Describe the below advertisement in terms of Semiotics, discussing what the signifiers are and what they signify.  Describe what acts as overt info, covert info, and try to express what Barthes calls, "What goes without saying."

Describe the below painting in formal terms.  Identify which main elements of art seen and describe how they are employed through the principles of design.

Advertising and Fine Art

Estee Lauder perfume ad

Happy Accidents of the Swing, 1767, by Fragonard

Agent Provacateur perfume ad

Detail of The Turkish Bath, 1862, by Ingres

Grand Odalisque, 1814, by Ingres

Buchanan Scotch ad

Advertising

 As stated in the text book,  consumption is "an ideological necessity" in our culture.  Why is this?  Can you think of an example of how this plays out in our everyday lives?

• What are demands on companies?
• On consumers?
• What is effect on domestic sphere?

The mass production made possible by the industrial revolution created many of these conditions.

• New forms of display, new ways of shopping.
• New ways of looking, spending time, the flaneur
• Advertising becomes major forum for interpellation of consumers. Ideas of identity formed through these images.

 

Boulevard de Strasbourg, by Eugene Atget, 1912

Sustained capitalism has widened the gap between where things are made/how/who by and where they are sold/how/who to.

What is the 'commodity self?'

What are exchange value and use value?

How are these related to 'commodity fetishism'?

How does advertising function in 'commodity fetishism'?

 


How does advertising contribute to reification?

Advertising talks to the individual, appealing through a variety of identities, including the glamorous, the hip or cool, the cultured, the authority or group (nation, family, club), creating
pseudoindividuality and appealing to nostalgia.

The importance of Brands and brand recognition in the creation of identity:

The case of United Colors of Benetton and issues with multiculturalism:

Benetton stores in U.S., Italy, and U.A.E.:

Bricolage:

Television

The authors of Visual Culture use The Cosby Show (1984-1992) as an example for the tricky reality of television programs.  What arguments do they make about this show and others?  What does it show about African-American culture in the 1980's and 90's?  What does it hide?


Artwork featured on The Cosby Show set:

Varnette Honeywood

Ellis Wilson

In the "Key Debate" discussion, the authors refer to John Hartley's arguments about a "post-broadcast" era of television?  Are we now living in this era?  What are the positive and negative arguments about this era?

What is the relationship between this YouTube video and "broadcast" TV?

And, finally, in arguments about the reality of television, what are we to make of "Reality TV"?