camps similar? I just don't see it.

Bat for Lashes

My boyfriend sent this youtube video to me in a facebook messege. It's a really eerie video but I find myself very entranced by the song itself.

"Bat For Lashes is the work of British singer/ songwriter, multi- instrumentalist and visual artist Natasha Khan. Born in 1979, yet combining influences that span decades, Natasha’s work dwells in the elemental, emerging in timeless forms." http://www.batforlashes.com/biography

Not only is Khan a wonderful musician and singer/songwriter, she is an amazing visual artist and it becomes really aparent in the music video of her his song, "What's a Girl to Do," as shown above.

Cool song.

Porcupine Tree

On my lunch break today, I was explaining to a friend our weekly blog journal and how we can write about any interaction with any media form. I told him that I was focusing my blog on music. Whether it be from the radio, youtube, or even album reviews in Rolling Stone Magazine, I wanted to keep it constant in one way or another.

Shortly after, he reached for my laptop (Goldmemeber as I call him) and began surfing the web. When I looked at the screen, I saw that he was on youtube. He absolutely insisted I hear a particular band and claimed that if he knew me as well as he thought he did then I would love the band and, more specifically, love his favorite song.

So, with that being said, I am blogging, today, to share an amazing band with the rest of you and thank my friend, Costa, for showing me this youtube video.

The band is called Porcupine Tree. The group was formed in the late 1980s by front man, Steven Wilson as a "psychedelic, experimental, and progressive music outlet." http://www.porcupinetree.com/background.cfm

Steven Wilson, who is a self taught singer, songwriter, and guitarist, definitely has talent from the little I have heard. His voice and the composition of music from him and his band have caught my attention and I have to say I am going to keep listening and become more educated on their music.

The song my friend, Costa, showed me is the song "Lazarus," which was a single from the Deadwing album in July, 2005.

The lyrics are very emotional and personal, which allows for a kind of connection between the band and the listener. They are a truly unique band with a great, incomparable sound and stunning musical interconnectedness. I am definitely a music junkie so I tend to get very emotional (in all forms) when I listen to music. This is a band that spoke out to me. The piano is phenomenal in conjunction with the drums and guitar, and in whole the instrumental composition drives the song to tell a powerful story. The lyrics go as follows:

"Lazarus"

By Porcupine Tree

As the cheerless towns pass my window

I can see a washed out moon through the fog

And then a voice inside my head, breaks the analogue

And says

"Follow me down to the valley below You know

Moonlight is bleeding from out of your soul"

I survived against the will of my twisted folk

But in the deafness of my world the silence broke

And said

"Follow me down to the valley below You know

Moonlight is bleeding from out of your soul"

"My David don't you worry

This cold world is not for you

So rest your head upon me

I have strength to carry you"

(Ghosts of the twenties rising Golden summers just holding you)

"Follow me down to the valley below You know

Moonlight is bleeding from out of your soul

Come to us, Lazarus

It's time for you to go"

Phenomenal.

Ad Deconstruction

The adverstisement to the right is that of the alcohol, Skyy Vodka. In this blog, I will deconstruct this particular advertisement and allow you to better comprehend who this advertisement is trying to reach and how it effects the audience it is trying to reach. Equally I will deconstruct the messege of this ad as well as the composition and the effects and reactions that resonate with this ad.

What is this Ad Trying to Say?

Set in modern times, this advertisement takes place on a warm, sunny beach front with and overly exaggerated background of blue sky. In the foreground there is a woman sun tanning in a minimal swim suite, taking off her sun glasses-that are reflecting the deep blue sky- to look up at a man (only the lower part of his body visable in ad) who is holding a Skyy Vodka bottle and two martini glasses.

The primary audience is mid-twenties to early thirties men in the business world. The details that suggest this particular audience is the clothing that the male is wearing and his dominating stance over the young woman. His clothing suggests someone with a little more money and a classier lifestyle from the suite all the way down to the polish of his shoes. He is standing over the body of a young, blonde woman with the martini glasses and vodka as she looks up at him.

Though there is a Skyy Vodka bottle in the left hand of the male, the main focus of the of the ad is the sky above the woman's body and in between the legs of the male. What you get in this ad is this idea of 'the sky's the limit,' as a young man takes control of a situation and gets the beautiful girl on the beach with the help of Skyy Vodka.

In this particular ad, the angle of the ad allows the viewer to focus his/her eyes on the woman's breasts. The woman is clearly unproportioned this way to then attract the viewers eyes back into space where the blue sky is exposed. The technique of using her body as and "arrow" gives the viewer a starting point as our eyes naturally follow straight lines. Looking passed her breasts, her feet come to a point directly below the man's crotch, exposing a pocket of sky between the body of the man and woman. If you look at the negative space between the man's legs and the women's feet, you will notice and upside down 'V' shape. This pattern is used throuout the ad-the diagonals of the man's legs, the woman's eye brows, the martini glasses, the opening of the male's suite jacket- to direct the eyes of the viewer.

The explicit messege in this ad is, obviously, swaying people to drink Skyy Vodka. But Implicitly, the ad is saying that if the viewer drinks Skyy Vodka, the possiblities of this scenario are more likely to happen. The makers of this ad do so very subltely. There are no catch phases or slogan stamped onto the ad. Just the two people, two martini glasses, and the vodka. The setting speaks for itself.

Overall, my initial reaction to this advertisement was, "holy crap! Do you think her boobs are big enough?" But once I got passed that and realized the audience the ad was reaching, I came to the conclusion that it was a very clever advertisement. What I found even more interesting is that most alcohol ad usually have "please drink responsibly" somewhere in the ad. This ad did not which also hints towards an audience of more mature people, as if they already know to drink responsibly. I believe that this ad was intended to grab the attention of yound males but i think it unintentionally appeals to women too. The idea of meet a handsome, business oriented, man when tanning at the beach, sounds pretty good to me!

Adele [Journal Entry #1]

Call me old fashioned but I am addicted to listening to the radio. I am constantly scanning the stations to hear new and interesting music, news coverage, and conversations. I, personally, am a fan of acoustic and mellow music with the power to inspire and/or make a difference in my life through the effects of lyrics, vocals, and rhythm.

In my scanning of stations, I have been able to expose myself to new artists and new sounds. My feature for the week is the British singer/song writer, Adele.

A few weeks ago, I listened to her song Hometown Glory. It's a song about her love and respect for her hometown, London. Not only are the lyrics outstanding, the composition of the piano piece against her soulful voice creates such a breathtaking and absolutely phenomenal tune.

The lyrics go as follows:

Hometown Glory
by: Adele

I've been walking in the same way as I did
Missing out the cracks in the pavement
And tutting my heel and strutting my feet
"Is there anything I can do for you dear? Is there anyone I can call?"
"No, and thank you, please Madam I ain't lost, just wandering"
Round my hometown memories are fresh
Round my hometown, ooh, the people I've met
Are the wonders of my world
Are the wonders of my world
Are the wonders of this world
Are the wonders and now
I like it in the city when the air is so thick and opaque
I love to see everybody in short skirts, shorts, and shades
I like it in the city when two worlds collide
You get the people and the government, everybody taking different sides
Shows that we ain't gonna stand
Shows that we are united
Shows that we ain't gonna take it
Shows that we ain't gonna stand
Shows that we are united
Round my hometown memories are fresh
Round my hometown, ooh, the people I've met
Are the wonders of my world
Are the wonders of my world
Are the wonders of this world
Are the wonders of my world



I love that this particular song speaks about the present and allows the listener to visualize living in a city. The lyric, "I like it in the city when the air is so thick and opaque, I love to see everybody in short skirts, shorts, and shades," I get the image of a crowed city and tons of people dressing to impress. She appears to be writing of the social/cultural aspects of London as well as experiencing the beauty of its nature. When she sings of the air being "thick and opaque," she is referring to the fog that drapes over the city, and as she walks through town she admires seeing others out and about. Through out, Adele sings of everything she cherishes about London and sums it all up by reiterating that the memories of living there and the people she's encountered "are the wonders of this world."

Adele's voice and the piano as well as other light acoustics complete this tune. For me, the song becomes alive and I feel like I can really relate with what she's saying and how she's feeling. Just listening to her over a lousy radio set up in my car, I could still hear the emotion and passion she has for what she sings about.

Adele has created a truly inspiring song in all aspects to include lyricism, music composition, and vocal performance. I'm definitely a fan. If you want to learn more about Adele and her music go to http://adele.tv/