Sunday, 14 March 2010
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Essay proposal://
Essay title
How does brand identity and advertising affect consumerism?
The main issues addressed by your argument
- The effects of brand identity; do people buy into a brand for the sake of the brand itself and cultural connotations? ( Adorno - Schema of mass culture)
- How are global brands perceived differently?
- How does mass culture influence brand identity and people's choice of brands?
- How does the use of advertising encourage the the above?
- How are global brands perceived differently?
- How does mass culture influence brand identity and people's choice of brands?
- How does the use of advertising encourage the the above?
Any visual material that you will look at
- Still deciding...
What theoretical approach / methodology will you use? e.g. marxism, the gaze, psychoanalysis etc
- Culture theory
- Media ideology
- Globalization
- Media ideology
- Globalization
Which specific theorists / writers will you refer to?
- Theodor Adorno
- Victor Papanek
- Zygmunt Bauman
- Victor Papanek
- Zygmunt Bauman
At least 5 books / articles / resources already located (referenced using Harvard)
- David Gauntlett (2002), 'Media Gender & Identity: an introduction', Routledge
- Rebecca Arnold (2001), 'Fashion, Desire & Anxiety' I.B Taureis & Co Ltd
- Zygmunt Bauman (2004) 'Identity', Polity Press
- Theodor Adorno (1991), The Culture Industry, Routledge Classics
- David Gauntlett (2002), 'Media Gender & Identity: an introduction', Routledge
- Rebecca Arnold (2001), 'Fashion, Desire & Anxiety' I.B Taureis & Co Ltd
- Zygmunt Bauman (2004) 'Identity', Polity Press
- Theodor Adorno (1991), The Culture Industry, Routledge Classics
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Initial ideas for essay://
From the lectures, the main areas that interest me are: media ideology, panopticism and globalisation. It seems that Panopticism would probably be a likely on and would be interesting to write about, but I'm struggling to find a key subject that relates to design and my interests.
Initial ideas:
- looking at fashion brands, their branding, identity and advertising. Whether they are Influenced by media ideology. Do some brands adopt a false image to who they really are? (similar to music but looking at brands instead)
- are advertising for fashion brands standardized? ( media ideology)
- will print based design die out? (globalisation, media ideology)
- Choice of typeface and the impact it has on logo designs. ( media ideology, globalisation,)
Initial ideas:
- looking at fashion brands, their branding, identity and advertising. Whether they are Influenced by media ideology. Do some brands adopt a false image to who they really are? (similar to music but looking at brands instead)
- are advertising for fashion brands standardized? ( media ideology)
- will print based design die out? (globalisation, media ideology)
- Choice of typeface and the impact it has on logo designs. ( media ideology, globalisation,)
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Adorno on music://
Referencing the article on popular music by Theodor W. Adorno, there are 'two spheres of music', serious music and popular music. Although there are points that I do not agree with, especially in today's music industry, there are several valid points that make an interesting study. According to Adorno, popular music is standardized in a way that every aspect of it such as the rhythm to the lyrics have all been 'pre- digested' this ultimately makes a new pop song sound familiar to something that they have already been tuned to accept. This has been referred to as 'Pseudo- individualization' by Adorno; people think that they're making an independent choice of what type of music they like, but infact, he states that popular music is simply the process of reproducing what has already been done. 'The schematic buildup dictates the way in which he must listen'.
The idea of music being categorised into different genres refer the idea of 'Pseudo- individualization' in a way that people actively search for music that would sound similar to something that they've already heard of before, they are not searching for something new but for music that 'is already listened to for them' An example of this in today's technology include a website called Last Fm, the site would recommend music that would sound similar to another band/ artist that has been specified by the user. Although this may seem to help expand the user's knowledge on music, it is infact restricting them to music that they expect.
Adorno also writes about the listeners of pop music and the theory of 'plugging',
' One need only repeat something until it is recognized in order to make it accepted' ( Theodor W. Adorno studies in Philosophy and social science, New York) this can be achieved by constantly broadcasting a song repeatedly through the format of tv and radio for it to be recognized by people. Adorno's attempt to define the listeners of popular music resulted in the; rhythmically obedient and emotional type. The rhythmically type being the ones who would recognise and obey to the beat of the music, which reinforces the idea of a schematic rhythm/ beat to pop songs. The 'emotional' has been referred to as people who would relate the type of lyrics and music videos.
A recent example of popular music I have chosen that supports Adorno's theory on popular music; Leona Lewis - Bleeding in Love://
Video has been disabled for embedding so here's the link://
Leona Lewis - Bleeding in Love
Areas that support Adorno's theory on music://
- Firstly the timing of releasing this straight after the X Factor supports the theory of plugging. Lewis was on the program every week so people became familiar with her and eventually accepted her music as proven by the no. 01 single. On top of this, the track was constantly being promoted and played on the radio.
- The lyrics of the song can easily be related by listeners of the 'emotional' type.
- This has also been encouraged by the video, showing break ups and failed relationships etc.
- Rhythmically, the structure of the song is quite simple, with a emphasis on the bass and snare drum and a catchy chorus.
The idea of music being categorised into different genres refer the idea of 'Pseudo- individualization' in a way that people actively search for music that would sound similar to something that they've already heard of before, they are not searching for something new but for music that 'is already listened to for them' An example of this in today's technology include a website called Last Fm, the site would recommend music that would sound similar to another band/ artist that has been specified by the user. Although this may seem to help expand the user's knowledge on music, it is infact restricting them to music that they expect.
Adorno also writes about the listeners of pop music and the theory of 'plugging',
' One need only repeat something until it is recognized in order to make it accepted' ( Theodor W. Adorno studies in Philosophy and social science, New York) this can be achieved by constantly broadcasting a song repeatedly through the format of tv and radio for it to be recognized by people. Adorno's attempt to define the listeners of popular music resulted in the; rhythmically obedient and emotional type. The rhythmically type being the ones who would recognise and obey to the beat of the music, which reinforces the idea of a schematic rhythm/ beat to pop songs. The 'emotional' has been referred to as people who would relate the type of lyrics and music videos.
A recent example of popular music I have chosen that supports Adorno's theory on popular music; Leona Lewis - Bleeding in Love://
Video has been disabled for embedding so here's the link://
Leona Lewis - Bleeding in Love
Areas that support Adorno's theory on music://
- Firstly the timing of releasing this straight after the X Factor supports the theory of plugging. Lewis was on the program every week so people became familiar with her and eventually accepted her music as proven by the no. 01 single. On top of this, the track was constantly being promoted and played on the radio.
- The lyrics of the song can easily be related by listeners of the 'emotional' type.
- This has also been encouraged by the video, showing break ups and failed relationships etc.
- Rhythmically, the structure of the song is quite simple, with a emphasis on the bass and snare drum and a catchy chorus.
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