Lecture 12: Photojournalism

Tutorial question: Find a photojournalistic news story from any newspaper or magazine and answer the following question:

Retrieved from: 

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/why-you-will-never-see-a-front-page-like-this/2005/06/30/1119724757442.html

a) Why did you choose this news over others?

The definition of a photojournalism is photographic images that convey great truths expose wrongdoing and neglect and to inspire hope an understanding and connect people around the globe. (Bersak, 2003) With this definition, I personally believe that this news is best to explain the importance of the ethics of photojournalism. The image itself has become one of the most powerful influential to make a change in poverty. Being human is about feeling the faith of restoring the humanity in the world, and this photograph alone will do tremendous effects around the world.

b) Is the narrative component of the story necessary or is the picture enough to express the intended message of the news?

The narrative component of the story is as important and the picture itself, the heading alone "20,000 die each day" would grab the attention of the audience and expresses the message needed to make poverty stop. According to the Mark Scott and John Fairfax, editors of the Sydney Morning Herald (2005) "we do not try to shy away from presenting difficult images but newsworthy stories that may confront and challenge." This is one of the main purpose photojournalism should be, to find a newsworthy story to print. The narrative's rationale is to persuade the readers of the serious problem of poverty, and that the want to help those in need is important in this rapidly growing society.

c) Did the picture and writings capture the "truth" of the event? 

Personally, yes. The picture itself says a thousand words, how children in the third world country are facing these life threatening problems. According to Paul Martin Lester, (1991) "As reporters, photojournalists must have a strong sense of the journalistic values that guide all reporters. Truthfulness, objectivity, and fairness are values that give the journalism profession credibility," in other words, it is important that the images taken for the news clippings, should be and always will be a strong representation of the message. The event of children dying every day should deserve a sad picture to represent the ignorance on mankind to those in need.

References:

Bersak, D. R (2003) Ethics In Photojournalism: Past, Present and Future.

Lester, P. M. (1991) Photojournalism: An Ethical Approach.

Lecture 11: Information Graphics

Tutorial question: Look at the following information graphic broken down into a series of four images and answer the following question: The original photograph is called "Skull with cigarette, 2007" by Chris Jordan. It has a caption below the photographs which reads: "Depicts 200,000 packs of cigarettes, equal to the number of Americans who die from cigarette smoking every six months". Why didn't the photographer just present the information in numbers? Why explain the statistics in graphical form?

Visual images is one of the strongest way of communication, according to Ann Marie Barry, (1997) that visual intelligence has been very successful in unconsciously persuading and brainwashing, those who respond to visual images. Why didn't the photographer present this information in statistical form is because of wanting to intrigue and interest the audience with visual interaction.

The photographer used the power of semiotics, the image of the skull is a sign of death and the cigarette is the sign for the cause of death. In Ann Marie Barry's first chapter, Perception and Visual "Common Sense" and states that visual problem like this image formed by the brand of cigarettes is a way of implicating memory effect that is exposed to visual stimulus influences a response.

According to Kostenlnick and Hassett, (2003) this image is the one of the many ways of rhetoric, the image was designed to pass the message of "200,000 is the number of Americans die from cigarettes every six months." Using 200,000 images of brand of cigarette to represent which of the brands causes more death. This is a inductive way of argument, where the argument is concluded that cigarettes are the cause of death of a quarter of the population of America. 

In conclusion, visual images are one of the many ways of communication and with the art  of persuasion, transmitting the message using the power of signs such as skulls and the actual cigarette will encourage visual stimulation from the audiences. Therefore, using images to present information is more simpler and easy to relate with than information graphs.   

References:

Barry, A. M. (1997) Visual Intelligence: Perception, Image, and Manipulation in Visual Communication. New York.

Kostelnick, C., Hassett, M. (2003) Shaping Information: The Rhetoric of Visual Conventions. USA

Lecture 10: Games and Avatar in the Information Age.

Tutorial question: Do you agree that you are cyborgian in nature?

The impact of advance technology has made the society dependent on electronic devices in their daily life. Information is transmitted through the technological mediums of multimedia, the way of connecting with others in no further than a send button on a smart phone or even call at any place at any time. (Levy, 2001) Has society adapted to the cyborgian nature? Or is society still has its sense of human nature?

What is cyborgism culture? According to Kreps, (2007) a cyborgian is a person who depends on technology in daily life, an additional to their normal human nature. For example, cyborgs today are everywhere with 20:20 vision. These external aids such as spectacles, contact lenses, and even laser eye surgery are what enhances the human senses using technology. Yes, personally I believe all humans in society now are part of the cyborgian culture using and depending on technology like depending on breathing air.

The advanced technology also has developed mechanic arms and legs to aid individuals of society to do their tasks in their daily life. It no longer seems odd or abnormal when a person who is walking around with prosthetic legs as it did forty or fifty years back where the cyborgian culture was just a myth and stories.

The world wide web has also become another world for the more advanced cybrogians. According to Hills, (1999) the virtual reality has become one of the great success of IT. Where humans believe that their life in these virtual reality games are their actual lives and the human mind is just an avatar to control them.

In conclusion. personally yes, I believe that I am a cyborgian, the use of technology is more than 12 hours per day just to connect with one another, go from one place to another, see with spectacles, and medicate myself from falling sick. Now in this Information Age, anything done by technology is possible, which has become a simulacrum of human instinct however, depend on technology to lead our lives everyday.

References:

Hills, K. (1999) Digital Sensations: Space, Identity, and Embodiment in Virtual Reality. Minnesota, USA.

Levy, P. (2001) Cyberculture. Minnesota, USA.

Kreps, D. (2007) Cyborgism: Cyborgs, Performance and Society. 

Lecture 9: Cinema and Television

Tutorial question: Name your favorite television and film. Explain how the film could shape a person's identity.

The mass media is known to be one of the most influential factors of human behavior, in forms of cinema and television different sub-cultures are formed. According to a Karen Dill's study, (2009) 3700 hours per year are spend on using the mass media, it is hours like these that unconsciously transmit the underlying ideologies of the movie or television series. Dill suggested that these mediums is the center of reasoning to how individuals act in society, "learning stereotypes of gender and race reinforced by the media and conforming to the feelings and behaviors shown in the media."

According to Rosengren, (1994) media is a one of the most important agency of socialization. It develops the cultural, social and material system which leads to the ideal practice of the ideology of the society. For example, the news is an agency to set control to the society, transmitting the right and wrongs of the law and how individuals are being punished. Furthermore, movies and television series also transmit ideology such as gender roles, however, stereotyping them into sub-culture social groups of the society. (Curran, Smith, 1987)

For example, take the well-known Disney film: Beauty and The Beast. This movie is targeted for children, little do they know that this movie has gender stereotypes. The young girls who are watching this video are unconsciously taught to act like a princess, being sweet and polite. When Belle was captured by the Beast, she was comforted by household items. What does this indicate? Women are meant to be indoors and cook, clean and be submissive to the men? Generally, analyzing this movie yes, Belle portrays the ideal image of a woman of society.

In the movie, Belle loves to read, this however did not suit Gaston, he believes women are purpose in life is to get married, bear children, and care for the family. This does not settle well with Belle, yet she does not defend her rights to read, or treat Gaston with ill matters.

On the order hand, Beast, the is a great example of the challenges if a man does not conform to the ideal man of society. Beast is compared to Gaston, the handsome, strong and masculine "prince charming" with a not-so-charming personality. The ideal man is to become the breadwinner and leader of the society. As Beast struggles to conform to the ideology, slowly he changes for the sake of love and for the sake of being able to me changed back into a man.

In conclusion. mass media does shape the identity of an individual, as it is a major agency of socialization. Gender roles are shaped by how the media portrays men and women, unconsciously they conform to the needs to be masculine and feminine to be accepted in the society. Other ideologies and cultures are also transmitted for society to follow, this may be another way of institutionalize the individuals to avoid chaos and uncertainty to belong social group. 

References:

Curran, J., Smith, A., (1987) Impact and Influences: Essays on Media Power In The Twentieth Century. London.

Dill, K. E. (2009) How Fantasy Becomes Reality: Seeing Through Media Influence. New York.

Rosengren K. E. (1994) Media Effect and Beyond: Cultural, Socialization and Lifestyles. New York.

Lecture 8: Photography.

Tutorial Question: Why do we consider photography as a form of cultural critique? Is every photograph able to do so?

"A picture is worth ten thousands of words" is this Chinese proverb true? Do society consider photographs as a form to critique cultures? David Bate, (2009) who conducted a study in photography believed that the use and understanding of visual images now and then were different. Historian art we made to mark the victories of battle, the courageous Nepoleon Banoaparte, these visual art were consider the truth and an important memory, however not much has change as the technology of photography develops. 

According to Celia Lury, (1998) the modern society is now in the Information Age where every individual in society is dependent with technology. In this case, society has become more dependent with using photography as preserving memories. However, not all photographs perceive the truth and it could be manipulated accordingly to the photographer.

Culture is defined as the way of life, traditions, and beliefs of a social group or society. Why photographs are used as a form of cultural critique is because how cultures are being presented in the photographs. According to McKeen, (1998) the understanding of a photographic truth, like all truths, depends on the understanding of culture, belief, history, and the universal aspects of human nature. 

David Bate, (2009) suggested in his "Study of Photography" that key institutions such as the advertisement companies, journalism and news, and documentaries all uses photographs to portray their ideal view of society. The ideal society is the wealthy, powerful, and developed societies, not everyone around the world is aware of how fortunate they are. There are still poverty in Africa, and this does not get the attention of the public due to the key institutions neglecting to use these images for the society to see. However, it is photographs like this that changes the perspectives of individuals around the world. The truth and genuine innocence of these African children are what a photograph should represent. The discomfort feeling of seeing this image will lead to tremendous movement to make a change in the culture of ignorance and help these children.

In conclusion, visual images such as historical paintings and photography are a way of preserving memories. It is believed that photographs are the truth with a million words, however, the rationale of the image may be different according to different perception of the image. Some photographs may not be as ethical or true however, it is up to the audience to decide to believe or not.


References:

Bate, D. (2009) Photography: The Key Concepts. Oxford, UK.

Lury, C. (1998) Prosthetic Culture: Photography, Memory, and Identity.

Mullen, L. (1998) Truth In Photography: Perception, Myth and Reality In The Postmodern World. Florida.