Day 12

The New York Times website is characterized by a black and white theme, as befits a newspaper's digital delivery of itself. The highly stylized logo/name of the newspaper appears front and center on the home page, with a digital version of the front page, complete with pictures and links, below. The website is easy to navigate and makes for a very efficient delivery of the news. I, for one, find the website a more efficient headpiece than the physical, print, copy of this paper. By contrast, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles website is just about as pleasing to visit as an actual, physical scdmv. The website is constructed if links framing the left and the right, content in the middle, and a dreadful, chintzy, banner across the top. While the website does accomplish what it needs to, it does so in a drab, bland, and strictly teutonic way.

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Day 11: Cover Stories

This cover, of the magazine Esquire, prominently features George Clooney in black and white, surrounded by various article blurbs.  The use of a black and white theme lends a sort of simplicity to the cover, the sole content is text and the image of Clooney, on a pure and pristine white background.  To add a bit, or a lot, of 'pop' to Clooney's image, the designers of the cover have slanted the text into Clooney's image and subtly made the image appear in front of the text.  The use of the title 'George', also pulls the reader into the story by prompting the readers recognition of the next part of his name: 'Clooney'.  Esquire, just as on its cover, treats the subject 'Clooney' upfront and in a unique manner.  The theme of the article is that Clooney will hit the internet to find out a little more about himself, from the perspective of people that mostly don't know him.  It is an interesting parallel that the article is about the the man George Clooney getting to know the public figure George Clooney, thereby providing an interesting aspect to view the man himself; just as in the cover, the 'image' of Clooney is front and center in the article. To get an even more self reflective view of a man regarded as image-conscious and reflective in the first place, just interview him reflecting on himself.  For instance when speaking of the dangers of an upcoming trip to the, "highly unstable capital of Sudan, Khartoum," he mentions that the preparation for that trip is one of those instances that makes one think, "I have a really nice house in Italy, do I really want to..."  Speaking of a negative comment he made in 2003 Clooney remarked, "That was 2003? Gee, gosh, I was wrong about that. Bush turned out to be really great at all this."  It seems that a snapshot of Clooney the man reflecting on Clooney the figure can be a great way to get to the humorous, sincere, and humble personality that an image cannot convey.

Verizon Ad

Here we have an ad for Verizon high-speed internet, featuring a couple surfing the net.  The communicator in this particular ad one might assume to be Verizon, but could just as easily be perceived as the couple in question as well.  The audience one must assume to be the viewer, or more specifically any persons interested in obtaining a good value on broadband internet. The message of this ad is that, as the ad says, 'Verizon Online DSL [is] the best value in broadband'.  It is clear that the ad is also trying to convey the type of experience that a potential customer of Verizon could have with their product as well, and by showing the couple interacting over their computer they convey the sense that Verizon broadband can be a fun couples activity.  The image of the couple appeals to both ethos and pathos, by presenting a well put-together couple enjoying themselves.

A Bit About Me

My given name is Benjamin Christian Anthony Love, but I like to shrink all of that down into a neat and concise three letter name.  I live in Greenville, SC, although I am originally from the beautiful Hilton Head Island, SC.  I've been studying here at Clemson for far longer than I ought to have been, and though I thoroughly enjoy academics I am looking forward to completing my undergraduate career.  I am a Philosophy major, and will very soon be choosing a pre-law or a pre-med concentration, to be followed (obviously) by Law school or Medical school.  If I do choose to pursue a career in law, I intend to specialize in medical malpractice law.

Although I said just a bit earlier that I live in Greenville, I should mention that I've only just moved here about two weeks ago.  My wife, to whom I've been married since Cinco de Mayo, and I picked up and moved to Greenville so that I might be closer to Clemson.  So, if anybody has suggestions regarding Greenville or the Greenville area, I'd love to hear them!