Blog # 13

Symmetry is something that is just inherently attractive to the human eye.  How symmetric a person's face is usually dictates how attractive they are, but is a perfectly symmetrical face always beautiful?

Muggum, a iPhone/iPod touch app can show you.  The app bisects a photo of a face down the middle then doubles the image letting you see what a person would look like if either side of their face were completely symmetrical.  The app has already been used on photos of many celebrities, people who are considered to be attractive, to varying results.  

Both are, by general consensus, attractive women but their completely symmetrical faces are not quite what their "imperfect" face is.  In my opinion, neither women need the symmetry.  

This app is obviously not perfect and is probably highly ineffective due to camera angle, a person's expression, etc., but what I'm trying to say is, I think being perfectly symmetrical is not all it's made out to be.  In fact, I think it's impossible.  Everybody has something that makes them "imperfect" but I don't think that is a bad thing.  If you have a crooked smile or maybe one of your eyes is a tiny bit bigger than the other you shouldn't be self-conscious but I know that not being self-conscious is hard in today's society where beauty is everything.  

Blog # 12

It's an ad to promote World Water Day and to spread awareness about how unclean water causes countless deaths and how journalists are trying to spread the word about this.

The water, invisible on the piece of paper at first, represents how safe and clean water appears to be but the ink shows what's really underneath the seemingly clean surface.  The ink is supposed to represent the journalists, ink being a journalist's chosen tool, who uncover the truth and make the facts about how bad unclean water is known.

I personally find this ad to be very well done and quite effective.  Visually it's very pretty and although I have seen art done using ink and water before, I have yet to see it done so well, like this.  The images that the ink and water make really show who is being affected by this (the face of a child) and what happens when you drink unclean water (the grave markers and skull).  Although the ad is in French, the message still makes itself quite clear.  I think smart advertising, like this, is a very good way to get the message about a cause out there.

Blog # 11

Be Your Own Souvenir was an installation in Barcelona for two weekends in January of this year.  Located near a museum and washrooms, the machine allows tourists to take away from their trip to the beautiful city, a souvenir that is of their own likeness.  All one has to do is insert a dollar and the machine comes to life.  One would have to stand where the sensors are located and the machine will film the person using three kinetic sensors for a full 360-degree scan.  Afterwards, the machine spits out a miniature figure of yourself to take home.

I think something like this quite neat.  It's amazing that this sort of technology is so accessible to people that all they would have to do is forfeit a dollar to enjoy this experience and that, I think, it's a whole lot cooler than just having your portrait painted or your photograph taken.  I also like how interactive it is.  I believe that art is something that everyone should be able to particpate in.  If I saw this on a trip, or even here where I live, I'd definitely want to try it out.

Blog # 10

Recently, I've taken a look at a series of photographs taken by photographer, Kevin Van Aelst.  A lot of his works feature him taking pictures of quite ordinary things and defamiliarizing them in such a way that makes them look very interesting.  


Take, for example, this picture of a roll of tape made to look like the ocean with sharks swimming around in it.   

http://www.kevinvanaelst.com/photoocean.html

   
As well, he also takes a few photos that I'm not all too entirely sure what they are or what they mean., but I guess art is up to interpretation.  Anyway, I'm always quite impressed when I see pictures like these because it amazes me how people are able to look at one simple thing and see something else that is completely unrelated.  I'll admit, I don't have the most creative mind so I personally find it difficult to see these sorts of things in everyday objects.  But seeing these pictures makes me want to try more often to look for the extraordinary in the ordinary.  

Blog # 9

The Sears Tower unveiled, in the summer of last year, their 103rd floor balconies.  Now, this may seem boring but these aren't just any old balconies 103 floor above ground.  These balconies are made of one-and-a-half inch thick glass. 



Supposedly, the glass balcony can support up to five tonnes and was inspired by the forehead prints left behind on the windows of the sky deck from visitors wanting a better view of the city.  The people who have visited the site say that taking the first step out onto the balcony was the hardest step.  However, one gets used to it after venturing out a few times. 

I think that this is a neat way to test people's comfort zones.  See how courageous you are or how well you are able to deal with heights.  Or, you know, just a great way to get a small thrill in people's normally average and mundane lives.  It seems like a fun addition to an already iconic tower.  I also like that it's different and exciting.

 I think would like to visit this balcony in the future, maybe even take a step or two onto the glass floors.

Blog # 8

Exciting news for Sailor Moon fans!  Kodansha USA, the American publishers of the manga, have decided to bring back our beloved childhood heroine to America after a long six year hiatus.  Starting in September of this year the series will be re-released along with a two volume prequel.  The series has been around since 1992 and  been one of the most popular and well-known series of all time.

Currently, their seems to be a trend where things are being brought back, re-released or re-done.  It's a good way for companies to make money., to appeal to people's nostalgia.  I don't mind it if I get to see the things I've missed from my childhood.

I'll admit that I have never read the manga series but have seen the show when it aired many years ago.  I have to say that it was a significant part of my childhood.  I remember watching it religiously and making my parents buy Sailor Moon related merchandise.  And I feel that even though they are just bringing back the manga, it still feels like they are bringing back a part of my childhood.  It may be a bit optimistic of me but I'm quite hopeful that they'll bring back the show as well.

Blog # 7

If anyone looked outside their window on the evening of March 19, then they would have been able to see a “Supermoon”.  



http://www.cbc.ca/photos/galleries/219/219_2313_web_8column.jpg



A supermoon is when a full or new moon coincides with when it is closest to the Earth.  The result of this is that the moon appears much larger than it normally does.  This is something that has not occurred since 1993, eighteen years ago.  Many have speculated that supermoons are responsible for natural disasters, as the moon's gravity is responsible for the creation of tides and especially in the light of the recent tsunami in Japan, and while some will agree with this, many experts stress that this is definitely not the case.  The closeness of the moon will, however, cause a dramatically large range of high and low tides.    

If you want to know my theory on supermoons: people born in the light of a supermoon will be born with super powers.