w8

 w8

• Compare and contrast this project with the typography portrait.

Using illustrator was definitely smoother, so I preferred that. But I like the look of this second self portrait better due to the color. 

• How do they compare?

I think the second portrait is more successful.

• Do you think your finished portraits are successful? Why or why not?

Yes, but prefereab;y the second, color one. It feels more like me!

• How does Vectr compare to Adobe Illustrator? Will these be tools you will use in your classroom?

I would not use Vectr in the classroom, but maybe illustrator.

• Save a lo-res jpg of your finished portraits and add to your Blog post.

***My typography portrait will not upload in both formats I was advised to save it in. It is already submitted in BB. Also, because the Vectr site failed, I used an application like Fresco called YouDoodle+, one that I was able to download on my phone. 

W7

 1. How does this topic relate to ideas/themes/contents in this course?

NFTs definitely have a place in out Visual Culture/New Media curriculum. Although I don't personally like them, I understand that they are a growing part of the internet community, and that has to be recognized. 

2. What sources (reading / URL's ) did you find the most useful for research, reference? Did you use other sources then ones in the resource folder (link the URL in you post)?

eulerbeats.com was the most enjoyable audio site to visit. I actually really like the music on it! I wouldn't buy it- since its free online, but I enjoyed it. Also, superrare.com was fun to explore. There are many interesting images/gifs to enjoy. 

3. What challenges did you encounter when creating the video in Spark and how did you overcome them?

The loading times for importing video clips was long, also, you can only narrate over slide by slide, rather than the collective video, which I think would have made things easier.

4. Do you think your project is successful? Why or Why not?

I think it is! It was fun to make and also record. I like putting my opinion out there, I hope its entertaining to watch. 

5. How could you use Spark in your classroom in the future?

I could use it by asking students to spend time w the program, maybe use it to describe their artistic process on a project, their inspiration, or talk about an artist/art movement they enjoy. It's a nice way to present to the class without standing in front of them and lecturing, which some students fear. 

(remember to embed your Spark Video in your blog post

w6 Pixlr

W6 Pixlr 

 

W7 Jafri

 W7 Sacha Jafri

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1. Have you heard of Sacha Jafri before this assignment?

Nope, I had not!

2. What are your thoughts on his work?

Because his work IS his mission, I will focus on this question more in the answer for #3. 

3. What are your thoughts on this mission?

"The greatest gift we're ever given is our childhood, and yet sadly its the first thing that we're taught to forget." - Sacha Jafri. I am excited by his work - that another artist with a holistic perspective is not only making extremely amazing works of art but also using his gift to help the children of our shared planet, the ones in most need right now. I love his mission, it is clear he is a soulful and spiritual being and that is more important than anything else. He is connected, open and genuine. It shows in his work, and its beautiful.

4. How can you use Jafri's art in your classroom? What lessons could you teach with his art?

I think there are many lessons that could be based on Jafri's work, especially ones surrounding self, others, acceptance, the art of making art for arts sake, community, donation and charity, giving, holism and spirituality, and the soul. 

 1. How do digital images play a role in your day-to-day life?

We as modern humans are bombarded with images everday: ads, posts on social media, art. And for an art student, I see even more of that in school and in schools I observe in. 

2. In your personal life?

In my personal life, I see images each and everyday, like I stated above, most are ads or images on social media. As well as artworks I make or ones I discuss in class. 

3. In the way you experience your world?

I think that advertisements, especially ones catered to me by data fishing and algorithms, heavily shape the ways I look at and understand my world.

4. What are your thoughts on ethics and aesthetics as it relates to photojournalism and digital imagery manipulation?

I think that photo journalism is important, not only because I am a visual learner, but also because I think it's important for the public to see and understand situations they are not directly involved in - ones that need their attention. That does however, effect us negatively when data is manipulated to look like one thing when it's really another. Whether it's pushing an agenda or not, photomanipulation sells a false idea, and that is not good. 

5. What are your thoughts on these example of these manipulated mages ?

These images definitely reminds me that everything is not always what it seems, and that people can "airbrush" anything that they want to!

6. Out of all the examples, which one do you believe has the most impact? Why?

Benjamin Netanyahu and His Cabinet, 2009 ec - This doctored photo made me so mad! The first thing I thought was: they removed the women, no surprise. Men impact society when removing women from the pictures of high honor and power. These images create sexist subconscious ideals that last for years and years. 

7. How will you as a future art educator teach your students about aesthetics & ethics in regards to photo/image manipulation?

I will be sure to teach my students that false information exists out there, even in photos. I will teach them the significance of fact checking and making sure that they understand what they are really looking for. It's important, to our economics, mental health and societal progression that we can all learn to "read" images, and understand when they have been doctored and why. 

W5 Infographic

W5 Infographic

 1. What site did you select to create your Infographic? Why did you select this site? What are the pros/cons of the site?

I used Piktochart. I chose this site after looking at the many options because of the different kinds of images they had available to use for free, I liked the graphics that they offered and the design format seemed familiar enough for me to work with. 

2. What is the topic of your infographic and why did you select it? Which L.A.T.C.H. method did you use and why?

The topic of my infographic (below) is the introduction to the critters I have in my fresh water aquarium. If the school I start working at allows me, I will this tank in my classroom and use this infographic and the critters inside the tank to teach kids about science and base some arts integration science projects on it! Of the LATCH method, I used Category in order to organize the species that can be found in my tank. 

3. What data did you choose to "visualize" on your infographic? Why is important the data you seleceted is represented visually?

I chose to visualize not only my water life but also allude to a tank itself, making a not distracting but visually fitting and pleasing tank like background, with dark water, bubbles and kelp.  The data I selected to discuss is organized with repetition so its easy to follow and understand. I made sure to use scale and contrast to my advantage so that the information on my infographic was bolder than the background. 

4. Compare the infographic you created for this project to the poster you created using Canva. What do you think is successful about each project? What do you think is a weakness of each project?

My canva poster was cool, but not this cool! I think now that I know both programs I'd most likely use canva for things like this, only because I feel after working with them both, I understand canva better. I think a weakness in the canva poster was business, I wasn't familiar with the design tools then, so it didn't turn out quite as I had hoped. Weaknesses for this project are hard to find- i am proud of it -but one is certainly that I can't go get another fish or frog or snail if I want, otherwise I'd have to recreate the whole thing. 

5. Which tool do you prefer using, the Canva or the Infographic tools and why? How do these online tools compare to other layout tools you may have used  - Word, Publisher, InDesign?

As stated above, I prefer Canva. For me, it was easier to use and figure out. I actually found myself wishing I could use canva for this project rather than the site I used because I like it so much! Canva compares by having similar icons for design tools, and endless editable graphics to choose from! It offers more freedom than other software sites. 

6. On you Blog post, be sure to include the infographic and a jpg of your Canva poster (from last week). 

7. From the video " The Beauty of Data Visualization", answer the following:

• What do you think of the quote from Hans Rosling "Let the dataset change your mindset."?( 12:18) Do you think data is powerful enough to change ones behavior?

I think once we learn something, it sticks with us forever. Even subconsciously, we recall these facts and it does effect us to a certain degree. Whether we change our ways of behaviors based on what we learn is subjected and individual, but I definitely think data has the power to change us.

• "Design is about solving visual problems with elegant solutions and information design is about solving information problems" What are your thoughts about how this can help communication with issue with trust and reliability?(16:43)

I think when we are presented with data in an attractive way, it becomes more digestible. The easier we learn, the fast we take in information. 

• How does this "data visualization" talk tie into what we have been learning about visual culture and media?

Data visualization, like visual culture, is just another form of visual language in our culture and media. Much like the previously discussed items, data visualizations are persuasive, educational, and sometimes even misleading. 

• Of all the dataset examples in the video, which one do you feel had the most visual impact and why?

The most impactful example to me was the one that included more than one informational variable when discussing each countries military spending when also liking at it's population and other factors. I felt as though some ideas I had about the US were changed because I was able to see the big picture accurately.