MEDIA ARTS: Kruger Imitation

1. What do you see in this piece of art (describe it)?

I see three small children dressed in very bizarre clothing, too big for them. It looks old fashioned, as well. They are all holding empty cups because they have no food. They look quite similar to the children we see every day, ones who might be the daughter or son of your neighbour. They also look very sad. The words say "Their screams are silent to you".

2. What kind of message did you try to give in this piece of art?
I tried to convey the message that poverty is all around us and we ignore the pleas of those who live in poverty. There are people who are desperately in need of help but we simply turn our heads and choose not to see or hear.

3. Did you like or dislike this piece of art? Why?
I did like this piece of art in the way it conveyed the message. I think that it turned out quite effectively and really punched an impact. I would've liked it if I could have used red, because it really is remarkable how much nicer it looks then! However, the purple does highlight the words "screams" and "silent" quite nicely. I don't like it in the way that it makes you feel guilty about ignoring their "screams". But overall I think that it turned out well.

MEDIA ARTS: Barbara Kruger

a.       What do you see in this piece of art (describe it)?

b.      What kind of message is the artist giving in this piece of art?

c.       Do you like or dislike Kruger’s work? Why?

a)      In this piece of art there is a pair of expensive-looking shoes that are highly polished and clean. They are sitting on grass, by the looks of things, and the text says “You can’t drag your money into the grave with you”.

b)      Kruger is trying to convey the message that material things don’t really matter in life and that we shouldn’t place as much value on them as we do. We tend to measure our happiness and our wealth by the quality and quantity of things we own, when true living is when you have friends, family, and love surrounding you.

c)       I like her work because I find it very blatant and impactful. Her work really makes you think about the messages the media is sending you and it forces you to question it and to question your life to really determine what your beliefs are and what the media’s influence on you is.

MEDIA ARTS: Flash Game Critique

1. What I liked most

For my "Gift Delivery" game I liked the actual present and the animations associated with it. I thought it was pretty fun having the bow be the "wings" of my present, and I also really like how the present ripped and the teddy bear fell out, even though I couldn't seem to get the bear to stop falling out afterwards! I think that my present's animations turned out well.

I was also quite happy with the bricks on my houses, because the rectangular brush made it look like there was bricks even though it was just a scattering of rectangles.

2. What could be improved

For the very last scene, I admit I was a bit rushed and so it isn't quite as detailed as the other scenes. I think that there should be more taller objects to make it more difficult to navigate down. I also feel that I should've added a bit more shading to the buildings and surrounding greenery because it didn't receive quite as much attention as the actual gift that you were landing did. I also could've put more Christmas-y decorations around and in the houses (the inner decorations might be visible from the windows).

3. How is this game an improvement upon the original?

I think that my game has much more detailed graphics and is more visually interesting to look at while you are playing. Also, I think that my idea is much more creative and I think that the different aspects (such as the ripping present with the teddy bear falling out) make it more special.