Montage: Activity 4

Activity 4

• Find two examples of photomontages that are either from a commercial source or from a fine art background. Discuss in what context they have been produced and what techniques they share with political photomontages. 



www. flickr.com



www.flickr.com

• What messages, if any, are communicated through these photomontages and how effective do you think they are? Consider different ways that each image could have been tackled by the artist and come up with an idea for ‘another in the series’. 

 Answers: Both of these examples are from a commercial source. They are trying to say come visit Paris or the end of the tunnel. It's persuading, you to do something. Techniques they share with political photomontages would be photo manipulation to make you think a certain way. As, far as messages go, with these photos, they show that they want you to do something. 

Montage: Activity 3

• Questons:
• As editors exercise their ever-increasing power over information control, what limits would you impose on them as to the extent to which they can manipulate the photographic image? 
• Devise a series of guidelines that will control the release of images that have been constructed for media use so that the public is aware as to the extent of the manipulation.

• Answer:
• Guidelines that will control the release of images would be:
• A policy that no photo manipulation will be allowed towards images that will be released.
• If possible contact sheets available for proof.
• No images focusing on opinion, if there are any, they will not be released. 
• Only true and factual images will be published and edited.

Montage: Activity 2

• Questions:
• Find two examples of political photomontages that are either from a historical or contemporary source. 
• Discuss in what context they have been produced and how effective you think they communicate their intended message. 
• Discuss the techniques that have been used to assemble the examples you have chosen and offer alternative ways that the artist could have put over the same message. 

Answers:

For both of these images, the intended message was loud and clear! Bush seems evil, which is an opinion because people love/hate this American  politician. This image might be effective just because it totally depends on what you politically believe. Bush is obviously not the Devil, but he also didn't really change or help the US. The techniques used for this image are masking, color changing, etc.
For the Hitler image, well the picture's intended message was that he was heartless, but there is no need for intended message because even without this image, he was still known for being heartless. The techniques used for the Hitler image would be fades, dissolves, split screens, double and triple exposures.  

Montage: Activity 1

Found on www.google.com

• Briefly discuss why you think painters of the Victorian period might have criticized these early photomontages and why the pictures were popular with the general public. (This technique of piecing together separate images to create one picture is again very popular with both artists and the media). 
• What two reasons can you think of for this revival of an old technique? 

Found on www.google.com

• Painters of the Victorian period might have critiqued early photomontages because during the Victorian era they were realist and used a lot of logic and photomontages were unrealistic or seemed fantasy. They became popular because they were creative and just fun to look at, as in different perspectives.
• Two reasons that I think that an old technique started to trend or it become revival was because of ads, TV, and social medias use these types of methods to get people to buy and consuming. Another reason would because of celebrities, presidential campaigns, and musicians use them to attract more people into joining their cause or become their fans, its about about gaining some type of publicity. 

Activity 3: Blog Entry

Question: Consider some of the social pressures that you think may shape your behavior and personal image. List the images most commonly associated with the categories or ‘boxes’ you have already listed in Activity 1. 

How have you responded to social pressures to conform by adopting an appearance that relates to the categories that you feel you have placed in or have chosen? 

Answer:

Photo founded on: www.google.com

 Whether you admire them or not, Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber do play a big role on influencing people. Bieber and Cyrus influence people by their actions and music, some good and some bad. They are part of a culture where teens and others want to act like them or dress like them. Just because they are celebrities doesn't mean that they can get away with anything. People don't seem to be aware of that. They are both talented and young, so making mistakes is okay, but to a certain extent. They have to know that there are little kids who don't understand their actions, so they are affecting all types of people and age groups. 

Photo founded on: www.google.com

A way to overcome social pressures is establishing who you really are. Determine where you want to go in life and keeping yourself humble and grounded helps. You have to live in reality and learning from mistakes. Those are ways to become a better person and maybe instead of looking up to celebrities, it might be better to admire a friend, mom, dad, sister, etc.  

Self Image: Activity 2

Questions: Find images in the media, which have been used to represent attractive and unattractive aspects of the human face. Examine and record carefully the photographic techniques used to accentuate both these qualities, drawing up a list that relates to the images you have found. List the physical characteristics that we have come to admire in both the male and female face and write 100 words in response to the following questions: 

1. Do you believe that media images or public opinion are responsible for the characteristics of beauty becoming universal stereotypes? 
2. Do you believe people admiring media images of glamorous models can do any harm?

Physical Characteristics that we have come to admire about both the female and male faces would be: 

• the face structure itself, (symmetrical) 
• cheek bones
• youthfulness of face
• eye color and shape
• distance of the eyes
• perfectly shaped eyebrows
• heart shaped upper lip
• even toned skin
• nose shape and structure 

1. I do believe that media images and public opinions are responsible for the characteristics of beauty becoming universal stereotypes because everyone's definition of beauty is different. Something you might think is ugly, might be beauty in someone else's eyes. Being beautiful is much more than a physical aspect, it can also mean having a beautiful heart or emotions. Beauty is such a big misunderstanding that stereotypes become a big part of it. People are not on the same page, when it comes to beauty and truth is, they never will. People should just learn to accept  that everyone is different and to never judge by first appearance or stereotypes. If people learn those things, then they should have no problem with stereotyping others.  

2. Admiring media images of glamorous models, is not necessarily a bad thing. It's totally okay to say they are pretty or are very fit. It does become an issue when young adults start comparing themselves to them. That's a problem because their self-esteem lowers and depression comes in. They  think that in order to be considered pretty you have to look like a Victoria Secret model or a Calvin Klein model and thats not true at all. Some model's starve themselves or lose to much weight and of course it's not their fault, but the example the agencies are giving young people is not a good one. Not everyone has to look the same or be thin. It's all about feeling comfortable in your own skin, no matter what shape and size you are.

Self Image: Activity 1

What follows is a list of categories that serves to define and divide us. Make a personal list of the categories you belong to or have conflict with and visual symbols that are associated with each. Aspirations and expectations should also be listed. 

1. Age/generation - is can dictate levels of independence afforded to the individual. 
2. Gender - Our sex affects the way we are treated by some individuals. 
3. Race - Prejudice and perceived racial superiority can affect hopes and aspirations. 
4. Religion - Moral codes and ideologies that serve to guide, unite and divide. 
5. Class or caste - A classification that an individual may never escape from. 
6. Personality - Extrovert and introvert are classifications of personality. 
7. Intelligence - educational establishments, based on IQ, often segregate us. 
8. Political persuasion - Left wing or right wing. Each carries its own ideology. 

1. I am seventeen years old and my generation would be a teenager living in the 21st century. 
2. I am a female.
3. My race or ethnicity is Hispanic or Latina.
4. My religion is Catholicism.
5. My class is middle class.
6. My personality would be bubbly, caring, kind, and generous.
7. I don't consider myself a smart person. I think I am a little less than average, but not dumb.
8. When it comes to Political persuasion,I get persuaded by accurate tactics, but emotion plays a big part in persuading me.