Tuesday, June 15, 1999

1999 Caribbean cruise

This is the second vacation I took in June. This was first class.

I remember there was an arcade with Soul Calibur, Area 51, Daytona USA, X-men vs. Capcom on the ship. There was a casino and strip bar.

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Friday, February 26, 1999

Art is an manipulation of elements


     Art is an manipulation of elements such as in visual clues color, form, depth and movement, while using the elements to establish a design with some aspects of similarity, proximity, continuation, and common fate in order to compose an art piece.  In other words, art could be interpreted and associated with Wertheimer's conclusion “The whole is different from the sum of its parts”.  The stimulation before our eyes convey no meaning until our mind makes sense of of the sensory input. (goodreads, 2012), (DukeU, 2012)(biography.com, 2012)
      The molecular or atomistic sphere shape objects floating around and into what appears to be mystical divinity figure or a Greek Goddess (an iconic sign) is what attracted me to this painting for analyzing.  The form uses the fusion of the spheres (circles) and independent symmetrical circles to corporate shape and lines that create the features of the face and upper torso. Accordingly to our text, circles associates with endless rhythmic pattern of time and is a brain attention getter.  The variant size dot-like spheres are either fused or evenly spaced developing horizontal and diagonal lines in and around the figure framing and developing the divinity figure.  Accordingly to the gestalt law of similarity, “object that look similar will automatically grouped together by the brain”.  Proximity of spheres is produce through the similarity and different size orbital spheres, while the fused, equally spaced spheres produces a line and depth formation. In the lower third of the painting, not only does the roll of equal size  and spaced spheres reduced the sensation of depth, it also creates an imaginary line that outlines the upper torso of the figure.
The continuation of the strategic placed lines of spheres, colored streaks, and wavy lines produces a implies a spinning movement and provides energy to the painting.   Spheres high-lighted with tints of soothing blues, cream, light yellow, browns, grays, and black gives dimension while the solid color of cream  centralizes the figure in the painting.  Dali uses shading of colors in spheres to produce facial features, hair, breast bone and imaginary tips of clothing.  The perceived smooth texture is also provided through shading of color in the spheres.  The sense of roughness or deterioration are created in only three orbital spheres on the right mid-outer spheres. White color separates the shades of blue color that differentiates the sky and water and also produces a horizontal line lower in the frame of the painting.  The soothing color blue used in the sky produces a perception of a calming atmosphere while allowing the eyes to spend more time focusing on the warmer colors of the divine figure.  (goodreads, 2012), (DukeU, 2012)(biography.com, 2012)
       If you increase the contrast and the brightness, then you can see only the outlines of the face and hair, therefore, the painting becomes more of a sketch. The colors of the spheres, sky and water in the image will disappear and the lighter spheres become barely noticeable.  If I eliminate the wavy lines and streaks  than I eliminate the energy / movement that was created with the wavy lines and streaks. I will go further, if I change the space between all the spheres, that would totally distort the face and the whole unity of the painting. (goodreads, 2012), (DukeU, 2012)(biography.com, 2012)
       I liked Salvador Dali quote “Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility of cheating: It is either good or bad. ”   Since we live in a  high technical society that multicultural, studying  and analyzing individual elements of a picture provides a better understanding of the meaningful whole.  Once one understands the theory,  it makes you more aware of a better, noticeable design in print and screen media. What we see is only a stimulus to our brain, it is the mind that thinks with words.  Word and images combine produce understanding and long-term recall.  The stronger clarity of form the more effective the design. Roland Barthes describes individual elements within an image through a chain of association that makes up a picture's narrative which is through codes. (pg 59) (goodreads, 2012), (DukeU, 2012)(biography.com, 2012)



References

Anonymous  (2012)  Savador Dai


       Received April 22, 2012 from biography website
http://www.biography.com/people/salvador-dal%C3%AD-40389

Anonymous  (2012)  Savador Dai Timeline


       Received April 22, 2012 from duke university website

nonymous  (2012)  Test Image


       Received April 22, 2012 from JohnLovett website

nonymous  (2012)  Savador Dali


       Received April 22, 2012 from Goodreads website
http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/165858.Salvador_Dal_



Thursday, February 25, 1999

my own cultural identity.

       When one thinks of the culture in America, one would probably described it as a 'melting-pot' nation of immigrants.  With the exception of our Native Americans, essentially, each one of us can trace our heritage back from another culture, which for me is Scottish and English from my father's side and Norwegian and German from my mother's side.  Along with the heritage, the traditions emerge and are filtered down into the family life where the Judea-Christian moral and social values are connected to my own cultural identity.
       Today, instead of viewing America as a unity of diverse group of people who are united under one flag, one constitution, and have a one common destination as one nation under God with liberty and justice for all, we have those, including bias liberal media, who want to chip away on our constitutional democratic republic freedom.  Although there are several issues under attack from time to time, one issue will be discussed in this paper, my Judean-Christian heritage.  Our media enjoys expounding on this subject while at the same time rejecting the traditional American values and ideas. 
       When I was in elementary, I remember saying the Pledge of Allegiance each day at the beginning of the school day. In 1954, there was an added wording “under God” to the pledge by President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower.  According to President Dwight Eisenhower  “one nation, under God” was a“spiritual weapon” for our country in both peace and war. I would never have considered the Pledge Of Allegiance being under attack because of the words “under God”.   Instead, in the past few years, the word 'God' has come under the microscope and become an issue for those chosen few and those whose own atheist belief system believes the pledge should be banned and out of the classroom in following two cases.
 One such case is with Martin Rosenthal, a parent in Brookline, Mass. who would like students not to be pressure in saying the pledge and says 'that the pledge has no place in the classroom altogether”'; however, he himself has no problem reciting the pledge at a recent community event, according to the article “Parents fight Over Pledging Allegiance In Schools” by PNR.  The article relates how courts can not compel a student to “recite a pledge” although the article questions if students are still pressure to conform.  According to students, “no pressure is felt to pledge, but at times pressure can be felt to not to pledge”.   The article also quoted Newt Gingrich  on Fox News saying ' I would hope that any taxed paid school will say the Pledge of Allegiance, and frankly I'd wonder whether taxpayers ought to subsidize it if it's not going to teach people how to be patriotic and to be pro-American”'.  Then the article contrast Newt's statement with a Libertarian named Silverglate, who also favors pledge in schools, but calls the situation as only a distraction. He also believes allowing the student to “wrestle with whether or not to pledge is kind of like Liberty 101. (NPR, 2012)
        Another case involves an atheist Michael Newdow, who sued Congress, President Bush, and others in order to remove the words “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance because he felt those words were unconstitutional.  Mr. Newdow, a divorced father, who holds a medical and law degree, objected to having his 10 year old daughter hearing and reciting the pledge.  According to article written on 06/15/2004  “Court dismisses Pledge of Allegiance Suit” by MSNBC provides a great image of schoolchildren holding their hand over their left side on their chest while  they  recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  It reveals the Supreme court did preserved the phrase “one nation, under God” in the pledge and dismissed the case that a “California atheist could not challenge the patriotic oath”.  (MS-NBC, 2012) ( homeofheroes.com, 2012)
The article relates Supreme Justice William H. Rehnquist verifying that “the pledge as recited by schoolchildren does not violate the constitution” as well as Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Justice Clarence Thomas; however the Supreme court has already noted that schoolchildren cannot be required to recite the pledge.  The article also makes a point that school-sponsor prayer from classrooms, playing fields and school ceremonies are have been barred.  The article also mentions that Mr. Newdow will continue to pursue his fight since he still believes  “The pledge is still unconstitutional”. The article indirectly supports Mr. Newdow with “The First Amendment guarantees that the government will not “establish” religion, wording that has come to mean a general ban on overt government sponsorship of religion in public schools and elsewhere”. (NPR, 2012) (MS-NBC, 2012)( homeofheroes.com, 2012)
         Although I believe in both cases mention above that these two men have the right to voice their objections, however, does the few with the help of the media, make it “politically right” for the rest of us.  Regardless of what faith one has or does not have, our country was founded on faith and freedom.  That in itself makes us  different from other societies in which each one of us are free to follow his or her conscience.
  

References

Smith, T.  (2012)  Parents Fight Over Pledging Allegiance In Schools


       Received May 01, 2012 from NPR website
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/19/140600621/parents-fight-over-pledging-allegiance-in-schools

Anonymous  (2004, June 06)  Court dismisses pledge suit

       Received May 04, 2012 from MS-NBC website
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5208621/ns/politics/t/court-dismisses-pledge-suit/#.T6brGcVR18E

Anonymous  (2004, June 06)  MSNBC removes God from the Pledge of Allegiance          

        Received May 04, 2012 from Blogspot website

http://imeanreally-im-mto.blogspot.com/2011/06/msnbc-removes-god-from-pledge-of.html

Anonymous  (2012)  Pledge of Allegiance           

        Received May 04, 2012 from Blogspot website

http://homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfc_pledge.html


Saturday, February 20, 1999

Cartoons

Many of us can remember our favorite cartoon characters or cartoons when we were young. It mostly depends on the era you grew up in, what characters  and/or cartoons were our favorite.  Regardless of the media method use delivering any particular cartoon, our exposure to cartoons have always been part of our culture.  The main advantage cartoons have, compared to the news net work, is that cartoons provides a visual image that can stick with us just by the attraction of its presentation.  Since its  'illustrated-visual-art-form' quality accompanied by either written or spoken ideas, cartoons can approach society's subject matters, some that might be considered bad-taste or taboo in modern society, to make its 'symbolic' idea clear.  One good example of a cartoon exposing the day-to-day life issues is the animated TV series “The Simpsons”, 1991 episode, “Mr. Lisa Goes To Washington”. (Lester, P.M., pg 254-257, 2011) (wtso.net, 2012)
The satiric tone that surrounds the Simpsons family provides a humorous and sometimes insightful look of life's issues. The fabulous creator of “The Simpsons” is Matt Groening.   He developed the  cartoon characters some viewers may find likable or not-so-likable.  Groening, along with other directors and writers such as director Wes Archer and writer George Meyer, combined the family characters with relationships with other various  characters and produce a satire story line involving life's issues including: importance of the nucleus family, parenting, bullying, sense of community, educational system, environmental, media bias, sexuality, politics, religion and  much more. (Lester, P.M., pg 225-226. 228-229, 2011)(wtso.net, 2012)
The nucleus of the animated sit-com is a dysfunctional Simpson family. Homer, is the father who loves his beer and is somewhat inept.  Another fine description of Homer is a person that 'would sell his soul to the devil for one doughnut'.    Marge is Homer's wife and is happy to stay home and keep Homer and their three children Bart, Lisa, and Maggie on the 'straight and narrow'.  Bart is a 10 y. o. rebellious- prankster type child.  Lisa is an 8 y. o. intellectual that plays the saxophone.  Maggie is the youngest, who quietly observes and sucks on her pacifier.  Above all, the family sticks together and supports each other in their community of Springfield. (wikia, 2012)(wtso.net, 2012)
The episode “Mr. Lisa Goes To Washington” is an parody of the great 1939 movie “Mr. Smith Washington” (IMDB: 8.4) starring Jimmy Stewart.  The episode satires government corruption, while at the same time challenges Lisa's patriotic integrity and her own principles.  The episode also infuses sexual innuendos in Homer's and Marge's humorous dialect as well as making little stabs on education, politicians, voting and the environment. (wtso.net, 2012)
The plot starts out with Homer taking a special interest in reading a 'free' copy of “Reading Digest” that was sent to the Simpson's home.  The irony here is Homer never reads and thinks reading is stupid. After few days of reading the magazine from cover to cover, he takes note  of “Win a trip to Washington, D.C.”  “All expenses paid.” “VIP tour”; however, becomes it is just for kids, he throws the magazine into a waste basket.  At which point, Lisa states she is interested and decides to enter the 300 hundred word essay contest for “Patriots of Tomorrow”. (wtso.net, 2012)
With the support of her mother, Marge, Lisa then makes a bicycle trip to Springfield's National Forest to obtain further inspiration.  While sitting under tree, Lisa looks at the beautiful landscape and says “OK America, Inspire me!”  While Lisa waits to be feel inspired, a bald eagle lands on a branch above her gives her the inspiration she needs to finish writing her essay which she titles “The Roots of Democracy”.  Lisa's essay compares the birth and growth of America with Mother Nature nurturing the growth of the forest.   Lisa wins the regional finals and was approved for entry in the national finals of Washington, D.C. only after one contest judge came to the conclusion after conversing with Homer  that he did not have the 'intellect' to write such a wonderful essay for Lisa. (wtso.net, 2012)
While Homer and Bart are abusing and taking advantage of the 'all-free-expense-paid trip in Washington, D.C., Lisa excitedly visits Winifred Beecher Howe monument.  Accordingly to Lisa, Winifred Howe was a woman rights activist that led the Floor Mop Rebellion in 1910 and appeared on a unpopular 75 cent piece. The plaque on the monument states “I will iron your sheets when you iron out the inequities in your labor laws”.  At the moment she leaves the Howe's monument, she witnesses a corrupt congressman taking a bride from a Springfield lumber representative, who wants to demolish Springfield Forest for lumber.  Upset and feeling disillusioned over the government official's dishonesty, Lisa rips her essay “The Roots of Democracy” to shreds. (wtso.net, 2012)
Angered and bewildered, she visits Lincolns Memorial and appeals to 'Honest Abe' to show her the way.  Not getting a return answer, she then visits Thomas Jefferson's Memorial and tries to plea her problem to him.    Jefferson retorts “I know what your problem is, the Lincoln's Memorial is too crowed” and that is only reason why she is there to see him. While Lisa walks away without an answer to her problem, Jefferson still wishes Lisa not to go because he is lonely and unimportant, for his only recognition was the Declaration of Independence and the Louisiana Purchase.  On the steps leading to  the capital building, Lisa visualizes the  congressmen in front of her, as 'fat-cats' and 'pigs' eating money out of troughs, while Uncle Sam pours more money into the troughs.  Disheartened from the  corruption witnessed earlier, she sits down at the capitol steps to write her new essay “Cesspool on the Potomac” where she reveals the names involved in the bribery. (wtso.net, 2012)
The finals start with a piano player singing “The Deficit Rag”.  When Lisa is announced to read her essay, she informs the announcer that she would like to read her revised version of her essay which states the following: “The city of Washington was built on a stagnate swamp some 200 years ago and very little has change.  It stank then and it stinks now!” “It is the stanched of the very corruption that hangs in the air.”  “. . . and who did I see taking the bride was the honorable Bob Arnold!” “. . . I'm sure this will be one nation, under the dollar, with liberty and justice for another!”. (wtso.net, 2012)
Lisa's essay caused commotion and stirs a hostile reaction among the judges and audience.  One competition judge notifies the other senators regarding Lisa's speech; whereby, the congressman was eventually charged and arrested by the FBI.  Lisa did not win the competition due to the content of the essay, however, the winning contestant did acknowledge the courageous Lisa for her “ inflammatory rhetoric that reminded us of the price of freedom is eternal vigilance!”. (wtso.net, 2012)
Lisa's faith in the government was restored again with the knowledge of the arrested congressman, whom eventually became a “born again Christian”.  Congress passed a bill that saved her beloved Springfield forest.  Above all, Lisa's integrity and principle were preserved.  In the viewer's 'mind's-eye', this would make Lisa the real “Patriot of Tomorrow”.  (wtso.net, 2012)
References
Lester, P.M. (2011)  The Simpsons
(pp. 254-257), Visual communication, images with messages, 5th edition, Wadsworth Cengage,   printed in United States.
Lester, P.M. (2011) Chapter 7 - Graphic Design
(pp. 225-226), Visual communication, images with messages, 5th edition, Wadsworth Cengage,   printed in United States
Lester, P.M. (2011) Chapter 7 - Graphic Design
(pp. 227-228), Visual communication, images with messages, 5th edition, Wadsworth Cengage,   printed in United States

Anonymous.  (2012)  Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington (video)

        Received May 17, 2012 from wtso website

http://wtso.net/movie/173-The_Simpsons_302_Mr_Lisa_Goes_to_Washington.html

Wednesday, February 17, 1999

Sherlock Holmes

“You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear.” Sherlock Holmes's quote from “The Scandal of Bohemia” can be compared with Aldous Huxley, in "The Art of Seeing", who summed up visual communication, "The more you know; the more you see." Understanding yesterday's and today's Sherlock Holmes, connects both Sherlock's and Huxley's conclusion: if you observe the little details and clues around you and understand what you observe; it can lead you to an important insight. This paper will explore the six perspectives in how the written, and visual aspects of Sherlock Holmes's character has been created and communicated into an exceptionally strong identity that resonates among the generations of Sherlock Holmes fans. (Lester, P.M., p. 11,2011) ( Huxley, A., 2012)( gutenberg.org, 2012)
Personal Perspective
When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first wrote the stories of the masterly detective Sherlock Holmes, the public's fascination about the character and his role in solving crimes, suddenly increased enthusiastically. Holmes solved cases through his magnifying glass and discovered traces of evidence with all the tools available that existed in the late 19th century. Today, this immortal detective's popularity continues to be viable. In the 21st century, the tools of technology have made Sherlock's powers of deduction more explosive. Holmes's continues to exhibited an extraordinary ability to gather evidence through his honed skills of observation and deductive reasoning. Although he has difficulties with social interactions, his only loyal friend and colleague is Dr. John H. Watson, who brings humanity and humility to Holmes. (BBC, 2012) (PBS, 2012) (gutenberg, 2012)
Sherlock Holmes character bears the mark of longevity from the Scottish creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and all who read those countless Sherlock Holmes short stories when they were younger. Even today, Sherlock resides at 221 Baker Street, London with his friend and colleague Dr. John Watson. The admired detective solves cases with his comrade, Dr. Watson whose character Sir Conan Doyle portrays as a competent loyal ally to Holmes and also a disabled army physician from Afghanistan. What is so attractive about Sherlock Holmes is his dual personality that brings out his brilliance in deduction, while at the same time he can easily become bored when there are no puzzles or crimes to be solved. The British Broadcasting Corporation Channel's (BBC) modern Sherlock frequently states he is in 'his mind palace' when trying to solve crimes. He uses what one may call an ancient Greek Method of Loci, a memory technique that dates back to 500 B.C. (BBC, 2012) (PBS, 2012)(healthdiscovery, 2012)
The method of Loci is based on the assumption that you remember best when you place that memory in a familiar place in your mind location which will serve as a clue to remember. The method is usually used by people who are good at visualizing. Many of the Greek and Roman orators use the Loci method as a memory tool to give speeches without the aid of notes. The Loci method works well, because it enhances the way you remember. You visualize rooms in your mind's house as departments to store the memory for a particular item. After visualizing the item using all your physical senses (smell, feel, see, hear, etc) , you store the information in a particular room in your house. (howstuffworks, 2012)
Historical Perspective
Author Sir Arthur C. Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories helped unleash the passion for mystery and detection that has persisted for over a century, along with recognition spanning over the world. Sherlock was modeled after Dole's medical professor, physician Joseph Bell at the University of Edinburgh. Arthur Doyle admired Dr. Bell's extraordinary ability for observation, logic, deduction and diagnosis. Thus, by using the unique persona of Dr. Bell's abilities, the famous fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, was born. (SherlockHolmesonline, 2012)
In order to understand the time-line of the public's fascination to Sherlock Holmes, the time-line of Sir Author Conan Doyle has to be recognized as well. As a writer, as well as a physician, the young Conan Doyle was better known for his written work in America than in England. His first novel “A Study In Scarlet” was first published 1887 in Beeton's Christmas Annual, in which the novel introduces both Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. It was not until 1889, that a publisher of the Lippincott's Monthly Magazine from Philadelphia, U.S.A. wanted to establish a British edition for his magazine. After meeting with Doyle and another well know writer, Oscar Wilde, Doyle was commissioned to write a short novel for the magazine. On February 1890, “The Sign of Four” was then published in both America and England and instrumental in establishing name recognition for both Conan Doyle and the eccentric pipe smoking detective Sherlock Holmes. But it was not until Doyle started to write for “The Strand” magazine later that year, that the 'image' of Holmes was created by a talented illustrator, Sidney Paget. Paget used his handsome brother as a model to create Sherlock's image. From that point onward, the author, the magazine, and the artist established recognition around the world. (SherlockHolmesonline, 2012)
In 1891, The Strand serialized the antics of the famous detective 'Holmes' and his side kick 'Dr. Watson' with the arch-enemy professor Moriarty in “The Scandal of Bohemia”. After a few years, Doyle became tired of the short stories surrounding Holmes and decided after a trip back from Switzerland, that Sherlock had to come to an end. In 1893, the “The Final Problem” was published and the famous “Sherlock Holmes and professor Moriarty plunged to their death at the Reichenbach Falls” in Switzerland. This resulted in 20,000 people canceling their “The Strand Magazine” subscriptions. (SherlockHolmesonline, 2012)
Nineteen hundred was the year the Boer War started. This was the year Doyle decided to get involved in a war instead of just writing about battles of the war. Age and weight kept him from being enlisted, so he decided he would volunteer as a physician. After Doyle was accepted, he went to Africa. This time he battled the microbes while writing a 500 page chronicle of the war “The Great Boer War”. (SherlockHolmesonline, 2012)

After the war, Canon Doyle spent some time in the Devonshire moors in England. Back to writing again, Doyle decided to bring back Sherlock Holmes (as if the detective had never vanished) and wrote and published in “The Strand” magazine “The Hounds of The Baskervilles” in 1901. Today, this story remains the favorite of the world-wide public. Doyle wrote a total of 56 short stories and 4 novels involving Sherlock and Watson. There also has been numerous of films and TV series depicting Conan Doyle's stories. (SherlockHolmesonline, 2012)
TechnologyPerspective
In the late 1890s, Holmes uses forensic tools such as a magnifying glass, microscope, and assortment of dissolving chemicals in order to do research on evidence found around the crime scene. Microscopic analysis in the today's laboratory is very important in forensic chemistry in crime investigations, such as in the 1927 “The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place”. Sherlock Holmes had been bending for a long time over a low-power microscope. "Now he straightened himself up and looked around at me in triumph." “It is glue, Watson,” said he . . . “Those hairs are threads from a tweed coat. The irregular grey masses are dust. There are epithelial scales on the left. Those brown blobs in the centre are undoubtedly glue . . . Since I ran down that coiner by the zinc and copper fillings in the seam of his cuff, they [Scotland Yard] have begun to realize the importance of the microscope.”
. (freeservers, 2012) (BBC, 2012) (PBS, 2012)
Since the late 19th century the beginnings of forensic science was sprouting. Accordingly to Forensic Science -History, Sir Francis Galton reveals finger prints are “unique and do not change with age”. In 1890, Scotland Yard used a system that a French police official, Alphonse Bertillon, developed. The Bertillon systems used 11 body measurements and dimensions that were photograph. It was considered one in 250 million chance that two people would have the same dimensions and measurements. In 1894, finger prints were added to the Bertillon system. By today's means, Sherlock Holmes would fit in like a glove in forensic science. The 21st century gives Sherlock has technology at his finger tips, his laptop, his smart-phone, a forensics laboratory, contact with Scotland Yard and/or British police and of course his innate ability to resolve a complex cases from the smallest of clues. Today's Sherlock displays a self-conscience emphasis on aligning both its narrative and visual style with text messaging and the Internet. It also should be noted that the modern-day Sherlock's thoughts and observations have been sub-titled on the screen in all “Sherlock” TV BBCs episodes (jrank, 2012) (PBS, 2012)
The recent BBC Series I consists of three stories. "A Study of Pink" loosely based upon Doyle's "A Study in Pink." The” Great Game" is based upon several Doyle's novels including "A Study in Scarlet", "The Five Orange Pips", "The Adventure of the Retired Colourman", "The Adventure of the Naval Treaty", "The Adventure of the Final Problem", and A Scandal in Bohemia". The “Blind Banker” episode is based from Doyle's "The Valley of Fear." The recent BBC series II consist of three stories, “The Scandal of Belgravia”, “The Hounds of Baskervilles”, and “The Reichenbach Fall”. The “Scandal of Belgravia” is an updated “A Scandal in Bohemia”, a short story apart of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" made in 1891. Belgravia is the Buckingham Palace district. Bohemia is an area in the Czech Republic. The Hounds of the Baskervilles is a popular novel published in 1902. The Reichenbach Fall is from "The Final Problem", a 1893 short story in "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes". The Reichenbach Fall is where Sherlock and John Watson meet in "The Final Problem" novel. The series involves today's technology with yesterdays stories by Sir Arthur Canon Boyle. All the series are fast action, humorous, adventurous and does not disregard what the original author wanted to convey. (BBC, 2012)(thumbr.com, 2012)(PBS, 2012)
Ethical perspective
“What is it today, I asked, morphine or cocaine? It is cocaine, he [Sherlock] said, a seven-per-cent solution. Would you like to try it?” “Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantelpiece, and his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case. With his long, white, nervous fingers he adjusted the delicate needle and rolled back his left shirtcuff. For some little time his eyes rested thoughtfully upon the sinewy forearm and wrist, all dotted and scarred with innumerable puncture-marks. Finally, he thrust the sharp point home, pressed down the tiny piston, and sank back into the velvet-lined armchair with a long sigh of satisfaction.” (literature.org, 2012)
In the mid 1800s to early 1900s, the impetuous Sherlock Holmes usage of a legal drug cocaine was a predominate occurrence when Sherlock became bored and under-stimulated between cases. This acknowledgment was identified in both Doyle's written stories and earlier Sherlock film episodes. Holmes's drug addiction survived the mid 1890s until the early 1900s where cocaine-opium elixir medicines, tonics, wines, and soft drinks such as Coca-Cola were considered safe, acceptable and commonly use and embedded among all social classes. Well known Sigmund Freud promoted cocaine as a cure for depression and sexual impotence and/or Thomas Edison promoting the positive effects from cocaine elixirs. Hollywood also participated in advertising and influencing the mass audience about the drug's benefits through means of silent-film stars' personal testimonials and by the stars' own publicizes life styles. Eventually a majority of the public realized regular usage of cocaine had major side effects such as addiction and deterioration affects on the mind and body. It was not until 1920 that the Dangerous Drug Act was passed and cocaine became one the drugs listed that would be outlawed. The 21st century Sherlock has replaced the needle injections of cocaine with nicotine patches. (narconon.org, 2012)(BBC, 2012) (PBS, 2012)
The BBC's 21st Century's Sherlock is more anti-social and crude at times in comparison to the Sherlock in the 1890s. Dr. Watson's character becomes a 'gate-keeper' to Sherlock's verbal and nonverbal behavior. Regardless of what era, Sherlock's trademark is still focused on his super-human deduction abilities. Both yesterday's and today's Sherlock Holmes personality could be described as barbed or impatient, while at the same time, composes his chose of words in a brilliant fashion.
Unlike other past and modern day detectives, Holmes considers women as a distraction and is quite neutral when it comes to women. He has a keen ability to understand other human beings and their actions, however, his logic is to maintain an emotional distance from anyone, especially women, that would interfere with his work . Sherlock becomes easily bored and somewhat reclusive until there is a juicy unsolved case that needs his attention, then Sherlock acts like he is on a lot of caffeine. Since Sherlock “. . cannot live without brain work. What else is there to live for.” (literature.org, 2012) (sherlock-holmes.co.uk, 2012) (BBC, 2012)(PBS, 2012)
CulturalPerception
The latest Masterpiece theater film series called “Sherlock” are for the Holmes's admirers who don't want their favorite character Sherlock to upset their intelligence, taste, and admiration with just a mediocre character. They also do not like the main story line to stray without giving due reverence to Sir Conan Doyle. The BBC new adapts the long-loved Sherlock Holmes into a modern-age-era by paralleling and superbly intermixing Sir Arthur Canon Doyle's classical literature into the 21st Century's technology era. This attracts a variety of taste groups as well as the popular culture. (tumblr, 2012)
Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson are now known as Sherlock and John, the way we informally address people now. Instead of of John writing and publishing Sherlock's and his exploits in the Strand Magazine, he blogs it on the internet. The cutting-edge Sherlock not only consults with his clients at his 221 Baker Street flat, he also consults over the i-phone. At times Sherlock can view and evaluate crimes scenes by means of his home laptop webcam while his assistant John humorously uses his laptop webcam to scans the area around the crime scene. Rather then sending telegrams, Sherlock texts and instead of publishing articles, he composes on his own web site called “The Science of Deduction”, which is available on real time for all Sherlock's fans. Sherlock Holmes loves classical music and uses classical music and his own violin music compositions in order to ponder a thought on a case. (Freeservers, 2012) (literature.org, 2012)

Critical Perspective
The attraction the public has for any Sherlock Holmes televised series or films can easily be related to Huxley's statement "The more you know; the more you see" how Sherlock's character persona and analytical capabilities have evolved from the 19th century to modern times. From Canon Doyle's written work, the invention and advancement of films and television have visually evolved Sherlock's character from the 'the mind's eye' to the screen. (BBC, 2012)(PBS, 2012)
Writers and producers are stepping-up the adventures of Sherlock Holmes by incorporating some of Canon Doyle's language into today's dialogue and creating more suspenseful crimes that Sherlock and Dr. Watson have to solve. Science and technology have taken a larger role in today's Sherlock crimes scenes, as was mentioned earlier, in the development of forensic science. Music and sound in today's films are modernize and provides the aura of suspense as Sherlock and John are solving a case. (BBC, 2012)(PBS, 2012)
Yesteryear and today's film both recreated the ambiance of London. "...dense drizzly fog...and Mud-colored clouds droops over the muddy streets", as Canon Doyle's describes in "The Sign of Four," "Down the Strand" the lamps were but a misty splotches of diffuse light which threw a feeble-circular glimmer out into the slimy pavement." The 21st century TV episodes takes out the 'fog' and the 'diffuse light' from the Victorian gas light era to the modern day nuance. This method produces drama and recreates the audience's sense of today's reality. (PBS, 2012)(BBC, 2012) (literature.org, 2012) (tumblr, 2012)
By understanding the phrase "You See, but you do not observe" then you understand the subtile visual and written clues that are communicated about Sherlock's identity that resonates so strongly among the generations of admires. The immortal detective Holmes has always given the mystery genre meaning and illumination into solving crimes. Whether the crimes were done in the 19th century or in the 21th century, the results are the same. Understanding the charisma that Sherlock's character promotes, also holds true to Huxley's statement, "the more you know; the more you see", Sherlock is able to solve crimes with unequaled efficiency. For all who love Arthur Canon Doyle's famous detective character, Sherlock can be summarized by the following: “ My mind, . . . rebels of stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I chosen my own particular profession, -or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world”. (literature.org, 2012)( gutenberg.org, 2012) (Huxley, A, 2012)

References:
Lester, P.M. (2011) Chapter 1 - Visual Communication
(pg. 11), Visual communication, images with messages, 5th edition, Wadsworth Cengage, printed in United States.

Anonymous (2012) Biography of Sherlock Holmes page 2

Received May 27, 2012 from SherlockHolmesonline website

http://www.sherlockholmesonline.org/biography/biography2.htm

Anonymous (2012) Sign of Four Chapter 1

Received May 27, 2012 from literature website

www.literature.org/authors/doyle-arthur-conan/sign-of-four/chapter-01.html

Anonymous (2012) Biography of Sherlock Holmes

Received May 27, 2012 from Sherlockholmesonline website

www.sherlockholmesonline.org/biography/index.htm

Anonymous (2012) Sherlock Season 2

Received May 27, 2012 from BBC website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00m5wm7

Anonymous (2012) Chemistry of Sherlock Holmes

Received May 27, 2012 from freeservers website

http://surrey-shore.freeservers.com/HolmChem.htm

Anonymous (2012) Sherlock Season 1

Received May 27, 2012 from BBC website

www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/sherlock/season1.html

Anonymous (2012) Sherlock Season 2

Received May 27, 2012 from BBC website

www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/sherlock/season2.html

Anonymous (2012) Mark Gatiss Live Chat

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http://sherlockology.tumblr.com/post/23047304461/mark-gatiss-live-chat

Anonymous (2012) Scandal of Bohemia

Received May 27, 2012 from Gutenberg website

http://gutenberg.org/files/1661/1661-h/1661-h.html#1

Anonymous (2012) Forensic Science - History - Crime, Bertillon, People and System - JRank articles

Received May 27, 2012 from jrank website

http://science.jrank.org/pages/2821/Forensic-Science-History.html

Mohs , R.C.(2012) How to Improve Your memory

Received May 27, 2012 from howstuffworks website

http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/nervous-system/how-to-improve-your-memory7.htm
Huxley, A (2012) The Art of Seeing
Received June 1, 2012 from Skaidrus.it website
http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skaidrus.lt%2Fuploads%2FAldous%2520Huxley%2520-%2520The%2520Art%2520Of%2520Seeing.pdf

Anonymous (2012) A Scandal in Bohemia

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Mysterynet.com/holmes/01scandalbohemia/

Anonymous (2012) Sherlock Holmes

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http://sherlock-holmes.co.uk/museumtour_museum_six.html

Anonymous (2012) Cocaine history

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http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/cocaine-history.html




Saturday, February 13, 1999

Logo Design


   When one thinks of how a creative logo and packaged item can lure the customer, it must first be established  what type of customer that the product is marketed for.  Visiting a grocery store should only be done when one is not hungry, however it is a great way to evaluate how different colorful logo-  packaged items and the store's layout can visually target or influence a specific type or a general type of consumer to a particular product.  This excursion was fun and visually informative; however for myself, I did take along a grocery list for my own purposes.
     One big trend on logos that I observed on products while navigating down the supermarket aisles, is an  ecological, health and wellness theme.  One example of a food logo item  promoting  a 'wellness'  and 'ecological' theme can be found on an establish brand's logo Campbell's soup.  Additional to the brand logo, the label also contains  a smaller green heart-shape badge with yellow colored annotationhealthy requestprinted  on it.  For the ecology conscious consumer Campbell's soup stamps in red100% recyclable” on the can's lid.  Other company products also use similar slogans or banners in addition to its logo in order to draw attention.  The healthy-conscience consumer that may be attracted to a particular food item can also be informed that the product contains “No Fat” or “No Cholesterol” or “Low Sodium  or is “Organic” or “Natural”. 
       Another trend observed that many of the food items that are enclose in the packaging have Logos that contain a picture either of an important ingredient, such as fruit or chocolate as well as an image of the food product that one can incorporate into an appetizing dish.   All of these logos spark the 'taste-bud' of the consumer.  Depending on how delicious the food image is, the logo may entice the consumer to choose one particular product over another.
     Most importantly, the 'power of color' as a visual communicator, entices the consumer's perception of a particular product and directs their eyes to an particular logo.  Remembering Lester's visual cues : color, form, depth, and movement; “. . . are  the major concern of any visual communicator designing an image to be remembered by the viewer  because they are noticed before a person even realizes what they are.”   It is the brain that makes connection and forms opinions before the conscience mind even knows what one is looking at.  The logo and color used in the logo is important because it acts as a symbol to the company's brand.  Marketers and technology now can produce logos that are informative, functional, and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.  For me colors such as gold or purple may represent richness or quality, greens, browns and orange may represent earthiness, usage of reds attracts attention, yellow may represent cheerfulness or curiosity and the blue color may represent trustworthiness.  We are different in what color means to us and what color may catch our eyes first.(Lester, P.M., pg.16, 2011) 
     With that said, logos that invokes the consumer's attention must  balances between three ethical approaches.  With an utilitarianism approach, the logo design has to be “readable, legible, and useful”. Another approach is where the logo  needs to express an appropriate tone for the company's merchandise; this example would be an Aristotle’s golden mean approach.  Hedonism approach has to be subdued  since it may signify  “satisfying commercial interests, . . .  or expressing a personal statement”.  (Lester P.M., pg.183-184, 2011)
     For myself, I am a 'brand-type' of consumer, because I do not 'trust' the taste of the generic type brands when it comes to food.  Because of our economics, a lot of times I stock up in non-perishable brand items that I like when they are on sale.  In the supermarket that I commonly visit, large visual, readable hanging signs in the grocery store marked every aisle making  navigation easier to find the right section for the item. Brand logos helps my eyes mark the spot in the shelf where I can obtain the item.  Lastly, I might be considered  a 'health-conscience' consumer since I do read the labels for nutritional stats. As a consumer, it is possible to see another brand's logo that stands out among another food items, enticing me  to check out its product's ingredients and give it a try. 


References


Lester, P.M. (2011) Chapter 2 - Visual Cues
(pg. 16), Visual communication, images with messages, 5th edition, Wadsworth Cengage,   printed in United States.

Lester, P.M. (2011) Chapter 7 - Graphic Design
             (pp. 183-184), Visual communication, images with messages, 5th edition, Wadsworth Cengage,   printed in United States