SPE 370 RVM... Cartoons

The technique of using lines and shadowing in black and white cartoons is an underrated form of artwork. Emotions of life are captured and understood universally without having to take a second look, which is definitely taken for granted everyday by comic viewers. Aspects such as eye lines, gestural qualities, and textural lines as well as the shading bring life to the comic I have chosen.

                To start off with the obvious, the bubble above the girl shows that she is saying something to the man next to her. This is because the bubble forms to a sharp angle toward her mouth. If the bubble was closed and other little cloud shaped bubbles led to her mouth instead of a sharp angle, it would have implied that her statement was just a thought. The gestural quality of her mouth being open also implies that she is talking.

                The eye lines of the woman show that she is looking at him with a serious tone. The man’s eye lines show that he is looking a little upwards, implying that he is slightly nervous about what she is saying. His nervousness is also shown through the gestural quality of the way his arm is bent with a closed fist holding the blanket. The gestural qualities of the woman’s body show that she is serious by the way she is holding her upper body, which is almost upright in an assertive position.

                Textural qualities are shown on the blanket and pillows. These lines show that there are bodies under the blanket giving a kind of three dimensional feel to the cartoon. This makes you feel as if you are in the room with the couple. This is also shown on the indents of the pillows that the couple is actually laying on them; the pillows are not simply rectangles in the cartoon.

                The shading brings life to the room as well. The use of shading allows the cartoonist to imply that there is light in the room. This is shown with the whiteness surrounding the lamp. This whiteness reaches from the wall to just past the man in the bed, which forces you to focus on the couple. The shading beyond the white area is what allows you to believe that there is light in the room.

SPE 370 RVM... My Icon

            “Football does not build character, football reveals character”. This is a quote from a Memphis inner city high school coach on how he chooses to lead his team. The picture of a football that I have chosen describes mine, as well as many other peoples’ lives in a nut shell up to this point. A football is what I have in common with so many others and can describe me. Football has gotten me everything I have ever wanted and has lead me to where I am today, and will guide what I will do with my future. A football is such a simple image, but drives people into an all out frenzy on Sunday’s from September to February. This portrays how my life has been and who I am perfectly. At first glance I am just like any other college student, and extremely below average size wise on the field, I could be shrugged off as not being too much on first glance. Then, once the ball is kicked off to start the game, the goal of getting that simple looking football into the end zone becomes a work of art, captivating millions of fans. This is similar to how I would describe myself, simple on the outside, but I can be a complex work of art to the people that know me. In order to score, you need to keep the ball constantly moving forward. If you want to move a little bit, you don’t throw the ball far and you can get a minimal gain or reward. If you want the big play you need to throw the ball with everything you have got to achieve the reward you desire. This is how I would approach life, I usually tend to think big and go for the biggest goals I can think of, and when I am ready to do so I put in everything I have to make sure I take that goal as far as I can. Just like how the ball needs to be constantly pushed forward to move and score, I approach my everyday life that way. Every day I try to be better than yesterday and keep it moving and I do as best as I can to surround myself with people who do the same thing. 

SPE 210 Blog #1 The Case for Public Persuasion

The world today is full of those trying to persuade others, and those being persuaded. This art can be implemented subconsciously or right in your face, knowing that you are being persuaded. Some are better than others at mastering the art of persuasion, and some use it for good while others use it for evil. Persuasion is used in almost every aspect of our lives, from politics, to what we are going to eat for dinner. Persuasion is everywhere although it goes unnoticed because of how well people are able to disguise their persuasion.

                Persuasion can be one of the most, if not the most powerful and effective tool in today’s society. Persuasion can be used to sway an entire nation on large scale issues, such as in politics, or to persuade one single person on a small issue. Persuasion is at its most effective point when it is not being used to brainwash or trick people. This means that persuasion has the possibility to change the world in a positive way. For example, persuasion can be used on a major political issue that can allow people to develop their own opinions and let everyone reach a mutual consensus.

                I believe that persuasion differs from person to person. I believe this argument to be true because the power of persuasion is only as effective as the person attempting to persuade others. Also, each person can be persuaded in different ways, some are persuaded easily while others will not budge on their own opinions. The point at which an argument becomes persuasion is when one side attempts to show the other why they have the best solution to something with credibility, while an argument is just trying to prove each other wrong based on opinions. Persuasion makes some evidence more convincing than others when the evidence is factual and has other supporting evidence. My personal connection to an argument greatly impacts the persuasion because if I truly feel that I am right about an issue I will do everything I can to show someone why they should feel this way as well.