Photoshop junkies

Huh! Someone has found a way to graffiti up some penguins. Of course this is photoshoped (which is the easiest and fastest way to exploit and create slander or libel). But whatever there are no "real" journalists out there any way. So "libel away" as far as anyone is concerned.

Photoshop has been at the fore front of libel lawsuits since it's invent. Do we all remember the CBS photo that came out with Katy Curik where she appeared to be about ten pounds thinner. No one really could see the difference except her but she made a big deal out of it and, well, low and behold, the photographer (who thought he was doing her a favor) was held up in a law suite.

I think that if you put media in anyone's hands, like we do so commonly now a days, there should be some revisions to the libel and slander laws. Or better yet, how about this retarded idea; lets leave journalism to journalists. I get it we all can write. (or type for that matter) Your opinion is one thing, which by the way I probably don't care. maybe I do. Who knows. One the other hand who gave this dude a job. Photoshop junkies, you are playing god. Information is probably next to godliness if you think about it on a certain level. It has the power of persuasion. persuasion has the ability to create followers. Jesus had followers. Jesus was close to god.

Here is one of the best billboards I have seen to date except it is flawed. Ill get to that in a moment. The billboard is made out of a transparent resin that makes any object behind them appear blurred. So just imagine that you are in a mustang Even though you are probably not. The billboard symbolizes that you are going fast. So the blurriness is a depiction of what you might see if you were in a mustang.

The sheer look to this billboard is original and pleasing; however, the logo is too small. If it were a magazine arcticle, it would be perfect. However, when you are driving past at 70 mph, you don't notice the logo which is placed at the lower right-hand side. they should probably make it bigger without drawing attention away from the big picture which is essentially the message in the blurred background

Here's the assignment so I must partake. The digital Candy thermometer, I thought, was candy. You know, just like the Candy cigarettes (which aren't actually cigarettes) or Animal Crackers (which aren't actually Animals. Now that would actually be a good idea for candy. You know a thermometer is meant to be put in the mouth, so why not be able to suck on a tasty mock-up of one.

Well this is not the case. The term "Digital Candy" is actually a term used for the brand of a certain kind of thermometer. This actually reminds me of the headphones that I own called "Skull Candy". It is a pun, or perhaps a play on words. Digital thermometers go in your mouth, and candy goes in your mouth. what better way to get children to chomp down on a rather tasteless piece of plastic (not that you need to ruse children into it in the first place), but it is just catchy.

Not that this is in any way "sac-religious", It's pretty funny in a thought provoking ironic sort of way. If you are driving northbound on Binford Blvd. and 71st, you can catch a glimps of a large billboard promoting the new Sacred Spain exhibit at the IMA. In the billboard, is a picture of Jesus on the cross. Just behind that in the background sets a McDonnald's.

Am I just looking to deep into the surface of this one or am I right to think that there is some "below the surface" implement here. I look up to see the man who suposably died for our sins, and just bellow that is the very monumental structure that symbolizes one of our deadliest sins; gluttony.

If you actually view this at the right angle you can also see the bilboard just under the golden arches. This is even more strange because it appears as if Jesus in being hung on the Arches. Of course the irony here is that just above Jesus, the phrase "Over one billion served" is displayed.

Beer is great for me

I have been amazed once again by the cunning of the Pabst Brewing Co. to get people to drink more of there tasty product for reasons other than, "it just tastes good". (Not that you need another reason) Pabst Blue Ribbon, or PBR for short, has been known, in the past 20 years or so, to pride itself on providing us with an affordable delicious drink without the use of many ad campaigns. In fact, there are none that I know of besides the signs you may see in a local pub or linning the streets of Milwalkee. (if you ever venture out that way, you will know exactly what I am talking about)

My theory for this lack ofmarketting is that the people in the Pabst company are creative people, and since they don't need the advertisements to gain consumers, they will not waiste money on cluttery billboards and comercials. They will just save there promotions for something more original or at least artistic. Just recently that happened.

In 2009, Pabst had an art contest which allowed various artists in the country to display art that contained PBR in various public areas in the region. In fact, if ever you’re driving south on Keystone on Indy’s north side, you may spot a couple. Using art to send a message has always been at the forefront of successful media tactics especially if it is advertisement. This scheme is the best way to, as they say in the marketting world, "break through the clutter".

By no longshot is a bilboard or magazine ad not a form of art if you think about it on a certian level. It takes an ad designer's outstanding creativity (which essentially landed him/her the ad design job in the first place) to create a successful ad. Pabst has won my recent aproval. Do I think I will rush out and buy some PBR tonight after work because of these ads? It's hard to say if I am ever sold on an ad but I will say that my loyalty for the product may have jumped a few points.

To read more about several ads from Pabst in the past, click here. To see more murrals of Pabst and PBR, click here.

If you have not made it out to the Indianapolis Museum of Art to see the Sacred Spain Exhibit, you should probably set your sights on it. although it will be open until the beginning of the year. One thing they are doing different, in fact it has never been done before is the iPod tour. what the hell is this; you ask? let me explain.

As soon as one arrives at the front desk to the exhibit, one is given the option to enter the exhibit for free or for a five dollar front, they will give you an iPod and a set of head phones. During your tour of the exhibit there will be little yellow tags on the wall next to certain pieces of art. The yellow tags have a number code on it. you then enter the number code into the iPod and you can hear some other information and see other pictures and video on that piece of art. Also, there are Easter eggs. In a nut shell, Easter eggs are little tid bits of information that are generally hard to find. But with a little bit of creativity and savvy, you can find it. for more info on Easter eggs and the iPod touch tour, here is a link. http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2009/10/08/exhibition-easter-eggs-in-october/#more-8686