DTC 355 UCLA Website Analysis

University Website

 www.ucla.edu

            The comic depicted in the chapter does a great job pointing out the flaws with many websites. The UCLA homepage falls under the same trap as WSU, the primary features on the page are featured stories and a small slideshow depicting a few recent events. The first thing that pops up is the name of the school but only the letters UCLA without any definition or full title. Furthermore, while the logo is separate and larger than the other text, it is still the same font as the links on the top of the page. Like WSU, the links to important information such as academics, admission, parking and a directory are located in two small bars at the top and bottom of the page. It is clear that the primary goal of the author was to attract the viewer, excite them with big pictures and moving images. Most of the links are dull with the exception of two that are yellow and give a welcoming feel. They are links to Visit or Give, clearly demonstrating the purpose of the page.

            This page makes it seem as though current students are not the audience. The layout and images make sure that everything is read before locating the functional links that are most used by students and parents. Also, this is clearly designed for a computer with a decent monitor because all practical links would be nearly invisible on a mobile device. They do include a temperature widget which gives a fun bit of context but this site seems to do the bare minimum when it comes to the links that most people want.

           

DTC 355 Multimodal Projects

Multimedia vs Multimodal

            After reading the chapter I didn't see a clear distinction between multimedia and multimodal other than how the terms are used. When I think of multimedia, I think of a bunch of physical or digital objects like television ads, newspapers, posters, etc. Multimodal, however, seems more like a way of doing something, a conscious choice to combine different elements.

            Multimedia is produce by multimodal thinking?

Linguistic Mode

Instead of the message coming only from the White House, they make it very clear that this disaster is of importance to the President. Indicating that not only knows the situation, but also has followed up and stayed current with the response efforts. It is clear that the President and America is paying attention to Japan. I think another choice that was effective is "friends." This keeps the message informal and indicates that we care about Japan. If allies, were used then maybe it would sound as though we were simply protecting assets. In addition, instead of merely giving help, we are 'standing with Japan.' It is clear that this affects us greatly even though we are far away.

Visual Mode

            Glancing at Cheryl's profile on the pdf my first impression was energy. The bright green color makes the pictures stand out. Also, the picture shows her slightly out of the frame like she could pop up at any moment. Very playful. However, clicking the link reveals an updated profile that feels much more professional. The cool background seems formal and the layout seems very efficient. Also, her picture shows her entire face and she is sitting in a normal position.

            Kristen's profile seems gentle, and makes me think Kirsten is shy (contradicting personal experience), but that might just be the panda. The colors are toned down but still bright enough to feel uplifting. Having a panda as a profile picture also makes the page feel more playful, not as serious as Cheryl's new one. This seems

            I just created a twitter so I have one of the default profiles. I plan on changing it to something with a big more color and excitement. Right now the blue/gray color scheme is kinda depressing.

Aural Mode

            The female narrator's voice the video an informal feel. The uplifting music makes you feel like this is something you should be a part of. There is a solid drumbeat to keep you interested and some ambient noises that seem to pair well with the bubble format of the text. It's almost as if they are saying "Come join us." I think that if the narrator was different or even just talked in a different way, the video would have a very different feel. A professional male voice it would feel instructional and a teenage male may again seem friendly. The implied age of the narrator, gleaned solely from the tone of the speaker, is probably the most significant detail in this video.

-Side note, "the sounds we hear when we turn on a computer

that let us know it is starting up" made me instantly think of this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE8pFWP5QDM

Spatial Mode

            The first thing I noticed on the WSU home page was the WSU logo in the upper left. It is set by itself, with its own distinct font and size. From there my eye can go to three different places separately. The biggest links on the page may be the most useful but they are overwhelmed by the three pictures, linking to interesting articles, which switch every few seconds, further stealing attention. Clearly these are what the developers wanted people to focus on. Hoping that we see something interesting before we get to the link we need. If these links were at the top of the page, perhaps people would click them before even getting to the articles. Also, if the size of the links was increased it might have the same effect.

Gestural Mode

            In his Weekly Address: Preserving and Strengthening Medicare he speaks directly to the camera as opposed to a room full of people. His face indicates that he is a little less formal, he isn't trying to command the attention of the room. He is talking to you, not giving a speech. His eyebrows and eyes seem positive, reflecting the positive nature of this discussion. He lists highlights of the new plan and remains calm and almost hopeful. After that, he illustrates the opponents plan and suddenly his arm comes into the picture for the first time. It is clear that he feels strongly opposed to their plan and is sticking up for Americans that he cares about.

DTC 356 Developing Piracy

As we discussed in class, memory was the foundation that kept the language of the drums alive. People were required to know what different beats meant as if they were different symbols. The drummers aid people using definitions, often using specific details to provide context. Although these lengthy messages seem like a waste of time, Gleick mentions that "Redundancy - inefficient by definition- serves as the antidote to confusion" (25). He goes on to mention that while the meaning message may be the same, often a drummer will add his own individual flair to the context. They must use or 'copy' the original meaning, even if they repackage it. This seemed to be a mutual practice but after reading Lessig's "Free Culture," I can't help but wonder if this method of repackaging violates copyright law.

            This analogy may seem kind of farfetched  but it gets the root of the problem with copyright these days. The Lessig chapter makes me doubt whether any thought I have is actually original. What if the first person to label a house: "The house on the hill that watches the valley," decided that he owned the rights to that definition. What if another person modifies the definition: "The house on the hill with the view of an eagle." Does his definition copy enough of the original to be considered an act of piracy? Or did the new simply build on the old in a new way and both definitions can still exist? This is the problem that Lessig goes into great detail about. How do we define what is copied versus what is borrowed in order to create something new?

            The first step is defining what is actually an original idea. While memory is essential to understanding culture and expanding on existing ideas, it could be said that memory is the foundation of piracy. When I read a book or looked at an image the information is stored. Schools rely on our memory to prove that we can learn and without memory we would never develop new skills or technology. However, Lessig would suggest that with modern day copyright laws, I wouldn't be able to use a majority of the information stored in my head.  If I draw a cartoon character, I'm probably influenced by a multitude of movies and t.v. shows that I've seen over the years. In "On Ideology," Louis Althusser suggests that we are never free from ideological apparatuses that shape our every action. If copyright law used this logic, then we would have to pause creativity for a hundred years and burn every book.

            Thankfully that isn't the case...yet. In the modern information travels faster and is growing at a much faster pace than in the past and it seems as though copyright laws are in hot pursuit. In high school  The trick will be to find a balance between "Disney creativity" and piracy. As a culture we may need to find an outlet like the Doujinshi. It's awesome that an entire subculture is allowed to exist merely for the enjoyment of the people. We see a similar trend in music when a song is remixed. I don't know the specific details of the industry, but there are millions of remixes, some highly successful and I have to believe that not all of them got permission from the original author. Lessig mentions a quote from a lawyer that " regulation by law is a function of both the words on the books and the costs of making those words have effect" (27). One of the problems in this country is that a large portion of creative content is owned by just a few people. Just because these corporations have the abiltiy to sue anyone and everyone doesn't mean that they should. Clearly they aren't hurting for cash. (See pic below).

            The analogy of theatres doing their own versions of Shakespeare was great. I think it illustrates that many worlds can exist through the sharing of information. This is not advocating piracy in the illegal downloading sense. Taking a product that most people are required to buy is different than using a beat in that song to create your own. If the remix makes more money, it's because that person beat you. Maybe it's the competitive side in me that relates to that kind of mentality. The problem arises when someone creates a virtually identical product but claims the idea for their own...they should be sued. 

Examples of Graphic Design- JOSH JETER