Second Life Avatar

Though I’m not really interested in the other features of Second Life, I do enjoy being able to shop and change my appearance. I have experimented with different clothes and hairstyles with my avatar. I like the fact that you can change anything about your avatar appearance, even their skin and body shape. I like the fantasy element to this feature of the game. Your avatar can look as outrageous as you desire. I think the reason I enjoy this aspect of the game so much is because when I was younger I experiment with my own appearance. During my teen years, I changed my hair color and style often. I have had everything from black to purple hair. My hair has been really short to really long. Also, I would straighten my hair or let it go curly. Also, I was very into fashion, in high school I would wear different outfits all the time, and I never wore the same outfit twice. However, the days of combat boots, fishnets, and pink hair are long behind me. Nowadays I am more hesitant to alter my appearance or wear more outlandish outfits. I think I enjoy changing my avatars appearance in Second Life, because it allows me to explore this aspect of my personality without the commitment.

Movie Title Discussion: SCL PUNK

Salt Lake City (SLC) Punk is a movie about two punk kids in Salt Lake City, Utah and their quest to bring about anarchy in this conservative city. The main characters put their peers into groups: punks, preps, mods, natizs, and rednecks. They dislike anyone who isn't part of their group: the punks.

The movie begins with a solid black screen. Blue letters appear in the middle of the screen displaying the names of the Production Company, producers, and director. There is soft music playing in the background at this point. Then the screen goes solid black and there is a voiceover of the main character. He says, "The thing about me and Bob, and pretty much all of us, was we hated rednecks more than anything else, period. Because rednecks for us were American carnate. And American, huh, well fuck America. " The screen then flashes to a scene where two "rednecks" are getting out of their truck. The main characters appear out of nowhere and begin beating the "rednecks" with bats. The main characters then throw the bats down and begin running. It appears as if they are running towards you, the viewer, in slow motion. There's another voice over by the main character, saying, "What could I say weren't much more than a couple of young punks." The screen then fades as if the movie reel is coming to an end. The screen goes black again and the title of the movie appears on the screen. The "SLC" appears almost as if it were stamped there. You here the sound of a spray paint can being shaken up, and "Punk" appears as if it were spray painted there. You hear punk rock music playing in the background as what looks like punk album covers with the names of the people involved in the making of the movie appear on a black screen. After everyone is introduced the movie starts.

I think the title of the movie introduces the main themes explored in the movie. The scene with rednecks introduces the theme of violence and stereotyping which are present throughout the rest of the film. The punk music and album covers were important because they introduce us to the lifestyles of the main characters. Music was and remains to be an important and defining part of the punk lifestyle. The spray paint affect also plays into the punk stereotype, for at the time period depicted in this movie, graffiti was associated with punks and anarchist.

The voiceovers were important, not only because they introduced us to the main character, but because they began to explain the views held by his group. I think by having a black screen during the voiceover really makes the audience listen to what is being said, simply because there is nothing happening on the screen to distract them. This only stress the importance of the message being presented.

My Font

The font that I picked to represent me is called Pepita MT. I feel that this font best represents me because it’s simple, yet a little different. I feel that I am a pretty simple person. I don’t need a whole lot, and I don’t require a lot of attention. I feel this font represents that. It’s not bold or elaborate. However, this font is still different, like me. I have always been unique, and feel it’s important to be yourself. I have never fit in with just one group. And, I’m sure some would say I’m a little off. I feel this font also represents that aspect of myself. It’s not your standard straight up and down font; it’s unique without being complicated. I like that fact that it can be considered different without being showy.

First Project Proposal

The purpose of our project is to alert women of the dangerous side effects of takingbirth control (blood clots and related issues such as stroke and heart attack). Although there are possible dangerous side effects listed on the packages, mostwomen do not pay attention and therefore do not know they could be at risk. Eventhough there are few, if any, ways to test if someone is more at risk than anotherfor these adverse outcomes, we want girls to know the factors that put them athigher risk than others (smoking, other health conditions). Our group wants to tryand create something that will grab their attention and make them pay attention,hopefully pushing them to see their doctors more often and create a dialogue abouttheir risks.

We intend to build a website that is based on a Public Service Announcement with arecognizable logo and/or slogan that we create in order to help spread theawareness. The PSA will air on local television during the most popular shows thatcollege-aged girls watch. At the end of the PSA we will provide a URL for ourwebsite where they can go for more information. Also we will create flyers to poston the back of bathroom stalls in ladies’ restrooms, and possibly brochures to putin Redfern. If time permits we would like to make refrigerator magnets or someother free giveaway to distribute on campus as well.

First, we will need to know what women do and do not know about the dangerous sideeffects (for this we will develop a survey). We will also need to know what theywould like to know or see that is sometimes hidden in the small print on thepackages. We will need to create a logo and/or slogan that is catchy and thatpeople will remember and recognize when they see it. Then we will put all of ourresearch into a website in order to raise awareness, highlighting specific tidbitsof information for the PSA and print media.

Our deliverables will be the website, the PSA, flyers and brochures, and possiblythe magnets. Our goal is to make the website very visual, but we will also need toinclude some detailed text in order to further alert women of the dangers.

The end result will be that more and more women will increasingly become aware ofthe dangerous side effects associated with taking birth control. We also intend forwomen to be able to recognize warning signs of problems and help themselves preventthese problems by going to see their doctor when things do not seem right. We wantto “scare” them enough into wanting to take better care of themselves and talk totheir healthcare professionals more than they already do; however we want to empowerthem with the knowledge that they can reduce their risks by leading healthy lives.

Photo Discussion

A good friend of mine, who worked at a national park in Alaska, took this picture. The landscape and sky are reflected in the lake, which gives this picture a mirrored affected. The colors in the picture are of high contrast. The contrasting colors not only create interest, but also give the picture depth. The light colors of the sky seem to appear closer than the dark shape of the mountain and trees. Depth is also created in this photo by the use of space. On the left side of the picture the mountain range appears larger because it is closer to viewer; the trees and the mountain in the background are smaller so they appear further away.

The shape of the mountains and the trees are quickly recognizable to the viewer. The fact that they appear black in photo makes them stand out even more. Since, these shapes are reflected in the water and divide the colorful portion of the photo, the picture seems to have an abstract feel.

I feel this picture also provides an example of implied movement in a still photo. The ripples in the water help to create this illusion. In addition, the shape and position of the clouds may also give the illusion of movement.

However, I feel one of most effective elements in this picture is the color. Not only does it help to create depth and form, but also it is visually appealing. The use of warm and cool colors creates contrasting moods. The dark images are looming and mysterious. In contrast, the lighter colors of the sky, particularly the light blue, are calm and soothing. The shades of orange and pink are warm, and I feel give the feeling of hope to the picture.