McCloud and Berger

McCloud Before You Read

When children are aced to draw pictures of themselves, they often use stick figures. I believe that the stick future that the child draws can relate to the development of the child in relation to his own self awareness for many reasons. For example, the stick figure is very simple and vague. it does not have detail or show personality. A child may draw themselves as this because they are still growing and figuring out who they are. 

McCloud Summary

In Scott McCloud's "Vocabulary of Comics", McCloud shows the reader how humans sometimes use shapes and symbols to express themselves and their ideas. He uses the word "icon" to help explain his ideas. In "Vocabulary of Comics", McCloud is not specifically talking to a group or type of people. He is talking to the human race in general and wants to show us how we use drawings and symbols to teach others, and how we can be seen in our own drawings, as well as other symbols that we like. 

McCloud Synthesis

McCloud's article "Vocabulary of Comics" was a very unique and different article. He grabs the readers attention by using a comic instead of the typical article format. In the comic, he tells us how humans use symbols and icons to express themselves. This article can compare to Kantz's article because they both stress the importance of individuality, and the importance showing who you are through your work. Although both articles were very informative, I like McCloud's approach to the topic much better. 

McCloud Questions For Discussion

2. McCloud uses the comic book format to convey his message to the reader because it is the best way to explain his thoughts. McCloud is telling the reader about the use of icons and images, so why not practice what you preach? If McCloud used the typical writing way of teaching, his message would not get across as clearly as it does with the comic strip. In the comic strip, we get to see specific examples and forms of using icons and symbols to express ourselves. 

McCloud Applying and Exploring Ideas

1. I strongly believe that more teaching strategies should contain more visual imagery. I believe this because personally I am a visual learner and I learn better when i have a visual in front of me. Visuals are important because they are a unique and clear way of showing ideas. I believe that any kind of lesson could benefit from having visual imagery, especially something like a science or geology lesson. These kind of subjects are usually hard to understand without seeing something happen. 

4. McCloud's perception of the mask affects my perception of myself and others because it is always "seen by everyone you meet, but never by you"(pg. 12) This means that your mask should be a reflection of who you are on the inside. Everyone sees your mask, so your mask should be what you want others to see. Without my mask, I would not be able to be aware of others around me because others would not be able to see me. With the mask, you must be able to see others just like others must see the mask as part of yourself. Your mask if a reflection of who you are. Without this piece if yourself, you will not be able to view others. 

McCloud Thought 

In conclusion, McCloud's article has been one of my favorites so far. I liked McCloud's article the best because of the unique way of using the comic strip to teach his theory of using images and icons. I also liked how McCloud talked about the importance of individuality and showing your personality through icons and images. 

Berger Before You Read

Marilyn Monroe vs. Bill Nye 

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=marilyn+monroe&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=1436&bih=713&tbm=isch&tbnid=puvDWzwnRxsfjM:&imgrefurl=http://www.howstuffworks.com/marilyn-monroe-final-years.htm&docid=Rg8b0PZP2wxxnM&imgurl=http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/marilyn-monroe-168.jpg&w=400&h=340&ei=NydNUO--CoHm2gWy8IGwCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=188&vpy=338&dur=98&hovh=207&hovw=244&tx=153&ty=105&sig=111791445825171494670&page=1&tbnh=152&tbnw=179&start=0&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:160

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=famous+celebrity+scientists&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1436&bih=713&tbm=isch&tbnid=1cy3vttRus4C7M:&imgrefurl=http://oaklandnorth.net/2010/11/08/new-exhibit-helps-celebrity-scientist-teach-climate-change/&docid=HmuReXIxHnriWM&imgurl=http://oaklandnorth.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/20101107_billnye1-620x465.jpg&w=620&h=465&ei=nChNUILKKaLq2QWC7YDYCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=566&vpy=172&dur=399&hovh=178&hovw=226&tx=132&ty=108&sig=111791445825171494670&page=1&tbnh=163&tbnw=195&start=0&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:81

Marilyn Monroe and Bill Nye "The Science Guy" are 2 very different celebrities. Marilyn is known as a sex symbol and is also know for her drug abuse. Bill Nye is known as the fun science teacher that everyone grew up watching. Both of these people were watched on television, but had very different audiences and content. Marilyn is viewed by adults as the beautiful bombshell blond, and Bill Nye is viewed by children as the nerdy but fun and educational scientist. 

Berger Summary

In John Berger's "Ways of Seeing", he discusses how men and women are depicted in classical period oil paintings. Berger also discusses gender roles and how things have changed from the classical period to modern times. With a student as the reader, Berger tries to get us to compare how women were viewed in are and media then and now. Berger states that now, we can easily understand who has power in what gender role and how our roles  have developed and changed. Berger believes this because of his study of the classical period oil pantings. 

Berger Synthesis

Berger's article "Ways of Seeing" was very interesting because of it's discussion of gender roles and symbols. This article compares to McCloud's article because the both talk about identity in images. Both articles state how by looking at an image, we can see the personality behind it as well as its true meaning. 

Berger Questions For Discussion 

2. I have seen images of posed women in the media and in commercials. I have also seen them in things like magazines and posters. These images can compare to the nudes discussed by Berger because both images can be seen as sex symbols. Although the images of posed women in media today aren't always nude, they are suggestive and provocative. They are sending the same message as a nude picture. Our portrayals of women in visual media have generally stayed the same, but they have also changed in a small way. Now, women aren't always nude but are clothed and posed in a provocative way instead. We still get the same message, but the way we get the message has been changed. 

3. The presence of men and women has not changed from the 1970s to now. Women like to have themselves viewed through their presence, personality, attire and surroundings while men like to have themselves viewed as the promise of power that they embody. These ideas of being viewed have not changed. Women still like to be seen for who they are and what their personality is. Men tend to rely on how much power they have and their rank on the social chain. 

Berger Applying and Exploring Ideas

3. When looking at modern images of women, I can agree with the statement that how the women are positioned can determine how they are viewed. If a women is simply smiling and looking happy, then there is usually no sexual relation to the image. But if the women is posited in a provocative way, then she is usually seen as a sex symbol. How I see it, is that the position, pose or surrounding the women is in, is how the women is going to be viewed as. 

Berger Metta Moment

I believe that we need to read an article concerned with nudity, image and media because it is a big part of our culture today. Everything in the media is usually about self image and sexual images. Todays culture is surrounded with these topics and how people view them. These concepts can be connected to writing, audience and authorship because they are ask big parts of todays media. Writing is always the concert base to anything in the media. It always comes from a written out source. This means that these concepts of nudity and image must first come from a written material. Audience also plays a big role in the media because they are the ones who will be viewing the media. They are the ones who decide what becomes popular and what does not. Unfortunately, in todays society, nudity and self image are some of the most popular things that the audience wants. 

Berger Thoughts

In conclusion, Berger's article "Way's of Seeing" was very informative and interesting. I liked this article because of its discussion on gender roles and perception. I agree with Berger and how he says that the roles have developed and changed from the classical period to the modern period.